Americans seek unique and novel experiences

EXPEDIA.COM analyzed thousands of data points this year to identify the top trends in travel for 2018, and the results show that American travelers are increasingly interested in unique and novel experiences.

Activities and experiences are increasingly popular as travelers look to personalize and customize their vacations. These are the fastest-growing activity categories in 2018 for the U.S.:

Fastest-growing category: Attractions. Observation decks and architectural landmarks are leading the pack, with the Eiffel Tower, Rome's Colosseum, the 360 Chicago Observation Deck and the High Roller Observation Wheel in Las Vegas among the top trending attractions.

Runner-up: Tours & Sightseeing. Walking and hop-on-hop-off bus tours remain popular among travelers visiting big cities.

Third place: Shopping & Culinary Experiences round out the top categories, as travelers look to get the most out of their destinations and sample local flavors.


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Fill your bags with Emirates

SHOPPERS can fly higher with this year’s Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) thanks to a special offer from Emirates, the world’s largest international airline. Economy class ticket holders can enjoy additional baggage allowance on return flights during the biggest shopping festival of the year, running until 2 February. 

Emirates passengers booked on an Economy class round-trip ticket to #Dubai can shop without limits, and return home with the latest fashion bargains at no extra costs incurred, affirming Dubai #Shopping Festival as the city’s most generous mega sale.

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And a dash of pixie dust

WHETHER at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, or Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, World of Disney is the ultimate shopping destination for all things #Disney. Now these two dynamic retail experiences are unveiling complete transformations that make shopping easier and more fun.

More than a year in design and development, the makeover has touched every feature and function in the store, as if the Fairy Godmother outfitted the store herself. From displays to signage to lighting and much, much more, guests discover magical Disney storytelling wherever they look.

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Choose Sri Lanka for Retail Therapy

SRI LANKA has introduced a new system enabling tourists to obtain refunds of 15 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) payments for goods they purchase from shops in the country. The Tourist VAT Refund System (TVRS) was aimed at attracting tourists and generating income by sale of products, Finance Ministry sources said. 

A VAT refund counter was opened at the Bandaranaike International Airport’s exit terminal by Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera on Tuesday. Tourists are able to obtain the VAT refund of 15% of the value of their goods.

Shop owners and traders will be required to register for this scheme at the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) under the Tourist VAT Refund Scheme and it is suggested that travellers check prior to making their purchase. 


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Joburg makes TripAdvisors list of Top 10 Destinations in Africa

JOHANNESBURG has made TripAdvisor’s top ten list in the Travelers’ Choice Awards for Best Destinations in Africa.

Joburg’s 2018 TripAdvisor citation reads as follows: “#Johannesburg is the place to go to mix big-city culture, shopping, dining and nightlife with outdoor adventures, up-close wildlife encounters and visits to historical sites. Explore caves and nature reserves, or visit a traditional village by day, then enjoy dinner at a hip café or five-star restaurant. And if you’re a shopper, bring an extra, empty suitcase. With malls, open air markets and places that blend the two, you’ll find plenty of unique souvenirs.”


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Heaven Scent

OMAN is full of contradictions of old and new and many modern shopping complexes have recently sprung up across #Muscat. Fully air-conditioned, they have a selection of local and international stores, local boutiques, supermarkets, cafes, food courts and play areas for children. 

When it comes to shopping a special mention goes to Oman’s world-famous scent, Amouage. One of the world’s most valuable perfumes, it is available at the flagship store, The House of Amouge, in Muscat’s Sabco Centre. Guy Robert, the renowned French perfumer behind the scents of Hermés, Dior and Rochas, was commissioned to formulate the celebrated fragrance, incorporating native Omani ingredients – frankincense and myrrh as well as rosewater extracted from the rarest rock rose found in Oman’s Jebel Akhdar region. 

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A gentle wander in Oman

IF you love to shop, whether it be pottering through ancient alleyways in a traditional souk, visiting local villages for one of a kind pottery pieces, sifting through shelves of high quality silver then #Oman is the place for you. From traditional #souks and local villages here is the low down on where to shop in Oman. 

Muttrah Souq Since ancient times the traditional market places in Oman have been much more than a place to do trade. Omani souqs are places for social gatherings and there is nowhere better to experience this than Muttrah Souq. The oldest marketplace in the capital, Muttrah Souk- located behind Muttrah Corniche, is a maze of tightly packed, narrow lanes that lead in and out of each other revealing gold, silver, textiles, pottery and dates, together with piquant aromas of incense, spices and varying qualities of frankincense, which waft through the alleyways. Also plentiful, are traditional coffee pots and plates, along with handicrafts, incense burners, Bedouin jewellery and silver khanjars – traditional Omani daggers worn by men. Gold and silver are well priced and are mainly sold by weight. The best time to visit is either early morning or late afternoon. 

Nizwa Souq Once considered a symbol of wealth, Silver has been one of Oman’s most precious metals for four thousand years. Visitors to Nizwa, a place famous for the work of its silversmiths, will find some superb silver pieces at Nizwa Souq. Don’t miss the Friday cattle market where you will witness locals converge to sell or buy a prized new cow, goat or camel.  Afterwards take in the views of Nizwa fort with a delicate cardamom scented Omani coffee and Oman’s most famous Halwa (local sweet) from Al-Saifi’s store. 

Bahla Souq Based in the centre of this mystical village is Bahla Souq, where if you are lucky you can witness the modern form of magic that takes place daily with master potters creating their wares. Many of the incense burners, pots and dishes you see around Oman originate from Bahla so it is a treat to be able to visit the source and Bahla Fort is also well worth a visit. 

Ibra Souq One of Oman’s most interesting souqs is at Ibra, where the Wednesday market is a ‘ladies only’ event. Operated by women, the souq’s specialties cater to women and include silks, handicrafts, Bedu jewellery and sandalwood. Although the real highlight, is viewing the women shopping and chatting with their colourful attire. 

Al Hafah Souq Set amid Salalah’s coconut groves in Oman’s southern Dhofar region is Al Hafah Souq, one of the best markets to buy perfume or high-grade frankincense, myrrh and rose. Once worth more than gold, frankincense is in high demand along with the brightly-painted Dhofari incense burners. Local vendors also sell regional food including hummus and mishkak — Omani barbecue meat cooked over a spit. 


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Picture Credit: By yeowatzup from Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany - Nizwa Souk, Oman, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24520873

Leipzig Christmas market a family event

LEIPZIG Christmas market dates all the way back to 1458. Open from November 28 through December 23, its six areas are set in chime with the fascinating historical scenery of the Leipzig city centre. With more than 250 twinkling stalls embedded harmoniously in the historic centre, #Leipzig #Christmas market is not only one of the oldest but also one of the most popular and largest Christmas markets in #Germany. Visitors are offered a multitude of festive delights; they can indulge in numerous culinary specialties or explore the city’s traditional medieval market.

Traditionally, the main area of the Christmas market is Marktplatz (market square) where visitors can marvel at a Saxon spruce Christmas tree of at least 20 metres height, and enjoy a wide variety of performances at the market square stage. On Augustusplatz square a 38-metre-high Ferris wheel offers seasonal views from a lofty height. The Finnish village on Augustusplatz has become a classic over the years. The enticing scent of smoked salmon and fruity Glögi – a mulled wine made from berries – draws visitors to the Scandinavian tents and stalls.

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Dubai's 3 Day Super Sale

GET ready for a rewarding shopping experience in #Dubai at the 3-day Super Sale, a new citywide #retail initiative, which kicks off on 18 May with over 1,000 outlets offering a diverse range of items from local, regional and global brands, at significantly low prices.

This not-to-be-missed retail promotion running across Dubai offers an extensive range of choices for shoppers preparing for their summer holidays, followed by the Eid holiday period, and is part of efforts to further enhance Dubai’s position as a year-round shopping destination.

The 3-day Super Sale is also part of Dubai’s annual Retail Calendar that features major retail-based festivals, new season launches, mega sales and clearance events, exclusive retail experiences and attractions aimed at further enhancing the retail sector, a main contributor towards Dubai’s economy. 

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Harry Potter arrives at Heathrow Terminal 5

THE HARRY POTTER™ SHOP has officially opened its doors to passengers at Heathrow Terminal 5.

The shop sells over 200 items, many of them exclusively at Heathrow, from across J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. The shop sells newly released products from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, as well as collectibles, gifts, novelties and souvenirs from Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross Station and the West End hit play ‘Harry Potter and The Cursed Child Parts One and Two’.

The shop will be open 7 days a week from 5:30am-­10:00pm and will be visited by more than 16 million passengers coming through Heathrow Terminal 5 each year to travel around the globe.

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Christmas Market

CELEBRATING its 10th anniversary this year Winchester's Christmas market – which runs until December 20 – attracts more than 350,000 visitors each year, and is recognized as one of the best in Europe. 

Inspired by traditional German markets, the wooden stalls surround an open-air ice rink in the shadow of Winchester Cathedral.

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Picture Credit: Cakvala-SC flickr.com/photos/92942546@N03/30302323874 Looking at Mainstreet via photopin.com

Shop till you drop

#USA holiday specialist My America Holiday is offering a 3 night stay in a four star hotel in #NewYork City over the shopping phenomenon known as #BlackFriday.

Staying at the four-star W Hotel New York for just £635 per person. Price is based on two adults sharing on a room-only basis, with direct Virgin Atlantic Flights departing from London Heathrow on 23rd November 2016.

Must be booked by 14th September 2016 by calling 0208 003 6081.

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Picture Credit: 35375520@N07/27521832490 Time Square via photopin.com

Thailand targets women travellers

THAILAND’S tourism authority has launched a campaign to attract women holidaymakers, especially those from India.

Soraya Homchuen, at the authority’s Mumbai office says: ‘Once a negligible proportion of Thailand’s market mix and only visiting on family holidays, today women travellers represent 30% of our arrivals from India. We would like to scale this up to 60-65% by 2022.’

Ms Homchuen cites a study by Thomas Cook earlier this year, which concluded that 70% of women today prefer to travel with friends instead of family members, and many studies have indicated that culture, cuisine, spa, and shopping are the main interests of women travellers.

‘#Thailand emerges as the perfect choice and the best fit for this segment,’ she says, ‘because it meets all these needs effectively. An Amadeus study has indicated that by 2020, the women traveller’s market would have grown by 891%.’

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UK to review VAT savings at airport shops

UK CHANCELLOR George Osborne has confirmed that the government will launch a review into airport sales to make sure Value Added Tax (VAT) savings are being passed on to shoppers.

Some airside retailers currently are keeping up to an estimated 50p of every £1 of potential VAT savings instead of passing those savings on to shoppers, says Mr Osborne. The government’s Revenue and Customs department has been asked to review airside VAT-free shopping to make sure that shoppers share more of the benefit in future.

The review is expected to be completed by early 2016 and will also cover all other airside shopping taxes.

Osborne said: ‘For families flying out of the UK for a winter get-away, airports should be the ideal place to pick-up a bargain. VAT relief at airports is intended to cut prices for those travellers, not be a windfall gain for shops. But many people could be paying over the odds for their purchases because the government’s VAT concession isn’t passed on. This is simply unacceptable.

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Shop till you drop in Dubai

THIS year’s #Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) runs until February 1. Believed to be the largest #shopping and entertainment extravaganza in the Middle East, it features more than 150 events and activities. 

‘Our sequence of events, activities, and promotions are built around the festival’s 2016 tagline Unwrap The Exceptional, which defines everything at the festival as a gift that is waiting to be uncovered and cherished,’ says Laila Mohammad Suhail at organizers Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment.’

Dubai’s luxury retail industry has suffered a slow-down due to falling numbers of visitors from Russia and China, but it is hoped that this year’s festival will revive these dwindling markets.

Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing director general Helal Almarri said: ‘Dubai Shopping Festival is a highlight in the emirate’s year-round calendar of diverse and attractive events, and a key driver of tourism growth.’

www.visitdubai.com/en/discover/festivals/dubai-shopping-festival

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Picture Credit: "Mall of the Emirates (3679338750)" by Peter Gronemann from Switzerland - Mall of the EmiratesUploaded by russavia. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Top cities for shopping

EXPEDIA has compiled a list of the world’s top 25 travel destinations for shopping.

Based on data that includes blogger recommendations, visitor numbers, value for money, and friendliness.

The top four in the list are New York, Berlin, Los Angeles, and London, while Edinburgh comes in No.20

The complete list is:

1. New York 
2. Berlin
3. Los Angeles 
4. London 
5. Kuala Lumpur 
6. Tokyo
7. Singapore 
8. Istanbul 
9. Paris 
10. Madrid 
11. Sao Paulo 
12. Bangkok 
13. San Francisco
14. Dubai 
15. Milan 
16. Rome 
17. Hong Kong 
18. Seoul 
19. Marrakech 
20. Edinburgh 
21. Melbourne 
22. Vienna 
23. Cape Town 
24. Amsterdam
25. Bucharest 

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/48411817@N04/11327286036">2013 Holiday Train - Midway Station</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">(license)

From Downtown Disney to Disney Springs …

#WALTDISNEY WORLD RESORT has changed the name of Downtown Disney to Disney Springs, which will include four inter-connected neighbourhoods: The Landing, Marketplace, West Side, and Town Center. When #DisneySprings is fully completed in 2016, the number of shopping, dining and entertainment venues will increase from the current 75 to more than 150.

Retail highlights at Disney Springs include:

Morimoto Asia is the Japanese master chef's first pan-Asian restaurant, providing flavours from across Asia with exhibition kitchens showcasing the continent's traditions. Included among them are street-food stalls, Peking duck carving and dim sum. Located at The Landing, Morimoto Asia has open terraces, grand halls, private rooms, a cocktail lounge, and waterside seating.

Apex by Sunglass Hut is a first-of-its-kind sunglass store designed with the athlete in mind. This retail location showcases the industry's best selection of sport performance eyewear including Oakley, Ray-Ban, and Under Armour. Apex has developed environmental simulators so customers can test out how a specific lens will perform in different light conditions.

The Art of Shaving - A boutique selling high-end shaving supplies and related grooming products for – it says here – the modern man. Guests can get expert shaving advice on products and techniques.

Dockside Margaritas - Dockside Margaritas treats guests to thirst-quenching margaritas made with fresh, all-natural products. Using authentic Florida ingredients whenever possible, the location (at the Marketplace) features unique theming reminiscent of a 1960s Florida roadside fruit stand. 

Havaianas - A Brazilian-based shoe store that offers fashionable flip-flops made with the highest quality rubber. There's a Make Your Own Havaianas option allowing customers to personalize flip-flops.

Tea Traders Cafe by Joffrey's – This store specializes in premium loose-leaf teas (hot, iced, blended) featuring custom blends, accessories, and packaged teas from all over the globe.

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/74847775@N00/4673308832">Disney's Magic Kingdom Entrance</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">(license)

Supermarket price falls and strong £ cuts self-catering holiday costs

THE power of the £ combined with a drop in prices in supermarkets and local mini-marts across much of Europe is making self-catering holidays a good bet this summer, according to the Post Office’s Self-Catering on a Shoestring report, which says that food and drink staples are down in all 10 resorts surveyed.
Key findings include:

· Falling food and drink prices in shops mean self-caterers can expect to pay less in all 10 resorts – with the biggest year-on-year fall of 56 percent in Majorca.

· Spain’s Costa Blanca emerges as this year’s ‘best buy’ tip for self-catering holidaymakers, with supermarket prices down almost 38 percent year-on-year.

· Entry of low cost supermarkets into the Algarve reduces prices by more than 26 percent.

· Shopping in a local mini-mart rather than a supermarket could cost as much as 61 percent more.


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Picture Credit: Shopping basket yellow by Paul Robinson - New Image. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons