Shopping holidays 'on the up'

Many UK holidaymakers are heading for foreign destinations in order to go shopping, it has been revealed.

According to the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), New York is one of the best holiday destinations for shopping since the weakening of the dollar means many bargains are to be had for Britons.

The Big Apple is the perfect place to get the 'it' bag and the must-have shoes, something which has been taken advantage of in recent months, the organisation reports.

Meanwhile, destinations such as the Middle East, Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong are seen as some of the best places to purchase electrical goods.

When shopping abroad, ABTA has warned travellers to keep the most valuable items with them when flying home.

"We would say not to put anything of high value into your checked-in luggage," said Frances Tuke, spokesperson for the company.

"It's important that you take that in your hand luggage really because it's not necessarily safely insured in your checked-in luggage."

TheSite.org recently suggested that almost a quarter of British people go abroad to do their Christmas shopping.