­­Rome is one of our favorite European cities – and one of the most accessible. Where else can you spend a morning walking in the footsteps of Julius Caesar, viewing the masterpieces of Raphael and Michelangelo, and seeing the papal seat of power- followed by an afternoon of power shopping and dining on gourmet food, or downing cups of espresso standing up for a quick caffeine fix? No other city offers the same heady blend of architecture, art and vibrant street life.

­There are many occasions when a celebrity wants their dress to be absolutely perfect, like the Oscars, the Emmys and at a movie premiere. But when it comes to choosing a wedding dress, this is the dress that eclipses any other. Most celebrities are lucky enough to have designers clamouring to make their wedding dresses (even if it is something they normally don’t do). Giorgio Armani designed Katie Holmes’s wedding dress, and Balenciaga designer Nicolas Ghesquière famously whipped up Nicole Kidman’s frothy one-shoulder dress when she married Keith Urban. Gisele got John Galliano to design her gown when she wed Tom Brady.

­ At the airport, I sent text messages to my fun-loving friends, Tina and Rachel.  They had both lived in New Orleans, and I figured they’d have advice on places for me to check out.  When they got my text, I elicited the same emotional reaction from both of them:  “I’m so jealous.” Tina and Rachel began to dispense stream-of-consciousness sensory recalls of some of their favorite things in New Orleans. There was some moaning about crawfish boils and overstuffed po’boys.  Tina told me that she missed “food by the pound.” Rachel told me to get a “hand grenade at Tropical Isle and a hurricane’s from Pat O’s.”

Outlet shopping in Milan has taken on near mythic proportions. Rumors abound about little hole in the wall shops selling cashmere sweaters direct from the Loro Piana factory, or secret shipments of Ferragamo shoes for sale in the back of an office – without a doorbell, of course. The reality of outlet shopping in Milan is that it does require a great deal of patience and perseverance, as many of the best outlets are indeed located behind gates or hidden away in basements. But with a little digging – or a superb map, or better yet, a driver - you can find Prada, Gucci and Armani at drastically reduced prices. Here is our list of the best outlet shopping in Milan.

With the Olympics kicking off today in Beijing, the entire world will be focusing on the city, and there is so much to take in. Beijing has been spruced up and now boasts some of the world’s most daring architecture, alongside ancient sites like the Forbidden City. The art scene in Beijing is buzzing as well; check out all the galleries and hip bars in the Dashanzi district. We’ll let everyone else cover the sports while we zero in on the city’s shopping. While Beijing doesn’t have the immediate appeal and buzz of Shanghai, if you dig a little deeper you’ll find the city’s charms, like the myriad of hutongs (the traditional alleys).

Compiled by The International House and Karen Catchpole (note that ** selections are recommendations by iTravel iShop writer Karen Catchpole)

Shopping

Pied Nu
You’ll find a little bit of everything at this lovely boutique, from homewares, jewelry and clothing as well as beauty products. Designers carried include Cathy Waterman, Emma Hope, Les Chemin and Schumacher.

As the ski season starts to wind down on the East Coast, I often find myself daydreaming about how or where I might scheme in just one more snow day. When I learned last month that the Heavenly Resort in South Lake Tahoe extended its season until May 4th due to record snowfall in January, I planned a trip out west immediately. The gigantic mountain resort, which typically shuts down in late April, is extending its season with some enticing deals.

I have both good news and bad news about shopping in Helsinki. Here’s the good news: a new generation of designers are creating some of the most stylish and innovative housewares, furniture, and textiles in Europe. Whether designing a chair or a dress, hip, young Finnish designers remain focused on timeless style, clean lines, and high-quality materials.

The bad news is that many of the shops that sell these beautiful things tend to keep unusual hours. If you don't plan ahead, you'll be doing more window shopping than actual buying. A few shops were closed Monday - Wednesday. Most shops close between 4-6PM on Saturdays. Many are closed on Sundays.

In many ways I found shopping in Chiang Mai to be far more enjoyable than Bangkok. The city's small scale and rich history of craftsmanship- minus the choking pollution and crowds- all chalk up to one stellar shopping experience. Chiang Mai may not have the glossy mega malls with aquariums and Ferrari showrooms that you'll find in Bangkok, but what it does have is plenty of independent boutiques where it feels as if you're shopping in someone's home. We found ourselves buying way more items here than in the capital. Some of the best buys include ceramics, silks,  lacquerware and silver. Read on to find where to shop and what to buy in Chiang Mai.

Compiled by Hotel Teatro Concierge Carolyn Bartel

Shops 

Cry Baby Ranch
Roxanne Thurman opened her doors in 1990 but moved to the north side of Larimer Street a few years ago in order to expand her “homestead.”   Turning the term “western wear” on its ear, this boutique offers cowgirl boots, irreverent tees, outerwear and fabulous accessories.   From panorama rawhide lampshades to custom jewelry; designer scarves (created by the family of the “dickie” inventor!) to vintage cowgirl home furnishings and bath products, this eclectic shop is a treat for the inner-cowgirl in all of us.  Catering to Denver's more upscale visitors, Cry Baby Ranch also does a bang-up business on line and is a favorite for mail orders from Hotel Teatro's more high profile guests.