If you know your Chanel from your Christian Dior, love chocolates and want to indulge in buying some of the finest perfumes around, then some retail therapy in Johor Bahru, Malaysia should definitely be on the cards! What makes this such a great place to shop is the fact that it’s a duty free zone which simply translates to the fact that you can buy some of the world’s best brands at really cheap prices and shop till you drop; well not literally, though you may have trouble walking with all your bags full of gifts (for others and yourself of course!).

Because Johor Bahru is so close to Singapore, you will find a great many Singaporeans flocking to duty free shops in the city especially in the weekends. You can either plan a shopping excursion from Singapore itself and head back the same day, or better yet look to stay at a Johor Bahru hotel itself and enjoy some laidback retail therapy. The Berjaya Waterfront Hotel is one option worth checking out since it also offers easy access to the local ferry service while being within easy reach of not just duty free shops, but the area’s lively dining and clubbing scene as well.

There are quite a few shopping centres and malls which specialize in duty free goodies so ideally just shop around. Remember to first look for any special offers with further discounts or added benefits. ZON Duty Free, the Johor Bahru Duty Free Complex at the ferry terminal, Plaza Pelangi and Plaza Angsana are some of the shopping hotspots in the city.

So what can you expect to put on your shopping “must buy” list? If you are looking for perfumes then Hugo Boss, Christian Dior, Armani, Chanel, Dolce and Gabbana and Calvin Klein are just a few of the many, many brands that will vie for your attention. The same can be said for international cosmetics with Lancome, Natural Sea Beauty, L’Oréal and Estee Lauder some of the brands on offer. Those with a sweet tooth have plenty of chocolates to choose from and they offer great value for money especially if you need to take a lot back home with you. If you like to spend time in the “company” of the likes of Jack Daniels, Jim Beam or Johnnie Walker, there are lots of duty free liquors available as well!

Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.
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