DESTINATIONS CITY BREAKS
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1. Best for…wedding
dresses
Where? New York
Why? New York has an enduring
reputation as the shopping capital of
the world for brides. For a dress
worthy of an A-lister, head to Vera
Wang’s fl agship store on Madison
Avenue. Bargain hunters will fi nd
unbeatable prices at Bridal Garden,
the only non-profi t bridal boutique in
New York, while high-end secondhand
gowns can be bought at
Michael’s Consignment Store.
For a custom-made gown, visit
Banico, who will take about four
months to make a dress in any colour,
style or fabric.
Fifth Avenue’s Bergdorf Goodman
stocks frocks by top designers such
as Oscar de la Renta, Ulla-Maija,
Jenny Lee, Lela Rose and many
others. For the ultimate bargain, head
to Filene’s Basement, famed for its
annual sale of designer wedding
gowns, which normally takes place in
February. Not for the faint-hearted,
the event has been offi cially branded
the Running of the Brides after news
reports compared it with the Running
of the Bulls, in Pamplona, Spain.
But even if you’re not a bride-to-be,
the Big Apple is an ideal destination
for shopaholics, as Sex and the City
fans will know only too well.
Where to stay: The Mandarin
Oriental, New York is the perfect
place for brides-to-be. Located at
Columbus Circle, next to the shopping
centre at the Time Warner Centre, the
property has stunning views over
Central Park.
Book it: Elegant Resorts off ers four
nights at the Mandarin Oriental from
£1,250 per person, including fl ights
and private car transfers.
(01244 897516
8elegantresorts.co.uk
2. Best for…fashion
Where? Paris
Why? Paris is the city of choice for
serious fashionistas who can head for
the great couturiers – Christian
Lacroix, Dior, Chanel, Yves Saint
Laurent, all of which can be found
around the Champs-Elysees area,
where the new department store,
LE66 has recently opened and is
home to 100 fashion labels.
Paris also has some top-notch
Designer shops can be found in the Champs-Élysées area
38 | Travel Weekly | November 14 2008
New York: the
shopping capital
of the world
for brides and
home to Filene’s
Basement
department stores, notably Galeries
Lafayette, Bon Marche and
Le Printemps, where shoppers can
pick up perfume, lingerie and
jewellery as well as high-class
fashion. Take a walk around any part
of central Paris and you’re likely to
come across a new designer.
Where to stay: A few steps from the
Champs-Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe
and Avenue Georges V, the Hotel Balzac
is on the doorstep of Paris’s best
shopping streets. The hotel has been
refurbished and combines hi-tech with
a sumptuous neo-classical decor.
Book it: Kirker Holidays has two
nights’ bed and breakfast at the Hotel
Balzac from £814 per person
including fl ights or fi rst-class travel
by Eurostar, transfers, a Seine river
cruise and a carnet of 10 Paris Metro/
bus tickets per person.
(020 7593 2283
8kirkerholidays.com
3. Best for…hi-tech goods
and gadgets
Where? Hong Kong
Why? Hong Kong’s tax-free status
and focus on new technology means
you can get great deals in computers,
software and electronics. There are
two main districts for hi-tech goods:
Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island and
Mongkok in Kowloon. Recommended
shops include Wan Chai Computer
Centre and the Mongkok Computer
Centre. Digital Pavilion in Mongkok
has high-end video mobile phones,
speakers, LCD televisions and
assorted hi-tech gadgetry for
home entertainment.
Grab the best deals during the
annual Hong Kong Summer
Temptations (12 weeks from the start
of July) and in the winter and summer
sales when prices often fall by more
than 50%.
Where to stay: Surrounded by local
markets, the fi ve-star Langham Place
is in the heart of Mongkok and is
directly connected to the new
600,000sq ft Langham Place
Shopping Mall, where you’ll fi nd
more than 300 shops and restaurants,
as well as the Mongkok MTR
underground station.
Book it: Gold Medal off ers four nights
at the Langham Place Hotel from
£799, including fl ights.
(O844 493 0077
8goldmedal.co.uk
FACTS
The Running
of the Brides
at Filene’s
Basement sees
customers
queuing as early
as 3am. When
the doors open
customers run
to the racks and
grab as many
dresses as they
can. It takes less
than 60 seconds
for the racks
to be stripped
bare, the record
is 36 seconds
www.travelweekly.co.uk
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