For anyone who loves hitting the shops for a touch of retail therapy, a visit to a local market or a trip to the nearest mall is likely to be a big part of an overseas holiday.
In fact, for some people, a holiday is all about the shopping opportunities that are available and plays a key part in the whole planning process.
But where are the best options for a shopping holiday? Here, we explore just a few of the many options…
New York
You can’t really do a list like this and not include New York, with the Big Apple widely regarded as THE place to go if you fancy hitting the shops.
Here, you can expect to find all of the big names from the world of fashion as well as high-end jewellers and major electrical outlets - offering a wide range of options for even the most savvy of shoppers.
Alongside those, you can expect to find any number of boutique stores that are unique to the city as well as bustling markets where you can grab a bargain.
Dubai
Becoming increasingly popular with overseas visitors, Dubai has also become of the top destinations for shoppers - thanks in part to the creation of the Dubai Mall.
The largest mall in the world, it is home to every possible kind of store including a number of big names - and the first Bloomingdales to be located outside the USA.
Very much a tourist destination in its own right when you add in things like a cinema complex, an ice rink, countless restaurants and dancing fountains, it’s something of a shoppers’ paradise and it isn’t the only major mall in the Emirate either.
When you add in traditional Arab souks, you have a destination that is set to become a major rival to New York.
Milan
When it comes to style, there are few cities in the world that can hold a torch to Milan - which is widely regarded as one of the four fashion capitals.
The likes of Armani, Dolce & Gabbana and Versace are all headquartered in the city and have major stores selling the very latest designs - some of which may not yet be available elsewhere.
Should the top boutiques be a bit above your pay grade then you need not worry as Milan is also famous for its outlet shopping, where nearly-new outfits can be available at a fraction of the cost.
However, with Milan being such a market leader, you may well return home to find that your holiday bargain is only just becoming the height of fashion - or may not have even hit the shops…
Tokyo
If Milan is a go-to destination for fashion, then Tokyo is very much a market-leader when it comes to electronics.
If you are looking for the very latest gadgets then the Japanese capital will be hard to beat but it’s far from the only reason why shopping fans flock to Tokyo every year.
Huge department stores that dwarf those you will be familiar with back home stock everything you could possibly be looking for and from the moment you walk through the door, you can expect to enjoy the friendly service for which the Japanese are famous.
Marrakech
As a left-field option, how about taking a trip to North Africa to visit Marrakech - one of the largest cities on Moroccan soil?
This isn’t the place to go in search of the biggest global names, but is hard to beat if you enjoy seeking out a bargain or bartering for a better deal in traditional markets.
There are numerous souks where you’ll get to experience all the sights, sounds and smells of Morocco as you stroll between the different stalls where you can find all sorts of hand made products - from clothes to textiles and stunning African cuisine.