The Purple Passport

Seasoned advice for British Travellers

shopping

Christmas Gift Guide For The Hard To Buy For

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With November almost over and Christmas well and truly on the way, it can be a bit nerve wracking and daunting knowing that soon you will have to put aside most other things and focus on Christmas and getting Christmas gifts. While some people find this aspect of the season a fun part and love buying gifts for others, many other people find it tiresome, annoying and one of the hardest things to do, especially when trying to buy for those people who either are impossible to shop for or who have everything already. If this sounds like you, don’t worry – we have your back. Here’s a handy gift guide for the person who has it all.

Awesome Trips

Imagine your loved one on Christmas Day with just an envelope in front of them from you, figuring it’s the same old gift card to their favourite restaurant or for their favourite shop when – surprise! – it’s tickets on an amazing cruise or other fantastic trip. You can look around for the best cruise offer easily and find great deals – especially on ‘no fly’ cruises which can sometimes be only hundreds of pounds per person. If you organise the gift with other members of the family too, you can all surprise someone like your dear old parents with the gift of a lifetime! Make it more fun by wrapping it up in several boxes, similar to ‘pass the parcel’ and keep them guessing layer after layer.

Excursions And Days Out

Off the back of the trip idea, if it’s not quite in your budget this year, why not consider getting that special someone a day out or an excursion of some kind. Many websites such as Red Letter Days offer great ideas for days out ranging from high teas at posh country estates, hotels and tea rooms all the way up to hot air balloon rides and test driving sports cars at certain regional tracks. Whatever you decide to do in terms of days out for your special someone, rest assured that experiences almost always trump “stuff”.

Something Handmade

When it comes to something for the hard to buy for, something handmade is always a winner. Consider making scarves, mittens, blankets, socks, or even something like calendars or planners for the new year. Many websites today such as Vista Print will help you create great, professional looking photo calendars of your family, pets and other various things such as landscapes or artistic photography that you’ve done. You can also create coasters, magnets and other trinkets that can make great gifts for many people in question, but of course you don’t need to use an online vendor to do this. Consider also painting someone a picture, baking them some goodies or something else that says “I love you” through the time it takes to put it together.

So with Christmas around the corner and gifts to be bought, hopefully this gift guide for the hard to buy will help you narrow down some great ideas for those people you dread shopping for. Good luck, and happy holidays!

 

Tips for Sticking to Your Shopping Budget While Travelling

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If you think about it, the need to shop was what brought expeditions around the world. Think of the Portuguese or the English setting sail out in the world because they were looking for spices and silk from across the globe. So it is not surprising to realize that even today, shopping and traveling seem to go together.

In fact, for globetrotting shopaholics, they find that it is probably one of the best ways to get to know a place. Haggling with the local merchants and purchasing their products can be thought of as immersing yourself in the culture. However, as exciting as shopping sounds, it is not without its problems. Apart from negotiating prices, the most significant challenge is making sure we get to stick to our travel budget.

After spending for flight tickets, hotel accommodation, and travel insurance, striking a balance between rewarding yourself and following a budget might seem daunting. There is a way to save money and still come home with arms full of goodies — just follow these tips!

Avoid the big brand names

When traveling, try not to buy from big brands for one simple reason: they are available at home, too. Yeah, there is something unique about being able to experience buying Givenchy or Zara in France, but that limits your buying options. Pretty soon, you might not have enough money left to purchase local artisan or handicraft wares exclusively available in small local boutiques.

Do your research first

While it is tempting to buy from every little shop you encounter, looking up where you can find genuine local products will help you get a good deal. For instance, in Japan, there are lots of shops that sell the kimono. However, not being local would mean you would not know what to look for when shopping for a kimono other than its design and size. So the best way to make sure you end up buying good quality items is to do your homework at home first and look it up.

Additionally, the estimated price should be part of your research. Knowing the cost range will help you decide how much you can allocate for shopping, and how much will be left for food and other expenses.

Get familiar with the range of products and prices available

It is a good idea to allot time to browse around shops before actually shopping. This will give you an idea of the price range available for every merchandise. And honestly, if you think a particular deal is too good to be true (and it probably is), just familiarising yourself with the prices will help you decide where and which items to buy.

Learn the different ways to haggle

Some merchants allow their customers to haggle for the price, make sure you take advantage of that opportunity. Haggling methods vary from place to place, and if you are uncomfortable to negotiate on prices, you need to learn the different strategies for haggling. Some areas would prefer it if their customers are assertive, while others would be more amenable to your negotiations if you say it in a softer tone. So make sure that while you are browsing items, you observe how people around you are haggling, then adapt.

Follow these tips, and you will surely have no problems buying to heart’s desire without hurting your travel shopping budget. Good luck!

London Vs Paris: Which capital city is the king for shopping?

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When you think of fashion and shopping, there are a few cities which usually come to mind, the first of which is probably the likes of New York and Milan, but most will probably discuss Paris and London. These two European destinations have been powerhouses in the world of fashion for many years. From the classic French looks of the 50s, the cultural explosion of the swinging sixtes and right up to the modern day, these two cities have been at the forefront of shopping and fashion for many years.

The remains then, which is the best place to go clothes shopping, Paris or London, let’s take a look.

Choice

Given that London is the bigger city, it could be argued that there is more choice across the board than in Paris. Paris has become famous for its high end chic rather than covering all areas of the fashion spectrum and it is for these reasons why London offers the best all round choice. Whether you are looking at raiding Selfridges for its Louis Vuitton or hitting H and M for the latest looks, London has all areas covered better than their French counterpart.

High End

London is not short of high end shops, you only need to stroll through Knightsbridge, Park Lane or Chelsea to see that. Whilst London may have some high end flagship stores however, it is Paris which offers the most to the high end shopper. Paris has more boutiques than anywhere in the world, plus specialist tailors and independent traders who only deal in the finest quality products.

Market Bargains

Fashion is not all about the latest catwalk clothing and many fashion pieces are best searched for in a grungy and vibrant market. Paris has its markets but nothing like those of Camden and Carnaby Street. If you are looking at digging through a market for your fashion pieces, London is the place to do so.

Highest Price

Because of the way that the sterling is right now, you could very well be paying a higher price for the same item in London rather than Paris. Indeed, you can often see the price tags in Euros and Pounds, with the Euro price almost always being lower than that of the Sterling. If you are looking to save a bit on your shopping, Paris is the best choice.

Proximity

Paris wins in terms of proximity of its shops and you will find London’s fashion areas to be far more spread out. If you have a weekend planned to do some shopping, Paris is definitely going to be your best bet.

Conclusion

The truth is, it is very close in terms of which city is the best to shop in and whilst we do have a winner, it is not by very much at all. Paris seems to be the best place for close shops, high end fashion and better prices, whereas London can offer more for everyone in terms of the shops available. The winner is Paris, but you most definitely won’t be disappointed if you do go to London.