We don't travel just to shop either, but I could care less if other people do. <BR> <BR>What I object to are the so called "men" posting about women being frivolous, trying to fulfill their needs, loneliness, etc. <BR> <BR>Most likely the reason these "women" shop is because they are attached to a boring, judgemental, obnoxious, pain in the patout husband who has lost his energy and ability to fulfill his partners emotional needs, and the stupidity to not participate in the planning of the vacation to begin with. <BR> <BR>If they drag along to "carry the bags and pay the bill" in most cases it is their choice to do so. I don't hear anything from these so called "men" on alternative activities. <BR> <BR>I have a husband who participates in the planning of our trips. If we happen to do some shopping during that time so be it - it's our choice.

Interesting question..I have not read all the replies...We love to shop on vacation..We have been traveling many foreign countries for 20 years and have picked up many craft pieces to decorate our home..mostly inexpensive..In the process of buying these pieces we have met artisans and shop keepers. Each piece I have brings back a memory...a large alpacha wallhanging bought at the Goverment store in Lima..a statue of a mother and child from Cuczco..a Mayan baseball bat from Cabo San Jose...in Manzanillo we searched and searched..finally at the airport in one little shop was a statue of a woman who a friend says has somebodys soul in it..it sits this day next to my fireplace. We always say that our house loooks like "early charter flights"... Fifteen years ago in London I picked up a "souvenier", a porcelain bird..well, it turns out slowly but surely I started buying these on trips. I am now one of the leading collectors in the US of Royal Crown Derby paperweights..have been to Derby in the UK and have fellow collectors through the internet and in person... One of my favorite purchases was of a Mola in the San Blas Islands..the Mola is framed and is on my dining room wall with a picture of the artist on the back.. On one trip we met a couple in South America who asked our opinion about bringing presents to the US... we were invited to their home to share supper one evening and taken on a special tour of Miraflores and spent a few day with them. My purchases make my home unique..Whether it is a piece of native jewelry, a wallhanging, a statue or whatever..each piece has memories...happy memories that nobody can take away...ever.. There is one piece that holds a special place in my home...my father who never traveled outside of this state went to visit a sister in Arizona and went over the border and brought home a mexican statue...it sits in a special niche on my fireplace..Shopping in Portabello for parrot items, back alleys, looking for the studio in Guadalajara for Sergio Bustamonte and buying pieces of art that move me.... Oh yes, I'll travel and shop.. Have two cruises to go and I'm all set with my shoppng list..

Answer: "are frivilous, have zero self-esteem and have absolutely nothing better to do." "They either have low self-esteem; ... an addiction or it gives them a high much like drugs or liquor." "to fill the loneliness and emptiness inside them." <BR> <BR>Question: Why do men get addicted to spectator sports? <BR> <BR> <BR>

Just to point out, I'm the non-shopper in the relationship, and my incredibly self-secure, manly and decidedly non-neurotic boyfriend is the vacation shopper...to him, each T-shirt is a memory of a place he's been or an activity he's done. He wears them all the time and smiles every time he gets to tell a new story when I ask him about a T-shirt I haven't seen. He also collects unique handmade items from different places he's been. Sometimes the shopping gets to be tiring, but we do so many other things on vacation too that we're always busy. The way I see it, I love him, why criticize something that is so important to him. If I want to do something like eat a special meal, he will oblige me in that way, even though it's not as much of his "thing." It's all about compromise. We may not understand why people do the things that they do, but we should try to accept it regardless. JMHO.

Wish I could afford to do Europe singularly. Not everyone is a "we" and those of us who choose to travel and are older, handicapped, or for whatever reason not able to go it alone- are often subject to trip changing events because of non-returning shoppers. In the U.S. I can avoid the tours. Not so in what I can afford overseas. I don't challenge anyone's style at all; they can shop the entire vacation if that's what makes them happy and gives them <BR>memories. I shop myself at least 1 day while I'm gone. BUT- it is absolutely mind boggling to me that (like so many on this thread)that rudeness to others is accepted as "their right." I have seen some who have passed up the Sistine Chapel to haggle for cheap rosaries. This I don't understand. But it is not for me to judge. And I am not whining but giving a heartfelt plea that if you adore shopping- please do the many exculsive shopping trip/ tour excursions that are out there. Or if you have to take a special interest one that is available to you- please leave the tour for a portion of the trip. (A couple did this and took the train to <BR>Milan for 3 days.) Rather than keep everyone from their scheduled ticketed events because you become "lost."

I think everyone who wants to shop and acquire material things should do so, but only if they have their financial house in order. What does that mean? It means all credit card debt is paid off monthly, sufficient retirement savings (such as full funding of 401K every year for many, many years), adequate college savings for each of the kids, pretty darn large nest egg for emergencies, and no other consumer debt other than a first mortgage and loan for modest auto. I have no confidence that social security or even a pension will be there for me, or that financial aid will be there for my kids. Heck, even bankruptcy laws are being tightened up. Under this definition, most Americans do not have their financial house in order. So anyone who drops even $100 while shopping on vacation (particularly to buy junk) who does not have his/her financial house in order is being irresponsible and should take a good hard look at what they are doing. Buying a T-shirt is OK.

Sometimes we go to foreign countries where we don't speak the language and it's difficult to get around on your own as even the alphabet is different so you can't find your way around. Then we like to take day tours or short tours. So many times part of our trip has been ruined because the tour guide takes the group to some tourist shop in the middle of nowhere and stops for an hour or so. This is true even when we ask and confirm that NO shopping will be done on the tour before we sign up. <BR>I paid for a tour of things like museums, ruins, castles, building, temples etc and instead we often get rushed through these places just so we can be trapped in some tourist shop for an hour. This just makes me so mad!

Cyndia -- This happens not because there are those in the group who sabotage the intent not to shop but because the tour guides are paid well by the gift shops to make very sure you are trapped there instead of seeing the sights. If the guide makes your group mad by shortening the tour and corralling you into the shop, it's no loss to him/her because you will be gone forever at the end of the day. If the guide makes the shop owner mad, there's hell to pay. <BR> <BR>This arrangement ruined our visit to Toledo -- it seems impossible to get an organized tour in Madrid without being forced to spend the majority of one's time trapped in the gift shop. I wish there were some way to warn tourists and protest but that'll never happen -- however this forum is a start.

People that are complaining over shopping - where will we go next? Isn't it your business if you want to spend money, or even money you don't have? And if you don't like tours stopping and taking time, simply don't go on tours. Tours are for wimps and lazy people who like to be treated like cattle!

Jackie was merely wondering what people get out of all this shopping while on vacation. What I really think is fascinating is the outrage that it has triggered. It is a FORUM and she was posting a topic. A lot of people have gotten pissed off but I don't think many have attempted to answer the question. I love to shop (and I am a man) but try to squeeze it in only when convenient. Like getting nice (i.e. not schlock) local items and a bargain (like ties and shoes in Madrid, one department store and it was really fun). I have my thoughts regarding those that devote most of their time to it. Could be an addiction. Could be an inability to relax and shopping really is not all that relaxing. Could also be that they have nothing better to do (this may sound mean but the implication is if they had something better to do then they would probably be doing it).

I've read several of your posts "r" and you are far too reasonable to be responding to some of these posts. Nice to see a little insight and objectivity though.

Whenever I visit the United States, I usually spend quite a bit of time and money on shopping (clothes mainly). In Scotland I cannot get the same choice and, if I do find something I like, I can get it a whole lot cheaper in America.

Yes, r, I enjoy hearing from you too. Could you do something about your name, however? Ruth? Ray? Even Regis, perhaps?

Okay..as just suggested above..people shop for different reasons..they live in a country, i.e. anyplace but the states, where items are much more difficult to find.i.e. electronic and camera equipment..Resort clothes are usually less expensive in the tropics.. Where are you going to find those styles in some small little city...that they wear in the islands..especially in the dead of winter..Both my husband and I enjoy the "shopping experience"..his last purchase was beautiful handtooled leather belts in a very large size in Mexico..very expensive here and extremely affordable there.. To make a judgement that people shouldn't shop if they owe money is irresposible.. We did take private tours on our last trip and the guide took us into a shop..we looked, talked to the owners and took their pictures with a digital camera and e-mailed it.. meanwhile making lemonade out of what could have been a bad experience... Oh yes, outside the shop was a religious parade that was a great photo opportunity..To all you shoppers..onward and charge!!!! Let me give the the people that keep buying t-shirts a great hint.. We took many of ours and had them made into a large quilt..

Parrot Mom, <BR> <BR>I take issue with your statement that it is irresponsible to tell people who are in debt that they should stop shopping. Of course they should stop making frivolous purchases and pay off their debts with that money. Spending too much (particularly on credit cards) is how many (not all) debtors get into trouble in the first place.

This spring we took a trip to Austria and were in a medium sized town staying at a pension. The owner spoke very little English so we noticed an American couple that was having trouble communicating to her what they wanted for breakfast. We helped them out by translating for them about that and their bill etc. So then the American's started talking to us. The woman was very overweight and very loud talking and also spoke fast and alot. Mostly she went on in great long detail about her shopping and how she had bought extra bags the day before to hold all her new purchases. This town and area were very scenic so we asked them what they were going to do in their one day in this famous place with so much variety of activties to choose from. Shop was her answer! She said she intended on spending all day going into all the souvenir shops and buying up a storm. The husband just remanded silent most of the time and didn't look happy. The woman just kept chirping on about her wonderful purchases she had made yesterday. We thought the whole thing was sad really. What a wasted trip to Europe if you spend all your time buying t-shirts and cuckoo clocks in masses.

Unlike many of the posters here I have put my real e-mail address......Soon we are going to have "shopping police"..to make sure you don't owe money before you shop on a trip. Well my dear friend.my bills are paid monthly..I do not owe $$ and do not need any smart ass telling me or anyone else we shouldn't shop if we owe $$... I've worked hard all my life and I've decided to "spend my childrens inheritence" as they say.. You are very judgemental... If you had been to all the places we have been in over 20 years...you'd have seen quite a bit..just try to catch up with all my sightseeing...

Thanks for the kind thoughts and the 'r' stands for Roger. Love this sight and it has played a big role in some of my planning. The outrage at some of these other posts provides nothing but entertainment.

When I travel, I take an extra duffel bag, but only because I allow myself one to two souvenirs with the city and state name on it. Then I will get some reminders for family. I buy it myself, don't need my hubby to do it for me. LOL

First off, I'd like to thank all of you for giving me the biggest laughs I've had in a long time. TEARS are streaming down my cheeks (and I needed it) from the laughter. Thank you. The responses are hilarious. Special thanks to Hank. LOL <BR> <BR>I think the initial poster was also wanting to make a point. Look at all the responses she's gotten and the reaction to them. I saw her post from another angle. Why not ask her: Jackie, why shop? well, why go to a scenic place to enjoy the view at all? LOL