Shop till you drop: the best destinations to browse and buy

Simon Calder’s Travel Week [SUBSCRIBE]( [SUBSCRIBE: £20 FOR 1 YEAR]( July 23, 2023 [View in browser](   SIMON CALDER’S TRAVEL WEEK [The Independent]( [The Independent]( Whether you're into scouting vintage shops on a city break, roaming the mega-malls of Asian metropolises, or ducking into stalls to haggle over artisanal products in the souks of North Africa, shopping while on holiday just hits different. [London calling: Read our guide to the best places to shop in the capital]( It's the ideal way to pick up one-of-a-kind gifts or souvenirs, find local homeware to give your interiors an injection of off-beat va-va-voom, or snag envy-inducing, "where did you get that?" outfits. The UK capital is a great jumping off point; here are the [coolest places to shop and stay in London](. On the continent, Milan is Italy's crown jewel when it comes to shopping - check out our [latest city guide]( to help plan your next trip. Or further afield still, the UAE has a staggering array of places to browse and buy. This hand-picked selection of [Dubai's best hotels]( highlights where you can rest up in style after a day of splashing the cash. Tax dodge Few EU nations have a lower standard rate of VAT than the UK (20 per cent). The lowest: Luxembourg, which cut the tax to 16 per cent this year. Public transport throughout the nation is free, too. [LUXEMBOURG FOR FREE]( [Isles of Scilly]( Hong Kong originals The former Police Married Quarters in Hong Kong has been transformed into PMQ – a design community where fashion, jewellery and homewares are created. [ANOTHER HONG KONG](   Question of the week   Question of the week           What are the post-Brexit customs rules coming back from the EU to the UK?         A Like many things to do with the decision to leave the European Union, it’s complicated. The border down the Irish Sea dividing Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) from Northern Ireland means the duty-free limits depend which UK nation you travel to. For travel to GB, all foreign countries are now treated the same. Travellers aged 17 or above can import 42 litres of beer and 18 litres of wine – plus either four litres of spirits or nine litres of fortified or sparking wine. Smokers can bring back 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco. For “other goods” the limit is strictly £390 – and if you are £1 over the limit, you pay duty on the whole lot. Yet for goods “grown or made in the EU using only EU ingredients or materials” that you bought in the European Union and are bringing in from an EU country, you can avoid paying duty. You may need to show evidence to customs officials. Arrivals to Northern Ireland from the EU face no limits on what they can bring back (except from the Canary Islands, where the GB allowance apply). [A celebration of Brexit benefits for travellers]( [Save £100 on a luxury Caribbean holiday]( Sandal's and Beaches resorts are offering the discount on travel before the end of 2023 Up]([to £300 off easyJet holiday packages](//link.e.independent.co.uk/click/32164764.25380/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL2luZGVwZW5kZW50LXRyYXZlbGxlci9vZmZlcnMvc2hvcnQtYnJlYWstbG9jaC1meW5lLWhvdGVs/583d2887487ccd777a8b7489D1ed96834 The savings code can be used on all-inclusive holidays, city breaks, family holidays, and more [Tour lakes and gardens of northern Italy]( From your base at Lake Orta, this trip visits Maggiore, Como and Lugano, Locarno and Milan Enjoy a year of unlimited digital access for just £99 £20 ✓ Full access to Premium news analysis ✓ Advert-free reading across web and app ✓ The Independent Daily Edition newspaper ✓ Puzzles, virtual event tickets and more [SUBSCRIBE NOW]( Feature The Maven sister-hood Looking for shopping with a difference? In Utah’s unique female-led district, sisters are doing it for themselves... [READ MORE]( Travel guide NYC's Lower East Side The Big Apple tops most lists when it comes to a shopping break. Here's a zoomed-in guide to one of its trendiest 'hoods. [GO TO GUIDE]( It’s all about creating an ecosystem where women can thrive through mentorship and community support in the female-powered Maven haven Zoey Goto Travel writer Hotels Marrakech stays After weaving your way through a Moroccan souk, here are the top spots to lay your head, from luxe riads to five-star pads. [BOOK NOW]( Holidays Affordable destinations Save your cash for souvenirs by heading to one of these holiday hotspots where your money will go further this summer. [GET INSPIRED]( [Where to stay for a stylish New York city break: the best boutique hotels]( [Vegan Paris: the best cafes and restaurants to enjoy a plant-based meal]( [M]([anchester city guide: where to sleep, eat, drink and shop](   PICK OF THE WEEK: VALUE ADDED TRAVEL [Escape to the 5* Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort with 35% off. Enjoy a complimentary room upgrade, indulge in the All-Inclusive Dine Around, complimentary airport transfers, and bask in the UAE beach paradise this summer.](   [This cold brew coffee is the perfect plant-based caffeine fix for summer – and it comes in convenient cans]( [SHOP NOW]( [The 10 best denim midi and maxi skirts for your 2023 summer holiday and beyond]( [SHOP NOW](   OTHER NEWSLETTERS YOU MIGHT LIKE [Climate News]( Climate News Every Friday, 12pm (UK time) Written by Louise Boyle [Join now]( [IndyEats]( IndyEats Every Saturday, 7am (UK time) Written by Hannah Twiggs [Join now]( [Climate News] Climate News Every Friday, 12pm (UK time) Written by Louise Boyle [Join now]( [IndyEats] IndyEats Every Saturday, 7am (UK time) Written by Hannah Twiggs [Join now](   The Independent proudly partners with [Refuge]( and the [National Domestic Abuse Helpline](: 0808 2000 247 If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. 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