Gotta have Gucci? Need a Ferragamo fix? Florida's mega-malls, complete with designer stores, gourmet dining and outstanding amenities, will satisfy even the most ravenous appetite for fashion. Upscale, uptown and often overwhelming, even the décor rivals that of the shops themselves.

Style mavens and epicureans alike will find nothing but good taste on the menu. Award-winning restaurants find homes next to internationally coveted styles in couture. Ongoing special programs such as concerts, art shows and family entertainment make shopping here a major event. Bring the entire family, and combine a seaside sojourn with a shopping spree. It's easy when you take advantage of hotel/shopping packages, designed to bring you the best of style in the Sunshine State.


The Mall at Millenia

 Mention Orlando and most people think Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World and a host of other attractions. But there's more than Mickey and friends to make this trip worthwhile. Just minutes from the world's most beloved theme parks, an extraordinary shopping experience awaits. The Mall at Millenia is an architecturally dramatic, 1.2 million-square-foot complex of upscale shops, prestigious restaurants and superior amenities and services.

Elite anchor stores include Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's and Burdines-Macy's. Internationally known merchants like Burberry, Christian Dior and Swarovski join national favorites to create a formidable venue for fine finds.

You'll not only discover treasures at every turn, but tantalizing menus as well. There are seven scrumptious sit-down restaurants and most offer outdoor dining. Focused more on filling your shopping bags? The Orangerie Cafés present 12 fabulous on-the-go eateries to quickly refuel.

Services include valet parking, a post office, community room and concierge offering foreign currency exchange, tickets to area attractions, strollers, wheelchairs and more. Add abundant natural light, theatrical spotlighting, multi-hued fountains and a high-tech audio/visual system, and shopping here is transformed into a multi-sensory experience.

International Plaza & Bay Street boasts the only Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom in western Florida and 200 designer and specialty boutiques, many exclusive to the area.

International Plaza & Bay Street

 Dazzling doesn't begin to describe Florida's newest shopping star - an exciting, luxury mega-mall, open-air village and adjacent Mediterranean-style Renaissance Tampa Hotel. The five-star complex - with more than 1 million square feet on two levels - is a destination in itself, offering world-class shopping, fine dining and nightlife.

International Plaza & Bay Street boasts the only Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom in western Florida and 200 designer and specialty boutiques, many exclusive to the area. Name-dropping comes with the territory... find Tommy Bahama, Tiffany & Co., Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Betsey Johnson, Gucci and the list goes on.

There are 23 restaurants, including 15 sit-downs, and a large and varied food court offering everything from gourmet burgers to haute cuisine. Expect award-winning menu items, medal-winning chefs and marvelous wine selections. Rejuvenate at a cappuccino court or simply relax in the home-like comfort of cushy leather sofas in the carpeted Lobby Lounge. There's even a baseball-themed play area where children can jump, climb and crawl on Looney Tunes characters dressed in Rays uniforms.

Located next to Tampa International Airport, the Plaza is truly "at your service." A free shuttle to the hotel, valet parking, full-service concierge and personalized weekly e-bulletins are just a few of many amenities. See for yourself why this sophisticated shopping sensation has made such a splash.


Sawgrass Mills

 At Sawgrass Mills, bigger really is better. It's the largest shopping center in the state of Florida, and annually welcomes as many as 26 million people from around the world. Just east of Fort Lauderdale, it offers a diverse mix of more than 400 stores, restaurants and entertainment, with venues such as Neiman Marcus Last Call, Nordstrom Rack, OFF 5TH Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet, Legal Sea Foods, Wolfgang Puck Café and Regal 23 Cinemas.

Be sure to bring the family... last year Sawgrass Mills added "Wannado City," America's first indoor role-playing theme park for kids. Does your child want to be a firefighter, chef or pilot? Almost anything is possible in this realistically designed city the size of three football fields.

The ever-dynamic retail and entertainment complex recently completed a major renovation and expansion, increasing the center to an impressive 2.3 million square feet. The crown jewel is The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass, an elegant open-air promenade featuring Mediterranean architecture, fountains and plazas. New high-end, off-price shopping and grand gourmet dining options elevate shopping at Sawgrass to unprecedented levels.


Silver Sands Factory Stores - Destin

 Such a deal! Well, deals, really. Here you'll find the best for less, with discounts of up to 75 percent on everything from haute couture to home fashion and tools to toys. This designer outlet in Destin, near Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, is one of the Emerald Coast's top shopping attractions.

Whether you want a casual outfit to show off a glowing tan or an elegant gown for an evening out, options abound at Silver Sands Factory Stores - Destin's new Fashion Court. Find the latest designer offerings at stores such as Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Tommy Hilfiger and Ellen Tracy. Shoe fanatics beware- the selection includes Nine West Outlet, Famous Footwear, Liz Claiborne Shoes, Kenneth Cole and Cole-Haan.

Hungry for more? In addition to more than 100 brand name stores, there are restaurants conveniently located throughout the center. Among the choices are Ciao Bella Pizza and San Gelato Café, where you can dine on authentic Italian fare al fresco. It's the perfect way to end a day of self-indulgence - without sticker shock.


Downtown Shopping Districts

 Before mega-malls made their debut across Florida, smaller downtown shopping districts thrived with one-of-a-kind boutiques and shops. Many of these retro retail areas still flourish across the state, albeit with the addition of major chains and department stores (think Tiffany & Co. meets Otto's Jewelry). Downtown Winter Park, St. Armands Circle in Sarasota and Palm Beach's Worth Avenue are three such must-shop destinations.


Shop, Stay & Play

 No need to shop 'til you drop! Hotel/shopping packages make it fun, easy and economical to savor each day and stay (and shop) for days.

The Mall at Millennia has teamed up with Orlando World Center Marriott, Westin Grand Bohemian and The Peabody to make shopping excursions to Orlando as easy as "1-2-Spree." Packages include everything from delectable Godiva chocolates to relaxing massages.

The Renaissance Tampa Hotel at the International Plaza & Bay Street offers a number of "Shop, Stay and Play" packages, along with the Don Cesar, Safety Harbor Resort & Spa and Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. Expect plenty of pampering at any one of these fine properties.

Ask for the VIP shopper rate at the Crowne Plaza Sawgrass, just across the street and a free shuttle away from Sawgrass Mills.

The Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort next to Silver Sands Factory Outlet - Destin is one of several area hotels to offer discounts to style-savvy shoppers.