Everyone loves hitting the shops in search of bargain, and sometimes, people heading off on holiday will want to try and factor in the opportunity to visit the malls and partake in a little retail therapy.
With that in mind, we’ve pulled together some of the best destinations for shopping - some of which are close to home, and some that are slightly further afield…
Dubai
Dubai is a great place to head for a shopping holiday, partly because of the fact that it’s one destination where you can find everything you could possibly want under one roof…
There are plenty of places in Dubai where you can go shopping but the Dubai Mall - one of the largest malls anywhere in the world is arguably the best.
Opened back in 2008, the mall is home to more than 1,000 individual retailers that include some of the biggest names in fashion, beauty, jewellery and electronics, with ten of millions of visitors heading through the doors every year.
Alongside the shops, there are various leisure facilities within the Mall, which include an aquarium, a Virtual Reality park, cinema and countless restaurants and bars.
It’s far from the only mall in the Emirate, with the likes of the Mall of the Emirates, Ibn Battuta Mall and Dubai Marina Mall also worth visiting, whilst you could elect to head away from the malls and instead explore the traditional souks to barter for a bargain.
If you’re looking for jewellery then the Gold Souk is where you can treat yourself whilst there are also markets focused around perfumes, spices and textiles.
In short, whatever you might be looking for, you’ll find somewhere in Dubai…
New York
It’s impossible to do an article like this and not mention New York - which is arguably the top destination for savvy shoppers planning an overseas trip.
The list of famous stores in the Big Apple is well known, with the likes of Macy’s and Bloomingdales being instantly recognisable names to people from all corners of the globe and stores such as Tiffany’s - made famous by the 1960s movie - and toy store FAO Schwarz being tourist attractions in their own right.
As well as major names, New York has countless smaller boutiques where there are bargains to be had and it’s a same story in the many markets that spring up daily all around the city.
New York is particularly appealing in the run up to Christmas and the festivities are in full swing, there are few places that can match it.
Paris
Paris is a city that is know for having a certain 'je ne sais quoi' and is one of the top European destinations for shoppers - particularly if they have even the slightest interest in the world of fashion.
The likes of Versace, Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Dior have flagship stores located in the French capital but if the prices there are a little out of reach, you’ll also find plenty of high-quality chains that include a number of names you’ll know back home.
That said, a little window shopping never did any harm, especially when you consider that many of the big designer stores are found close to a popular area like the Champs Elysées.
If artisan jewellery or eclectic designs created by small businesses are what you are looking for then Paris has that covered too, with areas like the Marais Quarter being particularly well-visited.
The fact that Paris is only a short flight away means a weekend shopping trip can also be slotted in with relative ease.
Milan
If you want to go slighter further than Paris in search of high end fashion, then Milan is also worth considering for an overseas shopping adventure.
The Italian city is another top destination if you love fashion and you could end up being a real trendsetter if you manage to grab the freshest styles that have yet to make it back home.
The big fashion houses - including the likes of Gucci and Armani - have a presence on the Milan streets, with the districts of Quadrilatero della Moda and Via Della Spiga being the best places to head for top designer wares.
It’s not all about the expensive options however, as Milan also has your regular chain stores and smaller independent boutiques, as well as areas dedicated to jewellery and arts.
For the very best bargains, the historic market in Fiera Di Sinigaglia sells pretty much everything in one location - and is the place to go if you want to barter for a better deal.
Tokyo
Not all people who want to go to shopping for fashion purchases and although you can certainly follow the latest trends on a trip to Tokyo, the Japanese capital is probably the ideal place to visit if you’re a lover of electronics.
Japan is known for being the home of some of the leading electronic brands, and there are some fantastic bargains to be had on the very latest technology during a trip to Tokyo, where the electronics stores can be bigger than the department stores you’ll find elsewhere.
As well as designer fashion boutiques, Tokyo offers the chance to visit unique stores selling all manner of traditional handicrafts. Fans of anime and manga - both of which are huge in Japanese culture - are also in for a treat, with speciality stores piled high with goods.