HOLIDAYS: XMAS WRAP STARS

DONE your Christmas shopping yet? If the thought of another hike around the High Street leaves you cold, why not jump on a plane and add some fun to your festive spending, says JOHN LAW

NEW YORK

CHRISTMAS is BIG in the Big Apple. With exchange rates still running at about 1.8 dollars to the pound, you can pick up clothing for virtually half the price at home and there are bargains on electronics, CDs and PlayStations too. Fifth Avenue is worth visiting for the lavish window displays alone. Join the crowds in Bloomingdales, Macys and Saks department stores and look out for cheaper gifts in Greenwich Village and SoHo and the outlet stores of West Broadway. Then go ice-skating at the Rockefeller Center with its giant Christmas tree.

Three nights at the Assinia hotel, including flights, costs from pounds 509. Premier Holidays: 0870 889 0852, www.premierholidays.co.uk

PRAGUE

FOLLOW in the footsteps of Good King Wenceslas and enjoy a great festive atmosphere with lots of carol-singing, decorated trees and nativity scenes. The Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square have big Christmas markets selling inexpensive Czech glass, wooden toys and hand-made jewellery. At the market in Holsovice you can haggle for cheap leatherwear and watches. Interesting shops with impossible names include Obchod pod Lampou (handmade puppets), Obchod s rucnim papirem (handmade paper and cards) and Bim Bam Bum (affordable kids clothes).

Two nights at the three-star Hotel Carol costs from pounds 109, including flights, until December 13. Airline Network: 0870 234 9916, www.airline network.co.uk

VALENCIA

THERE are plenty of bargains here, from top fashions to delicious Serrano ham and wines. The main shopping district is around Calle de Colon, where clothes at Mango and Zara can cost only a third of the UK price. Look out for shoes, handbags, lace, trendy shawls and porcelain. The best Christmas markets are around the Valencia Central Market and Mercado de Colon. Theres also a Christmas funfair and a circus.

Two nights at the three-star Ad Hoc hotel costs from pounds 239, including flights. Thomson Cities & Short Breaks: 0870 606 1476, www.thomson cities.co.uk

DUBAI

DAZZLING Dubai isnt very Christmassy but its sheer heaven for shopaholics who like to top up their tan. Stock up on fashions, electrical goods and jewellery at the mind-boggling malls. Offering an incredible 350 shops under one roof, the newly-opened Mall of the Emirates is bigger than anything in Europe or the US. It also has lots of family entertainment, cinemas and five ski runs with 6,000 tons of snow! Pick up trinkets at the Gold Souk and exotic spices at the Old Souk on Al-Sabkha Road. And save some cash for some perfume or classy jewellery at the airports vast 24-hour duty-free outlet.

Three nights B&B at the four-star Towers Rotona, including flights, costs from pounds 495. Book before Nov 14. Go Dubai: 0800 316 0194, www.godubai.co.uk

TORONTO

TORONTO can be even better value than New York, and the five- week Cavalcade of Lights festival starting November 27 is a great time to visit. Theres lots of free entertainment, much of it in the main square illuminated by 100,000 lights. The Eaton Center is a designer outlet with stores like Abercrombie and Fitch, GAP and Banana Republic and excellent cosmetics shops. For elegant boutiques and book stores try Bloor Street or Queen Street.

Three nights at the two-star Days Hotel costs from pounds 465 room-only, including flights. Thomson Cities & Short Breaks: 0870 606 1476, www.thomsoncities.co.uk

KRAKOW

YOULL find cracking value in Polands Krakow. Dominated by Wawel Royal Castle, this medieval gem holds a lively Christmas market in the old Town Hall Square where you can search for cheap presents and listen to the carols. Pick up designer jewellery at stores such as Skarbiuc on Grodska, or at Galleria Bielak. There are good toy shops, while handicrafts, jewellery and leatherwear can be bought at the historic Cloth Hall.

Four nights at the four-star Hotel Amadeus, with flights, costs from pounds 339. Eurobreak: 020 8780 7700, www.euro break.co.uk

BERLIN

YOU cant escape the festive spirit in Berlin, which boasts about 50 Christmas markets. Near the Memorial Church you can watch woodcarvers, doll-makers and glassblowers at work. Elsewhere look out for toys, jewellery and decorations, and fortify yourself with mulled wine and gingerbread before tackling the ice-skating, toboggan run or giant merry-go-round. The Ku Damm has lots of designer shops and department stores, including Ka De We, Europes largest.

Two nights at the three-star Mark Apart Hotel, with flights, costs from pounds 211. Bridge Travel: 0870 191 4065, www.bridge travel.co.uk

MARRAKECH

COME into the kasbah for some alternative Christmas shopping in the sunshine. In the bazaars and souks, fashionable gipsy- sequined skirts, leatherwear and fantastic gold and silver jewellery can be picked up really cheaply. Its also good for stylish lamps, garden ornaments and carpets, incense and spices.

Three nights at the four-star Atlas Marrakech costs from pounds 358, including flights. Thomson Cities & Short Breaks: 0870 606 1476, www.thomsoncities.co.uk

COPENHAGEN

WINTER wonderland comes to the famous Tivoli Gardens, where you can enjoy the giant funfair and shop from stalls laden with gifts and decorations. For more serious shoppers, the stores along Stroget have stylish modern Scandinavian glassware, porcelain and silverware at surprisingly good prices.

Three nights at the two-star superior Hotel Absalon from pounds 249, including flights. Cresta Cities: 0870 33 33 303, www.crestaholidays.co.uk

LILLE

LILLE is perfect for a shopping blitz by Eurostar. Its only two hours from London (or one hour from Ashford) and the huge Euralille complex with its 140 shops is right next door to the Eurostar terminal. Theres more fashion, jewellery and homeware to be found in the winding streets of the Old Town, while the Christmas market is one of the best in France and ideal for stocking up on cheese, wine and meats as well as handicrafts, wooden toys, rustic decorations and artwork.

Three nights at the two-star Hotel Continental costs from pounds 135, including Eurostar travel. Bridge Travel: 0870 191 4065, www.bridgetravel.co.uk

PARIS

NOT cheap but very chic. Christmas lights flicker up the Eiffel Tower and in the trees of the Champs dElyses. Admire the window displays along Boulevard Haussmann, where the two giant department stores, Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, have an amazing choice of clothing, perfume, jewellery, homeware and glassware. For top designer fashions check out Rue de Faubourg St Honore.

Two nights at the two-star Hotel Astor Suresnes starts from pounds 126, including Eurostar travel. Paris Travel Service: 0870 191 7127, www.paristravel.co.uk

ROME

IF Italian fashion is more to your taste, take a Roman holiday. In the historic centre around the Spanish Steps youll find top designer fashions, plus boutiques offering more affordable stylish clothes. Look for stocking- fillers, handicrafts, jewellery, toys and sweets at the Christmas market in Romes Piazza Navona. Just outside the city at Castel Romano is a McArthurGlen outlet village with 95 stores where you can bag your cut-price Versace and Ferragamo.

Three nights at the four-star Hotel Nazionale costs from pounds 289, including flights. Citalia: 0870 909 7554, www.citalia.com

BRUSSELS

KICK off Christmas in grand style. The citys European Christmas Market is staged around the majestic gilded Grand Place, where 150 traders from across the Continent offer a vast array of festive goodies and you can go ice-skating or ride on the Big Wheel. Worth buying are the hand-made lace and for the sweet-toothed wonderful Belgian chocolate, marzipan, cakes and gingerbread santas. Shop for top fashions around Avenue Louise and less pricey items in Gallerie St Hubert, Europes oldest shopping arcade.

Two nights at the four-star Hotel Metropole from pounds 288, with first-class Eurostar travel. Kirker Holidays: 0870 112 3333, www.kirkerholidays.com

VIENNA

THE Viennese have been staging Christmas markets since 1294 and these days the city is full of them. The biggest is Christkindlmarkt at the City Hall, where you can glug gluwein or hot punch and nibble roast chestnuts while browsing stalls selling crafts, jewellery and decorations. Grandest setting is the market outside the illuminated Schnbrunn Palace, while the quaintest is among the alleys and courtyards of the Spittelberg. Mariahilferstrasse is the citys longest shopping street.

Three nights at the four-star Hotel Altstadt start from pounds 445. Kirker Holidays: 0870 112 3333, kirker holidays.com

LAS VEGAS

A LARGER-THAN-LIFE shopping haven in the desert offering everything from bargain designer fashions to over-the-top decorations. Choose from the 120 stores at the Las Vegas Premium Outlet on Grand Central Parkway, the Forum shops at Caesars Palace and the Fashion Show home to seven stores, including Saks of Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales. Theres a Holiday Extravaganza Festival on Freemont Street and a glitzy drive-through show called the Gift of Lights.

Three nights at a three-star hotel on The Strip costs from pounds 473 room- only, including flights. Bon Voyage: 0800 316 0194, www.bon-voyage.co.uk

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