From a shopper’s perspective, frequent traveling can be crippling. It can get worse in the holiday season where Christmas dominates many people’s calendars. Why buy something in one city when a trip to a better shopping city is coming up?
To pinpoint which cities around the world deliver the most gratifying, enjoyable shopping experiences, we consulted global experts, such as fashion merchandising firm Donegar Creative Services and Marie Bergfelt, senior spokesperson for Global Blue, which publishes the Globe Shopper City Index.
Then we judged cities in four areas, using a one-to-10 scoring scale for each category:
1. Getting around: Quality of public transportation, affordability and availability of cabs, transport time
2. Value: Bargain opportunities, such as sale seasons and average prices.
3. Variety: Number of available brands, range of shopping categories, quantity of upscale shops, department stores, boutique and vintage retailers and market stalls.
4. Experience: City beauty, quality of window displays and shop décor, friendliness and competence of clerks and service staff, dining and accommodation options.
Aspen and Vail are the cities that come to mind most often when considering Colorado ski destinations. However, Dortha Vela of All About Travel told me these Colorado cities “are two of the most expensive ski destinations.” Plus, it turns out they’re not even that popular when compared to the capital city of Denver — perhaps for that very reason. Denver takes first place in our list of the most popular cities to visit in winter. And there’s plenty to do there besides ski, all at a reasonable cost. What to do: Aside from the close to 30 ski resorts in the city alone, you can also visit the famous Red Rocks Park and amphitheater for breathtaking views and great music, or the nearby Rocky Mountains State Park. How to save: Flights to Denver become more expensive the closer it gets to ski season, so if you plan on booking a trip to the snowy city, locking in a flight now will ensure you save hundreds of dollars. Colorado’s tourism website also has a section dedicated to aggregating deals on travel and attractions in the city.
Recently I was asked to write down why I am interested in travel photography…
Well, I love the way I feel when I travel.
I remember wishing to be a travel agent when I grew-up, and I fulfilled that ‘dream’ at STA Travel, only to realise that I’d rather be the one doing the traveling. I got into the media industry to fund my addiction; ultimately, it propelled me to embark on a working stint overseas.
What interests me most about travel is anthropology; there’s nothing more inspiring than immersing yourself in another culture and being able to “walk in another person’s shoes,” to quote Anthony Bourdain.
To me, documenting travel means that writing and photography go hand-in-hand; placing images alongside words better tells the story. I’m interested in showing the reality of a place or space – using words and images to stimulate a response, a feeling. Whether…
5 Hidden Gems in New York City
Here are five free or inexpensive places that aren’t mentioned in any of the four major guidebooks… New York Times
Top 5 disappearing places
For your next trip, consider these Top 5 disappearing places and enjoy them before they’re lost to future generations… Yahoo Travel News
Going green ... Papakolea Beach, Hawaii. Photo: Steve Dunleavy SteveD./Flickr
The world’s most unusual beaches
Candy sands, disappearing waves, transformed trolls – if life’s a beach, these are its strangest days… Sydney Morning Herald
11 new hotel wonders
Some of the world’s best architects have started exploring a new frontier — hotels — and the results will leave you speechless… CNN
Opened in 1978, All About Travel is located in the Oklahoma City area. We are a family owned and operated company that has strived to provide our clients with the highest quality of service for more than 30 years. Our agents can arrange all your travel needs from the individual hotel and/or car reservation to an around the world cruise. Nothing is out of reach.
We can help plan your honeymoon, your destination wedding or the much needed getaway for two. Don’t forget about your business, we can handle all the travel needs for your company as well. Anything from an airline flight and hotel for a meeting or all the planning needed for your next company-wide seminar. We can arrange hotel space for all attendees and meeting rooms for all purposes.
Our agents travel to many destinations on FAM trips (Familiarization trips) these trips are designed by tour operators and cruise lines to make certain that travel agents are up-to-date on popular destinations and cruise ships.
So the next time you need to, or better yet, want to travel…Let us help, it’s what we do.
It was pouring rain in NYC when I showed up at the Times Square, my shoes got soaked wet in about five minutes, but I was hoping to get some interesting shots of this famous place with some cool reflections. It is probably the busiest place in USA, the crowds never stop, morning or midnight. This rain actually helped with pushing most of them into the stores and off the street. The place is amazing!!!
As a massage therapist for over 20 years I always love hearing the spa trends for the year. I am hopeful that more people will learn the health benefits of massage and not see it as a luxury item. All people from all walks of life benefit from massage.
Let’s explore some of the different spa trends for 2012:
1. Feet Focus – Reflexology – Foot Massage
On the rise are multi-treatments focused on the feet. Specific work on the foot due to high-heel pain.
QUA Baths & Spa at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas now has an “Arctic Ice Room”
Sparkling Hill Resort & Wellness Center offers a Cold Sauna (Cryotherapy) Treatment in Vernon, BC Canada
You might start getting facials and noticing that there are more icy masks and cold applications being used.
Austrian spa designer Thermarium is expected to launch a “snow shower” this year. You will be able to choose between a light snow, medium snowfall and a blizzard.
3. Wellness & Beauty Coaching – Helping people make long-term life changes
You may find that some spas will now have more “fitness coaches” available to work with you on your fitness and health.
Amusement Park Spas, Water Park Spas, Tropical Garden Spas and spas with a full range of Classical music and Jazz concerts. Many of the spa-parks are geared towards children and their parents. These are some of the spa experiences trending for 2012.
To plan your trip today: All About Travel
6104 Northwest 63
Oklahoma City, OK 73132
415.384.3880
A big thanks for their input: Jeff Shelton, Renee Emanuel, Liz Vap, Bob Cisternino & Kristine Jimenez. Please list your faves that you would recommend…
To plan your trip today:
All About Travel
6104 Northwest 63
Oklahoma City, OK 73132
415.384.3880
Anje Vela
All About Travel
All About Travel 