Shopping with TaxFree4U: a guide to Europe for Christmas and New Year’s Eve

The mobile application TaxFree4U will help you to return up to 19% VAT on purchases in stores of European capitals
London
The capital of the United Kingdom during the Christmas holidays turns into a real paradise for shopaholics: the famous British brands are able to get things from the upper rulers at the most tasty price (discount in some boutiques can reach 90%). According to the rules of British shopping, discounts start the day after Christmas and last until the end of January (26.12-31.01).
Due to the tradition, the most interesting shops are located in the central areas of London, such as Mayfair and Soho, so for the convenience of movement you can choose cabs – a more expensive but comfortable sort of transport. Either use subway (with purchases it will be difficult). It’s allow you to move around London quickly, especially at rush hour. For example, the distance from Piccadilly to the Blackfriars Bridge in a traffic jam can be traveled in 40 minutes (distance – 3.5 km). So, planning to spend a lot of time in traffic jams, if you want to visit every sale. Avoid conventional taxis – drivers of this type of transport, most often, do not know the city and navigate through the navigator. With ordinary taxi drivers, the road from one store to the other can “eat” most of the time.
The most “tasty” offers await you at Carnaby Street, Covent Garden, Knightsbridge and Kings Road. These are the streets where expensive boutiques Dior, Chanel, Burberry are located. On the other hand, in the Mayfair area and on Bond Street you will find boutique haute couture shops and authorial shops that will offer you the most unusual things. In addition, there are fewer tourists here than in most shopping centers for Christmas, so shopping will turn from a battle for the thing you need into a relaxing activity.

Do you want to be in a trend? Pay attention to the popular top brands that offer items from the top collections at a discount of up to 90% during Christmas sales. Don’t go to extremes and do not buy something that you will not need. According to the statistics by the Vogue Magazine (British version), only British residents spend on sales more than 30 billion pounds on things that they don’t carry.
First of all, pay attention to the checkered fabric that has become the trademark of the brand Burberry. Trench or scarf of this company, according to the Vogue Magazine, should find a place in the wardrobe of each fashion-lover.
Where to go?
– Harrods (87-135 Brompton Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7XL). The most famous department store in London. Premium boutiques, including Pandora, Bottega Venetta, Chanel, Dior, D & G, 2Sqared etc.;

LONDON, UK - SEPTEMBER 25, 2014: The famous Harrods department store in the evening of September 25, 2014 at Knightsbridge in London, UK. Harrods is the biggest department store in Europe and offers over one million square feet of retail space, acting as a magnet for rich clients and numerous tourists throughout the year.
– Selfridges (400 Oxford Street, City of Westminster, W1C 2). This shopping center is magnificent even of the windows, the design appeared at the dawn of the store – they entertain and turn shopping into a real adventure;

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– Trading House Harvey Nichols (109-125 Knightsbridge, Greater London SW1X 7RJ). The most popular boutiques of this historic department store are Balenciaga, Hermes, Chloe;
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– Trading House Fortnum & Mason (181 Piccadilly, W1A 1ER). A shopping center with a three hundred year history. Experienced shoppers recommend visiting the wine cellar of this store, where you will be offered a large selection of wines from the Rhine, from Burgundy and local private wineries. And the cost of one bottle will be several times less than when buying the same in the wine boutiques of the capitals of Eastern Europe.

London, UK - July 26, 2011: Doorman in front of Fortnum and Mason department storel on July 26, 2011 in London, UK

Tired of shopping and want to relax? Take a rental car and drive to the north: two hours away from London, is a picturesque town of Bath, which is annually held fair, surrounded by an aura of magic – where you can wander through the old streets, eat real English food and make the best selfie in “English Christmas ” style. Everywhere in central London during the Christmas holidays are theatrical performances – Piccadilly, near the Thames and elsewhere. It is worth noting that this year for the first time in the Music Hall Wilton (Wilton’s Music Hall) will go again delivered a show “Box of Delights”  John Masefield (from December 1 to January 6). Critics recommend visiting this show to all residents and guests of the capital.
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Are you hungry? There are many legendary establishments where you can have a bite of the famous “fish and chips” or have a full dinner. In all the guides to the capital of Great Britain it is written that Ya Olde Cheshire Cheese (145 Fleet st, London EC4A 2BU, Great Britain) is the oldest pub in England. Not the fact that you will be able to take a table here, but to visit there definitely worth it, especially since the prices are fairly democratic and can allow you to save money to continue shopping.
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If you do not have one London – TaxFree4U recommends visiting Outlet Banbridge (Banbridge, Northern Ireland, BT32 4LF, Great Britain): the road from the capital is not close, but you will be able to fully enjoy the beauties of the island kingdom. The outletis a capacious shopping center with dozens of branded things boutiques. Pay special attention to the assortment of stores Villeroy & Boch and Timberland.
However, to have a great shopping and good memories about Christmas London – use the mobile application TaxFree4U. With this app you can return up to 19% VAT on purchases in London and other UK cities.
Paris
Paris at Christmas becomes one big boutique: the Champs Elysees are full of discount signs in the best fashion houses in France, in the rue Saint Honor – there is nowhere to drop an apple from expensive shops that offer discounts up to 75% to their customers. In order not to get confused in a huge number of department stores, boutiques and outlets, professional shoppers recommend going to the French Tourism Office and taking a copy of the “Livre de L’acheteur” (“buyer’s book”) for free, in which the stores are categorized and some of the most popular shopping-routes marked. Les Soldes – two-time large-scale discount promotions (in summer and in the period of Christmas and New Year), which are obsessed by the French and the guests of the country. During the sales, the easiest way to travel around the capital is a rented car, not a taxi or a subway, but it is recommended that you study the streets of Paris in advance and have a GPS-navigator with you.
Maximum discounts are waiting for shopaholics after the New Year – from January 1 to the end of February. Of course, the center of gravity for fashion lovers is the Lafayette Gallery in the center of Paris (40 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris)

PARIS - DECEMBER 07: The Christmas tree at Galeries Lafayette on December 07, 2012, Paris, France.  The Galeries Lafayette has been selling luxury goods since 1895.

and the Champs Elysees, where there are more boutiques than any other street in the French capital (premium stores, Guerlain, MAC, Louis Vuitton and Cartier, Hugo Boss). Service TaxFree4U also advises not to forget about such stores as:
– Boutiques du Palais des Congrès (2 Place de la Porte Maillot, 75017);
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– Village Royale (25 Rue Royale, 75008).
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During the rest from shopping, of course, it is great idea to visit Paris Disneyland (77777 Marne-la-Vallée): for two weeks, from December 23 to January 7 there is light show, carnival processions and thematic performances that will be interesting to adults and children.
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In addition, in the Alsatian Colmar from November 24 to December 30 there are 5 major fairs: Place des Dominicains, Place de l’Ancienne Douane, Place Jeanne d’Arc, Children’s Christmas market and indoor market of crafts. This medieval city is known for originality and Christmas here acquires a new sound (in addition, thanks to its unique architecture and wine traditions, you must purchase a bottle of collection wine here, even in Paris it will cost 20-30% more). Easiest way to travel to Colmar is drive from Strasbourg on the A-35 highway.

Traditional old half-timbered houses in the historic city of Colmar. Decorated and lighted during the Christmas season. Alsace. France.

Strasbourg is called the European Capital of Christmas. In the period from November 25 to December 31, there will be a fairground festival “Christkindelsmerek” in Broy Square. Theater performances, works of local masters, German-French cuisine, wines – all this is enough at the fair. And from Strasbourg is easy to get to Paris and the next point of our shopping guide, Berlin.
To ensure that the trip does not fly into a pretty penny, and shopping in the most romantic capital of the world did not end at the most interesting place – return VAT from purchases in France using the application TaxFree4U: download purchase checks, put marks at customs and get a return on your card!
Berlin
Berlin is created for rest and fun, so go to the capital of Germany to relax your soul and body: here are the best clubs and restaurants in the country. Especially the users of TripAdvisor recommend giving to establishments Das Lokal and Der Goldene Hahn.
The most popular is the KaDeWe department store (Tauentzienstraße 21-24, 10789 Berlin),
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however, you should not bypass the Berlin “Lafayette Gallery” (Französische Straße 23, 10117 Berlin), as well as the Kurfuerstendamm, which is considered the German Champs Elysées: here there are boutiques Prada, Louis Vuitton, Tommy Hilfiger.
kurfuerstendamm
Advice from TaxFree4U: do not ignore the inscription “Wintersclussverkauf” which translates as “winter discounts”. Don’t forget that from November 21 to December 31 in Berlin is a famous fair. For this it is necessary to get to the Gendarmenmarkt square (Gendarmenmarkt, 10117 Berlin). The value of things and products in Germany is higher than the EU average, but still at times cheaper than in the market of Eastern Europe.
The New Year period of discounts, usually, runs from December 25 to mid-February. Despite the fact that Berlin is the capital of Germany, Munich and Düsseldorf represent the greatest interest for tourists on Christmas. In order to navigate between cities, it is suitable for both a rented car and a railway.
In Munich you will find a traditional Christmas festival (from November 24 to December 26) and mulled wine, and in Düsseldorf, the German capital of fashion, you can do shopping. During Christmas sales (from Catholic Christmas to mid-February), boutiques at Königsallee can buy items from German famous designers at a discount of up to 60%.

DUSSELDORF, GERMANY - OCTOBER 27: Interior of a shopping Mall October 27, 2012 in Dusseldorf, Germany. Interior of a shopping mall close to the Koningsallee
The mobile application TaxFree4U will allow you to refund up to 19% VAT on purchases in Germany on your card.
Milan
Italy – the legislator of world fashion, and Milan is the capital of fashion. New Year discounts start here from January 7 and continue until February 7. If you like Italian brands – you will find their boutiques in Milan. Most of the shops are located in the streets of Via Monte Napoleone, Via della Spiga, Via Sant’Andrea, Via Manzoni and Corso Venezia. Here in the period of sales you can buy for 30-35% of the value of the goods of the top collections of such brands as Louis Vuitton, D&G, Armani, Versace, Valentino. You don’t need to know the addresses of shops – you just need to get to one of the “boutique” streets, and before you stretch the expanse of luxury. Also, don’t forget about the largest and most luxurious shopping center in Milan – the Galleria Vittoria Emanuele II (Piazza del Duomo, 20123 Milano MI). Special love of shopaholics is enjoyed by the designer outlet Serravalle near the city of Alexandria, for the period of holidays providing discounts of up to 60% on more than 100 brands of leading fashion houses from Italy and France. You can get to it on a rented car or on a special bus that goes from Genoa and Milan.

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However, in Rome, there is something to watch during the Christmas sales: from December 1 to January 7 at Piazza Navona (00186 Roma RM) is one of the largest New Year’s fairs in Europe. Here you can see and take a picture with “the main Santa Claus”, Babbo Natal and Befana, the Christmas witch. The location of the square in the center of ancient Rome adds color. Restaurants during the holidays provide visitors with a discount on main courses, so eating can save a lot in almost any institution. Service TaxFree4U draws your attention: “The Roman Champs Elysees” are in Piazza di Spagna (00187 Roma RM).
If you want to feel real Italy, go to Bolzano, a small town near the border with Austria. You will find a unique italo-Austrian cuisine. Leading gastronomic critics recommend to try gröstl (bacon, onions and potatoes); kaspressknödel (flat dumplings with cheese); and strauben, the Tyrolean version of Churros.
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For Italian shopping to be easy, like a Mediterranean breakfast, use the mobile application TaxFree4U, which will allow you to return up to 19% VAT on purchases in Milan and Rome.
Barcelona
The capital of Catalonia is rightly considered the Spanish capital of fashion and leisure. Here that the main amusement parks, restaurants and attractions are located (one Church of the Holy Family can capture timportant for fashion-lovers to get on sale in boutiques. Barcelona boasts an impressive list of fashion brands: Chanel, Armani, Cartier, Miró, Mont Blanc and others. Most of them are located on Plaça Catalunya and Passeig de Gracia.

Don’t forget about the large shopping centers. The shops of La Maquinista (Carrer de Potosí, 2, 08030 Barcelona) are especially fond of shopaholics. Discounts for Christmas here can go up to 80%.
la-maquinista
In order to enjoy the mild climate of Christmas Spain, use the mobile application TaxFree4U and return up to 19% VAT on purchases in Barcelona and other Spanish cities.
Christmas Finland
All this northern country seemed to have come from the New Year’s cards. In each city you can find unique institutions where the Spirit of Christmas will be felt 100%. Especially popular in this northern country are shopping malls of the middle class, so most of the tourists and local residents on holidays go to the department store “Stockmann” (Aleksanterinkatu 52, Helsinki). Lifehack from the service TaxFree4U: to visit the Finnish shopping center better at lunchtime, so you avoid large queues and can calmly do shopping.
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If you want to feel the real European Christmas – safely go to the capital of Finland. In the heart of Helsinki, a cozy village with more than 140 shops is built every year, where you can buy all kinds of souvenirs and clothes from different Finnish brands, and with a considerable discount from December 15 to December 22, so hurrying and getting into this particular country in this short time interval. But if your trip is scheduled for days after the New Year, do not be discouraged – with the help of the application TaxFree4U you will be able to return 142.7 euros from each spent one thousand euros.
Do not forget about VAT refund!
In order to complete your journey through Christmas Europe on a positive note, don’t forget to save all the checks and take from the sellers a VAT refund application form. Take a photo of the checks, put the marks at the customs office and send the original documents to the TaxFree4U office – specialists of TaxFree4U will fill out the declaration form and return to your card will be made within 7 working days. The app you can download in the AppStore and GooglePlay.

he attention of a tourist for a whole day). For Christmas and New Year’s Eve, don’t plan to see the snow: only the cool weather will wait for you. TaxFree4U recommends that special attention be given to the Christmas fair of Santa Lucia on the Plaza de Nova from December 8 to 25.

Of course, it is more