When shopping in Asia, remember to negotiate. Prices are almost never what they seem, especially in street markets. It’s not uncommon to be able to get the price down by 20% to 50%.
With that said, here are some of the best places in Asia to do your shopping.
Bangkok, Thailand
If you’re looking for creative and unique clothing, look no further than Bangkok. Funny T-Shirts go for as little as $3, DVDs can be purchased for $2 and you can get all kinds of jewelry and clothing everywhere you look.
For the tourist experience, hit up Khao San Road, the central tourism hub. For a bit more of the local shopping
experience, try the MBK shopping center or the weekend market.
Where to Stay: Stay a night on Khao San Road for a night you’ll remember for the rest of your life. The area is safe, but be careful – People know that tourists have money.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is China’s liberal arm and financial superpower. It’s also one of the most incredible places to shop in Asia.
Among wealthy circles, Hong Kong is known as one of the best places on the planet to buy gold. The competition is so fierce that the markup between spot (market) price and the price it’s sold for in stores is almost a rounding error. Even if you’re not a gold investor, buying jewelry in Hong Kong is simply one of the best possible places to get your bling.
Hong Kong is also famous for its electronics. Whether you’re looking for a cheap hard drive or a case of USB flash drives for $2 each, you can find it all in the streets of Hong Kong.
Where to Stay: The Tsim Sha Tsui area of Hong Kong is considered one of the main hubs for tourists. It’s both affordable and elegant at the same time.
Cambodia, Siam Reap
Cambodia was devastated by war just a few decades ago. Still today, dozens of mines are detonated every year. In this once ruined country, a spectacular city has rose from the ashes.
Siam Reap today still doesn’t feel like a fully developed city. It still has rough edges and feels very authentically Asian.
At the markets, you can buy all kinds of trinkets for pennies on the dollar. Shirts and pants go for as little as $1 to $3. Hand crafted woods and other goodies that took hours to make sell for $10 to $20. You can even get hand painted replicas of famous paintings for $20 to $30.
Where to Stay: The best way to find a place to stay in Cambodia is to just step off the bus and look around. There are literally dozens of people looking to sell you hotels. Accommodations range from as little as $5 all the way up to $500.
Tokyo
Japan is at the center of both the tech world and the fashion world.
If you’re interested in “cute” or “kawaii” designs, look no further than Japan. Take a trip down to the Shibuya area to really have your mind blown. Many clothes in Japan are originally designed rather than mass manufactured.
Looking for cute, funny or impressive tech gadgets? Try heading over to the 100 yen store. For about $1, you can find all kinds of things that your western friends would die for. You can also pop into a cell phone store or video store to purchase an equipment piece that’s a good 5 years ahead of western standards.
Where to Stay: Three popular chains are Tokyu Stay, Chisun and Sunroute. These are all mid-ranged hotels. For budget hotels, try the Taito area. If you’re looking to spend more than $200 a night, try the Shinjuku area, which sports both a Four Seasons Hotel and the world-famous Shangri-La Hotel.
Image Credits – Free Digital Photos
About the Author:
Daniel Johnshon, author of this article is a writer originally based in Adelaide but now travelling the world and undertaking some content projects. His recent travel experiences include visiting Excelsior Hotel, Hong Kong, a popular hotel in Hong Kong with 886 comfortable rooms and a spacious suit. His recommendation when in Singapore is, Excelsior Hotel, Singapore, a truly perfect place for any holiday or business traveler.