How to Be a Savvy Shopper in Europe

Europe is a shopper's paradise, but it can also be a bargain hunter's nightmare, especially in areas that are popular with tourists. Good deals are everywhere, though ' you just need to know how and where to look.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Luggage Sets
• Collector's Guides
• Travel Guides
• Credit Cards And Loans
• Travelers' Checks
• Packaging Materials
• Packaging Tape

1. Before you leave home, find out how much you are allowed to bring or send home without paying tariffs or duties. Also find out if there are any restrictions on the types of goods you can bring home.

2. Plan to buy items that the city or area is known for ' for example, look for leather goods in Florence, or fine wines in Burgundy. Do your homework before you leave home, and try to find out where you stand the best chance of getting what you want. Check collectors' guides to find out what to look for and to ensure authenticity.

3. If you are shipping purchases home, pack them very carefully, and insure them ' or buy them with a credit card that offers damage insurance.

4. Stay away from obvious tourist traps. Shops near railway stations, in airports, or along tourist promenades will usually charge more for any given item than stores away from the tourist crush.

5. Shop around. Compare prices in a number of locations before you buy. This takes a little extra time, but it's worthwhile, especially for big-ticket items.

6. Ask about tax refunds on purchases. Many countries will refund the value-added tax, or VAT, usually on purchases over a certain amount, when you leave.

7. Shop at street markets and flea markets. You can often bargain your way to a good deal, and you will almost certainly find treasures that you would never see at home - as long as you are patient enough to sift through the junk.

8. Ask yourself if an item is really worth buying abroad or if you could get it just as easily at your local department store. It's easy to get caught up in the romance of Europe and to spend far too much money on something that is easily available ' and just as cheap ' at home.

9. Bargain, when appropriate. Haggling is much more common in southern Europe, and is often considered rather rude in the north, although flea markets and street markets anywhere are always fair game for bargaining. Once you agree on a price, you have to buy. If you walk away and come back a couple of times, you may get a sweeter deal.

10. Shop at the end of your trip if you are trying to travel light. Bring an empty suitcase with you if you know you will be buying a lot, or arrange to ship purchases home.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to do a lot of shopping but you don't want to bring extra bags along, pack some clothes that you can wear and discard, or ship your clothes home in a cardboard box to make room for your purchases.
• Try not to sound too enthusiastic about a particular item if you hope to make a deal. Act as if you could take it or leave it, and let the vendor try to convince you it's worth having ' preferably by lowering the price significantly.
• Do your flea market shopping early in the morning, when the selection is best, or late in the day, when vendors are eager to make a sale.
• Watch out for pickpockets, especially at street markets and flea markets. Try to consolidate your purchases so that you aren't struggling with multiple bags and boxes. Pickpockets look for targets who can be easily distracted or diverted.
• Avoid deals that sound too good to be true ' they almost always are. Be especially wary of "designer" items.
• Don't buy anything that could be an illegal or controlled substance in your home country. This includes drugs, exotic or endangered animal parts and pelts, and even some foods.

on 11/22/2005 When purchasing smaller items or paying for restaurant checks, avoid using credit cards. Instead, use your ATM check card to get cash from a nearby ATM machine. ATM withdrawals are converted at a much better rate than credit purchases.