SHOP ,TIL YOU DROP THIS CHRISTMAS - Macdonald Hotels & Resorts offers a selection of top spots for Yuletide retail therapy throughout the country!

November 13th 2006

Finding the perfect Christmas gift presents an annual challenge, particularly when friends and relatives appear to be 'that' person who has everything! But why restrict your quest to local shops, when other towns and cities offer stylish boutiques and lifestyle emporiums where the perfect Christmas gift lies ready for the taking? To aid you in your quest for festive presents, Macdonald Hotels & Resorts offers its pick of top city outlets, combined with a Saturday night stay this December:

ONE-STOP SHOPPING IN AVIEMORE FROM £60 pp - set against the scenic backdrop of the Highlands, The Brands Are Gathering is Scotland's newest luxury and outdoor shopping complex situated at the heart of the Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort. Here you'll find mens, ladies and childrens wear, sporting goods, fine Scottish foods, gifts and homeware. Featured brands include Paul Costelloe, Folli Follie, Barbour, Hunter and Sprayway, as well as the fabulous French children's clothing label, Moulin Roty. There's literally whisky galore - the finest selection to be found anywhere in Scotland, as well as a range of Scottish cheeses and Cartmels' delicious sticky toffee pudding. And once you've finalised your purchases, simply relax and enjoy the Resort's facilities, from its championship golf course to its sensational health and leisure centre. Or just put your feet up in front of a roaring fire and enjoy a hot toddy after a hard day's shopping. A Saturday night stay in December starts at £60 per person per night on a bed and breakfast basis. Two share.

VINTAGE FINDS IN EDINBURGH FROM £100 pp - not so long ago, any half-decent Edinburgh lass was forced head west to Glasgow for retail therapy. No more - Scotland's capital city now boasts a growing number of stylish boutiques. Armstrong's Vintage, on the Grassmarket, is the place to pick up a 60 year old YSL gown (a perfect gift for your stylish sister), while those looking for cashmere undies (yes, really) will find them at the divine boutique Belinda Robertson at 13a Dundas Street which specialises in bespoke cashmere garments. Or relax with a glass of something sparkling in your hand and take advantage of Harvey Nichols Private Shopping, as a wealth of garments are brought to your private room. This service is by appointment only, but can be arranged via the concierge at the Macdonald Holyrood Hotel, located in the heart of Edinburgh just five minutes from Princes Street. A Saturday night stay in December starts at £100 per person per night on a bed and breakfast basis. Two share.

HOMESTUFFS APLENTY IN WINCHESTER FROM £95 pp - this ancient cathedral city has been famed for its heritage for years, but is also finding its feet in the range of new lifestyle stores that have opened up in recent years. Woodruffs, on The Square, stocks something for everyone, from quirky gadgets to stylish home accessories including goods by Kenneth Turner and Diptyque. Another great find is delicious deli Cadogan & James, also located on The Square, which sells a superb range of unusual cheeses, delicious potted jams, olive oils and beautifully hand wrapped biscuits, as well as seasonal items. Owner James Martin is a well-known face from his TV appearances, which include nine years on Ready, Steady, Cook! and Strictly Come Dancing in 2005. Rest your weary feet after a long day of pounding the pavements at the Macdonald Wessex Hotel, set in the heart of Winchester with stunning views of the cathedral. A Saturday night stay in December starts from £95 per person per night on a bed and breakfast basis. Two share.

STYLE AND BARGAINS GALORE IN WOODSTOCK FROM £94 pp - just eight miles from Oxford lies the historic town of Woodstock, which boasts fine boutiques, antique shops and interior design specialists. But if it's a designer bargain you're after to impress someone special, the discount outlet of Bicester Village lies just a ten-minute drive away, with shops including Molton Brown, Tommy Hilfiger, LK Bennett, Jigsaw and Burberry on offer, with revitalising coffee available at Caffe Carluccio or Pret a Manger! Stay at the Macdonald Bear Hotel, an original 13th century coaching inn and one-time romantic retreat for Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton during their long on-off love affair! Prices for a Saturday night's stay in December start from £94 per person per night on a bed and breakfast basis. Two share.

DESIGNER FASHION FINDS IN SALISBURY FROM £85 pp - medieval Salisbury boasts a famous cathedral, and lies close to Stonehenge. But it is also a haven for designer ladies fashions, both frocks and shoes! Hollyhock, a boutique at 25-27 New Street, showcases the latest in designer fashion, while nearby Lynne Lucas, on 26 Catherine Street is equally well-stocked. Salisbury lasses are well-heeled due to the proximity of Raffinée Shoes, at 39 High Street, and Servas, another designer shoe shop at 8 The Maltings. All these outlets are within a 10 minute walk of the Macdonald White Hart Hotel, an elegant 17th century Georgian structure situated opposite the cathedral. In summer the hotel's courtyard is a tapestry of colour with superb flower displays. Prices for a Saturday night's stay in December start from £85 per person per night on a bed and breakfast basis. Two share.

THE VERY BEST DEPARTMENT STORES IN BIRMINGHAM FROM £90 pp - all roads certainly don't lead to London any more when it comes to top department stores. The flagship stores may still be there, but why fight crowds and traffic on Oxford Street when in Birmingham, a fashionista can indulge in her passion for clothes, homeware, handbags and shoes in Selfridges, Debenhams and Harvey Nichols - all within a two minute walk from the Macdonald Burlington Hotel? The hotel represents an oasis of calm after a hard day's shopping, with an on-site health and fitness club to stretch out aching legs. Prices for a Saturday night's stay in December start from £90 per person per night on a bed and breakfast basis. Two share.

RETAIL PARKLIFE IN CHESTER FROM £100 pp - the medieval walled city of Chester is famous for its animal life, with Chester Zoo being a highlight of any visit. However, fashion-savvy bargain hunters will be captivated by the four retail parks that surround the city, in particular MacArthurglen Cheshire Oaks, a mere 15 minute drive away. Here you'll find Europe's largest designer and discount fashion outlet, boasting over 140 store outlets. Just five minutes' drive away lies the Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel in nearby Ledsham which offers elegant country-house style accommodation and superb leisure facilities including 18-metre pool and spa beauty treatments. Prices for a Saturday night's stay in December start from £100 per person per night on a bed and breakfast basis. Two share.

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