Phila Airport Parking Vacations

From the shopping and dining delights of The Dubai Mall to the popular Mall of the Emirates – to the world’s largest indoor ski slope – on to Ibn Battuta – named after the famed Arabic explorer – with its six themed shopping halls, there’s more to the retail experience in Dubai than just branded storefronts.

The Dubai Mall, opened in Nov 2008, will contain over 1,200 stores when fully operational. Almost all stores are already open, including favourites such as Ted Baker, Guess Jeans, Gap, Manolo Blahnik and Aldo. You have to visit the Dubai Aquarium & Discovery Centre and Dubai Ice Rink, also housed in the mall.

Mall of the Emirates, has 350 shops, excellent 400-room Kempinski hotel and biggest 400-metrelong ski slope. This indoor ski centre even features real snow – a somewhat difficult to beleive in the middle of a desert, but a great way to spend an afternoon alon or with family after a morning’s meanderings.

The expansive Ibn Battuta mall, which lies on the outer reaches of the city along Sheikh Zayed Road, houses six international shopping zones, making a trip from Egypt to China entirely feasible in a matter of minutes!

If design brands are your thing then it has to be the great BurJuman mall, a one-stop shopping destination for every label imaginable from Dior to Louis Vuitton. The mall is also home to the ultra-fashionable Saks Fifth Avenue store, the hangout of the affluent visitor.

And if all Burjuman luxury is not enough, then the equally stylish Jumeirah Emirates Towers Boulevard is place where you may find yet more desirable brands from the musthave trinkets of Tiffany & Co. and Bvlgari to the inimitable chic of Armani and Jimmy Choo. There’s also Boutique 1 where you can find handpicked designs from top labels such as Missoni, Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney.

Another great destination is Wafi, a great place to shop with the family or spend time with friends. Built in the shape of a pyramid, this unique mall is not only home to an eclectic mix of one-off stores and familiar brand names, but also offers an exciting menu of quality dining venues and entertainment options from Planet Hollywood to the acclaimed Asha’s Indian restaurant (owned by famous musician, Asha Bhosle). It also houses Khan Murjan, an indoor souk based on a legendary 14th century Arabian market, with artisans and traders selling a variety of goods.

Deira City Centre is a cornerstone of the Dubai’s retail scene, with something for everyone. It is popular for its selection of high street brands including Debenhams, Topshop, Forever 21, Gap, Mango, Oasis and Benetton. There is a huge Carrefour in the centre of the mall, which is the excellent place to find bargain-priced TVs, DVDs, clothing and home accessories.

Venture to New Dubai and you will find one of the few outdoor shopping precincts in the city, with great beach views as well. The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence spans 1.7km and is spread across two levels – a plaza level and beach level. It’s a mix of high-end retail and home wares, interspersed with an array of restaurants and bustling cafes.

You may find more information about malls, shops and find the best Dubai shopping place to go, just visit our Dubai guide!

Johannesburg, Cape Town and many other cities in South Africa compare well with big world cities when it comes to shopping.

Shopping Malls are in abundance. In Cape Town, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront Mall and Canal Walk are favorites. The Waterfront has convenient food stores to brand name stores and boutiques. Craft stores, bookstores and chain clothing stores can make choices hard. Numerous restaurants and coffee shops will provide sustenance for tired shopping bodies.

Johannesburg offers a mall around every corner. Located at the entrance to Johannesburg on the airport side is the Eastgate Mall. With its massive size, it will take visitors a couple of days to visit every shop. If your taste buds are craving the very best in breads, cakes and pastries, try visiting the Bread Basket. In addition, this mall offers name brand shops such as Hang Ten, Levi Strauss, Guess and many more.

Just outside Durban in Umhlanga Rocks is Gateway with approximately 370 different shops. Apart from the shops which includes fashion, homeware, food stores, pharmacies and many specialty shops there is also a Barnyard theatre. Barnyard is a unique South African theatre concept made possible by two theatre industry people in 1996.

The popularity of the Barnyard Theater has grown to over twelve theaters across South Africa. Each one offers the unique feel of a rustic barn while at the same time containing the proper equipment to provide patrons with a quality show. Ticket prices are generally lower than most other theaters and guests are welcome to bring their own picnic lunch or dinner. Drinks must be purchased at the bar and if anyone does not wish to bring a picnic, they have the option of purchasing food at a snack bar.

Shopping is however not only reserved for Malls. Flea markets are still going strong and street vendors are all over. On the way to the Kruger National Park you will find many stalls along the roads where you can buy anything from a basket to a wood carved product for a fraction of the shop price.

The Bruma Lake Fleamarket provides shoppers with a wide array of authentic South African products and is massive in size. The Greenmarket Square in Cape Town’s inner city is open for shopping every day but Sunday. The Rooftop Market in Rosebank, Johannesburg and the Milnerton Fleamarket on the West Coast road offer visitors authentic African products and collectibles such as clothing, pottery sets and jewelry.

Shoppers will be mesmerized by the Western Cape as linens. materials, shoes and clothing are offered at rock bottom prices in many factory outlets.

Always be sure to bring plenty of money and bags to carry your unique finds when shopping in South Africa.