For travelers such as myself, the “ka-ching” of the cash register is the international language of love. Yet for those of us who travel on a budget (and I’m excluding Ivana Trump here), our fabulousness seldom matches our franc flow. So what to do if you’re discriminating but drachma-less? Don’t resign yourself to that $10 souvenir T-shirt of questionable fiber content. Follow these five simple rules of bargain shopping abroad, and you’re guaranteed to get the loot without spending a ludicrous amount of lire.
The first, and most important, rule of the deal is research, research, research. Bargains are for those who have done their homework, and done it well. If you have a sense of what you’d like to buy, then check out comparable prices back home. You may be better off buying that Minolta at the local mall. Know going in what sorts of items are deals in specific areas. For example, you’d be crazy to buy a Ralph Lauren sweater in Prague, but you’d be equally crazy to pass up some of the heart-stoppingly cheap cosmetics in Paris. Know when sales occur in the area to which you’re traveling. Very few places besides the United States have year-round sales (European sales are highly regulated affairs, occurring only twice a year). Know when you can bargain and when you can’t (yes on the Turkish rug, no on the Christian Dior stilettos). Finally, find out if you’re eligible for a tax-back refund of some kind (information usually available at the customs desk of the airport or major department stores at your destination).
