Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SHOPPING TIPS
1. MALL SHOPPING
If there's one shopping area convenient to Downtown to head for, it would have to
be the
Fashion Centre at Pentagon City
. The high-quality, high-service Nordstrom's is
the anchor store, accompanied by Macy's and over 150 other stores.
Tysons Corner
is
a gigantic complex of two enclosed malls with a huge number and variety of stores and
is the most popular shopping destination in the area. Take the Metro Blue or Yellow
Line to Pentagon City. Buses to Tysons leave from Ballston Metro.
2. GEORGETOWN
This has long been an outstanding area for antiques, fashion, and the unique and un-
usual (for further details see
Shops at Georgetown Park
)
. If you plan to visit Geor-
getown for shopping, taxi is the best way to get there; the Georgetown
Metro con-
nection
provides a shuttle from the nearest Metrorail stations, and the
Circulator bus
runs from many stops in the city center.
3. SEASONAL SALES AND PROMOTIONS
No-sales-tax weeks are popular in Washington. Usually two or three weeks before
Christmas, these events shave extra percentage points off prices that are often already
reduced. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, offers big discounts. Post-Christ-
mas clearances are also magnets for shoppers. Promotions are common for Presid-
ents' Day in February, July 4th, back-to-school in late August, Columbus Day in Octo-
ber, and Veterans' Day in November.
4. SALES AND DISCOUNT OFFERS
Retailers from small shops to department stores have sales on special merchandise,
overstocks, and regular products; look through the newspapers, such as the
Washing-
ton Post
and the
Washington Times
. Sunday editions, in particular, contain lots of
coupons. Apps such as Groupon and Living Social offer savings, too.
5. SALES TAX
The sales tax on general merchandise in Washington is currently 5.75 percent (10 per-
cent for food/beverages). In Virginia jurisdictions, it is 5 percent, and in Maryland it
is 6 percent.
