What to buy in America..clothes, food etc

A_little_stressed!!

I did search but can only find buying from America, over the internet etc. If you find a link to another, that would be appreciated!

I'm going to Florida in Feb, and just want to find out what is cheaper out there.

It used to be bargains for everything, but the £ is weaker etc.

I'm after some clothes, Diesel jeans, Superdry? Maybe Uggs, FitFlops

Also what is the food prices like? Are Supermarkets cheaper? Or is it worth taking some food?

Are there any major brands that are alot cheaper out there, or did that end in the 90's?


Thanks

snit_girl

unfortunately the prices in America seem to have caught up with us here. Some things can even be way more expensive like cd's, dvd's and trainers. We were there last year and I didn't come back with my usual haul.

In Florida your best bets will be to visit the Outlets and Malls. There are smaller shops about but they're full of fakes. Below are your main options.

The Premium Outlet is more designer things at reasonable prices, usually last seasons stuff. http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/store_listing.asp?id=17

The Prime Outlet (formerly Belz) is less designer but I prefer it, bought quite a few things here.
http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/store_listing.asp?id=96

The Festival Bay Mall is near the Prime Outlet. TBH there's not much in it (lots of shops full of junk), we just go for the Ron Jon Shop and the Vans outlet.

Florida Mall. This place is massive and probably my favourite. It's more expensive than the outlets but there's more variety. http://www.simon.com/mall/malldirectory.aspx?id=139

The Mall at Millenia. This place is my least favourite. Lots of designer shops and quite expensive. Designer stuff isn't my thing but I know people who love it because of the designer shops. http://www.mallatmillenia.com/directory

These days I just tend to bring back things that I like and things that are a bit different from home. You can find decent designer bargains if you look around in the outlets. My mum always comes home with make-up, which is miles cheaper, and something designer (last time it was a Burberry raincoat I think). She also buys a lot of jewellery there. There's a Zales outlet across the road from festival bay who are fantastic, they replaces a ring 2 years later that had lost a stone without a receipt. I always buy trainers, although last time they were expensive and I ended up just buying one pair on the last day for the sake of it, used to buy tons of cd and dvds (not anymore) and things from Aeropostle, Old Navy, Hollister etc, I think they are about the same price here now.

I will say that my one absolute bargain was Fossil watches. There are outlet shops in the Malls and they are ssoooo cheap compared to here. I was buying real fossil watches for $10, $20 and $30 dollars as gifts, coming home and seeing the exact same ones for £60 - £75 in the shops. I even saw a watch face in the fossil shop here for £45 that I bought for $19 about 3 or 4 years ago.

As for food, don't take any. It's really cheap out there, even to eat out. There are voucher booklets everywhere for buffets, such as $1.99 all you can eat breakfasts at Ponderosa or ginormous meals at Dennys for cheap. The supermarkets are reasonable too, we don't stay in a villa so we don't worry about buying in food but we usually take a trip to one to bring back american foods that my brother loves like lucky charms, cheetos, american candy, etc (small and cheap presents, lol). I think you can go online and get an idea of what they have. There is a Walmart and Walgreens if you're staying near international dr and a Publix (for locals and people with a car) about.

cammyjo

Hi

I was in Orlando in September and did all my christmas shopping whilst there.

For myself I bought Ugg Classics (the short ones). They worked out at £90 from Nordstrom in Florida Mall. Also bought my friend a Abercrombie & Fitch body warmer. It was $98 but costs £98 here so quite a bit cheaper.

You may want to post on the Overseas Holidays thread as they are all experts and will give you plenty tips. Have a great time

A_little_stressed!!

Thank you! Will look through the links, then decide how much money to take (better start saving!!)

jackywhizz

Hi

Would definitely not take food but if you have a kitchen of any description in your accommodation would definitely recommend taking tea bags if you like your cuppa. American teabags are definitely not up to the standard of ours.

ellie14

There is the *the Dibb * all things florida,still bargains to be had just not as many ,good really stops you buying without thinking.
Enjoy the trip

Amys

Jeans are still cheaper, if you use zantac or renantadin, and some other over the counter drugs and remedies look at Walmart 'equate' brand, these are cheaper. Bounce tumble dryer sheets are much cheaper. There are some good Nike and Reebok outlet shop with better prices than the UK. If you want tea def take tea bags, but the coffee over there is good, if you want brown HP sauce take that with you as there is not a US version.

lil.smartie

You can now get 'british blend' iirc Tetley tea, Fresh & Easy if they are in FL are also great for English food, they are owned by Tesco but are more like a Waitrose

I ususally buy DC's trainers & Converse daps at the outlet malls, kids clothes from Carters & Osh Kosh are great quality for supermarket money! Levi's at outlet malls are good too.

Kate

kaznelson

Iburofen is a lot cheaper and you can get larger packets

500 tablets for about £4

also some beauty products are alot cheaper

Victoria_Meldrew

I agree with snitgirl's recommendations about the outlet malls, specially Prime and Premium. If you like cheaper Disney stuff there are bargains to be had in the Character Premiere shops in these malls. Also I would try to get to Buena Vista mall - especially good for Reebok trainers and the VF shop has very cheap jeans (Wrangler etc) for about $7. Also a VF shop up near Prime. Walmart is my fave supermarket and it sells absolutely everything.

littlereddevil

Premium outlets are my real fav