Shop ’til you drop around the globe

No matter how much money we have, no matter how much we and our business suffered during the recession, we always want to look good, buy goods of high quality and have as many choices as possible. Tourism-Review.com brings you the top 10 shopping capitals of the world, according the CBRE, the research and consulting company. Which cities have the highest percentage of top retailers?

10. Tokyo Top retailers 38.68% – Tokyo is well known for its fashion and people living in Tokyo are said to be obsessed with top brands. You can find here mass retailers like Uniqlo and boutiques such as Boutique W as well as Side by Side, a clothing store established by the stylist Nicola Formichetti that also showcases the work of emerging artists.

9. Barcelona Top retailers 39.09% – Barcelona has its fair share of high street stores including Zara as well as the more mature Cortefiel. Designer’s shops including Chanel and Cartier are also to be found there. The shoppers will really appreciate lesser known shops such as luxury designer boutique Jean-Pierre Bua that sells brands such as Jean Paul Gaultier – and Le Shoe.

8. Munich Top retailers 39, 92% – Munich is the third largest city of Germany and attracts shoppers from all over the world. Brands like Brioni, Armani and Cerruti 1881 and Polo Ralph Lauren attract shoppers from near and far. If you look for something really German, go to Marienplatz and get your own Bavarian costume.

7. Berlin Top retailers 40.33% – The capital of Germany is also the shopping capital of this European country. Department stores such as Galeries Lafayette and fashion-forward boutiques like The Corner attract masses to spend their money here. 

6. Moscow Top retailers 42, 39% – Moscow is considered to be the most expensive city in the world and if you look for luxury Moscow is the right place to go. Le Form is a shop that carries many brands with complimentary aesthetics as well as international favorites such as Derercuny, Maison Martin Margiela and Dries Van Noten. Mass brands like Gap, Zara and H&M have also expanded to the city. 

5. Madrid Top retailers 44.03% – Madrid is the capital of Spain and serves as home to many of the world’s top brands, including Adidas, Loewe and mass mainstay H&M. Local favorites such as Agatha Ruiz de la Prada and Desigual are also to be found there. 

4. Dubai Top retailers 45.68% – Dubai is known for its endless shopping malls including Mall of Emirates, Wafi Shopping Mall and Villa Moda housing designer shops like YSL, Gucci, Prada and Louis Vuitton.

3. New York Top retailers 46.91% – New York is beloved for its department stores such as Bergdorf Goodman and Barneys both situated in Midtown. Funky boutiques such as Crave, Aloha Rag and What Comes Around Goes Around in SoHo, are also typical for this city. Of course every top retailer under the sun seems to have a presence in N.Y. 

2. Paris Top retailers 49.79% – Paris, the capital of France, is considered to be the most stylish city in the world. It is also home of the world’s most well-dressed artists, stylists and designers. Maria Luisa, Colette and L’Eclaireur are the best known multi-brand boutiques in the world. Palais Royal is the latest hot shopping spot which hosts boutiques such as Stella McCartney, Rick Owens and Corto Moteldo.

1. London Top retailers: 59.26% – London is with its High Street the capital of the world’s shopping. The city hosts more than half of the world’s shop retailers, including the young and trendy Topshop as well as high end department stores such as Liberty of London and Harvey Nichols. Comme des Garçons designer Rei Kawakubo’s Dover Street Market is a boutique that focuses on hard-to-find designers such as Anne Valerie Hash. Labour of Love stocks little-known labels such as Louis Amstrup.

To book your next shopping trip, call or visit Ultimate Destinations travel agent in Chorleywood, Herts on 01923 284148 or email info@ultimatedestinations.co.uk

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Fly and flop spot – Makadi Bay

Around 40 minutes from Hurghada airport and designed like a self-contained village, the resort features a network of pedestrianised streets with shops and restaurants.  Most hotels are four or five star properties right on the beach with excellent kids’ clubs, making them perfect holiday destinations. 

Some hotels offer ‘dine around’ schemes with local restaurants, you guests won’t tire of the same buffet all week.  Many hotels run free shuttle buses to nearby Hurghada so the odd night out is no hassle.  “Makadi Bay works well for families”, says Hayes and Jarvis Regional Products and Conracts Manager Glen McCool.  “It’s self-contained and safe, almost like a Disney-style village.”

To book your holiday to Egypt, call or visit Ultimate Destinations travel agent in Chorleywood, Herts on 01923 284148 or email info@ultimatedestinations.co.uk

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Istanbul expected to be popular in 2010

International Currency Exchange (Ice) has predicted that Istanbul will be a “hot” travel destination over the coming year.

The city will be helped by the fact that it was recently named European Capital of Culture for 2010, the company said.

Ice also forecast that Turkey as a whole will perform well in 2010, with British travellers already showing strong demand for the country’s currency.

Koko Sarkari, global head of the firm, said: “The Turkish lira was the sixth most ordered currency in both May and June 2009 and in the summer of 2008 Turkey knocked Spain off the top spot for UK holidays.

“We are already seeing sales of lira up in January 2010, compared to the same time last year, suggesting that Turkey is a hot favourite with UK travellers.”

Mr Sarkari also pointed out that it is useful to have some low denomination lira if visitors are planning to visit Istanbul’s bazaars or take a river cruise on the Bosphorus.

Flights to Istanbul are provided by Turkish Airlines, Swiss, British Airways and other carriers, but luxury Hertfordshire travel agent Ultimate Destinations can help find the right flight for you.

To book your holiday to Turkey, call or visit Ultimate Destinations travel agent in Chorleywood, Herts on 01923 284148 or email info@ultimatedestinations.co.uk

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World’s most expensive hotel rooms

People have various tastes and their requirements for accommodation can vary quite considerably. Often hotel guests are satisfied when the room they are staying in is clean, there is a comfy bed and shiny bathroom and of course a TV set and mini bar. However, what about those with considerably more money to spend? Where do they stay when travelling? Popular website Tourism-Review.com quotes that the top 10 most expensive hotels in the world start at $15,500 a night and rise to an astounding $50,000 a night!

Here’s the number one hotel room together with the rest of the list:
1. Royal Villa at Grand Resort Lagonissi, Athens from 45,000 per night
The suite offers guests a private version of everything imaginable; heated pool, steam room, private beach, private butler, chef or pianist, everything is possible!

2. Hugh Hefner Sky Villa, Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas from $40,000 per night
3. Ty Warner Penthouse, Four Seasons, New York from $34,000 per night
4. Royal Penthouse Suite, President Wilson Hotel, Geneva from $33,000 per night
5. Bridge Suite at The Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas from $25,000 per night
6. Ritz Carlton Suite, The Ritz-Carlton, Moscow from $18,200 per night
7. Royal Suite, Burj Al Arab, Dubai from $18,000 per night
8. Royal Armleder Suite, Le Richemond, Geneva from $17,500 per night
9. Royal Suite, Four Seasons George V, Paris from $16,000 per night
10. Imperial Suite, Park Hyatt-Vendome, Paris from $15,500 per night

Tempted!  Well who wouldn’t be, but if it’s a little over your budget and you would still like a fantastic holiday of a lifetime experience call Ultimate Destinations travel agent on 01923 284148 or email info@ultimatedestinations.co.uk

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