January and February of each year, as well as July and August, are a period of sales and discounts in Italy, which are expected not only by foreigners, but also by Italians themselves.
The reason for most is saving opportunity, in my opinion, this is an opportunity to buy without overpaying for marketing expenses. After all, each new thing pleases us, regardless of the purchase period. But if updating the wardrobe, we still have money for travel and leisure, the trip becomes doubly pleasant.
Well, the moment of your shopping has come: there is a mood, there is an opportunity, there is not enough space. The choice of country, city, district, store, outlet is very important. In order to be sure of the right choice, learn from the experiences of others and mistakes. And I will be happy to share the latter.
Goal setting
The most important thing to do when organizing something is to set a goal. To do this, try to answer the following questions:
- What would you like to buy?
- What budget would you like to spend?
- Do you like fussy walks or relaxed?
- What level of stamp would you like to find?
Answering these questions, you will probably better understand what you want more. Having a goal, the only thing left is to read my article and enjoy your vacation.
Italy or homeland?
If you do not have a visa, you do not have to choose, but having the opportunity to leave, you first go on a trip. And these are new impressions, new friends, new emotions.
Italy
«+» You have the opportunity to buy at producer prices and even at a discount, without overpaying to intermediaries who bring everything (and usually not the best) to your homeland and sell for a double price. Undoubtedly, another pleasant point is the possibility of a tax free return of 10 to 22% for purchases in the same store for 160 euros (minimum for the tax free system in Italy), you can return about 25 euros.
«-« This type of trip makes sense only if the wardrobe is updated or if you want to travel, because you should not go for the sake of one purchase.
Homeland
- «+» You are on your territory, you know everything, you are confident in yourself and a few hours are enough for you to buy what you want.
- «-« But do not forget that most of the goods we purchase are foreign-made. As a result of the costs necessary to deliver goods to your home, the cost increases by 2-3 times. Well, it seems to me that the risk of being with a colleague or girlfriend in the same one scared me at least once every one of you. And I also remember the complaints of friends and mine in the past, too, like there is an opportunity and a desire to buy something, but I can’t find anything.
In winter or summer?
Winter and summer discounts do not differ from each other. It all depends on your preferences and capabilities.
Winter
- “+” In my opinion, it is in winter that you can find unique purchases. This is due to the fact that in winter local residents have less desire to get out of the house, therefore most of the great things are waiting for you in stores until the very discounts.
- “-” Perhaps you are not a fan of traveling in the cool season. If so, it is best to reschedule the trip to your favorite season.
Summer
- “+” Here, plus is undeniable, the opportunity to combine a vacation at sea with chic shopping trips will captivate anyone.
- ”-“ But unfortunately or fortunately, Italy is a southern country, and during this period of the year it is very hot here, and tourists risk leaving shoes glued to the molten asphalt.
Shopping in the city or in the outlet?
This choice is solely your preferences and habits, someone likes to walk around the city, leisurely shopping, someone prefers to save time and shop in outlets.
City
- «+» When shopping in the city center, along the way you can get acquainted with the sights, which in Italy are very many.
- «-« But be prepared for the fact that you need to spend more time to find the right store in an unfamiliar city. The task is not always easy.
Outlet
- «+» You save time and money on purchases, as brands from affordable to luxury brands are concentrated in one place and have a 20% - 70% discount.
- «-« You need to get to the outlet, and not every Italian knows how to do this, let alone a foreigner.
Best Outlets Near Milan
The two given places, despite the common name of the outlet, are very different from each other. And if you like one of them, you definitely will not like the other.
Serravalle DESIGNER OUTLET
- «+» Outlet Serravalle is a small town of independent stores, of which there are about 170! All of them are located schematically in the form of a fan, so it is impossible to get lost. Shops delight any buyer, as brands from affordable to luxury are presented here. If you decide to take a break, a large number of bars, cafes, pizzerias with a wide selection of dishes are at your service. Thanks to the good schedule of buses to the outlet, you can spend 7 hours exploring this place.
- «-« But all the advantages described above will please you only in case of good weather, since the open space of the outlet is not very pleasant for walking in bad weather.
The official website of Serravalle outlet in Russian: www.mcarthurglen.com
How to get there
The stop is located near the exit from the Cairoli Castello metro station, opposite Castello Sforzesco castle. Bus tickets are picked up at the Milan Visitor Center located 10 meters from the stop at Via Cusani, 18- come 15 minutes before departure.
Fox Town (FOXTOWN)
- «+» A wide selection of luxury brands from various Italian and other manufacturers will please those who want to stand out from the crowd.
- «-« But you will have to pay for all the luxury, and at the same time, from 4 to 10% tax free refunds you will not be pampered, rather puzzled. Given that Fox Town is located in Switzerland, you will have to draw up paperwork for a refund on the border between Italy and Switzerland. Also, this place upset me with its cuisine: the food is of no different quality, but the cost is 3 times higher. In this outlet you can spend 4 hours, which was enough for me above the roof.
The official outlet site in English: www.foxtown.ch
Conclusions and Tips
So, I told you about the details of shopping in Milan, the pros and cons are focused on my preferences. But it is possible that for me, a plus for you may turn out to be a minus and vice versa. Therefore, it is up to you: to analyze all the details and choose what you like best.
I, in turn, will be happy to organize your vacation based on your preferences, for more information, contact italiatut.com. I will be glad to answer all your questions in the comments.
