Q I'm bored of shopping holidays in Bangkok, Hong Kong and Tokyo. New York, London and Paris are too expensive for me. Are there any new and exciting shopping destinations that are affordable?

A It's always fun to explore new territory, so here are a few suggestions where the round-trip airfares cost under $1,000.

The Japanese city of Fukuoka was named Best Retail City by London-based lifestyle magazine Monocle last year for its winning combination of cosmopolitan variety and convenience with small-town charm.

Shopping highlights include Canal City, a humongous shopping and entertainment complex, as well as the chic boutiques in the downtown Tenjin neighbourhood.
Sydney is also becoming increasingly well-known for showcasing the work of Australian designers. Check out www.urbanboheme.com.au for up-to-date recommendations of where to find the latest hip boutiques and designers.

Now that the Olympics are over, you can also shop in Beijing with much less stress. Insiders recommend Gu Ba, a discount retailer - on the ground floor of Cofco Plaza and the 3.3 Building in Sanlitun Bar Street - that stocks trendy foreign and local labels.

The rapidly gentrifying neighbourhood of Nan Luo Gu Xiang (see www.nlgx.org for details) is also worth a visit for a glimpse of traditional Beijing and a sprinkling of indie stores.

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times.