Customer Reviews

Suzy Gershman's Born to Shop London

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have been travelling for the last 2 months around Europe and the UK and I have used all the relevant Suzy Gershman guides. As a matter of fact, they are the main guides I have used as they are independent and Suzy knows her stuff about where good shops and markets are.

Her guides are great, written in a lively style, with tips on the best places to stay, hidden shopping streets that only locals would know about and lots of other streetwise tips for travelling. She also has a lot of local knowledge on non shopping related matters eg she advises in Italy about the two sets of street numbers, one for shops and one for residential.She also gave for eg. great tips on what to expect from a gondola ride in Venice.

I do not rely on accurate prices from travel guides, no guide book should be used for that, it is impossible to keep up with prices and exchange rates in such a book. That is what the internet is for.

I would highly recommend her books if you are interested in finding great shops, seeing what is in trend in a country, where great markets are. As a bonus as well her books are small enough to pop in your handbag and take with you. They have plenty of maps in them too.

In summary, a very good and entertaining set of travel guides.

I only read online the first few pages, as Suzy's reviews have been a bit off the past few years. I was suspicious to read on page three in her quick shop section that I should pop into Jo Malone as the prices are half what they are at home.
I am a Jo Malone devotee. The whole line. So, I went to Jo's two web sites, UK and USA and to Neiman's, and did a cost comparison. Suzy is partially correct, the prices are half of the USA in London, until you do the currancy conversion!
Here are a few: Body lotion: 38.00 GBP in Jo Maolone London. That converts to $71.40, the body lotions sells for $60.00.
100 ml's of any cologne: 59.00 GBP, that converts to $111.00, it sells for $90.00. Body creme: 44.00 GBP equals $82.00 it retails for $75.00.
This is an exchange rate for August, but the pound has been high for ages, and a few cents/pence either direction isn't going to make it or break it. I also didn't include sales tax in the USA or potential VAT return if you bought enough to qualify in the UK or the 3% that most credit cards charge for foreign transactions.
My point is, suzy cannot be relied on to give accurate well thought out advice, this is your hard earned money, and she hasn't done her research. Shame on her.

like all travel guides, the pricing is always suspect between the writing and publication time. where this guide is good is that it gives off the beaten path as well as the more 'touristy' stops: good for the first time london visitor as well as the person returning for the umpteenth time. like with anything else, know your prices before you go. **credit card companies do not charge the overseas fee - that is often seen on the atm side!*****