Once you're home after a trip and your suitcase is back under the bed, the memories start to fade unless you've brought something back with you: trinkets, textiles, that perfect linen shirt, a rug you'll always fight over. Just something that takes you back.
Each destination has its own specialities; things you'll only find if you know where (and how) to look. Being armed with a bit of research can help you avoid the overpriced knock-offs and point you instead toward the pieces truly worth packing an extra bag for.
So, from souks and side streets to some of the world's best department stores, here's your guide to shopping well abroad and flying home with something far better than fridge magnets.
Bangkok
Bring an extra suitcase and a sense of humour. Malls here are stacked twelve floors high, markets sprawl for blocks, and there’s always something you didn’t know you needed until it’s in your bag. It’s chaotic, addictive, and weirdly efficient.
Here's where to start digging:
- Go to Chatuchak Weekend Market early in the morning; it’s the world's largest weekend market, with over 8,000 stalls. You'll find everything from handmade ceramics and vintage Levi's to traditional Thai beauty products. Just don't forget to bargain over prices.
- If you prefer indoor shopping, head to Bangkok's mega-malls. Siam Paragon has high-end fashion and fancy skincare, while CentralWorld has more local designers, tech, and Thai brands. Both go all-out for seasonal sales.
- Talad Rot Fai Night Market is a must for vintage lovers. You’ll find retro furniture, classic signage, rare collectables, and racks of second-hand fashion. The market also has a great vibe for street food and live music.
- If you love to rummage, Sampeng Lane in Chinatown is a wholesale alleyway full of cheap textiles, jewellery supplies, and quirky kitchenware. It's hectic, but there are real gems if you take your time.
- Smaller and more local than the famous Damnoen Saduak, the Taling Chan floating market in wooden boats sells everything from mango sticky rice to potted orchids.
Off-peak return reward seats from London to Bangkok cost 100,000 Avios plus £405 in Premium Economy, and 200,000 Avios plus £575 in Business Class.
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Hong Kong
Hong Kong has more than its fair share of skyscrapers, but tucked away in between the concrete jungle are hidden alleys and nooks where you’ll find pop-up shops, artisan stalls, and one-off pieces you won’t get anywhere else..
Here's what’s worth your time (and baht):
- Head to Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui for high-end retail with a view. Harbour City has Chanel and Hermès stores, as well as waterfront strolls and skyline photo ops.
- Mong Kok's Ladies' Market is loud, colourful, and packed with bargains on everything, from jade trinkets and slogan tees to tech gear and sneakers. Grab some curry fish balls while you browse.
- You’ll find international brands as well as local fashion in Causeway Bay at Times Square and Fashion Walk. It's also the city's best people-watching spot.
- Sham Shui Po is a time capsule of fabric markets, second-hand gadgets, and vintage stalls. Apliu Street is chaotic but full of surprises.
- Temple Street Night Market is full of souvenirs, teacups, tarot readers, and sizzling street food after dark. It's Hong Kong in full colour.
Off-peak return reward seats from London to Hong Kong cost 100,000 Avios plus £405 in Premium Economy and 200,000 Avios plus £575 in Business Class.
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Marrakech
Did you know Sex and the City 2 was filmed in Marrakech? If that alone doesn't make you want to strap on your Manolos and head to the Red City, maybe this will. The Medina is packed with brass lanterns, hand-embroidered kaftans, and hidden stalls down winding alleys, Gueliz brings clean lines and cool concept stores, while over in Sidi Ghanem, you’ll find artists and designers actually making the stuff you'd buy.
When it comes to the question of things to do in Marrakech, the answer is only limited by your stamina and the number of days you have left.
Here's what we recommend:
- Get lost in the souks around Jemaa el-Fnaa. Look for leather pouffes, brass lanterns, ceramic tagines, and mountains of saffron.
- Shop for textiles, jewellery, and pottery at 33 Rue Majorelle near Majorelle Garden or head to Boutique Majorelle for YSL-inspired homewares.
- For high design with a local twist, explore Sidi Ghanem's warehouse studios, featuring V. Barkowski's luxe linens and Topolina's sun-drenched fashion.
- Gueliz brings French-Moroccan chic with laid-back cafés and boutiques like Atika for loafers and Michèle Baconnier for statement style.
- Don't leave without stocking up on hammam essentials; argan oil, savon noir, and rose soap at L'Art du Bain are perfect take-home treats.
Excited about things to do in Marrakech? Off-peak return Economy reward seats from London to Marrakech are 27,500 Avios plus £1. In Business Class, it's 48,500 Avios plus £25.
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Milan
This isn’t the Italy of postcards and pasta. Milan is sharp, stylish, and always moving. High fashion sets the pace, but it’s not all polished windows and runway gloss. There are the headline acts, of course: flagships, fashion houses, galleries that double as stores, but the city’s edge is in its details.
There's plenty to choose from at places such as the Milan shopping centre and more.
Here's what we recommend:
- Start at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the 19th-century arcade where Prada, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton share space with cafés and Campari spritzes under a massive glass dome.
- Via Monte Napoleone is Milan's crown jewel of fashion. This is the heart of the Quadrilatero d'Oro, where Hermès, Versace, and Valentino line the polished pavements.
- Corso Buenos Aires is Milan's longest shopping strip, packed with everything from Nike to Intimissimi.
- 10 Corso Como is Milan's most famous concept store, a mix of fashion, design, books and art in one beautiful, curated space.
- The Navigli District is a retro hunter's paradise. Think canalside vintage shops, quirky boutiques, and old-school charm.
- Don't miss La Rinascente, Milan's iconic department store beside the Duomo. It has ten floors of fashion and gourmet finds and a rooftop terrace with unbeatable views.
You can book an off-peak return reward seat from London to Milan for 18,500 Avios plus £1 in Economy and 30,000 Avios plus £25 in Business Class.
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New York
You've heard it all before: it’s the city that never sleeps, the Big Apple, the concrete jungle where dreams are made. And it's all true. Sure, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Central Park are on every postcard, but the real draw is New York's energy: bold and always one step ahead.
And then there's the shopping. The kind that starts with “just looking” and ends with an extra suitcase. It’s easy to lose track of time (and budget) when the options are this good.
Here's how to do it right:
- Wander SoHo’s cobblestone streets and choose from high fashion, indie labels, vintage gems, and cult skincare boutiques.
- Stroll down Fifth Avenue for fashion icons such as Gucci and Tiffany. If you visit during winter, don't miss the legendary Saks and Bergdorf Goodman holiday window displays.
- Head to the Flatiron District for quirky concept stores and local favourites like Fishs Eddy. You'll find NYC-themed dishware, cheeky tea towels, and souvenirs with serious style.
- Canal Street is a full-blown sensory overload. Visit for a whirlwind of knock-offs, souvenirs, and savvy haggling. Come with cash and a flexible mindset, as the experience is part of shopping and street theatre.
- The pace drops and the polish rises on Madison Avenue in the Upper East Side. This is old-money shopping: elegant boutiques and one-of-a-kind jewellers sit just steps from the Met and the leafy paths of Central Park.
- Make your way to Rockefeller Center, where family favourites like the LEGO Store, Nintendo NYC, and American Girl provide plenty of fun, especially during the festive season when the whole place lights up.
Off-peak return flights from London start at 85,000 Avios plus £305 in Premium Economy, or 160,000 Avios plus £375 in Business Class.
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Palma
There’s no single way to do this city, and that’s what makes it work. But one thing's for sure: you'll never run out of things to do in Palma. One moment, you're sipping a cortado under a Belle Époque balcony; the next, you're bargaining for handwoven baskets in a medieval alleyway.
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When it comes to things to do in Palma and the best shopping experiences, here's what we recommend:
- Stroll along Passeig del Born, Palma's most elegant shopping boulevard, lined with Belle Époque architecture and a curated mix of high-end Spanish designers, concept stores and international labels.
- Avinguda Jaume III delivers clean lines, fashion-forward boutiques, and a Mediterranean take on tailored cool.
- Wander the maze-like streets of the Old Town (Casco Antiguo) for handmade jewellery, woven baskets, traditional Mallorcan linens, and leather goods. Getting lost here is half the fun.
- You'll find vintage stores, local fashion designers, and indie galleries in Santa Catalina, which was once a fishing village.
- Stock up on cheeses, olives, sobrassada, and Balearic wine at Mercat de l'Olivar, Palma's beloved central market, or pick up a terracotta tagine for your next paella night.
- Find traditional ceramics at Terra Cuita, where every mug, plate, and jug is inspired by the island's light, sea, and folk heritage.
Off-peak return Economy reward seats from London to Palma cost just 23,500 Avios plus £1, while Business Class seats cost 40,000 Avios plus £25.
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Paris
If Paris doesn’t tempt you, we want to know what kind of inner peace you’ve found. For the rest of us, Paris is a dream worth chasing. It's a place of beauty and romance, where you can sip coffee on a terrace, shop like a local, and feel like the star of your own French film. And when it comes to shopping, few places can compete with this city.
If you’re wondering where to begin, here's what we recommend:
- Starting your Paris trip with a walk down the Champs-Élysées is a no-brainer. You'll find everything from Louis Vuitton to Sephora. Swing over to Avenue Montaigne in the Golden Triangle for Chanel, Dior, and Hermès in their full couture glory.
- Head to Galeries Lafayette Paris on Boulevard Haussmann, a department store with a stained-glass dome and rooftop view, packed with brands like Valentino, Longchamp and Guerlain. Nearby Printemps offers more of the same, with gourmet treats on the upper floors.
- Wander Le Marais’ stylish streets and explore independent boutiques, gourmet chocolatiers, and edgy French labels like Maje and Zadig & Voltaire.
- Duck into the lanes of Saint-Germain-des-Prés to browse antique bookstores, elegant homeware stores, and chic fashion labels. Don't miss a coffee at the iconic Café de Flore while you're at it.
- Explore the historic covered passages such as Galerie Vivienne and Passage du Grand Cerf. Glass roofs and Belle Époque architecture make a stunning backdrop for browsing jewellery, books, and art. Just nearby, Palais Royal hides more luxury boutiques behind its serene arcades.
- Climb Montmartre’s hills and explore Rue des Abbesses, where vintage stores and indie fashion boutiques are tucked between cafés and art galleries. Head east to the Marché Saint-Pierre district for fabrics and textiles galore.
- For designer discounts, take the RER train to La Vallée Village, an outlet destination just outside the city with major savings on Burberry, Marni, Valentino, and more.
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Off-peak return flights from London to Paris start at just 18,500 Avios plus £1 in Economy, or 30,000 Avios plus £25 in Business Class.
