by Robin Amster
Last updated: 4:34 PM ET, Wed December 13, 2017
The holiday season is now in full swing and that means shopping-lots of shopping.
And for those who want to shop till they drop year-round-both in the U.S. and beyond-Virtuoso offers a list of the best shopping cities around the world.
The luxury network polled close to 800 of its travel advisors to come up with its list of the top ten shopping cities, just three of which are in the United States:
1. Paris, France
2. New York City, New York
3. Florence, Italy
4. Hong Kong
5-6. London, England and Los Angeles/Southern California (tied)
7. Milan, Italy
8. Dubai
9-10. Istanbul, Turkey and Las Vegas, Nevada (tied)
-Look for local artists, shops and designers, but be cautious that you're buying authentic crafts and goods.
-Hire a shopping guide in places new to you or in major shopping destinations such as Milan, New York and Paris. Some guides enjoy inside access to special sales and private designer showrooms.
-Shop in museum shops. They offer unique items and are also great for small purchases that are easy to transport.
-Seek out a grocery store in your destination for local condiments, snacks and unusual spices-items you can bring through customs-for yourself and as gifts for family and friends.
-Bargain in port town markets prior to your cruise ship's departure. Research the going price for an item beforehand and decide what you think it's worth before bartering.
-Locate top-secret shopping by following a designer/celebrity/line on social media. Keep up that way with pop-up shop dates, events, and what's happening with the brand.
-Wherever possible, always pay with a credit card in case of a bad product.
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