New York City
Where do we even start? New York City is a shopper's paradise, and we
mean every kind of shopper: Time Warner Center keeps mall-goers happy,
SoHo has boutiques for unique and vintage pieces you won't find anywhere
else, Fifth Avenue is replete with flagships of high-end brands and
designers, and Bryant Park and Union Square are home to pop-up holiday
shops. You can also find plenty of eats, like hot chocolate and
pretzels, at these stands, and Bryant Park boasts an ice-skating rink.
Where to Stay: Bryant Park Hotel
Not
surprisingly, this hotel overlooks the park, and is just a few blocks
away from the core of Fifth Avenue's shopping mecca. Plus, it has a
sleek, high-design feel with a see-and-be-seen restaurant and a sexy
underground bar.
Madrid
Like NYC, Madrid offers extremely varied shopping, meaning you can
take care of everyone on your list in just one short (or long!) trip.
Reasonably priced, fashion-forward brands -- such as Desigual, MANGO,
and Zara -- are native to Spain, and can be found throughout the capital
city. But if you're jet-setting off to Madrid, we recommend spending
your time in the local markets. Only open on Sundays, El Rastro is the
city's largest flea market. It features locals selling homemade crafts,
and there is often live music to accompany your shopping. The Chueca
District, on the other hand, is probably the best-known neighborhood for
shopping; it's particularly festive during the holiday season, with
plenty of vendors and tourists huddled under cheery strings of lights.
Where to Stay: Room Mate Oscar
The
Room Mate chain uses funky, bright design throughout their hotels, and
the 75-room Oscar -- situated in Chueca -- is no different. Rooms are quirky with curving furniture, tons of space, flat-screen TVs, and modern bathrooms.
Los Angeles
Rodeo Drive is one of the most well-known shopping streets in the
world, let alone the country. There are songs about it, multiple movies
feature it, and you're pretty likely to spot a celeb -- or, at least,
one of L.A.'s "who's who" -- during your stroll down the street. But,
take note, almost every shop here belongs to a designer brand, meaning
you'll be paying designer prices. To be honest, our favorite spot to do
our holiday shopping is at The Grove, the city's outdoor shopping
complex. (Fear not, this is Los Angeles! So it never gets that cold.) During the festive season, The Grove features a tree, lights, live music, and even special family-friendly entertainment.
Where to Stay: Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive
This 86-room Beverly Hills boutique may lack many on-site features, but its low rates for such a prime Rodeo Drive location, rooms with luxury Egyptian cotton bedding, and
free Wi-Fi make it a great value -- meaning you can put your money
towards the shopping that's right outside the hotel's doors.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a great shopping destination all year-round, and it takes holiday decorations very
seriously (in a not-so-serious, "Hello Kitty" kind of way). Massive
shopping malls such as Times Square, with 10 floors of luxury brands,
put up massive Christmas caricatures; Langham Place, known for it's more
affordable, exclusive-to-Asia shops, does the same, and often
incorporates a Hello Kitty theme. For those searching for local,
vintage, and artisan wares, we recommend the Jade Market (where you can
find, no surprise, gorgeous jade knick-knacks and jewelry), as well as
Temple Street Night Market. After dusk, this market comes alive with
lights, vendors, fortune tellers, and performers.
Where to Stay: Langham Place, Hong Kong or The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong
Both
situated in Kowloon, these luxury hotels are great bases for a shopping
trip. While Langham Place right next door to the Langham Place shopping
complex, the Ritz-Carlton is attached to the Elements Mall, which is
home to numerous high-end retail and dining establishments.
London
Okay, so when you go to London, you have to make a trip to Harrods.
This upscale shopping center is world-renowned, and you can make a day
of it there -- even taking a break from festivities for an elegant tea
service in the afternoon. But the city is also replete with holiday
markets and pop-up shops come December. The Southbank Centre Christmas
Market in Westminster is one of the most festive; each wooden stand
resembles a tiny chalet, complete with ribbons and holly, and the market
winds along the River Thames. Visitors can feast on tasty local treats
while perusing handmade goods. The Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park is
perhaps the city's best-known Christmas market, complete with shops,
shows, a skating rink, restaurants, bars, and, of course, the
observation wheel.
Where to Stay: Millennium Hotel London Mayfair
This
upscale spot is just a couple blocks from Oxford Street, a major
shopping thoroughfare, and just a few more from Hyde Park. An
award-winning restaurant is a plus, and rates are pretty good for the
swanky Mayfair location.
Vienna
Vienna -- with its stunning architecture and plethora of snow --
looks like a Winter Wonderland for a large portion of the year, but it's
never as festive as it come Christmastime. It has holiday markets
galore, and many (such as Schönbrunn and Belvedere) claim beautiful
palaces as their backdrops; slightly outside of the city, there's
a Christmas market at Grafenegg castle. But the most popular, with three
million visitors annually, is the Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz. You
may find yourself focusing in on the refreshments -- roasted chestnuts,
mulled wine, local pastries -- but there are plenty of goods to be
found as well. Locals sell handmade ornaments, toys, candles, soaps, and
more.
Where to Stay: Hotel Rathaus Wein & Design
The
modern Hotel Rathaus Wein & Design is actually built inside a
restored historic town house in Josefstadt, Vienna’s eighth district.
It's a short walk to the Rathaus Christkindlmarkt, as well as numerous
museums. The breakfast buffet gets high marks.
Buenos Aires
With many residents being Roman Catholic, Buenos Aires celebrates
Christmas to the max -- and this includes in its many malls. Galerías
Pacífico always has a large tree, as well as dressed-up religious and
Christmas figures willing to take pictures with shoppers. And the area
of Palmero Viejo, compared by many to New York's SoHo, is known for its
boutiques and local shops; during the holiday season, it also has a
Christmas tree in lights. Shoppers can find everything from luxury goods
to high-end fashion in Buenos Aires, but the city is known in
particular for its high-quality leather products.
Where to Stay: Be Hollywood
The
Be Hollywood is a hip, modern boutique hotel located in the lively
Palermo Hollywood neighborhood, near fun shopping and dining. The
highlight here is the terrace where the pool and fabulous views of the city can be found, and the free breakfast and Wi-Fi add value.
Milan
Milan is perhaps the most fashionable city in the world; after all,
it plays home base to luxury fashion houses such as Prada, Valentino,
Armani, Versace, Missoni, Miu Miu, Etro, Dolce & Gabana, and many,
many more. The main shopping area is known as the Fashion Quadrangle,
where almost all of the previously mentioned labels can be found. During
the weeks leading up to Christmas, the city offers even more markets
and bazaars for local and luxury goods, the most renowned being the
annual Oh Bej! Oh Bej! Christmas market. Over 400 stalls selling gifts,
eats, and clothing gather around Castello Sforzesco.
Where to Stay: Bulgari Milano
The
super luxurious Bulgari Milano is one of the best places to see and be
seen in the fashion scene of Milan, with a price tag to match. An
18th-century renovated mansion on 4,000 square meters of private
gardens, the 58-room property is within walking distance of shopping
venues like Prada and Gucci yet still manages to feel secluded.
Boston
Similar to the Time Warner Center in NYC (but bigger), Boston's
Prudential Center mall has a little bit of everything (including
dining), and always feels festive with lights, decorations, and music
during the holiday season. Those looking for a more boutique experience
can't miss Newbury Street, and Faneuil Hall Marketplace is transformed
into a winter wonderland, with a Christmas tree, lights, music, and
holiday treats like hot cocoa.
Where to Stay: Newbury Guest House or Mandarin Oriental, Boston
These
are two very different options, although both are great. While Newbury
Guest House provides a cozy, bed-and-breakfast experience right on
Newbury Street, the Mandarin is all about luxury -- and is attached to
the Prudential Center mall, so you don't even need to brave the cold to
hit up the shops.
Paris
Paris shopping is often compared to the shopping in Milan; both have a
focus on designer labels, and both are centered in a geometric area --
Milan has the Fashion Quadrangle while Paris has the Golden Triangle,
situated around the famed Champs-Elysees in the 8th Arrondissement. Here
shoppers can find the likes of Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Celine. Here
is also where visitors can find a spectacular Christmas Market now
through early January, with fancy artisan goodies. Another popular
holiday market sits right across from the Eiffel Tower, and features
stands, an ice-skating rink, and "snow villages."
Where to Stay: Hotel Cristal Champs Elysees
The Hotel Cristal Champs Elysees is a 26-room boutique on a quiet cobblestone street off the Champs Elysees. Clean, colorful rooms have contemporary decor, and are a good size by Paris standards; high-end amenities include big flat-screen TVs and Keiji toiletries.
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