To help those women thinking of heading off for the ultimate shopping trip, Flight Centre's well travelled consultants have put together a list of the top spots for finding bargains and great quality for when you just have to have the best.

Get ready to give your credit card a work-out as you shop your way through the Flight Centre list of the best buys, best shops and best bargains around the globe.

Fashion
For cutting edge fashion it's hard to beat the city of love. In Paris you'll find the couture houses — Dior, Chanel, Yves St Laurent amongst others. The entire city is your oyster, but for the most famous shops try Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, and the Champs-Elysées.

In New York you'll want to head to the three great shopping streets: Madison Avenue, Fifth Avenue and 57th Street. Here you'll find the usual couture suspects, such as Louis Vuitton and Hermes, but also famous American chains such as Victoria's Secret and Calvin Klein.

For more custom couture, the cities of Asia call. In Hong Kong you can have a custom-made suit for a small fraction of the price you would pay at home. Or in Shanghai there is the Dong Jia Du fabric market where you can select your favourite thread and have them turned into a coat, shirt or full outfit within hours.

Handbags
If your vice is handbags, then add a few days to a South American adventure. After a few days exploring the jungle and seeing the dramatic waterfalls you could quite easily sift through the markets of Buenos Aires, where there is an entire leather district with hundreds of handbag options. In Rio de Janeiro, the place to go is Rua Visconde de Piraja. There are several small alleyways off this large road but look out Glorinha Paranaguá, the home of exquisite handbags.

Diamonds
They say that diamonds are a girl's best friend, and if so, then two cities are set to be very popular. Johannesburg is always a good bet, but for something further afield you need to look to Belgium.

Antwerp has played a large role in the diamond industry since the 1400s, and more than 85 percent of the world's rough diamonds are traded in the central city. There are also dozens of diamond jewellers offering all styles of diamond jewellery — and as an extra incentive several dealers offer a free night's stay at one of the city's hotels when you come to purchase a ring.

Jewellery
There are so many different styles of jewellery that's its difficult to say where in the world is best — but it is hard to go past Bangkok as a great place to find a bit of everything. The city's chaotic markets, especially the 35-acre Chatuchak Market, are treasure troves waiting to be explored.

The Middle East is a great spot for precious metals. In Muscat, Oman, the Old Muttrah Souk is like an Aladdin's cave of Omani silver; great quality and well priced. Exotic and traditional styles of jewellery are available and sold by weight — but you can try a little haggling if you like.

Dubai is often called "the City of Gold' and it is well worth adding a night's stopover here to witness the amazing gold markets. The market offers earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets and pendants, or if you don't find a style that suits you can always have it crafted especially.

Shoes
Fans of Sex in the City will know that New York considers itself the world's greatest city for shoe shopping. Here you will find the very best luxury women's dress shoes, and a trip would not be complete without visiting Jimmy Choo at 645 5th Avenue and Manolo Blahnik on 54th Street.

Oxford Street and Carnaby Street in London are world renowned for their fashion and particularly their shoe stores. Street shoes and good quality leather shoes can be found here, so pick up a pair of Doc Martens or something a little more unique. In Knightsbridge you'll also find a Jimmy Choo store, as well as classic styles at Emma Hope and Christian Louboutin.

Chocolates
Women with a sweet tooth will love Europe, where chocolate-making is a serious profession. Belgium has more than 2000 chocolate shops throughout the country, with every town and even small villages boasting their own chocolate stores with luxurious pralines. If you travel to beautiful Bruges you simply must visit a chocolate store and see how these divine morsels are made.

Perugia in Umbria, Italy, considers itself the European capital of chocolate, and each October hosts the Eurochocolate festival, with exhibitions, cooking classes…and of course, tastings.

Home-ware
Homeware may not be the most luxurious thing to shop for, but if you love interior décor and furniture, there is a wide range of cities offering cheap, chic and colourful pieces.

The Danish capital of Copenhagen has easy to navigate pedestrian malls and great international names in home-ware. On Amagertov you'll find sleek and modern Scandinavian furniture and top quality glassware and porcelain from Royal Copenhagen Porcelain. You can also buy the newest Bang & Olufsen stereo, at their store on Østergade.

The souks of Marrakech are an experience in itself, but even better when you can take some of the wares home with you. Everything you've ever wanted — and even the stuff you didn't know you wanted — is here, from pottery to lanterns, carpet, candles, to stained glass windows. It's a similar story in Mumbai, where the packed streets can be a little daunting for the uninitiated. Away from the markets, try the Bandra district for contemporary houseware, or Anokhi for fabrics.

Duty Free
Highly taxed cigarettes and alcohol are often the first things that come to mind when shopping overseas thanks to the bargains that can be had by purchasing duty free. Since the European Union prevented duty free retailers in 1999, the places you can purchase tax free goods has decreased, but there are still a few places where you can bag a bargain.

Singapore's world famous Changi Airport is a duty-free haven for perfume, clothing and jewellery, as is the rest of the city's shopping streets. The Caribbean is also a low or no tax shopping spot — look out here for cigars, liquor, bone china and crystal items.

Another, more unusual, spot for excellent duty free shopping is Norfolk Island in the South Pacific. Technically a territory of Australia, it has its own tax laws that mean very low prices on liquor, European shoes, and of all things — Lego, straight from Denmark.

Electronics
Girls who love gadgets should definitely head to Asia to get their fix — it has always been known as the centre for smaller, faster and better electronics; many of which never find their way to other parts of the world.

Tokyo leads the way for digital cameras and mobile phones. Head to Shinjuku or Akihabara, but beware that few of the salespeople speak good English, so it is best to have an idea of what you are looking for before you go.

The Mongkok district of Hong Kong is where most locals and tourists head for their electronic products. Located at the heart of Kowloon, it is famous for dense crowds, flashing neon, and wall-to-wall vendors that are both overwhelming and amazing. Plus — a block away you will find clothing, sunglasses and purses on "Women's Street".

For more information or to book a shopping spree to any of these destinations call Flight Centre on 0860 400 747 or visit www.flightcentre.co.za.