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If you are a knowledgeable consumer, you’ll know that shopping smart with tax free shopping is the way to go. For Americans, they don’t even have to leave your country. For example, any resident of the United States is able to shop and saving the sales tax. If they are visiting certain states that are exempt from these taxes.

These neighbors entice consumers using advertising and media. Consumers are loured to the neighboring states so that they can benefit from this tax free shopping. Not all in this state next door and taking some sightseeing, they can also save huge amounts of money depending on their purchases, in comparison to what they would normally pay had the sales taxes been applied.

Although there are some hidden taxes included in the price of the item, the result is that you are clearly paying much less for the item that you would have if you have purchased the with all the taxes applied.

As an international visitor at practically any country in the world, you are able to make purchases at specialized duty-free shops. These shops are found either close to the borders on highways, or at the airports. You can find practically any item worth buying at the shops with very interesting discounts on items like alcohol, sunglasses, designer products including perfume, just to name a few.

And, at the stores aside from saving money, you know you were getting quality products at a discounted price. If you’re buying the same item in a regular store, you would be paying at least 30 or 50% more for it. The only disappointment in this scenario is that there are limits to the amount that you can spend, and other limits regarding tobacco and alcohol.

But, if you are a smart consumer and travel regularly, you’re given, much more opportunity to shop in these outlets. If you could hold out on some purchases, it is in your benefit, to make them in stores like these.

If you get the chance to go to or through the UK on your next trip, you can get some great gift items with Tax Free Shopping. Make sure to visit duty free shops when you are in the UK. Learn more about UK Tax Free Refund now before your next trip!

Tags: advice, finance, legal, london, London Travel, misc, services, shopping, tax, tax free, taxes, Tourism, tourist, Travel, uk
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If you are an overseas citizen and are shopping in the UK, you can then file a claim back of the Value Added Tax that you have paid for the purchases you have made in London. The tax refund service is offered by many of the retailers that are located across the world.

The VAT on purchases made in the UK is around 15% and you can claim it back if you have spent at least the minimum amount which usually varies from shop to shop. Residents from outside the UK can claim back tax on purchases that they have made in participating stores and the minimum amount is usually around 30. When you’re leaving the country, you need to get your tax refund cheque stamped by the customs officer for it to be valid.

Coming to the UK to shop have never been more opportunistic because you can now claim the tax back on all of your purchases. This luxury is available to people who are from outside the UK who are in the UK as tourists and is one of the few benefits that you can enjoy that the residents don’t get to. If you plan to bring your purchases home with you then you can ask the staff in the tax free store for a refund cheque while you are paying for your purchases.

When you show your purchases, the receipts and passports in the Customs department at the time of departure, you can get your refund cheque stamped. There are numerous refund offices across the globe who can very swiftly arrange for a refund straight to your credit card or in certain cases, they may give you cash. However, there might be slight variations depending on the locations, so one is advised to go through the details clearly and get the entire benefit of shopping tax free.

There are many shops across the entire city of London and outside it which have logos displayed that read ‘Tax Free’ and you can approach those shops for in order to take advantage of the tax free shopping.

For more information on tax free shopping London UK visit gbtaxfree.com by clicking on airport VAT refund

Tags: advice, finance, legal, london, London Travel, misc, services, shopping, tax, tax free, taxes, Tourism, tourist, Travel, uk
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Any person visiting the UK or a few other surrounding countries is entitled to shop with tax-free discount at the shops that take part in the tax free scheme. Shops that participate in this scheme usually have the tax free logo outside to let passers by know. In order to be eligible for the tax free scheme, you must be a resident of a country outside the EU and a visitor to the UK, this is why many people like coming to the UK to shop for goods at heavily discounted prices.

You can claim the tax you’ve paid on your purchases back only when you spend a minimum amount in a participating shop. This minimum amount varies from shop to shop and from country to country. When you’ve made your purchases and spent at least the minimum amount to qualify for your tax refund, you will have to get your tax-free cheque stamped at customs on your way out of the country. Once you have had it stamped and approved there are many ways for you to claim your tax back, many people have the refund credited to a card or directly to their bank account.

Shopping in the UK has never been so opportunistic for people from outside the EU, so if you are from outside the EU and are planning a trip to the UK, you should be sure to allow space in your luggage to keep items that you have bought in tax free shops separate from your other goods.

Tax free shopping is as simple as this…once the purchase is over ask for a refund cheque, get the stamp by the customs before the final departure from the European Union and when you show your passport, credit card and the refund cheque at the nearest refund office, you can get the amount into your account.

The tax free shopping facility is available at many stores for tourists from various countries so that they can shop across the world in a store of their liking and interest. You may not enjoy the same benefit if you are a resident of the place. This tax free shopping is a facility or a privilege only the visitors to the countries can enjoy and save a lot of money on goods when they are travelling abroad.

For more information on tax free shopping London UK visit gbtaxfree.com by clicking on airport refund

Tags: advice, finance, legal, london, London Travel, misc, services, shopping, tax, tax free, taxes, Tourism, tourist, Travel, uk
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Since the foundation of Rome about 2,700 years ago, the city has been a force in the European history; first as the center of the Roman Empire and later has the center of the Catholic Church. That means that you will see relics of the ancient Rome wherever you go.

The impressive amphitheatre Coliseum is one of the most interesting relics of the ancient Rome. It was originally build to house 55,000 spectators, who were entertained with fights against wild animals and gladiator fights.

Emperor Vespasian ordered the building of the Coliseum in 72 AD. Then there were a lot of other coliseums around the Roman Empire; from El Djem in North Africa to Arles and Nimes in France. Since there has been missing maintenance, destructions and even theft; but the Coliseum is still a must see sight.

Another must see sight in Rome is the St. Peter’s Basilica; also named the St. Peter’s Cathedral. This building is almost the definition of the Vatican State. Even though it just physical is the center of the smallest country in the world, it is the heart of the Catholic religious community.

It took more than one hundred years to build the St. Peter’s Basilica, and many famous architects have set their distinctive mark at the construction. There are many interesting sights in the cathedral, but the most impressive is the dome drawn by Michelangelo. From here you have a perfect view of most of the Vatican State.

You also have to see the Sistine Chapel; the main chapel of the Vatican Palace. The ornamentation was finished by Michelangelo with his famous fresco named Judgment Day in 1541. Today it is seen as his masterpiece from his mature years. The work took seven years, and two windows and an altar have to be removed to make room for Michelangelos work.

Since the beginning of the time Rome has been the center of international trade. Material from the remotest places in the Roman Empire was processed by the best craftsmen into masterpieces.

Today you can still find fine handicraft in Rome. The best designs from the famous, Italian designers are found in Palazzo delle Esposizioni. And the large, Italian fashion houses like Gucci, Prada and Giorgio Armani are around the Spanish Steps.

You can also find several markets in Rome. Food is found at Campo deFior and old books at Mercato delle Stampe. Everything else can be found at Porta Portese.

Tags: Catholic Church, Coliseum, fashion, markets, Michelangelo, Roman Empire, Rome, Rome Travel, shopping, sights, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, St. Peter's Cathedral, Vatican State
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We all have to pay tax on pretty much every purchase we ever make, and every wage packet we ever receive, it is what makes our economy work (when it is working) and what gives the government money to distribute to those areas that need it.

A slice of the profit from every purchase we make and a percentage of every wage packet we receive goes to the government in tax and it is that which allows our economy to flow.

Ironically, it is for these same reasons that everyone hates paying tax! And why shouldn’t we? We know everyone has to do it and we know if we didnt then there’s a good chance anarchy would ensue, but why should that stop us having a good old moan about it?

However, if you reside and are an official citizen of a country outside the EU and you are visiting the UK (or few other EU countries) then there are select stores from which you can claim back any tax you’ve paid on your purchases!

Here are the five steps you should take to ensure that you can claim back your tax:

1. Look for the sticker in shop windows indicating that they participate in the tax free shopping scheme.

2. Check what the minimum purchase amount is to qualify you for a tax refund and purchase at least that amounts worth of goods.

3. Once you’ve bought your items (ensuring that collectively they are worth over the minimum amount to qualify) and then request and fill in the tax refund cheque form.

4. When you get to customs on your way home, display your passport along with your completed tax refund check form.

5. There will be a tax refund office nearby in the airport, or if you are in a hurry, you can send your tax refund form off to the tax refund company via post and the full amount of tax you paid on your qualifying purchases will given to you in the form of a cheque or credited to your credit card.

Tags: advice, finance, legal, london, London Travel, misc, services, shopping, tax, tax free, taxes, Tourism, tourist, Travel, uk
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The capital city of England, London, it the number one vacation destination in the British Isles and it has some of the most well known visitor attractions in the world. If you can class people as tourist attractions then the British Royal Family and the Queen must rank first. However an often overlooked attraction is the stunning shopping opportunities in the city.

London, Paris, New York, how many times have you seen these three cities mentioned together? It is most likely that you will have seen them together on a bottle of fine perfume or a luxury cosmetic product. The reason is that these three cities are the top three shopping cities of the world. You will be hard pressed to walk through any of London’s top shopping districts without seeing the flagship store of at least one huge retail chain.

London is amazing, it has virtually anything for sale all you have to do is go look. Places such as Knightsbridge, New Bond Street and Oxford Street feature extremely well known department stores and the likes. Usually shops selling similar items appear congregated in specific areas so if you are looking for anything in particular you just have to head for the shopping district associated with that product. You can easily spend a whole day looking through the many fashion shops, designer stores, boutiques, music shops, jewelry shops and bookshops.

Knightsbridge And Oxford Street

Oxford Street is the busiest shopping street in the whole of Europe and it is where you will find the famous Selfridges department store. Knightsbridge is well known for being the home of the famous Harrods department store but along with the other stores you will also find the excellent Harvey Nichols.

Bond Street

Bond Street, in Mayfair, has some of the most expensive shops in London. If you want elegance this is the place to visit it has more shops supplying the Royal Family (Royal Warrant holders) than any other London shopping area. Think Gucci and Armani and you have a rough idea of what to expect.

Covent Garden

Bond Street is great if you are rich and famous but for ordinary folk Covent Garden is the best place to go for fashion clothing. Covent Garden is home to a large number of smaller independent fashion stores and boutiques and this is the place to go if you are in search of a decent pair of shoes.

Other Places In London Associated With Shopping

As well as Covent Garden, Carnaby Street is also great for buying fashionable items of clothing. Savile Row and Jermyn Street are also associated with clothing but more the old fashioned tailor type outlet. If you are looking for bookshops then the Charing Cross Road (and Covent Garden) is hard to beat. Hatton Garden, near Farringdon, is where to find long established jewellers.

You could write a book on the places to go shopping in London, and I suppose there are many to choose from. If you want to go looking for more places to visit take a look at the many London markets.

Tags: Accommodation, city break, destination, destinations, holiday, hotel, hotels, london, London Travel, recreation, shopping, Travel and leisure, Travel Tips, vacation destinations, Vacations
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The capital city of England, London, it the number one vacation destination in the British Isles and it has some of the most well known visitor attractions in the world. If you can class people as tourist attractions then the British Royal Family and the Queen must rank first. However an often overlooked attraction is the stunning shopping opportunities in the city.

London is one of the main three cities of the world associated with serious shopping, the others being Paris and New York. Check any bottle of perfume and the city is bound to appear somewhere on the packaging and usually on the bottle itself. Virtually every company involved in the retail trade has it’s UK flagship store in one of the primary shopping districts of London.

Department stores, designer shops, fashion shops and boutiques, music shops, bookshops, jewellery shops and virtually any other type of retail outlet is found within easy walking distance of a London tube station. Usually the different types of store tend to appear in groups in certain areas such as Oxford Street, Knightsbridge, New Bond Street and the likes.

Oxford Street And Knightsbridge

Oxford Street is the busiest shopping street in the whole of Europe and it is where you will find the famous Selfridges department store. Knightsbridge is well known for being the home of the famous Harrods department store but along with the other stores you will also find the excellent Harvey Nichols.

Bond Street

Gucci and Armani are just a couple of the luxury brands you should expect to see in Bond Street. If it is expensive, luxurious or unique then you will most probably find it here. Bond Street is famous for having the highest number of stores having a Royal Warrant (suppliers to the British Royal Family).

Covent Garden

Bond Street is great if you are rich and famous but for ordinary folk Covent Garden is the best place to go for fashion clothing. Covent Garden is home to a large number of smaller independent fashion stores and boutiques and this is the place to go if you are in search of a decent pair of shoes.

Other Shopping Areas In London

Covent Garden is great for clothes but you may also want to visit the famous Carnaby Street which is becoming popular again. If you want bespoke tailoring then Savile Row is the most famous place to go but look around Piccadilly, especially on Jermyn Street. If you are looking for jewellery but cannot afford Bond Street try Hatton Garden (near Farringdon) which has many long established jewellers to choose from. Books are best found on the Charing Cross Road but also look around Covent Garden.

London has lots more places in which to go shopping and the above list is not comprehensive, there are simply too many. Other places to go shopping, especially for unusual items, are the many London markets, too many to list here.

Tags: Accommodation, city break, destination, destinations, holiday, hotel, hotels, london, London Travel, recreation, shopping, Travel and leisure, Travel Tips, vacation destinations, Vacations
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Paris is without doubt the Capital of Romance. The city is a great place for romantic vacation with your partner or even a honeymoon. In Paris you also find lovely food, great shopping and some of the most interesting sites in Europe.

The Eiffel Tower is seen as the landmark of Paris. It was created in 1889 for the World Exhibition. The plan was to demolish it after the exhibition, but because of the popularity, the plan was changed. The Eiffel Tower is 319 meter (1047 feet), and until 1931, when the Empire State Building was finished, the world’s highest building.

You must be patience, if you are planning to visit the Eiffel Tower; especially in the high season. Here the line can be very long, because the elevator has a limited capacity. Instead of waiting a couple of hours, you can also take the 1.665 stairs instead. No matter what you decide, you will be rewarded with an amazing view. If you are lucky, you can see as long as 70 kilometers (43 miles).

The Louvre Museum was made famous by Dan Brown in his book The Da Vinci Code. But the museum is more than a crime scene in a famous book. It is also the scene of one of the world’s most amazing art exhibitions. Look for the Mona Lisa painted by Leonardo da Vinci and the ancient Greek statue Venus from Milo.

But the exhibition in the old building from 1190 is much more than a statue and a painting. You can also experience ancient are from Greece and Egypt; or modern fashion and design. So if you are both to old and modern art, one day is not enough to see it all.

Other great sight in Paris are Champs-Elyses and Notre Dame Cathedral. You might also want to visit Versailles about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the city centre. Disneyland will certainly also make yourself and your kids happy.

You can also do some heavy shopping in Paris. You can find all the famous luxury trademarks in the department stores. When it comes to haute couture fashion houses, Rue du Faubourg-St-Honor on the right side of the Seine is the place to go. Look for Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani, Pierre Cardin, Chanel, and Christian Dior.

Paris does also have great markets. Gourmet food can be found at the Rue Mouffetard market, while the March de la Porte de Vanves market has old books, postcards, porcelain, and musical instruments. If you are looking for cheap souvenir, you should visit Rue de Rivoli.

In the end of the day, you should spoil yourself with some great French food and red wine; or you could go on a sunset cruise on the Seine. After that, visit one of the many nightclubs to party all night.

Tags: art, Champs-Elyses, Da Vinci, Disneyland, Eiffel Tower, fashion, Louvre, markets, museums, Notre Dame, paris, Paris Travel, shopping, sights, Versailles
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Even though London is preparing for the Summer Olympic Games of 2012, there is no reason not to visit the city today. In London you find many sights, superb shopping and pulsing nightlife. Even great food can be found in the city.

The newest (and one of the most interesting) sight is the London Eye. The 135 meter (443 feet) high Ferris wheel can be found between Waterloo and Westminster Bridge. It was originally opened for the millennium new year by Tony Blair. But because of technical problems, the public couldnt use it before March 2000.

The 32 cabins on the wheel have room for 25 persons each. It is a very popular attraction; and because one rotation takes about half an hour, you can expect long queues in the high season. But the view from the top over the central London (including Big Ben and the House of Parliament) is worth the waiting.

In the opposite end of the timeline is Tower of London. The royal fortress has a 900 year old and bloody history. Many people have walked through the Traitors Gate; but few of them have returned. Torture, rats, and not least executions killed a lot of the prisoners.

Today the rats have gone; and the torture and executions stopped. And the prisoners have been replaced with tourists watching all the ceremonies. One of the most exciting is the Ceremony of the Keys. At exactly 9.52 pm the head of the guards hands over the keys to the head of the night watchmen.

There are many interesting places to be seen on a tour of Tower of London. This includes the royal apartment as well as the dungeons. But the most popular sight is the British crown jewels in the Jewel House. Here you can see the scepter of the sovereign with Star of Africa; the worlds largest diamond.

Other must see sights are St. Pauls Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and the 106 meter (348 feet) high Big Ben. For a relaxing stroll visit the centrally placed Hyde Park. And if you are interested in art, you should visit British Museum.

A must thing to do in London is people watching. In the city you can see everything from punkers with safety pins through their noses and cock’s combs to businessmen with bowler hat sand stiff upper lips.

Have you heard that English food is not worth eating? And do you think to have to eat fish and chips all day? Well, it does not have to be this way. Famous cooks like Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey have restaurants in London. If you like cheaper options, it is also possible. The city is a melting pot of multi-ethnic populations, so you can find cheap restaurants with exotic food from all around the world.

For shopping visit the famous department store Harrods; they brag about that they can provide everything. If you are looking for something for your home, you can find wallpaper and fabric in Designers Guild and minimalistic, Japanese design in Muji. Make the kids happy with a visit to the six story toyshop Hamleys of Regent Street.

Tags: Big Ben, Gordon Ramsey, Hamleys, Harrods, Jamie Oliver, london, London Eye, London Travel, nightlife, Olympic Games, shopping, sights, St. Pauls Cathedral, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey
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Paris is without doubt the Capital of Romance. The city is a great place for romantic vacation with your partner or even a honeymoon. In Paris you also find lovely food, great shopping and some of the most interesting sites in Europe.

The landmark of Paris is the Eiffel Tower. The tower was build for the World Exhibition in 1889. The plan was to tear it down afterwards, but luckily enough the decision was changed. The tower is 319 meter (1047 feet) high, and until the Empire State Building was built in 1931, it was the highest building in the world.

You must be patience, if you are planning to visit the Eiffel Tower; especially in the high season. Here the line can be very long, because the elevator has a limited capacity. Instead of waiting a couple of hours, you can also take the 1.665 stairs instead. No matter what you decide, you will be rewarded with an amazing view. If you are lucky, you can see as long as 70 kilometers (43 miles).

Dan Brown made the Louvre Museum famous in The Da Vinci Code. But the museum is not just a scene of the crime in a famous book; it is also the house of an impressive art collection. Here you can see the Greek statue Venus from Milo and the famous painting Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci.

But the exhibition in the old building from 1190 is much more than a statue and a painting. You can also experience ancient are from Greece and Egypt; or modern fashion and design. So if you are both to old and modern art, one day is not enough to see it all.

Other great sight in Paris are Champs-Elyses and Notre Dame Cathedral. You might also want to visit Versailles about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the city centre. Disneyland will certainly also make yourself and your kids happy.

When you have seen all the sights, it is time for shopping. You can find all the luxury trademarks in Paris department stores, but if you are looking for haute couture fashion, you should visit Rue du Faubourg-St-Honor on the right bank of the Seine. Here you can buy clothes from Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Pierre Cardin, Christian Dior, and Yves Saint Laurent.

If you are more into markets, Paris is a great city. You can find old postcards, porcelain, musical instruments and books at the March de la Porte de Vanves market. Superb food can be bought at the Rue Mouffetard market, while cheap souvenir is found around Rue de Rivoli.

Finish your day on one of the great restaurants with a typical French dish and a glass of red wine; or try a sunset cruise on the Seine. If you have more energy, you can party on all night in one of the many nightclubs.

Tags: art, Champs-Elyses, Da Vinci, Disneyland, Eiffel Tower, fashion, Louvre, markets, museums, Notre Dame, paris, Paris Travel, shopping, sights, Versailles
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