Bite of Big Apple 'will yield biggest bargains' for Christmas

Published on Sunday 22 November 2009 22:12

THE Big Apple promises the best bargains for Britons wanting to do their Christmas shopping abroad this year.

A typical range of designer gifts is 25 per cent cheaper on average in New York than in London at the moment, a survey by Post Office travel services showed.

The good deals are available as a result of the recent strengthening of the pound against the US dollar and the fact that big New York stores are holding their prices down.

An Abercrombie & Fitch men's shirt, for example, is 70 in London but only 22.92 in New York.

Levi's 501 original jeans, which cost 60 in London, are just 31.51 in New York.

The biggest saving on toys is for a Rubik's 360 puzzle, which is 10.39 in New York but 20 in London.

Post Office head of travel services Sarah Munro said: "There are great bargains to be found, providing shoppers do their homework.

"Many fashion items and beauty products are significantly cheaper in New York than in London, but this is not always the case and it will pay to check prices for top designer labels before travelling.

"The good news is that sterling is now worth 12.7 per cent more than 12 months ago and over 23 per cent more than at its low point against the US dollar in March this year.

"This means that UK holidaymakers travelling to New York can expect the cash in their pocket to stretch a lot further than last year, when the pound plummeted prior to Christmas 2008."

She added that UK visitors to the US can now bring back more gifts, because the American duty-free allowance has gone up to 340.

Last night, cheap flights from Edinburgh or Glasgow airports to New York started at about 500.