Shopping Finds: 2008
Here are some ideas of unique souvenirs and great deals in Europe: flea markets, Italian leather, Venetian glass, Bavarian Christmas ornaments, Turkish carpets... So much shopping; so little time!
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UK Charity Shops
UK charity shops (OXFAM, breast cancer trust, etc) are a great way to do some good, cheap shopping when you've got to stretch those dollars. My London friend found a pair of Vivienne Westwood jeans for five pounds. I've found funky purses and accessories there too, along with a couple of cheap paperbacks for the ride back. There's a great one near John Lewis and Liberty (near Oxford Street) - drool at Liberty at all the gorgeous pretties, and then head for the charity shop around the corner for the deals. Best charity shops for high end stuff are obviously in high-end neighborhoods.
Sara
Minneapolis, MN USA Thu 11/13/2008
Silk scarves in Bellagio
We recently returned from Milan and spent a day at Varenna and Bellagio and I got the most beautiful scarves (Made in Italy - silk from Como) in Bellagio. For those of us who love scarves its paradise. The patterns were mostly floral but so very beautiful.They are the best souvenirs from there. Surprisingly, the shops I visited in Milan did not have much of them.They were not very expensive, and compared to the ones on sale here at Macys or Nordstroms, quite exotic.
Nadine Hamad <email>
San Francisco, CA USA Thu 10/09/2008
lovely fragrance soap
JS is right about the soap you can buy in Paris grocery stores. I purchsed a soap called "Cleopatra". It was in a pack just like our soaps!
Julie
Milwaukee, WI USA Tue 09/30/2008
Art in Mostar, Bosnia
If you make it to the amazing town of Mostar, Bosnia, you will find a fabulous young artist named Anel Pala. His family owns a souvenier shop on the east side of the old town and his impressionist style art is on display. Mostly landscapes of the beautiful bridge that are reasonably priced. Canvas can be rolled and wrapped for easy transport.
Katie Rothgery
Chicago, IL USA Sat 09/20/2008
Charity Shops
I enticed a friend of mine to accompany to the UK on the promise of an abundance of charity shops. We found charity shop rows in most cities we visited from Glasgow to Cardiff to small villages. It has a lot of junk to sift through but we got some real juicy finds.
Catherine McNabb <email>
Port Townsend, WA USA Sat 09/13/2008
French Soaps
French quality soaps are obtained at French grocery stores for a great price. Le Petit Marseilles liquid soap is very cheap as compared to finding here in USA. great for gifts.Ck out the entire section to find very fragrant bar and liquid soaps.
JS
USA Tue 08/19/2008
Italian Pottery Shopping
If you love the Italian pottery from Tiffanys and Williams and Sonoma, there is a must shop stop in Nove, Italy. Just north of Vicenza, you will find very affordable Italian made pottery at the factorys that supply it to the expensive stores in the States. The most expensive piece I bought was only 25 euro! SOme things even have Tiffany's stamped on the bottom. The two best shops are La Ceramica VBC and Ankora, both on the main road through the town. The best pottery find in Europe!
Danielle Haines
APO AE, Germany, USA Wed 06/11/2008
Best French Souvenirs
Just back from France and found the best souvenirs in the street markets at Amboise and Beaune. All the souvenir stores seem to only sell things made in China.
Karen Snyder <email>
Parsippany, NJ USA Sat 05/24/2008
great pottery and etching shop
Certaldo, Italy. We made an unscheduled stop in Certaldo and took the tram to the old town area. There, I discovered an artists's workshop with wonderful pottery and etchings. You buy directly from the artists at great savings. I saw the same products in Sienna for much higher prices.
Nora Cromley
Redmond, Or USA Fri 04/11/2008
Memories from Ireland
If you're looking for woolens & are in Dingle, head to McKenna's, a corner store on Main Street. Wide selection of Irish-made sweaters for HALF the price you'll find anywhere else.
Louis Mulcahy's Pottery on Dingle Penninsula is breath-takingly beautiful. Much is quite expensive but many of the smaller items are in most people's budget.
Natalie
Oconomowoc, WI USA Tue 04/08/2008
Cuckoo Clock
I really wanted to get a cuckoo clock while on our trip. And after checking prices in Switzerland, Austria and Germany, we found the best price in Fussen, Germany (the little town near Neuschwanstein Castle). It was in a souvenir shop off the pedestrian shopping area. We were shocked! (We thought maybe it was because it was March and before "high season", but the town was crawling with tourists!)
They did want 40 Euros to ship it, though...
Lauren <email>
Ft Walton Bch, FL USA Mon 04/07/2008
Vintage shopping in London
On my first trip to London we stayed in Greenwich. Still central enough to get anywhere you want but just a bit quieter. Still expensive - until I stumbled accross a very neat vintage store and "splurged" on a fancy sheet dress from the 1960/70s for £ 5. One of my favourite souveniers ever ;-)
USA Sat 03/29/2008
Caftans in Tangier
Djellaba/caftan in Tangier Beautiful custom made Moroccan clothes At the Place de France in the center of Tangier(where the cannons are), face the ocean and take the first pedestrian street to the right. Continue down the street to the Caftan D'Or on the right. The tailor willmeasure you and tell you how many meters you will need for your caftan. He also has many different examples of his embroidery trims available. Now do the REALLY Moroccan thing and go to the kissaria on Rue de Fes, one block up the hill from the Boulevard. There are many fabric shops on the street. Choose your fabric, bargain hard. Bring it to the tailor, and he will have your caftan ready for you in about 5 days. Really beautiful work. Ask Moroccan women for their advice about fabric, something they love to give.This is one of the pleasures of being a woman in Morocco.
Janice Williams <email>
Dudley, MA USA Thu 03/06/2008
Shops in Galway
When in Galway I always check out Roches, Dunnes, Pennys, Fallars and Treasure Chest on Shop Street. I usually wait until the end of my trip for any shopping and can usually get everything I need from these local shops.
claregirl02 <email>
westminster, md USA Fri 02/08/2008
Hallstatt shopping
I found great gifts for Christmas in Hallstatt. Alot of what I found in Europe was stuff I can get in the states. But in Hallstatt they had handicrafts and a bath accessories store. I got the cutest matching kitty cat flower pot holders (I shipped that back).
Tricia <email>
FL USA Mon 01/21/2008