The omnomnivore wears Prada?

The weather forecast for my time in Naples was that there would be thunderstorms during the one afternoon I had there. For that reason, I decided to schedule an afternoon of shopping. Not just any shopping, but outlet shopping.

As it turned out, the weather was fine for the entire day, being slightly overcast to provide some relief from the heat, yet without a drop of precipitation. Never mind, browsing designer brands at prices more acceptable to us mere mortals is always a fun diversion in my books.

What?
The La Reggia Designer Outlets are a series of outlet shopping centres belonging to the McArthurGlen group. These outlets are easily accessible from several of the main tourist cities across Europe including Rome, Florence, Venice, Salzburg, Berlin and Athens.

Where?
The La Reggia Outlet is situated approximately 20-40 minutes’ drive (depending on traffic) from the centre of Naples, in a north and slightly easterly direction. It is roughly 3/4 of the distance between Naples and Caserta, where I am told there is a palace to rival the likes of Versailles (Reggia di Caserta) – another one to add to my neverending and ever growing list of places to visit!

When?
Open everyday from 10am-10pm.

Who?
This is one for the shopaholics. The La Reggia Outlet stocks both local and international brands, with Prada taking pride of place at the centre of the entire complex.

Other internationally recognisable labels include Armani, Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, Lacoste, Roberto Cavalli, Versace, Moschino and more. A local brand that I have discovered I favour for women’s fashion is Liujo.

Why?
It is possible to purchase designer items at a fraction of the usual retail price, particularly if you’re there during sale season as I was, towards the end of July and early August. Bear in mind though, that many of these items are still not exactly cheap. I discovered I must have expensive taste, as the dresses I would have considered buying were by Alberta Ferretti and still ranged from €300-500 thereabouts, outlet prices and additional sales notwithstanding!

So did I really walk out of there with Prada? Err…not quite. But I did manage to nab these adorable bathers from Ralph Lauren for my nieces at €15 apiece.

How?
For tourists like myself, the easiest way to get to La Reggia is by the shuttle bus service which departs from the Largo Castello bus depot portion of Piazza Municipio in Naples, right in front of Castel Nuovo. This costs just €15 for the return trip. You can simply turn up and buy your ticket from the bus driver as you climb aboard. There are 2 shuttle services each day – one at 9am and the 2nd at 3.30pm from Naples. The returning bus picks you up from the exact location where you’re dropped off at the outlet, at 2pm or 7pm. It really couldn’t get any easier!

Top tips:
Wear: Comfortable walking shoes, as the complex is quite large, preferably the kind that slip on and off if you’re planning to try and buy footwear.

Bring: Your passport if you’re a non EU citizen. If you spend at least €155 in the one store, you can ask for a tax refund form to hand in at the airport upon departure, saving you even more money!

Eat: No worries here. There are plenty of cafes and refreshment stands dotted throughout the complex. There are also drinking fountains if you’re wanting to save that little bit of extra money for shopping.

Read: For more information, eg about the brands stocked and locations of other McArthur Glen outlets, check out their website.

Does outlet shopping tickle your fancy too? Where else are there great outlets I should check out? What is the best bargain you’ve nabbed?

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Travelling Omnomnivore

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