It is a well known fact that every holiday includes the delight of shopping. Even tough you may promise yourself you'll resist the bargains (that often become clutter around the house after a couple of months), nevertheless you'll end up in the souvenir shop for ?little? shopping for your loved ones. If you are traveling to Turkey, Egypt, or Morocco it becomes harder to resist this incitement. As a person who travels frequently to Middle East, I'd like to share some of my personal experiences with North American travelers who are planning to visit these countries:
1) First rule: Always bargain at the bazaars and Souks. Salesmen in carpet, jewelery and leather shops work on commission basis; so never accept the first or second offer. Sometimes you can even get up to 70% discount over the original price.
2) Try to judge the price by how much you would be willing to pay for it in your home country. Fix the price in your mind and stick to it. On the other hand, always keep in your mind the value of the local money. Try to think in the local currency; most items might sound cheap when converted to USD but might be very expensive for local people. So purchase like a local.
3) Most salesmen understand many languages, so do not discuss anything in front of them.
4) Use power of ?No thank you!?: At least learn this phrase in the local language and use it when you are hassled. Smile and walk away.
5) Keep your own currency and credit cards out of sight. It is easier to haggle over a price with your ?limited? local currency.
6) Guides get commission over your purchases. If you are not satisfied with the price, try to come back on your free day and check the similar item at the other shops. So another golden rule: Have a free day for shopping!
7) The top touristy places such as Khan El-Khalili usually visited in Cairo tours or Grand Bazaar in Istanbul will have the most expensive prices. Find out the residential shopping areas for better bargains.
8) For items where quality is important try to find a fixed price shop. You may pay little more but the quality will be superior.
9) Haggling is necessary if you are buying high value items, such as gold and jewelery, but with low value goods it is not always worthwhile the time and effort.
10) Shops in Middle East prefer cash. If you pay with cash rather than a credit card, you should have more power for getting a good discount.
11) Always shop around. Never buy at the first shop; you can always come back. Shopkeepers will try to persuade you that they offer you the best value, but will not be offended when you say you want to look around and would come back.
12) When buying gold/silver bargain on the price per gram not the price per item.
13) Usually little grocery shops, coffee shops, supermarket chains will have fixed prices and bargaining is not accepted.
14) Shopkeepers will show great hospitality. They will tell that purchase is not necessary, they will invite you to their shop, offer you tea, coffee; at the end you'll feel so ashamed to walk away without buying anything. Don't fall into this trap.
15) If you are buying more than one item or shopping with a group, you can haggle for a greater discount.
The Burj Dubai in downtown Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is currently the world's tallest skyscraper. Indeed, it is the tallest structure ever built. It is scheduled to be finished in September of 2009. The architects are keeping the anticipated final height from the public, but educated guesses put it at somewhere around 2,700 feet (just over 820m).
According to insiders who have observed progress, the Burj Dubai ?changes aspect? every two weeks, and construction is proceeding at a breakneck pace. The architectural firm behind the Burj Dubai project (Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill) was also responsible for developing plans for Chicago's Sears Tower and the Freedom Tower currently being built on the site of the World Trade Center. Despite the hype, the Burj Dubai may only hold the mantle of ?tallest building in the world? for a limited time. Another nearby building, the ?Al Burj,? could reach heights of nearly 5,000 feet. Similarly, the Saudi Arabian firm Kingdom Holdings has been planning an enormous ?mile-high tower? that would theoretically double the height of the Burj Dubai.
The Burj Al Arab Jumeirah Hotel
Both Institutional Investor Magazine and the 2007 World Travel Awards rated the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah Hotel as ?the best hotel in the world.? The hotel actually has seven stars. Guests are picked up from the nearby airport either by helicopter or by personalized Rolls-Royce. The hotel stands tall along the coastline of Dubai at well over 300 meters. Room furnishings are all gilded with 24-carat gold. Every night, the hotel lights up in an array of colors carefully choreographed to astonish the eye and delight the senses. The hotel offers splendid beach access as well as a veritable army of butlers, receptionists, and personal attendants to ensure that the whims of every guest are taken care of. And if you need to rejuvenate or recuperate, check out the 18th floor Assawan Spa and Health Club for an array of therapeutic treatments, rituals, and fitness classes. In terms of dining, the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah offers practically any kind of experience the senses could desire. For al fresco dining, check out the Majlis Al Bahar; for top tier Asian food, go to Junsui; for amazing views of the ocean and Dubai skyline, head down to the Sky View Bar.
The Dusit Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road
This Thai-inspired five-star hotel is one of Dubai's business district's greatest gems. The astonishing architecture, which includes gorgeous silver mirroring on the fa?ade, has won a plethora of international awards. The service, dining, and facilities at the Dusit Hotel are second to none. Enjoy your own butler service, luxury spa treatments, cuisine from all around the world (including superior Italian and of course Thai options) and the height of service. The Dusit Hotel is also an excellent place to host business conventions, since it offers easy access to Dubai's financial center and airport.
One and Only Royal Mirage -- Al Sufouh Road.
This Spanish- and Moroccan-inspired architectural wonder features traditional Arab decor, amazingly complex mosaics, and soothing ?high aesthetic? water fountains. The One and Only Resort company also owns hotels in Mexico, the Bahamas, Mauritius, and the Maldives. These hotels are noted for their diversity of spaces and eclectic cuisine and architecture. At the Al Sufouh Road hotel, for instance, you can lose yourself in Indo-European dining splendor, Near East culinary journeys, and traditional Islamic architecture.
Dubai Marina and the Bur Dubai -- Creek Park and Zabeel Parks
While Dubai may be a hot spot for awesome architecture and fancy hotels, it is also a bustling and lively city with old flavors and authentic Arab culture. A tour of the Marina offers visitors a chance to sample architectural splendor, local cuisine, and authentic souk markets. You can also ride so-called Abras (tiny boats) across creeks where amazing photo opportunities await. At the parks, you can cool off at the lakes. Be careful not to spend too much time outdoors in the summer, however, as daytime temperatures can often top 120 degrees.
Both Nil Aykut & Toufic Araman are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Nil Aykut has sinced written about articles on various topics from Travel and Leisure. Nil Aykut is the Marketing Manager of Anatolia Tours & Travel Co. Anatolia Travels offer private and escorted tours to Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan & Greece. More information at. Nil Aykut's top article generates over 590 views. to your Favourites.
Toufic Araman has sinced written about articles on various topics from Travel and Leisure. Araman Studio is a creator of beautiful things. When you need a or virtually anywhere in the Middle East to capture the beauty of the area and you i. Toufic Araman's top article generates over 590 views. to your Favourites.