Alternatives to Shopping Guides

So, you want to get some shopping on while you're abroad....who do you turn to? Your ever trusting guidebook? Hardly. Who needs advice on where to buy the best t-shirt, when we can spot that for ourselves. Save the occasional cool find in Time Out, we've never relied on guidebooks for our retail therapy. Here's where we turn for shopping advice when we're in a new city.

Friendly Advice
Always ask friends for advice before you leave. I'm always ready and willing to provide endless suggestions for friends on cool stores I've found along the way. Ask ahead and you'll be primed for store spotting on the go. A little preparation will get you a long way.

Online Wisdom
Your virtual friends can also provide you with a slew of shops to try out on the road. Our standby for travel within the US is the social review site, Yelp, that gives real people opinions on everything a city has to offer. Blogs can also be a great place for recommendations. If you're a design afficiando.....sites like Design*Sponge or Decor8 have compiled city shopping guides that will give you ideas for hip housewares and trendy boutiques. If all else fails, try leaving a comment on a favorite blogger's site and see if you can gain yourself some virtual advice.

Local Lore
Get your hands on the free weekly "alternative" newspaper, like The Stranger here in Seattle. Skip the stories and check out the ads, chances are you'll find some offbeat shops for food, threads or tunes.