Getting a better deal abroad
We all work hard for our money so it is only natural to want it to work as hard for us, be it on the amount it can buy us, or the interest it earns in the bank. But making sure that it does, takes some effort and research.
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Travel Insurance
Craig Doyle
- Booking Your Trip
- Buying insurance
- Holiday money
- Holiday shopping
- Top 10 tips on haggling
- Useful phrases
- If things go wrong
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Holiday shopping
Yet again, doing your homework before you go away will pay off in the shopping stakes. You need to find out where you can haggle, where the prices are fixed and what the country is known for.
For example, Thailand is known for its silk, precious stones and orchids, while in Egypt carpets, papyrus and spices are some of the specialties of the country. In France and Spain you would insult shopkeepers and many market traders if you tried to haggle, but in South Africa, Morocco and Thailand the market traders would be insulted if you didn’t, as it is part of the country’s shopping ritual.
As a general rule of thumb countries in Western Europe do not encourage bartering or haggling, while those in North Africa and Asia do.
You need to find the best places to hone your bartering skills. Try the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar in Cairo – the biggest in the Middle East or maybe wander the interconnecting street markets of the ‘Pink City’, Jaipur, in India.
If you’re in Greece, Italy or other Western European country, while you can’t haggle, great bargains can generally be had just before the market closes and you can always ask for money off if you buy more than one item – you never know!
For example, Thailand is known for its silk, precious stones and orchids, while in Egypt carpets, papyrus and spices are some of the specialties of the country. In France and Spain you would insult shopkeepers and many market traders if you tried to haggle, but in South Africa, Morocco and Thailand the market traders would be insulted if you didn’t, as it is part of the country’s shopping ritual.
As a general rule of thumb countries in Western Europe do not encourage bartering or haggling, while those in North Africa and Asia do.
You need to find the best places to hone your bartering skills. Try the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar in Cairo – the biggest in the Middle East or maybe wander the interconnecting street markets of the ‘Pink City’, Jaipur, in India.
If you’re in Greece, Italy or other Western European country, while you can’t haggle, great bargains can generally be had just before the market closes and you can always ask for money off if you buy more than one item – you never know!