Weather and Shopping in Italy

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

#91
robee said:
bluewin, lilyhermes, 2manybags:smooch:

thanks for all the tips and advice......:tup:
it is very helpful.....
You can never find those info in travel guide books:)
My frd just lend a book "Born to shop in italy", she said this is more useful than normal travel guide book:roflmfao:
Click to expand...

That's the first travel book on Italy I ever read, robee. It got me into LOTS of trouble!:p

If you have time, be sure to go to the THE Mall, about 30-40 minutes south of Florence in Regello (just Google The Mall, Italy, and you'll find it - they even have a bus tour running from Florence). Fabulous designer outlet shopping. No H, of course, but huge Armani store, LaPerla, Tods, Valentino, Gucci, Ferragamo and many, many more enticements. Nice cafe (.com) for paninis, cappuccino, etc. I THOROUGHLY enjoyed myself there and got some fabulous bargains. There's also a big Prada outlet nearby too.
 
#92
lilyhermes said:
That's the first travel book on Italy I ever read, robee. It got me into LOTS of trouble!:p

If you have time, be sure to go to the THE Mall, about 30-40 minutes south of Florence in Regello (just Google The Mall, Italy, and you'll find it - they even have a bus tour running from Florence). Fabulous designer outlet shopping. No H, of course, but huge Armani store, LaPerla, Tods, Valentino, Gucci, Ferragamo and many, many more enticements. Nice cafe (.com) for paninis, cappuccino, etc. I THOROUGHLY enjoyed myself there and got some fabulous bargains. There's also a big Prada outlet nearby too.
Click to expand...

hahahaahaah your FIRST and got you WALLET into a lot of trouble :p
Jadeite has lots of fun at the TODS outlet.... 5.5hours, no time for other shops.

Do you shop a lot in europe? like italy, france etc? in your opinion which country has the best shopping? my galfrd said in europe, the discounts wouldn't be as steep as in USA as the brands have a certain image to uphold. Is that true?
 
#93
robee said:
hahahaahaah your FIRST and got you WALLET into a lot of trouble :p
Jadeite has lots of fun at the TODS outlet.... 5.5hours, no time for other shops.

Do you shop a lot in europe? like italy, france etc? in your opinion which country has the best shopping? my galfrd said in europe, the discounts wouldn't be as steep as in USA as the brands have a certain image to uphold. Is that true?
Click to expand...

Well, I haven't gotten any further than the duty free at Charles de Gaulle, so I can't give you any advice about France, but I always enjoy shopping in Italy, but other than in the great outlets, I don't think you find any real bargains, particularly with the exchange rate. (The big sales are in January and August, and there are some buys to be had then.)

Years ago, I got wondeful buys on 18k gold jewelry, silver, leather goods, etc, but those bargains are few and far between now. I love to bring back great Italian chocolate, truffle oil, pasta and paper goods (Florence is famous for them) and have shipped majolica home from Tuscany and Umbria in the past. A must stop in Florence is the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella for their wonderful Latte per Il Corpo (body lotion, which is utterly divine), pomegranate soap and Tuscan pot pourri. The shop is housed in the most beautiful 16th century abby and smells wonderful (it's on Via della Scala very close to the church of Santa Maria Novella.)

What I did score at The Mall back in October 2006 was a great Gucci purse for around $500 US (full price had been $2,300) and an Armani "double" coat for around $400 which had been around $2,000 if I remember correctly. There were definitely bargains to be found there!
 
#94
lilyhermes said:
Well, I haven't gotten any further than the duty free at Charles de Gaulle, so I can't give you any advice about France, but I always enjoy shopping in Italy, but other than in the great outlets, I don't think you find any real bargains, particularly with the exchange rate. (The big sales are in January and August, and there are some buys to be had then.)

Years ago, I got wondeful buys on 18k gold jewelry, silver, leather goods, etc, but those bargains are few and far between now. I love to bring back great Italian chocolate, truffle oil, pasta and paper goods (Florence is famous for them) and have shipped majolica home from Tuscany and Umbria in the past. A must stop in Florence is the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella for their wonderful Latte per Il Corpo (body lotion, which is utterly divine), pomegranate soap and Tuscan pot pourri. The shop is housed in the most beautiful 16th century abby and smells wonderful (it's on Via della Scala very close to the church of Santa Maria Novella.)

What I did score at The Mall back in October 2006 was a great Gucci purse for around $500 US (full price had been $2,300) and an Armani "double" coat for around $400 which had been around $2,000 if I remember correctly. There were definitely bargains to be found there!
Click to expand...

Florence seems to have a lot of wonderful things for one to experience. I can imagine the colours and smell during summer....... picturesque.

I read that during summer sale, they will add on more discounts on discounted items......
 
#95
robee said:
Florence seems to have a lot of wonderful things for one to experience. I can imagine the colours and smell during summer....... picturesque.

I read that during summer sale, they will add on more discounts on discounted items......
Click to expand...

That very well could be, robee. I've never been in Italy during the summer sales, but a lot of shops seem open to the idea of an additional discount, especially if you're nice and you buy another item.
 
#97
you have to add the tax free from all the sale items and this makes the sale an even better deal...

they put an extra discount at the end of the sale in summer and in winter as well.
 
#99
Thanks for all the help on weather and shopping in Italy........
It's very helpful for my future holiday planning and defintey will avoid the peak season or do my bookings early.

Late last night DH said, I will go anywhere you want as long as you are happy....
Told him we will go italy togather soon.. and since DS still can't get a ticket... let's postpone it.....

DS decide our next destination last nite and DH told me this morning... now I booked the tickets and is no refundable.. you have to go, if not forfeit.. and u have now till Nov to book all the necessary, and no more excuse. I am happy again:)
 
#100
To lilyhermes,
Thanks for the great tip on dining in Florence, posted in August. We did go to Quattro Leoni and ordered that astounding pasta-ricotta/pear/asparagus dish, and it was indeed TDF. We also had the best gelato there, a very black chocolate.
May I pass on a couple of tips for you: Dante, also in the Oltrarno district, for great Florentine pastas etc; lovely decor, friendly, excellent. And Marioni, in the historical center near via Tornabuoni, for great bistecca.

Jellyv
 
#101
Oh how I miss Firenze! The centre of Florence is like a big outdoor museum. Such a great city - I've been there 3 times over the last 3 years and still can't get enough of its vibrant streets, historical masterpieces and unique shops. If only I had unlimited amount of time and money - I'd move there in a hearbeat...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top