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Archive for the ‘Shopping Ideas’ Category

Some well known cities have developed reputations as designer fashion centres, others for shopping malls that extend for blocks yet are completely hidden from sight, unless you know where to look. One city has a shopping area so famous that it helped spawn a TV show. In this southern California town, the boutiques compete with visiting movie stars for your attention.

Montreal, Quebec

Montreal offers a number of shopping opportunities amid the cobblestone streets of Old Town and in its more modern downtown core. But this French flavoured Quebec locale has a secret hidden beneath the city streets. La Villa Souterraine is an underground city, connected by the city’s Metro line and more than 20 miles of tunnels and passageways. Built for Expo 67, the entire structure is one big shopping mall. Restaurants, shops as well as office and condo towers all have subterranean entrances leading to the mall and its Metro stops. Bell Centre, home ice for the Montreal Canadian’s NHL team, the World Trade Centre and Eaton Centre are all part of this hidden city. Imagine, shopping in the middle of a Quebec winter storm and never having to step foot in snow.

New York, New York

New York is known for its first-rate theatre, the Yankees and the Empire State Building. But it is also home to world class fashion designers and some of the most upscale shops in the United States. Lower Manhattan is home to some of the largest discount department stores in the city. Chinatown is filled with herbal stores, fish markets and general stores selling everything from fortune cookies to quirky souvenirs. The Orchard Street Shopping District on the lower east side is a mixture of bargain shops and pricier boutiques. SoHo is home to advent-garde fashion designers, art galleries and high-end household stores. The most famous shopping area is Fifth Avenue, hosting iconic department stores that have been open for decades. Herald Square, site of the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Times Square, seen around the world on New Year’s Eve, are nearby. Restaurants abound throughout New York’s Midtown, though some require reservations and can be booked-up for weeks, or even months in advance.

Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills

Part of the fun of shopping on Rodeo Drive is never knowing who you will run into. Long the haunt of fashion cautious movie stars, this three-block long street offers nearly a hundred upscale boutique shops carrying designer fashions, jewellery and household goods. Though luxury cars are a common site along this roadway, the Rodeo Drive Concours D’Elegance held each June on Father’s Day weekend brings out all the classics. The street, closed to through traffic, is filled with vintage cars and motorcycles from around the globe. September brings the annual Fashion’s Night Out, where a 60-foot tall Ferris wheel dominates Rodeo Drive. Present a purchase receipt and your ride is free.

Holidays are enhanced by a nice bit of shopping. If you travel by plane to your shopping spree, don’t forget to leave some room in your luggage for your new treasures. If you buy more than you can carry most stores, particularly the high-end variety, are happy to ship your purchases home.

When visiting any of these great shopping cities, it is worth checking out the great American Express rewards on offer, which contains some amazing offers and deals for loyal customers.