Prior to my trip to Guam, there’s one constant thing I’ve always heard about the place–it’s every shoppers’ ultimate shopping destination. Basically everyone around me has been gushing about how insane the deals are in this shopping paradise because everything here is tax-free. So when Guam Visitors Bureau invited me for Shop Guam Festival (SGF), my face naturally turned into a big smiley emoticon with heart-shaped eyes. I mean, shopping in Guam on a normal day is already a treat, but shopping during Shop Guam Festival?!? MAJOR FIREWORKS FOR A SHOPAHOLIC LIKE ME!
For those who don’t know, SGF is the biggest shopping event in the Western Pacific Region since 2012. It showcases Guam’s tax-free shopping while offering a diverse set of shopping incentives and events. This third annual SGF that ran from November 1, 2014 to January 12, 2015 featured nearly 120 retailers/vendors with over 200 exclusive offers and even gave out discount coupon booklets! Of course, I made the most out of all these. How can I not? I was floored when I saw all the deals on my favorite international brands. It’s a crime not to bite the bait! We made the rounds at all the major malls like T-Galleria Guam by DFS (for luxury international brands and usual duty-free goodies), The Plaza along The Pleasure Island strip (mid to luxury international brands), Tumon Sands Plaza (for luxury international brands), Guam Premier Outlets (outlet shopping and cheap deals) and Micronesia Mall (where Macy’s is located). It was even easier to navigate our way around the malls and attractions because Guam Visitors Bureau came out with the Shop Guam Festival mobile app. It’s available in six different languages on both Android and iTunes and aims to help visitors find all sorts of information on Guam’s dining, shopping and tourist destinations. Easy peasy, right?
The SGF campaign is not just about shopping though. It’s embedded with in-store events, culinary celebrations, optional tours and cultural activities as well. To give you a taste of what to look forward to when you visit Guam (aside from the sea adventures and tourist spots I blogged about previously), here’s a short summary of how we enjoyed Guam’s shopping, dining and entertainment scene. Just leave a comment below if you want to know more about the specific places we visited. You may also visit the Guam Visitors Bureau’s Facebook page for the latest updates and information.
Featured places (top to bottom): Jeff’s Pirates Cove (1st – 4th, 18th photos) | Guam Premier Outlets (5th photo) | T-Galleria Guam By DFS (6th – 14th photos) | Denny’s (15th – 17th photos) | The Beach Bar and Grill bbq and cultural show (19th – 25th photos) | Sandcastle show (26th – 29th photos) | Shopping around Tumon (last photo)
Your such a cutie, i like your respond that Dubai makes you Bankcrupt! lol!!! How i wish i can shop till i drop like you. :)
Haha!
OMG! Tax free? If I have work na, I’ll just wait for that Shop Guam Festival and fly there to shop and curb my impulsive shopping for years! hahahaha! :-)
Love,
Ericka Garcia
You must!
I know that you have already shop a lot in Guam and obviously you did a lot of damage in your credit card hahaha! and knowing you’re in Dubai right now with left and right sale going on, I can’t help but wish that I have your credit card and shop until I drop! #swipepamore hahaha!
Oh my gosh, Dubai just made me bankrupt haha!
love all your photos. :) someone is very happy because she shopped so well. :)
Yes indeed! :)
A feast for the eyes, soul and heart, Miss Camille! The colors of Guam are unforgettable. I am in love with all these photos you took of the performances and cultural shows. The costumes and the movements are so well-synced. The festivities are so well-planned, I really must commend the organizers. They put plenty of thought into sharing what Guam has to offer.
From the looks of the areas, I see how you felt when you said you went into heart-eyed emoticon mode. The products on display look great! I like that serpent-shaped watch you had on. It certainly had a creative air with its luxurious look. I also checked out that selection of sunglasses you were looking at. (Talk about a hard decision!) My favorite are those rose-tinted ones.
And the FOOD, FOOD, FOOD! I ‘wow-ed’ over it for quite a while! You look so cute in that photo of you with the smorgasbord of breakfast and dessert! From all the way over here, I wanted to dig in. I was eyeing the bacon and eggs in particular. And are those chocolate chip pancakes?! Now I”m jealous AND hungry!
Can’t wait to see you post about your outfit in the 4th photo! I like the print of your top. You look very classy and festival ready. I like how you brought those busy prints to amp up the shopper’s havens.
Oh, and where were you in the 7th to the last photo? The one with the pretty wooden fences and floors. You look so mysterious, posing in your wrap dress…
P.S. The out-of-order gum machine still made me feel bad. :-(
Guam made me so fat LOL! :) And as for the 4th photo, I won’t be posting an outfit shot of that. Unfortunately I got too distracted with all the shopping I didn’t take an OOTD! Haha! :) Please forgive me :)
beautiful photos
I like also the pictures of plates
how you manage to stay slim?
Thanks Anne! Before-30 metabolism I guess plus I work out too! :)
What a beautiful place! I’ve never been to Guam before, now I want to go :)
— Michelle | MXP STYLE
You must, even just for shopping!
Oh my! Look who went on a totally shopping spree… You’re so lucky to be able to fly to Guam for that MAJOR AWESOME event! Grabe your paper bags oh, I bet you spent most your money in designer bags! I’d love to fly to Guam someday too. Haha next time pag naka-ipon na haha I love Guam’s scenery, it somehow resembles LA with the beach and luxury shopping districts. Haha you really are so luck! Huhu you deserve everything good that’s happening in your life. More power! <3
Awww thanks Katrin! I think it’s more of like a smaller Hawaii :) Pati the vibe!
Cool accessories!!!
Thanks!
WOW! A shopping paradise indeed! I can see loads of sling bags. Oooh. :) The food looks great too.
Anne’s Scribbles and Doodles
I was in my element! Food plus shopping! :)
Oh My, I wanted to leap into the photos and just do a couple of sightseeing, eating and shopping till I drop. That must have been insanely fun for you.
http://thinkworkandgo.blogspot.com/
It was! I had loads of fun!
So juicy photos. Excellent advertising of Guam ;) Want to be there.
Not hard to advertise at all! :) So much fun!
Like the colour of your posts!!
xx
Mónica
MES VOYAGES À PARIS
Thanks Monica!
The pictures of the food made me hungry real quick :( hahaha. Oh how I love shopping and eating too! Can never say no to shopping hahahaha. Around how much was discounted when there isn’t tax? Specially wondering what’s inside those chanel paperbag and around how much haha :)
Hi Clariss! :) I can’t say but for example, the Furla jelly bag–I got is for less than PhP6000 there :)
I love your cute smile while carrying those shopping bags.It’s like your hiding a grin under those lips :D That was really heaven-like for you Miss Camille :) Certified shopaholic! ❤
Super! :)
Really nice night photos! What camera and lens did you use for these? :)
Thanks Nicole! Most were taken using my Sony A6000, 35mm lens. Some were Canon 5d mark iii :)