One thing nearly everyone has in common is that they love shopping, and the best way to shop is with a short break. We might not all love shopping for the same thing – ever been shoe shopping? – But we do all love taking a look at what we could buy, even if we rarely take the plunge and actually buy it. Shopping is even better on a holiday where a combination of Duty free, exchange rates and simple bargains can make the experience even more exciting, but where are the world’s best places to shop?

In terms of pure class, the world’s most exciting shopping district has to be New York’s famous Fifth Avenue, home to some of the biggest names in fashion and designer gear in the world including Tiffany & Co, De Beers, Armani, Lacoste and Saks Fifth Avenue. Of course, a single item at any of those stores likely to cost you more than your entire New York short break – flights included. Even if you’re only windows shopping though, Fifth Avenue offers some of the best retail therapy in the world.

Rivalling New York is Paris, which is well known as being world’s first – and to many, only – fashion capital. Many of the world’s most exclusive designers have their store fronts in Paris. A stroll along the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honorne will take you past Dior, Gaultier, Yces Saint-Laurent and Versace.

If you’re looking for a slightly different shopping experience than what the big western cities can offer, you only have to take a look at the massive new retail districts popping up in the eastern world, sometimes a short break isn't enough for these far flung places. Bangkok is one of the best places to take a shopping trip that will result in a retail experience like no other you will ever have. There are plenty of street markets selling just about every item imaginable, but more recently modern shopping malls have also been built in the city, bringing in a unique mix of classic culture and new design and offering a huge variety of different goods.