Shopping abroad: what is it, why would you do it, and where is the best place to go?

What is shopping abroad like?

• Everyone is familiar with shopping in their own country. Abroad, however, things can be quite different. Sometimes it involves shopping for things you need but don't know where to find, and sometimes it involves buying items that suit the place you are in, at local markets or in large shopping malls.
• Shopping abroad isn't just about buying something, but also about discovering a culture through local products, materials, and traditions. What people make, sell, and use often says a lot about a country.
• You can wander around markets teeming with life and movement, but also through gigantic shopping centers featuring the most expensive brands. Sometimes you come across unique items that cannot be found anywhere else.

What makes it different from home is that:

• products are different (handmade, local, unknown).
• prices and negotiation sometimes work differently.
• shopping can be more of a social experience than a practical one.
• quality and expectations can differ.

In practice, you notice that:

• shopping becomes a way to connect.
• you learn to look at value and price differently. You have to ask yourself what you really need (and what you don't).
• purchases often become memories.
• Shopping abroad is therefore not just consuming, but an experience of discovery, negotiation, and making (fun) choices.

What are the reasons for shopping abroad?

• To gain more insight into local culture and products: by shopping for products you get a glimpse into what people value in society and what local crafts look like. 
• To be creative and conscious about what you buy: looking at local products can spark creativity in yourself.
• To connect with locals and vendors: especially markets are great places for small talk and to make connections.
• To learn to make better choices regarding value and price: comparing and looking at products helps to understand what price you could or should pay. Both at home as in another country.
• To take initiative and arrange things independently: by shopping, haggling and asking strangers for advice you learn to be more independent. 

What skills and motivations do you need for shopping abroad?

• Forming judgment: you determine what something is worth and whether you really need it.
• Communicating: you negotiate or ask questions about products.
• Awareness of your surroundings: you understand how shopping works in a culture.
• Flexibility: things work differently than you are used to.
• Self-confidence: you dare to make choices and sometimes negotiate.

What are the best countries and locations for shopping abroad?

• Markets and handicrafts: Morocco, India, Indonesia, Turkey.
• Fashion and design: Italy, France, Japan, South Korea.
• Affordable and diverse shopping: Thailand, Vietnam, Mexico, Portugal.
• Major cities and malls: United States, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Germany.

What are the risks of shopping abroad, and are you insured against those risks? 

What are the risks of shopping abroad, and what happens with some regularity:

• buying too much or making impulse purchases you regret later.
• paying too much because you cannot accurately estimate prices.
• dealing with counterfeit or low-quality products.
• being scammed or pressured into buying something. That items get damaged or lost during your trip.
• that cultural misunderstandings arise (e.g. regarding bargaining).
• During activities and trips abroad, the coverage of your own health insurance in your home country may be insufficient, or even lapse. See the pages on insuring activities abroad.