This guide will help you navigate the huge choice and save a little bit of cash in the process – how much you save, of course, depends on your own restraint!

From our London Guide:

• All London articles
• All London shopping articles
• Top London budget hotels

High Street Shopping

You don’t have to look far to find the major chain shops. If you are on a major shopping mission, Oxford Street (and Regent Street, which bisects it) has the flagship stores of all the major shops.

It gets busy, however, really busy, so consider Covent Garden or the King’s Road as good, slightly less stressful alternatives. Aim for Tottenham Court Road if you’re looking for housewares, while the two Westfield malls – one in Shepherd’s Bush and one in Stratford – also offer all the major brands under their roof.

When can you find sales?

There are always large discounts to be found in the January sales, which actually start just after (or sometimes slightly before) Christmas, and the mid-summer sales. In reality, discounting is becoming increasingly common throughout the year, so keep your eyes open for signs in the shops.

Which shops?

As well as the international names you’ll find in the US and throughout Europe, more wallet-friendly British brands include Primark, New Look, Topshop, Miss Selfridge, and Dorothy Perkins.

Department stores

London also has some world famous department stores, such as Harrods, Liberty’s, and Selfridges. While gorgeous for window-shopping, they are likely to be beyond the reach of many budget travelers (although the ground floor clothing section at Selfridges stocks some accessible brands).

House of Fraser, Debenhams, and John Lewis are more affordable department store options worth checking out.

Secondhand and Vintage Shopping

Some of the best shopping bargains can be found in the city’s markets. (Read our related article: A guide to shopping at London’s best flea markets )

There are secondhand and vintage shops to be found all over the city, although you’ll find clusters of them around Brick Lane and Camden.

• Secondhand/vintage clothes: The Beyond Retro chain (in Dalston, Shoreditch and Soho) offers an affordable rummaging ground.
• Used books: Charing Cross Road is the famous destination for secondhand books, while the most picturesque hunting ground is the books stalls that set up underneath Waterloo Bridge on the South Bank.
• Charity shops: Proper bargain hunters shouldn’t overlook the charity shops: Shelter, Cancer Research, Oxfam, and the Red Cross are some of the most well known. Seasoned charity shoppers head to the wealthier areas of the city, such as Chelsea or Marylebone to discover a better quality stock.

Independent shops

Generally speaking, you’ll find independent shops in many of the same neighborhoods where you’ll find vintage shops. Portobello Market has been the starting point for many new designers, as has Spitalfields.

The Sunday (Up)market, at the Truman Brewery, is also well worth a look and the surrounding streets are worth exploring for independent stores. While Carnaby Street is perhaps not the hotbed of cool it was in its 1960s heyday, it – and the streets that come off it – offers some more unusual shops pitched at the youth market.

Designer Discounts

You’ll find TJ Maxx in Britain too, although slightly confusingly, here it’s called “TK Maxx“. Charing Cross Road and Kensington High Street have two of its most central branches.

More dedicated designer hunters may want to make the trek to Chatham Place in Hackney to find factory stores of Burberry and Aquascutum. Also, keep an eye out in Time Out magazine (it’s given out for free each Tuesday) for listings of other designer sample sales.

The main designer discounts, however, can be found in the extremely popular Bicester Village – a designer outlet shopping center that’s a day trip from London. You can take the train from Marylebone station or a direct bus.

Don’t forget! Tax free shopping

As a visitor you may be entitled to claim back your tax on the goods that you purchase, but you’ll need to pick up a form from participating shops. Find out more on the Visit London website.

Your London shopping tips

Got any great London shopping tips? Leave a comment below!

The post Budget guide to shopping in London appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

The names of Italy’s finest designers sit alongside independent boutiques and market stalls as shopping in Rome caters to every budget.

And if you need a cheap place to sleep, we know where those are, too! Check out our favorite budget hotels in Rome.

More Rome tips:
8 Charming hotels in Rome near the historic city center under €100
Rome: 10 Easy ways to save on your next visit
Rome: 25 Free things to see and do

Rome Shopping on the Cheap

Here is my “Top Five” guide to the best places to go whether you are looking for Prada shoes or a flea market bargain.

1. Via Condotti and the Spanish Steps

This is the home of Rome’s designer shopping area and where you will find Prada next to Armani with a sprinkling of Gucci. The shops that line Via Condotti entice your credit card out of hiding with their glittering window displays. Take time also for people watching, as this is the haunt of any celebrity in town worth their Hermes bag. And even if this is way out of your budget, remember it costs nothing to go in and unfold things.

Related: Where to dine for cheap near the Spanish Steps

2. Via Cola di Rienzo

This busy shopping street just behind Castle St. Angelo is home to mid-price shops with a mix of designer boutiques and high street chains. Look out for Brandy, a teenage basement clothes shop that is almost hidden below street level. COIN, one of Rome’s few department stores is a great place to spend an hour or two browsing.

For a bite, check out “Castroni,” a delicatessen that sells not only a fantastic range of Italian delicacies but also stocks international food. It’s the only place in Rome where you can buy peanut butter or baked beans! (Metro A, Lepanto or Ottaviano)

There’s something for everyone on the always bustling Via del Corso. Photo: Chris Yunker

3. Via del Corso

This long narrow street is at the heart of Rome’s historic center running from Piazza Venezia to Piazza del Popolo and a short walk from the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain. During the evenings, the street is packed with shoppers. Wander around the mix of high street stores like H&M, Mango, Diesel, Levis, and Zara mixed with small designer boutiques, bookstores, and the elegant Galleria Alberto Soldi shopping center.

Related: Affordable hotels near Via del Corso

4. Porto Portese Flea Market

Held every Sunday morning, this is the largest market in Rome and the place to come for a bargain. With a mix of second hand and new goods, food, antiques, and general bric-a-brac, spare at least a couple of hours to browse the endless rows of stalls.

Getting there: Tram 8 Largo Argentina to Trastevere Station – then about a five-minute walk to Via Ippolito Nievo. Follow the crowds.

5. EurRoma2 and Castel Romano Outlet

Euroma2 is an upscale shopping center in the EUR area of Rome spread over three floors in an elegant temple style with ornate glass domes. Chain stores and designer shopping sit alongside coffee shops and restaurants catering to all budgets. This is a good place to come during summer as it’s air-conditioned and all indoors.

Getting there: Take the Metro to EUR Palasport Metro Line B. and then take the free shuttle bus that stops just outside, a journey of around 10 minutes.

Castel Romano is a designer outlet village, part of the McArthur Glen chain, around 15km south of Rome. Designer discounts housed in a mock ancient Roman village, brands here include Burberry, Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabanna, and Roberto Cavalli.

Getting there: There is a bus service to the outlet that operates from EUR FERMI Metro Line B, and there is a private shuttle that can be booked at most hotel receptions. See more details.

The post Rome Shopping on the Cheap: 5 spots to find Roman fashion for every budget appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

When I lived in Portland, it was all the rage to shop secondhand. From frocks to socks to records and costume jewelry, purchases were almost cooler if used. This trend has caught on slowly in Barcelona. When I first arrived I knew of just one secondhand place in the center called Humana which carried a pretty good selection of seasonal fashions.

Here’s a quick guide to secondhand shopping success in Barcelona.

Humana

Over time, it seems like vintage and secondhand have become hip, though only among certain crowds. The store I mentioned before, Humana, has become a success, and now has shops all over the city. I’ve been in to it a few times, and it seems to draw folks who are trying to save a few euros rather than hipsters trying to look unique.

There are some good bargains to be had at Humana, however, provided you have the patience and the talent to spot fashion gold from worn-out junk. (I like to think that I have this gift.)

Eclectic finds on Calle Tallers

Calle Tallers and the area surrounding it also has quite a bit to offer in the secondhand and vintage department. Stroll Tallers from La Rambla to Plaza Universitat and you will find that, interspersed with all the music stores and bakeries, there are three or four used clothing shops with eccentrically dressed clerks. Retro City is one on Tallers to look out for.

Specialty Shops in El Raval and the Gothic Quarter

Heading deeper into El Raval from Calle Tallers, you’ll come upon Wilde Vintage on Joaquin Costa. The specialty here is vintage sunglasses, and with all the sunny days in Barcelona, who couldn’t use pair of sweet vintage shades?

Another area known for its secondhand shopping options is Riera Baixa. Look out for Le Swing along this Gothic Quarter calle.

Outdoor Markets

Back before secondhand was cool, there were people in Barcelona buying used goods at the city’s many outdoor markets. There are two which are especially famous for their wide selection of used merchandise: Encants Market and San Antonti Market (on Sunday).

At Sant Antoni you’ll mostly find used books, CDs and videos. Encants, on the other hand, has pretty much a little bit of everything. As is the case with almost all markets in Europe, go early. The pickings are slim the closer you get to noon. The early bird catches the worm, or in this case, the vintage 1950’s cocktail dress… Happy hunting!

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Here are some tips for scoring big during this glorious five-week event.

1. Get smart.

I spy. Visit your favorite shops just before the sale. Memorize the layout. Take note of “rack formations.” Also, try on clothing… you’ll avoid the lines later.

2. Befriend the staff.

Throughout the year, my savvy and smartly dressed friend Dominique drops off chocolates for the sales team at her favorite shops. Guess who hears about the bargains first? The French value fidelity. Don’t live in Paris full-time? Send thank-you notes after each visit.

3. Mind the gaps.

What’s missing from your closet? A belted trench coat with a narrow cinched waist in khaki? Striped shirt? Ballet shoes in black patent leather or navy suède? All three are timeless French classics, and quite souvenir-worthy.

“Soldes” on rue des Abbesses.

4.  Get your beauty rest…

But set your alarm, because stores open at 8:00 AM.

5. Cents and Sensibility.

Pack a survival kit: water bottle, pre-cut moleskin, candy, gum, eyedrops, Metro tickets, footies (for trying on shoes), maps with target shops circled, and coins for WCs. Also a sturdy bag, because shops give out flimsy plastic sacs.

6. Leader of the Pack.

Véronique on Boulevard Voltaire with bike and sacs of purchases.

My friend Véronique beats the crowds by scooting around by bike. “I’m able to visit at least twenty shops by 10 AM,” she boasted, while installing her new jumbo-sized basket just in time for the sale. Need a bike? Rent a Vélib’!

7. Avoid the masses.

Hate crowds? Shop weekday mornings or early afternoons.

8. Size matters.

When should you pounce? In France, “smalls” fly out the door first, but “large” and “X-large” stick around a little longer. On the other hand prices drop as the sales progress, so it’s a gamble! Know your European size numbers.

Vintage clothing in the Marais

10. Retro active.

Vintage shops often reduce prices, too. You’ll find pockets of boutiques scattered through Montmartre (start at La Caverne à Fripes at 25, rue Houdon) and the Marais, where at the Vintage Désir at 32, rue des Rosiers you’ll find a vast collection of striped shirts. For inspiration, see exposition“Les Marins Font La Mode—Sailor Chic in Paris” at the Musée National de la Marine at place du Trocadéro.

11. Don’t forget the obvious.

Discount shops like Sympa (Metro Anvers), and TATI on Boulevard Rochechouart (Metro Barbès-Rochechouart) take their already bargain basement prices to new lows. Make a pilgrimage to TATI, where Jules Ouaki introduced “discount shopping” (self-service and towering baskets of merchandise) to Paris in 1948.

12. Keep your cool.

A “Loft Design By” window.

Pick a handful of boutiques and one or two shopping districts, or you’ll end up overwhelmed before the get-go. For instance, I focus on the Spanish marque Zara, which slashes prices like almost no other store (I once scored almost 400 euros-worth for under 50 euros!).

You’ll find clusters in busy shopping districts throughout the city. Boulevard Haussmann, for instance, has five Zara’s in a six-block radius. Two are inside Printemps and Galeries Lafayette, and one even has a view of the Opéra! Divine, yes, but their proximity also saves you time. (By the way, rumor has it that a Cheapo editor once assembled a very stylish–and skinny–suit by Zara-hopping along rue de Rivoli. Très, très bien!)

Borrowing from Elsa Schiaparelli, “Buy only the best or the cheapest!”

Tell us: Have you scored at the soldes? Tell us about it!

The post Paris Summer Sales: Tips for “soldes d’été” success appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.