So you’ve swapped your local mall for an international adventure—good call! Whether you’re hunting for unique fashion finds or just soaking up the vibes of a new city, shopping abroad can be thrilling. But without a little prep, it can also be pricey.
Here are five savvy tips to help you score stylish deals without blowing your budget.
Tip #1: Use Shopping Apps Before You Go
Your phone isn’t just for selfies—it’s your secret weapon for scoring deals abroad. Before you jet off, download shopping apps that offer international perks. One example is Shopkick where you can earn points just by walking into stores or scanning products. Redeem those points for gift cards or rewards. Check if your favourite Canadian apps work in your destination country. You might be surprised!
Tip #2: Choose Instant Discounts Over Store Cashback
Cashback sounds great—until you realize it’s tied to your next purchase. If you’re only visiting for a few days, that “$7 off next time” deal is basically useless.
Instead:
- Look for immediate discounts at checkout.
- Avoid offers that require you to spend more later.
- Remember: real savings happen now, not on your next trip.
Tip #3: Know Your Size (Globally)
Shoe and clothing sizes in Canada are the same as in the US, but quite different in other countries around the world. If you usually wear shirts of size 10, you won’t fit in this size in the UK and will have to look for clothes of size 12. In Australia, you need to add two more points to your regular US size and get size 14 in the result.
In other European countries, the 10 size converts into 40 in France, Spain, and Portugal, 38 in Germany and Scandinavian countries, and 44 in Italy. Asian countries feature sizes often being drastically different from the European ones, so it may be impossible to know your size on the spot, unless you arm yourself with a size conversion chart.
Even though the most common size charts are in the open access on the web, it’s quite hard to figure out sizes present in some non-mainstream shopping destinations. In this case, you may simply ask the store consultant to identify your local size and proceed to hassle-free shopping.
Tip #4: Bring a Card With No Foreign Transaction Fees
Most credit cards charge a sneaky 2-3% transaction fee when making a purchase abroad. Since you don’t pay in your local currency, the fee often remains unnoticed, blending in the currency exchange. Thus, you may be constantly overcharged even without knowing about it.
Look for Canadian cards that skip the fees:
- Home Trust Preferred Visa. Comes with few other pleasant bonuses — 1% cashback and Roadside assist membership are among them. The limit of 10 transactions per day may be a drawback for some customers.
- Rogers Platinum Mastercard. Offers three extra rewards: unlimited 3% cashback on purchases made in foreign currency, 2% on Rogers goods and services, and 1.25% on the rest of purchases.
- Fido Mastercard. Has identical bonuses to Rogers Platinum Mastercard, so the only difference between them is the name of a card.
Note: Bank cashback is real money you can spend however you want—not like store cashback that locks you into future purchases.
Tip #5: Ask Locals for Shopping Advice
Google reviews are fine, but locals know the hidden gems. Ask your hotel receptionist, Airbnb host, or even your barista where they shop for fashion. You’ll discover:
- Boutique stores with authentic styles
- Local designers you won’t find online
- Better prices than tourist traps
And one last tip: carry cash. Not every shop accepts foreign cards, and some only take Visa or Mastercard—not both. Cash ensures you won’t miss out on that perfect find
Shopping abroad isn’t just about the clothes—it’s about the experience. With a little planning and these money-saving hacks, you’ll come home with a suitcase full of style and zero regrets.
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