This week’s topic on Traveler’s Night In, a “tweet-up” discussion for travelers, was Shopping around the World.  Ten questions were asked, tagged #TNI, and afterwards I was ready to for an “unlimited budget to shop” and barter in some the best markets and stores around the world.  There were several trends that kept coming up today, mostly about drinking and what awful bargaining techniques most #TNIers have, but also that we love to shop if that means we are exploring new places.

Here are the questions:

Q1. If you had an unlimited budget to shop one place in the world, where would it be?

• – @Nomad_Student Does “the capitals of Europe” count as 1 place?
• – @tracy_lynch It would have to be #NewYork… and I would have to buy a lot of extra suitcases!
• – @WeekendInParis If I did not answer #Paris you would all stop following me, right?! Of course Paris is the best shopping! 2nd is London!
• – @SEASunDodger:  I’d shop at airline websites! Just get me there…. souvenirs don’t really matter to me.
• – @legalnomads:  Hong Kong because they’ve got great stuff and the clothes are made for short people so they actually fit me!

Q2. Best trinkets & trash souvenir? Fave high-end item?

• -@kirsten_alHigh end dream? Me, a Diablo and the autobahn. Low end? Shotglasses are pretty typical but can be memorable (cough)
• – @MidlifeRoadTriptrash souvenirs: refrigerator magnets, keychains, and tiny spoons that you can’t eat with
• – @BABackpackerI used to collect shot glasses & cheesy photo album but that’s gonna be hard to do on my RTWtrip so changing to local made magnets
• – @whereisyvetteWhen I was a little girl, I collected pins from everywhere my fam went and stuck them on a cap. Cap eventually got covered!
• – @LandLopersChristmas ornaments are another good thing to buy while traveling, but can be hard to get home safetly sometime
• – @JenniferMiner:  For high-end shopping, Champs Elysees. For cheap souvenirs, any city’s Chinatown. I like both.

Q3. City/Street with the best shopping?

• – @eurotriptipsLondon! Oxford St, Camden Market, Spitalfields, Portobello, etc. No hesitation here! #ilovelondon
• – @museyonIt might be cliche, but I love 5th Ave in NYC, from Tiffany’s to FAO Schwartz and Saxs. Something for everyone.
• – @tracy_lynch Henry Street in #Dublin is really good these days if you are looking for all the big name high street stores
• – @campersonne Dubai.. there’s a mall every 100 yards, each one bigger than the other and it’s cheaper (somewhat) than Europe
• – @ehalveySan Francisco for vintage, Grafton Street in Dublin for people watching, the Bahnoffstrasse in Zurich to window shop
• – @TravelsceneUSA ANY street almost in Melbourne, it’s the shopping mecca of Australia. if you want specifics: Lygon st or Chapel St

Q4. Best place to shop for hand-made or local specialty items?

• – @santafetraveler #Santa Fe = lots of ops 2 buy handmade-Palace of Governors daily &summer markets #FolkArt, Indian & Spanish Colonial
• – @Lorraine_TLA China. Carved picture of my kids, painted bottle -a woman couldn’t find the blouse she wanted, so the store made her one!
• – @amzkiz:  Bali. Each town has a specialty from art in Ubud, gold, silver, woodwork, etc. Love it
• – @just30somethingGerman christmas markets PLUS you can drink GLÜHWEIN (mulled wine)
• – @MalaysiaAsiaSarawak, Borneo. Some awesome crafts and beadwork from the indigenous tribes there! I have a ton of them
• – @Ayngelina: Otavalo Market in Ecuador, great wool handicrafts all under $10

Q5. Favorite farmer’s market? Best place for fresh produce?

• – @culverlake The farmers market at the Sussex County Fairgrounds. Like, five minutes from @culverlake.
• – @GAT_ChinaToursUnion Square in NYC has a fantastic biweekly farmer’s market. And well, Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market is a no brainer
• – @passportpocket Olympia, Washington has a fabulous farmer’s market.
• – @emilyinchilela vega central in santiago. huge, cheap, colorful, fresh and plenty of local character.
• – @travelswithtwo Favorite farmer’s market? Here in L.A., the little Sunday one in Studio City. In London, Borough Market for coffee & cheese
• – @airtreksLoved the farmer’s market in Rovijn, Croatia. Simple, yet cornucopic. Fresh nuts! Ahem.

Q6. Where and how do you get good deals while traveling?

• – @argentinatours with a travel agent
• – @locationSCOUTED I use #Groupon, #LivingSocial, #GiltCity, and a host of other flash sale sites for local deals. So worth it!
• – @cindyrichards: the key to a good deal is always being willing to walk away. Amazing how fast you’re chased down the street
• – @nearafar: Shopping is like looking for love: always shop, all the time and the best finds will come unexpectedly.
• – @Travaddicts:  I always pick up the local college magazine. Good tips for cheap eats &sales!

Q7. Favorite place to haggle for a good deal? Tips?

• – @VaiViaBlog you hide all your other money and say “look, this is all I have!” Lol
• – @Aireslibre keep the poker face…. In Florence I stalked a Red Patent Leather Bag for 3 hrs till I got if for 1/3 of orig price.
• – @CailinONeilI always want to haggle but then freak out and feel bad and pay full price, I’m easily a sucker! haha
• – @hiptraveleranywhere in Asia or Latin America. they make it fun, although the most comedic haggling is Luang Prabang’s night market in Laos.
• – @backpackingmatt lost motivation w/ haggling in Thailand. They probably need a couple of bucks more than me.

Q8. Biggest buyer’s remorse or rip-off in your travels?

• – @VolunteerCard:  Did I really need a 7-foot giraffe? #idontthinkso
• – @melanierenzulli I can think of plenty of things I’ve bought that I regret but none from my travels. Even if expensive, they evoke good memories
• – @radioceleste bought a gorgeous bag in Oaxaca market – paid w/big bill & the change I was given was counterfeit!
• – @caroline0814 I sat for a charcoal portrait in Paris, and the result looked nothing like me. Big mistake to choose the guy w/the lowest price
• – @allaboutmexico picked out a necklace in St. Martin. Got home and the lady boxed up the wrong one for the same price. Always check the box!
• – @pattyhagarBought the warmest (not cheap) scarf in Paris and immeditealy left it in a taxi. #toomuchwine

Q9. Travel souvenir that makes the best gift?

• – @candicewalsh: Shotglasses! Who doesn’t need a freaking shotglass?! Or a bottle of wine. That’s my go-to souvenir for the roommates.
• – @coreyann:  Local liquor!! I always bring back gifts of rum, tequila etc from wherever I travel! Who doesn’t love THAT gif
• – @TravelDesigned: I figure if I buy one for myself–it’s got to be a GREAT gift
• – @_emy Sand/seashells from beaches; rocks from mountains > keychains
• – @travelbea Photographs

Q10. Favorite item to buy duty free?

• – @travelDesigned The thing about duty free.. you have to know your prices or buy things you can’t get at home
• – @globaldish I have never bought anything duty free!
• – @anis_salvesen Favorite items to buy duty free: European and Japanese perfumes & makeup. Alcohol.
• – @jasminewanders I always skip duty free because whatever it is can almost always be found cheaper in country.
• – @budgetTraveller Whisky and Brandy are my favourite items from duty free given how ludicrous the tax is on alcohol in UK

And the winner of Maui Jim’s Sunglasses courtsey of The ZipSetGo girls is: @Savvytravelblog! This tweet probably made him win: ”Don’t know about the rest of you, but I try to haggle at the Four Seasons, Borat-style. Always goes over well (esp, w/backpack on)”!

Also, Melanie Renzulli has a ton of beautiful shots from markets all over the world- definitely take a look at her flickr account!

Miss #TNI this week?  Join in with your answers to the questions in the comments below and make sure to join us next Thursday from 3:30 pm EST- 5:00 pm EST for all the fun!

Thanks to the ZipSetGo girls for organizing a conversation with travelers from all over the world!