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Most popular shopping sales destinations

With the Australian dollar still mighty against the US dollar, and continuing to perform well against other major world currencies, there has never been a better time for Australians to travel abroad for their shopping fix.

And with the northern hemisphere's January sales around the corner, it's a perfect time to book in for some retail therapy to beat the January holiday blues. And with some of the prices slashed by up to 70%, savings on purchases can actually help fund the cost of your trip.

But if travellers don't manage to head up north in time for the sales, there are plenty of other places worldwide over the next few months where they can still get their retail fix.

Here are some of the recommendations of the best shopping destinations and events worldwide starting with the January sales shopping destinations and looking further ahead.

Top 5 January sales destinations:

With London, Paris and New York topping the charts as the most booked destinations by Expedia.com.au customers last January, it's no surprise that these will continue to be favourite destinations this coming sales season.

London

The mother of all shopping destinations, London has an amazing array of shops which attract shopoholics from all over the world at any time of the year. The massive annual sales season starts the day after Christmas and lasts for most of the month of January. London has fantastic shopping areas, from the famous Knightsbridge, home of department stores Harrods and Selfridges, and the buzzing high street retail precincts of Bond and Oxford streets and Kensington High Street, while the stylish Kings Road in Chelsea and Fulham Road further south provide a touch more luxury. Beware though: London's January sales are famous for attracting huge crowds and queues as people line up to snap up the amazing bargains. Get there early in the day!

Paris

Not to be outdone by its cousin across the Channel, the January sales in Paris usually begin on the first Wednesday in January. Over a six week period, all Parisian shops and department stores, such as Galleries Lafayette, Printemps, Au Bon Marchι or BHV offer the best in famous Parisian fashion at sale prices.

Shoppers have the choice to either swoop in on the sales as soon as they begin or wait for reductions to increase from some 30%-50% - and in some cases 70% - over the fixed six-week sale period.

Milan

Milan is Italy's fashion capital, and it oozes style. In this city the January sales begin on the first weekend of January and last for around six weeks. The city's stores boast designer labels selling for up to 30% less than in other countries, and prices tumble even further during the post-Christmas sales.

Most of the city's main shopping areas are around Milan's finest landmark, the 13th-century gothic cathedral on the expansive Piazza del Duomo. Those with cash to burn should make a beeline for Via Monte Napoleone and Via della Spiga, east of the Duomo. Also including Via Sant'Andrea, and dubbed the 'Golden Triangle', this is Milan's answer to Madison Square, housing the most exotic designer emporia and fanciful catwalk designs. You can buy everything from suits to shoes to sportswear, and rub shoulders with the rich and glamorous at the same time.

New York

The dive in the US dollar means shopping in New York has never been better value for Australians. Depending on the retail store, the start of the winter sales season can be the day after Christmas or at the beginning of January. Even with all the attractions and events in New York, nothing beats a day of shopping at the amazing selection of shops in New York City. Plan a stroll down Fifth Avenue to find some of the finest shops in the world, including Bloomingdales, Saks and the famous Macy's – reputedly the world's largest store.

Hong Kong

There are major discounts to be had during Hong Kong's January sales, which last through to the end of February. Hong Kong's Central district houses many shimmering skyscrapers and marbled shopping atriums and malls.

The contrast between the old world markets and designer boutiques provides variety and excitement to any shopping day. The Landmark, The Galleria, Prince's Building, Alexandra House and the ifc mall are the main shopping centres, with designer shops and exclusive brand names in abundance. Two parallel streets in Central known as "The Lanes", Li Yuen Street East and Li Yuen Street West are a riot of stalls hawking everything from inexpensive clothing, watches and costume jewellery to luggage and shoes.

Admiralty too is famous for its brand-name luxury goods. Pacific Place, one of Hong Kong's most popular malls, is the ideal place to go in this area with some 130-plus outlets.

Other shopping events to diarise in 2008:

Dubai Shopping Festival (February)

With visitor spending topping over .2bn in last year's festival, next year's season is likely to be no less extravagant. There are over 40 themed malls, souqs, street precincts, and thousands of shops and boutiques to tempt shoppers with dazzling displays, attractive price-offs, discounts, bargains and special offers on the world's finest brands in fashion, jewellery, watches, cosmetics, home accessories, furniture and electronics.

More info...

The Great Singapore Sale (May – July)

An eight-week "shopathon" with discounts of up to 70% on just about anything. From the central shopping belt of Orchard Road and Marina Bay to the shopping precincts in the Heartlands, shopaholics will find fantastic value on fashion, watches, jewellery and electronics in literally hundreds of shopping malls, many open until midnight.

More info...

Hong Kong Shopping Festival (June – August)

Organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the annual Hong Kong Shopping Festival is a shopper's paradise. Roughly covering four main areas, retailers selling fashion and beauty products, jewellery and watches, electronics and traditional Chinese goods take part in this fun event. Ranging from special in-store promotions and competitions to live entertainment and exhibitions, almost all corners of Hong Kong's many shopping districts take part in the event. Bargains galore!

Great shopping destinations and precincts around the world:

The Souk, Marrakesh (Morocco)

Shopping in the Marrakesh souk ("market") is an experience of a lifetime – and one of the more challenging shopping excursions. Bargaining over goods is a way of life in North Africa, which can be daunting but ultimately a worthwhile experience, especially when you walk away with a piece of clothing, jewelry, pottery or carpet at a price substantially less than you would have paid for the same item back home. Even if you don't buy anything, this vast bazaar is easily one of the most atmospheric places in the world in which to lose yourself: its narrow cobblestone streets are suffused with such exotic sights and smells – stained-glass lanterns hang beside meat and vegetables, carpets lie next to mounds of spices.

Microcentro, Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Much of the shopping in South America's most beautiful city is centered in Microcentro (downtown) along the streets of Calle Florida and Calle Lavalle, both of which teem with chain stores and boutique shops (the more expensive shops are located in the more upscale neighbourhood of Recoleta and Palermo). No trip to Buenos Aires would be complete without buying several leather items – the city is known for its abundance of high-quality leather goods that cost a fraction of what they do elsewhere in the world. Head to the leather district for the biggest selection and return home with a superb handbag, pair of shoes, jacket and more at excellent value.

Shibuya district, Tokyo (Japan)

Rated in Forbes' top 10 shopping places in the world, the trendy and fashionable Shibuya district of Tokyo, especially its 109 Building (ichimaruku) has many trendy clothing shops and boutiques. It is very popular among young people, especially teens, and it is famous as the origin of the kogal subculture. Kogals are known for wearing platform boots, miniskirt, copious amounts of makeup, hair colouring (usually blond), artificial suntans and designer accessories.

South China Mall, Hong Kong (China)

Located in Dongguan City, just north of Hong Kong, this is now the world's largest shopping centre since its opening in 2005. This "international mall" has seven "zones" modelled on cities and regions around the world: San Francisco; The Caribbean; Amsterdam; Venice; The Rainforests; The Champs Elysees (Paris); California. It has a staggering 1,500 stores, a park with water slides, roller coasters, an Imax theatre, cinemas and gondola rides on the canal that circumnavigates the massive mall.

West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton (Canada)

North America's largest shopping mall with over 800 stores and 100 restaurants, it also includes a giant water park, man made lake, ice skating rink, two mini-golf courses, 21 movie theatres, casino, and amusement park with 25 rides and attractions – not to mention a "KidTropolis", a city created for kids to learn and experience "real life"...

Provided by: Expedia.com.au

Expedia.com.au also offers some helpful tips to make a shopping trip less stressful and more hassle free.

Top Shopping Travel Tips:

• Take an empty bag, or even pack multiple empty bags within a bag, and pack light
• Take comfortable shoes to make sure your can cope with hours on your feet
• Make a list of must-get purchases before you head out
• Research the best shops at your destination
• Learn some basic shopping phrases in the local language like "how much is that?" etc.
• Understand the customs in different countries, bargaining could be part of the fun in one country, but a big no-no in others
• Carry a calculator, or make yourself up a simple currency table with the current rate for , , and for easy converting.
• Always make sure you know the latest exchange rates
• Be aware of your airline's weight limit for checked luggage if you've found yourself over indulging.
• Investigate freighting costs back to Australia as this can often be much cheaper than excess baggage costs on airlines
• Investigate any importing restrictions
• Different countries use different size measurements (e.g., for shoes), so know in advance your measurements and how they translate