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Travel and shopping:

If you're leaving on a jet plane, you can be pretty sure that your wallet will speak the international language of cash when you arrive. There is nothing better than showing off your souvenirs and bargain purchases along with your tan and holiday snaps.

So where should you head for the best holiday bargains?

Shopping in Europe

You need a relaxed approach to shopping on the continent. Shops may not open until 10am and then close during siesta time from 2pm to 5pm before opening again until late. Spring and summer sales tend to reflect sales time in UK. In some countries you may need photo ID when paying by credit card.

Head to Paris for delicious boutiques, family-run food shops and rustic markets. Antiques and rare books line the markets and there are many bicycle and camera specialists. Take plenty of cash to the flea markets, which are a plastic-free zone. Spain offers fantastic food and kitchen items while Florence provides elegant shoes and leather goods. The Grand Bazaar and Spice Market in Istanbul will delight the senses. Snap up some trendy tea glasses.

Shopping in Asia

Much of Asia is renowned for its gemstones, local crafts and fake designer labels. If your tuk-tuk or taxi driver offers to take you shopping then be prepared for him to drive you around a string of fixed-price outlets which will pay him commission and leave you paying over the odds. Buyer beware.

The fakes aren't what they used to be in Bangkok but there are still plenty to spend your money on in markets and malls alike. There are top department stores around the city and the enormous Chatuchak Weekend Market is crammed with artistic talent. Shop for antiques in the air conditioned splendour of the River City Mall and dodge gem scams by heading to the Gem Superstore. Thai silk remains a good value favourite.

Beijing offers stunning silk and pearls and the weekend antiques market at Paniayuan takes several hours to peruse. Remember to bargain: reckon on a third of the starting price. Hong Kong has malls, and more malls with new ones springing up every year, regardless of the economy. Shanghai's Xiangyang Market is the place to head for if you are after cheap clothes. Bargains can also be found in the fabric and antique markets. Serious shopping sprees in Singapore start in Orchard Road. This five-lane shopping street is lined by cavernous shopping centres ranging from top drawer to bargain basement. Tailored suits and cheap gold are popular buys.

Each region of India has its own specialities. Indian silks, cottons and wools are among the best in the world. Beautiful shawls and pure wool and woven and silk carpets are exquisitely made and can be bought for a fraction of the cost that one would pay in the west. Clothes are very cheap to buy, and can be tailor made in some shops, usually very quickly. Indian silverwork is world-famous. Gems can be bought and mounted. Apart from diamonds, other stones include lapis lazuli, Indian star rubies, star sapphires, moonstones and aquamarine. Hyderabad is one of the world's leading centres for pearls. Look out for local handicrafts and leatherwork, wooden ornaments and enameling. Spices, pickles, tea, perfume oils, soap and handmade paper may also catch your eye. Goods are exotic, attractive, beautiful hand-crafted and excellent value for money.

The tax-free shopping status of the United Arab Emirates attracts big spenders, with Dubai dubbed 'the shopping capital of the Middle East'. Glitzy malls sit amidst traditional souks. Prices are generally competitive but you need to bargain wherever possible. Very pure yellow gold, electronic goods, textiles and carpets are most likely to be extremely good value. But beware, some branded items are more expensive than elsewhere, books tend to be expensive and DVD and CD prices are no longer cheap.

Shopping in the US

The gigantic Mall of America in Minneapolis claims to attract more annual visitors than Disneyland, Graceland and the Grand Canyon combined and is the country's largest shopping and entertainment complex. It has more than 520 stores, a seven-acre amusement park, a walk-through aquarium, an entire level of restaurants and bars and a 15-screen movie theater. Retail tourists stay nearby and spend their holiday shopping and playing. As well as cheaper clothes, shoes and sports equipment, head for the jewellery region of any major city for superb quality at low prices.

Happy shoppers

But before you fill your case with magic carpets from Marrakech or new shoes from New York, get to grips with the local shopping style and avoid any nasty surprises from Customs when you come home by following these simple steps:

1. Do some retail research

Your money will go further if you plan your major purchases in advance. The excitement of a foreign country may go to your head and before you know it, you will have paid over the odds for an iPod. If you are looking for electrical gadgets, DVDs or designer gear, check out the prices at home first. This way you will know whether you are getting a real bargain rather than assuming everything is cheaper overseas or - worse still - boredom-buying in the airport. Find out whether your destination has a sales season so you can time your trip accordingly. You may also need to include sales tax on the ticket prices.

2. Check the currency

It sounds obvious but you need to check and double check the pounds sterling equivalent price if you are paying for goods in another currency. Make sure you know exactly how to calculate costs or carry a 'currency converter' to do the work for you. This can be particularly trying in far-flung countries where the local currency is pegged to the US or Australian dollar and you have to get your head around an extra layer of exchange. You need to be especially careful when paying by card in these cases - pay close attention to the amount and currency shown on the slip before you sign. Your £30 Maldivian necklace may cost 800 rufiya in local money but could accidently be changed to 800 by the dual-currency credit card machine. Ouch. Definitely not a bargain. You should also factor-in any fees or charges related to the way you pay. Any kind of plastic payment is likely to have a hidden cost and the exchange rates used by your bank or credit card issuer may be different.

3. Duty-free is not always cheapest

It is very easy to assume that you wont get a better deal than the Duty-free shop can offer. But we live in a discount world now where prices may be even lower elsewhere. This is where your homework will come in useful as you will know whether something is £5 or £50 cheaper than the usual retail price.

4. Plan your packing

Heading to a major shopping destination such as the US or Asia means some serious spending and serious space in your case to lug it all home. Avoid mailing goods home unless you really have to. It is expensive and can be unreliable. Alternatively, pack light and throw an empty holdall into your case for foreign goodies. Valuable objects should be carried with you as hand luggage.

5. Keep Customs happy

Don't be too busy celebrating your great savings to forget Customs limits on your return home.

When travelling from a non-EU country (including the Canary Islands, the Channel islands and Gibraltar) you can bring the following into the UK for your own use without paying UK tax or duty:

•  200 cigarettes; or 100 cigarillos; or 50 cigars; or 250g of tobacco

•  60cc of perfume

•  2 litres of still table wine

•  250cc of eau de toilette

•  1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22% volume; or 2 litres of fortified wine, sparkling wine or other liqueurs and

•  £145 worth of all other goods including gifts and souvenirs (The Chancellor has written to the EU to request that this level be raised to £1,000).

If you have any more than these allowances you must declare the goods in the red channel or use the red point phone. If you do not, you are breaking the law and HM Customs may prosecute you.

If you are returning from an EU country then Customs will look for levels of imports likely to be for commercial use. You are particularly likely to be asked questions if you have more than: 3200 cigarettes, 200 cigars, 400 cigarillos, 3kg tobacco, 110 litres of beer, 90 litres of wine, 10 litres of spirits, 20 litres of fortified wine (such as port or sherry).

Keep all receipts so that you can present them at Customs if necessary and check them against your bills when you get home.