While cheap airplane tickets and discount hotel rooms or cheap vacation packages are often reasons cited for traveling, some would-be travelers are even more motivated when the destination being considered is one of Americas favorite shopping spots.
The following have been identified by Frommers Travel as being some of the countrys best shopping destinations:
Las Vegas is known for having it all, ranging from luxury boutiques, to mid range stores, to outlet malls and to countless souvenir shops. Serious shoppers love visiting the Fashion Show Mall home to Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Saks as well as 200 other stores. A 30 minute drive out of town takes bargain shoppers to the Fashion Outlets Las Vegas, which offers 100 designer brands including Bally, DKNY, Hollister and Williams-Sonoma.
New York City cannot be beat for those who love to shop till they drop. Flagships of Saks, Macys and Bloomingdales as well as Fifth Avenue Tiffanys can be perused. Shopping in the Sex and the City HBO series played a bigger role than sex. High end shoppers can check out luxury boutiques along pricey Madison Avenue while bargain hunters view designer bag knockoffs on Canal Street in Chinatown.
Houston is well known for its luxury mega malls the biggest of which is uptowns Galleria, with 320 shops and four exciting anchor stores: Lord & Taylor, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Saks. At Houstons Premium Outlets in the Cypress area many luxury brand goods, including Burberry, Brooks Brothers and Michael Kors can be found discounted.
Minneapolis Mall of America takes shopping to a level all of its own. Forty to fifty million visit this mall annually which is laid out over 96 acres and offers over 500 stores and 50 restaurants. Tourists can travel to the mall via complimentary shuttles from the airport in minutes. Shoppers pay no sales tax on clothing and shoes.
New Orleans is famous for its colorful, unique shops selling goods that often cannot be found elsewhere. Where else could you find the perfect voodoo gris-gris bag to bring good luck? Creole pralines can be found at Leahs Candy Kitchen on St. Louis Street. Antique shops line Royal Street in the French Quarter and Magazine Street in the Garden District. www.cheapfares.com