By Jeff from shopnfly
FOMO or “fear of missing out” is a trend taking the world by storm. We all have had this feeling of missing out on a party, a job opportunity, or anything really that you felt you HAD to be a part of. Well shopping is no different. Whether young or old, shopping is a major part of the travel experience….20% of total travel expenses to be exact. Each traveler has his or her own style of unique shopping, but with every style comes different tips and tricks to ensure you are getting the better end of the deal. Never fear on missing out on shopping opportunities again with these three tips to great shopping.
1. Bargaining at the “Tourist Trap”
The “Tourist Trap” is a term travelers are all too familiar with. A witty T-shirt for 20 Euro? A porcelain statue for 35 Euro that will break five minutes after your purchase? Look, no ones judging. We all love those touristy novelties and after all, if you don’t purchase your loved ones something, anything really, you’re coming home to almost certain animosity. So if you absolutely must shop for those “must have” 30 Euro hats, then try to bargain! It is a tip often overlooked by travelers because bartering is always associated with an uncomfortable situation. What most travelers don’t realize is that many of these retailers over-price their products with the expectation that tourists will haggle down the price. Try this line the next time you’re purchasing a novelty item in a tourist shop. “Hey, I saw a shop two blocks over with the same shirt for half the price!” Watch the salesman’s face cringe as he offers you the same item for a “special” discounted price. Worse case scenario he will reject your offer, but from personal experience you have nothing to lose and a whole lot to gain.
2. Boutique Shopping
Before emptying your wallet on the retail items at the hotel gift shop, all travelers must take into account the local market. Jewelry, clothes, beauty products are all popular items that are guaranteed to be available for conservative prices at local boutiques. Every culture has a certain flare that tourists can and should take advantage of. In my recent travels to Mykonos, Greece I was constantly stressed to find my significant other the perfect gift. She loves jewelry but my budget did not allow for extravagant shopping. Experiencing extreme FOMO shopping I took to the streets and was delighted in what I discovered. Local boutique shops offer high quality often hand-made jewelry, clothes, and souvenirs for the price of a pint at the local nightclub. Boutiques pride themselves on their work, so you can be sure the item is of high quality. If for some reason you still find the prices too steep try tip #1 and haggle the price down.
3. Duty Free
Duty Free shopping is quite possibly the most overlooked perk of traveling. For some it is merely “that shopping center” which is quickly dismissed as you sprint to your connecting flight. However smart travelers know that Airport Duty Free offers brand name items for subsidized prices. If a fine bottle of wine, or brand new shoes is on your shopping list, the Duty Free must be made a priority. Thankfully many online shopping platforms such as shopnfly have made travel shopping a breeze by allowing you to scope out your items pre-hand and simply pick up the product upon arrival to your destination. Logging onto www.shopnfly.com allows users to discover great shopping deals while traveling based on their flight itinerary. No haggling or a backbreaking search to find the perfect gift. If using the Duty Free method I recommend setting money aside in the beginning of your travels. This way you can ensure that you stay to your travel budget and ensure you acquire your desired items as you leave in the airport Duty Free.
We look forward to traveling all year long. We slave away at our jobs daydreaming of the perfect vacation. So whether you’re trekking through the third world, or flying to the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, these three tips can help you reach the best balance of the travel shop experience.
FOMO or “fear of missing out” is a trend taking the world by storm. We all have had this feeling of missing out on a party, a job opportunity, or anything really that you felt you HAD to be a part of. Well shopping is no different. Whether young or old, shopping is a major part of the travel experience….20% of total travel expenses to be exact. Each traveler has his or her own style of unique shopping, but with every style comes different tips and tricks to ensure you are getting the better end of the deal. Never fear on missing out on shopping opportunities again with these three tips to great shopping.
1. Bargaining at the “Tourist Trap”
The “Tourist Trap” is a term travelers are all too familiar with. A witty T-shirt for 20 Euro? A porcelain statue for 35 Euro that will break five minutes after your purchase? Look, no ones judging. We all love those touristy novelties and after all, if you don’t purchase your loved ones something, anything really, you’re coming home to almost certain animosity. So if you absolutely must shop for those “must have” 30 Euro hats, then try to bargain! It is a tip often overlooked by travelers because bartering is always associated with an uncomfortable situation. What most travelers don’t realize is that many of these retailers over-price their products with the expectation that tourists will haggle down the price. Try this line the next time you’re purchasing a novelty item in a tourist shop. “Hey, I saw a shop two blocks over with the same shirt for half the price!” Watch the salesman’s face cringe as he offers you the same item for a “special” discounted price. Worse case scenario he will reject your offer, but from personal experience you have nothing to lose and a whole lot to gain.
2. Boutique Shopping
Before emptying your wallet on the retail items at the hotel gift shop, all travelers must take into account the local market. Jewelry, clothes, beauty products are all popular items that are guaranteed to be available for conservative prices at local boutiques. Every culture has a certain flare that tourists can and should take advantage of. In my recent travels to Mykonos, Greece I was constantly stressed to find my significant other the perfect gift. She loves jewelry but my budget did not allow for extravagant shopping. Experiencing extreme FOMO shopping I took to the streets and was delighted in what I discovered. Local boutique shops offer high quality often hand-made jewelry, clothes, and souvenirs for the price of a pint at the local nightclub. Boutiques pride themselves on their work, so you can be sure the item is of high quality. If for some reason you still find the prices too steep try tip #1 and haggle the price down.
3. Duty Free
Duty Free shopping is quite possibly the most overlooked perk of traveling. For some it is merely “that shopping center” which is quickly dismissed as you sprint to your connecting flight. However smart travelers know that Airport Duty Free offers brand name items for subsidized prices. If a fine bottle of wine, or brand new shoes is on your shopping list, the Duty Free must be made a priority. Thankfully many online shopping platforms such as shopnfly have made travel shopping a breeze by allowing you to scope out your items pre-hand and simply pick up the product upon arrival to your destination. Logging onto www.shopnfly.com allows users to discover great shopping deals while traveling based on their flight itinerary. No haggling or a backbreaking search to find the perfect gift. If using the Duty Free method I recommend setting money aside in the beginning of your travels. This way you can ensure that you stay to your travel budget and ensure you acquire your desired items as you leave in the airport Duty Free.
We look forward to traveling all year long. We slave away at our jobs daydreaming of the perfect vacation. So whether you’re trekking through the third world, or flying to the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, these three tips can help you reach the best balance of the travel shop experience.
RSS Feed