Shopping Haul@Italy

Merry Christmas 2016! I'm going to share some tipsy for what to shop in Italy for your upcoming trip..hopefully it's useful for you all.

1) Branded Bags
I think this is one of the top list of the items that is must buy item for all ladies visiting Europe? :-) So, if you are visiting Italy - buy branded bags or items made from Italy! If you are clueless like me initially on which branded bags are actually from Italy (sorry, I'm a total noob on branded stuff since I'm not a fan of it) - below are some of the brands that are made from Italy which you can checkout during your visit to Italy:

• Gucci - founded in Florence, Italy in 1921
• Prada - founded in Milan, Italy in 1913
• Salvatore Ferragamo - founded in Florence, Italy in 1927
• Furla - founded in Bologna, Italy in 1927
• Liu Jo - founded in Carpi, Italy in 1995
• Giorgio Armani - founded in Milan, Italy in 1975

Estimated budget for Gucci or Prada: If you are looking for new arrival items in the normal retail outlets, you can estimate a budget of minimum EUR1,000 for a medium size handbag or a minimum of EUR400 for a wallet. You can get from factory outlet about half of the price for out season items.

Tax refund: Standard Italy product taxes are about 22%. You can get back tax refund of about 10 to 12% if you spend more than EUR155 and above. You can claim back the tax refund at the airport before departure back. It is always recommended to get back the tax refund form in EUR cash - don't get back the cash in other currency other than EUR dollar as you will lose in their exchange rate since the conversion rate from the tax refund company is pretty bad! Better take the EUR dollar and go back only change back your local currency.

Tips on where to shop for branded stuff: Shop in Rome - Piazza di Spanna, beside Scala di Spagna (Spanish Steps) rather than in Milan as it's very easy to locate the brands since it's lined up beside each other and not so crowded.

2) Italian Chocolates
Looking for some Italian chocolates as souvenirs for your friends or family members? Remember to checkout these few Italian choc brands as I never recall I see that in Malaysia. So worth to buy this for people to try!

• Baci Perugina Chocolates

• La Suissa Chocolates

I love the left one - pistachio! The right one is white hazelnut

•  Feletti Chocolates

Cappuccino flavor

I love the Tiramisu flavor one!

3) Olive Oil
As Italy is famous of Olive Oil, you can get variety of Olive Oil flavors in here like pepper olive oil (which is spicy one), lemon and garlic olive oil etc. Worth checking out the different flavors that you could not get in Malaysia especially like the spicy one - don't need to put chili flakes anymore when you cook spaghetti aglio olio :-)

For small bottle of olive oil, it's about EUR6 to EUR8 for each.

4) Italy Coffees
All coffee lovers out there - it's a must buy item as it's so dirt cheap for all the coffee in here! Some of the coffee brands that you can buy:

• Lavazza Coffee
• Pellini Coffee

Price for coffee ranges from EUR3 to EUR7.

5) Venetian Mask fridge magnets
A recommended souvenir to buy if you are visiting Venice (or you can find too in some cities in Italy) - Venetian mask fridge magnets! It's a very unique mask magnet which you can get only in Italy.

So beautiful Venetian mask magnets! You can find these in Burano island in Venice. The price is slightly higher for these - ~minimum EUR2 for each

The other designs like this is about ~minimum EUR1 for each. You might get it cheaper if you buy in bigger bulks

If you do not prefer the full face like the earlier ones - can consider getting this - it's quite nice too. About minimum EUR1 for each.

Note: Those bought from the Venice island like in Burano island is more expensive though since you need to consider the boat transportation cost over. So it's recommended to buy the magnets in the Venice mainland where you take the boat from.

If you are not interested in the Venetian masks, can checkout the normal type of fridge magnets like below:

6) Italian Biscotti
Biscotti, known also as cantuccini, are Italian almond biscuits that originated in the city of Prato. They are twice-baked, oblong-shaped, dry, crunchy, and dipped in a drink, traditionally Vin Santo.

You can buy this at about EUR 5.50 per pack as a souvenir for your friends or family members.


7) Fashion and Leather goods
Italy is famous for fashion and leather goods. Some fashion clothing brands which you can checkout is Valentino. The largest Valentino flagship store is in Rome.

8) Glass
Murano glass is glass made on the Venetian island of Murano, which has specialized in fancy glassware for centuries. Although it's made in Venice, it's available to buy not just in Rome shops but all over Italy. One thing to take note is to make sure it's the real thing - there are a lot of cheap imitations out there. All genuine Murano ware, no matter how small, comes with a certificate of authenticity.

That's all about the shopping haul in Italy.


For more information on my Italy itinerary, please checkout the link here.

Shopping Haul @London

Long overdue post on the hubby and my shopping haul in UK..

1) Magnets 

Left : Stonehenge magnet
Top-Right : London magnets (Budget: 6 for GBP10)
Bottom-Right : Bath Abbey magnet

Thinking of getting some fridge magnets as souvenirs like the ones in top-right? You should get those in Bayswater.

How to get to Bayswater:
->By tube: Take the District/Circle (Green/Yellow) line to Bayswater station. Once you get out of the station, turn left or right...there are plenty of souvenirs shops everywhere here.

In here, you get a whole street of shops which sells plenty of London souvenirs like magnets, keychains, T-shirt etc. And dun worry about the shops closing at 9pm! You can do late night shopping here. For Malaysians, do take note that some shops here have special discounts for Malaysians!

2)Umbrella

Another option for souvenir - London umbrella!
  
3) Chocolates

Left : Marks & Spencer Extra Fine Milk Chocolate Bar
Top-Right : Harrods Chocolate Bars
Middle-Right : Kit-Kat Chunky Bars - Peanut Butter Chocolate flavor
Bottom-Right : More of Marks & Spencer Chocolate Bars

You can find the Marks & Spencer chocos in their grocery area. As for the Harrods chocos, I got it from the Harrods department store.

How to get to Harrods:
Address: 87-135 Brompton Rd, London SW1X 7XL, United Kingdom
Phone:+44 20 7730 1234
By tube: Take the Piccadilly line to Knightsbridge station
Opening Hours: 

• Monday to Saturday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm, 
• Sunday 11:30 am – 6.00 pm

4) Butter or Chocolate Biscuits

Top-Left : Marks & Spencer Choco biscuits (front of the box)
Bottom-Right : Marks & Spencer Choco biscuits (back of the box)
Top-Right & Bottom: Marks & Spencer butter biscuits  

You can find the Marks & Spencer biscuits in their grocery area.

5) Handmade soap bars

If you luv handmade soap bars, you can get these soap bars from the Bath souvenir shops. Lovely smell! And they have different variety like Rose Geranium, Rosemary and Lavender and Sea Salt with Essential Oils for Men.
  
6) Tote and handbags

Longchamp bag

Lots of choices of Harrods Totes and Purse

You can get cheaper Longchamp and Harrods Totes from London. Checkout these bags from Selfridges and Harrods departmental store.


7) Plushies
Fans of Paddington bear? Hello Kitty or Harrods Bear? Cute to keep these as collections.

8)  Cheap shopping haul at Primark!
Primark is Malaysia's version of Mydin. A good place to shop for incredibly dirt cheap clothes from as low as GBP1, shoes, inner wear etc. If you run out of room for your luggage, you can even grab one here at a very cheap price of GBP20 here too!

The flats I bought at Primark for only GBP3! So comfy and it's my favorite daily shoes now. Regret that I did not buy more come back la..even cheaper than getting from Taobao some more after conversion.

How to get to Primark:
Primark Oxford Street East
Address: 14 – 28 Oxford Street & 3 Tottenham Court Road
London, W1D 1AU
By tube: Take the Central Line to Marble Arch. When you are out of the station, cross the road and turn left. Walk straight and you will see Primark on your right.


Check here for more of my UK trip sharing.

Collection #19: London Hello Kitty!

Hello! Greetings from London Changing Guard Hello Kitty! :-)

Almost forgot to continue sharing about my Hello Kitty Collection *smack head*

Wanna see more of my Hello Kitty Collections? Checkout here.

Collection #16: Hello Kitty Long Wallet

It's FLYDAY!!! Woohoo...happy happy day! I really luv Friday the most among all the days in the week since I will think, I have 2 more days to rest which is something to look forward every week la at least.

So last weekend I went to Parkson to get the some kitchen stuff, and while waiting to pay for my items, I took out my Hello Kitty long wallet and the cashier was like..OMG!!! Ur wallet so cantiknya.. You beli kat mana and berapa harga? (Translation in english: Your wallet so damn nice, which did you buy it and how much) I was so damn happy with my purchase..hehe.

So let me show you my pretty wallet :-P

I really luv wallets with zip up all. At least my items like cards won't drop out sometimes. I do have this problem with some other wallets and this design fit me the best

And important is, this color not so easy dirty..lolo. I hate it when my wallet so fast turn chocolatie color. I bought this during my Hokkaido trip at the airport. It's really a last minute purchase since I'm about to board the flight back dee. And it's only JPY3,500 which is about RM110? Initially during that trip, I was hesitating to get the Samantha Thavasa wallet which looks almost similar like this but since I got Burberry handbag dee and broke shopping liow..so have to give up tht idea la. But when I saw this Hello Kitty long wallet..I was like..OMG!! I must get it! Kechinnggg...swipe my card to get it since I run out of JPY some more..haha.

See the Hello Kitty Logo? So not fake one nah..original from Sanrio!

And the details of Hello Kitty prints..luv it!

Carrying this wallet won't make u look childish. I noticed some Hello Kitty items which is really kiddo at times to carry it But this one is really suitable for ladies like me :-P

That's all on my collection sharing ya. Happy Flyday 13th! If you are interested to see more of my Hello Kitty collections, check out the link here.

Collection #15: Hello Kitty Omamori

Need to churn out another blog post quick again? Hehe..no problem..my collection sharing again lo. Do you guys know what is charms or amulets called in Japanese? It's Omamori!

I super luv this Hello Kitty Omamori that I got it from the Hokkaido Shrine. Both omamori is for total protection.

(Left) Hello Kitty Hadamamori, JPY 500 (Right) Strap Amulet, JPY 800

Both also available in Pink and Lavender color

Initially I thought this is the only shrine I can get the hello kitty Omamori, but according to this site, there are several other shrines which has different Hello Kitty Omamori. OMG...wish I can go accumulate all la..*looking at boyfie with a please look* hehe

Wanna see more of my Hello Kitty Collections? Checkout here.

Shopping Haul @ Hokkaido (Part 2)

Sorry for the long awaited continuation shopping haul post from part 1 here...now finally have time to blog on the part 2 of the shopping haul :-)

Thinking of what souvenir you can get in Hokkaido for your friends or family members? Below are some of my recommendation to get:

1) Japanese umbrella
I dunno why..Japanese umbrella is so damn kewl with different designs that you can never find in Malaysia!


Where to get it: Sapporo Airport

Japanese lady umbrella..wonder how it looks like when you open it up?

The bottom right one is the one I bought, nice?

There are even more nicer designs la..sigh..too bad that time short of time and also I already used up all my money!! argh!

I luv the one bottom right..the lucky japanese cat!

More umbrella designs

2) Japanese lucky cat pen

Cute pen rite?

Where to get: Sapporo airport

3) Horse Oil Soap Gold Bar
We're here to get this supposedly very very good Horse Oil, which is excellent for moisturizing your skin. Horse Oil is famous in Hokkaido (maybe even the whole of Japan), and this one is ONLY available here.

4) Lavender Soap Bar
Price: JPY 105 (MYR 3.30)

5) Magnets

6) Waterproof Spray

7) Sneakers Cleaner
Where to get: Rera Chitose Outlet Mall
Price: JPY 1,050 (MYR 33)

8) Winter boots that is anti-slip and suitable to walk on ice
Where to get: Rera Chitose Outlet Mall
Price: JPY 4,950 (MYR 157)

9) Burberry Blue Label Handbag!
Where to get: Daimaru
Price: JPY 37,800 (MYR 1,198)

10) "Beauty" Wine
Where to get: Tanaka Shuzo Brewery
Price: JPY 1575 (MYR 50)

11) Hello Kitty Doll
Price: JPY 1800 (MYR 57)

12) Otaru Music Box
Where to get: Otaru Music Box Museum

Price: JPY 1890 (MYR60)

Price: JPY 1680 (MYR 53)

13)  Amulet

Where to get: Hokkaido Shrine

Left: Hello Kitty Hadamamori - JPY 500 (MYR 16)

 

Right: Strap Amulet - JPY 800 (MYR 25)

Health Amulet: JPY 1000 (MYR 32)

Ok, that's all for my shopping haul in the whole trip!

For the full itinerary of my Hokkaido trip, checkout here.