Shopping — women's favorite pastime on vacation

Suppose you like to vacation in the Emirates and when the time for a holiday comes you book tours to the UAE without even considering another destination. Most likely this simply means you already know about the UAE's shopping, which is generous in bargains. The Emirates are essentially a trading zone with a very low import duty (about 4%). This is because there is virtually no industry here — mainly oil extraction and tourism, and some agriculture.

This low import duty makes prices in the UAE unrealistically low — even lower than in the country where the goods were produced. When buying luxury items, the price difference can be very significant. And with many such purchases, you can recoup the cost of the trip itself.

Sharjah and Dubai are the two emirates with the largest number of markets, exhibitions and malls. In Dubai you can visit the market called "Deira" and buy whatever you want, bargaining the price down by half. Another way to acquire top-quality items is to methodically tour shopping centers and specialized stores, the brand boutiques that line several streets of Dubai.

Treat yourself to a visit to the local gold souk. A sparkling array of jewellery at the most attractive prices will put you in a great mood! A gold market similar to Dubai's also exists in Sharjah.
If you usually prefer tours to Thailand or simply adore the Land of a Thousand Smiles and its wonderful nature, there's plenty to spend on in this hospitable and warm country.

What to bring back from this tropical fairy tale? Thai silk and cotton, silver items with niello (blackened silver), magnificent bronze, ceramics and pewter goods, gemstones and jewellery (sometimes very beautiful and affordable), and a wide selection of folk handicrafts.

Here you can buy inexpensive sports and leisurewear of very good quality. High-class tailors work around the clock in Bangkok and major tourist centres: have a decent suit or an original evening dress made for yourself.

Most retail outlets in Thailand are located near hotels. Here you'll find silk shops, antique and art stores selling ready-made women's clothing, men's tailoring ateliers, leather goods stores, and so on.

The largest and most interesting market in Bangkok is the Chatuchak weekend market, operating on Saturdays and Sundays in Chatuchak Park. Everything that grows and is produced in Thailand is sold there.

Perhaps you love the Indonesian archipelago and the small islands in the Indian Ocean. Holidays in Bali are very popular among even the most demanding Russians! Here you can buy wooden carved paintings, statuettes and animal figures made of ebony, large wooden panels, and pieces of furniture. Wooden carved panels are especially famous — they can be very three-dimensional and look impressive. Try to visit small art salons, shops and stalls. Prices in large supermarkets are twice as high as in small shops. And you can't bargain in supermarkets.

Both in winter and summer, private tours to Egypt are popular year-round among Russian tourists. Prices for local souvenirs are usually low; the problem is finding something truly artistic. In Egypt you may sometimes find African masks or African wooden sculptures, usually from Somalia. Lamps with handmade colored glass are worth attention — sometimes very romantic and attractive. Traders often concede as much as half off their first quoted price.

Bring back something with a bit of Egyptian sunshine — perhaps simply "Kaf Maryam" — the Hand of Mary, an unremarkable dry bundle of herbs that opens up in water, turns green and blooms with blue flowers!
Private tours to Turkey offer the opportunity to buy some very interesting leather clothing. These can be unusual trousers or a long winter skirt, as well as children's clothing — cute leather jackets, sheepskin coats and small children's fur coats in various colours, light and very beautiful. All of this costs significantly less than in Russia!

We wish you a great holiday and the most successful shopping!