November 2005 

Dear Readers,

If you're like us, you always pack an extra foldable tote bag in your suitcase, and your bags are bulging with shawls, ceramics or jewellery from your travels around the world. Sometimes you ship home that perfect antique oak table you spotted in Provence or had three new suits made during a business trip to Bangkok. You travel to see new countries and experience new cultures, but you also love to shop while on the road. Part of the appeal is the hunt for unique items””tracking down bargains as well as trying to find products for yourself and home that you can't find anywhere else.

Whether you want to hit downtown New York for the latest designer boutiques, stroll along London's Savile Row for a bespoke suit or browse the bazaars of Istanbul, this website is for you.

iTravel iShop is the world's first travel website dedicated to shopping. Think of it as Travel + Leisure meets Lucky. Each week we'll bring you feature articles from the world's best shopping destinations. We'll break down each city in terms of the best shopping streets, the best malls and markets, the best shops, and what to buy. We will also include tips on a city's most stylish hotels, where to refuel, and where to go out at night. iTravel iShop will also have interviews with trend setters and style makers, including hoteliers Grace Leo-Andrieu; designer Karim Rashid and jewellery designer Barry Kieselstein-Cord, who will share their tips and advice for the best shops, restaurants and hotels around the world.

The site will also include hotel reviews and the latest shopping and travel news, from hotel openings and shopping packages to new boutiques around the world.

But it won't just be us telling you about the best shopping experiences. Our community forum will let you, our readers, share your shopping tips and advice, whether it's about stores in you hometown or a great discovery you made on the road.

To kick off the site, the iTravel iShop team will be setting off on a “Shop Around the World in 80 Days” trip, inspired by Phileas Fogg's journey in the Jules Verne novel. Like Fogg, we'll be departing from London and heading East. We'll be blogging about the trip as it unfolds, but the real purpose of the journey is to write about the best shopping experiences in the cities we visit. All of the stores, hotels and restaurants we will be featuring will be our favourite finds and personal picks.

We hope you enjoy iTravel iShop and welcome your feedback.

In the meantime, happy travels and shopping.

Best wishes,

Christina Valhouli