New York
Along with all the museums and attractions of New York, one of the most pleasurable pastimes is shopping. They’ve got great department stores that cater for all tastes and budgets. If you love cutting-edge fashion and don’t mind maxing out on your credit card, head for Barney’s New York a major department store in the Big Apple. Plan your weekend to coincide with the twice-annual sale and you may not wince so much at the price tags. You can’t go shopping in New York and not visit Bloomingdale’s; in fact you can’t not come to New York and not visit the iconic department store. There’s a huge range of merchandise up for grabs and Martine’s chocolates on the 6th floor and the frozen yoghurt in the basement café are treats not to be missed. Another famous department store is Macy’s that sells everything from cutlery to clothing at reasonable prices. They have regular sales that are great fun. And you can hop over the pond to New York this spring on flights starting from £299. Or choose a package weekend break for two people flying with British Airways from London Heathrow to Newark with 3 nights in the Westin New York Times Square, a four star hotel, for £1550.56.
Marrakech
If you fancy something completely different, then I recommend that you visit Marrakech and wander around the souks there. The souks in Marrakech are the best in Morocco and if you like haggling for a bargain surrounded by noise and the smell of spices, then you’ll have a fantastic time. The souks are situated of the Djemma el Fna, a square that is the centre and heart of the city, and can be a bit of a labyrinth as you wander around. You can hire a guide to help you through the maze but getting lost is part of the fun. Moroccans are wonderfully friendly and if you do get lost just ask for directions back to Djemma el Fna. The souks sell everything from wooden and metal goods, to spices and chickens. It is part of the culture to haggle for your purchase and great fun to come away with a bargain. Top tip to haggle is to half the vendor’s first asking price and start from there. Remember this is part of their culture and you’re supposed to enjoy the experience. If you walk away, this generally brings the price down but remember there are loads of souks further in selling exactly the same product. The cheapest flight for an April break to Marrakech was £248 using the national carrier, Royal Air Maroc, flying from London Heathrow. Easyjet flies out of London Gatwick and the cheapest flight was £324. A weekend package for two people, flights and three nights in a five star hotel costs £1159 to this most exotic of destinations.
Paris
Paris has to be on anybody’s list of best shopping destinations; just think of haute couture, jewellery and fine food and wine. But one of the great things about shopping in the French capital is the flea markets - the biggest ones in the world. It’s a wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning, browsing through an assortment of wonders while munching on your pain de chocolat and drinking a café noir. Then head to the Haussman boulevard department stores and gaze at the French style in microcosm while admiring the buildings themselves. Some of the architecture is stunning. For those interested in fashion and not undaunted by the prices then go to the rue des Francs-Bourgeois near the Place des Vosges, while the rue Saint-Placide close to the Montparnasse metro station specialises in discount fashion. Travelling to Paris is easy with regular flights from airports around the country as well as almost hourly departures from St Pancreas on Eurostar. Return flights to Paris start at £62 on easyJet and £69 on Eurostar. Or a weekend package from London Luton, flying easyJet, staying three nights in a three star hotel, costs £254 per person on a bed and breakfast basis.
Madrid
Madrid is the best city in Spain to go shopping and one of the first places to head when you arrive in the capital city is Gran Via. Gran Via are where you’ll the birthplaces of brands such as Zara, Pull and Bear and Straivarius the Inditex chains owned by Amancio Ortego Gaona. The Principe Pio is a bus and train hub that also houses a modern shopping mall. This is a great place to window shop if it’s raining outside. If you want to follow in the footsteps of Victoria Beckham and other footballer’s wives then Ortega y Gasset is your place and close by you’ll find ABC Serrano, a shopping mall with some of the most expensive shopping outlets in Europe. You can fly to Madrid Airport from London City for £187 on Lufthansa or choose a weekend package. A great deal for April is a four-night package from Manchester flying in Czech Airlines and staying in a five star hotel for just £727 - and that’s for two people.
London
Finally, for a shopping destination, you just can’t miss out London. The capital has everything from great department stores such as Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and of course Harrods to boutiques like Bread and Honey to the classic tailoring of Saville Row. And there are loads more, including charity shops, car boot sales and auctions, every type of shopping experience that a hardened shopper could hope for. London is accessible from across the country by coach, train and air, having five airports with direct transport links into the centre of the city. Deals this April include a four-night stay in a three-star hotel on a bed and breakfast basis flying from Edinburgh to Stansted Airport, cost £399. Of course, you can also jump on a bus and a return fare will cost you from £15 leaving you much more money to spend in the spring sales.