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TimetableStores are open from 10am-11am until 5pm-7pm, depending on their location. In city centers, they are often open until 7pm or even 8pm, while in smaller towns it's often 5pm or even 4pm. They are often closed on Sundays, with the exception of shopping malls, which become popular meeting and socializing places at weekends.
Budget & TipsBear in mind that tax is always added at the end. So the price you see on the label is not the final price. In general, the tax is 6%. For those with the patience, we recommend going to American thrift stores like Salvation Army, where you'll often find unusual items at unbeatable prices. A great idea for those looking for gifts without having to pay too much.
SalesThere are often sales in the big stores and stores. Black Friday is the best-known sale day in the USA, and its reputation (and usage) has spread around the world as a day when anything goes: you'll see people fighting over plasma screens in store corridors...
There are often promotions on public holidays, including Christmas, Easter, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Fourth of July, etc. Otherwise, the best months are late January, New Year's Day and April.
What's very localThe most popular places to shop are undeniably the shopping malls, such as the Galleria in Houston, for example, which even attracts tourists from South America just to shop. Alternatively, large Mexican markets can also be popular addresses for finding works by local artisans, including Houston's famous Azteca Farmers Market, for example.
When it comes to gastronomy, you can buy tortillas, hot sauce, Cajun spices, grits, beef jerky and other foods that you simply won't find anywhere else.
Dress code: jeans and tee-shirt, a classic outfit. However, especially in the city, you'll see many locals dressed in sportswear. It's a practice that's not unique to Texas, but widespread throughout the USA. Sportswear is the norm: leggings, tennis shoes, sweatshirts or t-shirts with suspenders... Otherwise, you'll see many Texans dressed in their cowboy hats and/or boots, and that's totally normal. The best places to buy western wear are Allens Boots in Austin, Cavender's Boot City, which can be found in every major city, or Wild Bill's Western Store in Dallas.
For local crafts, head to Santa Fe in July for the traditional market of Spanish crafts and Hispanic influences. Alternatively, take a stroll through historic downtown Santa Fe for authentic Native American crafts, such as pottery and jewelry. You'll also find local Hispanic crafts in San Antonio's Market Square.
Tourist trapsMexican markets and farmers' markets can sometimes be a real tourist trap. You'll be sold items that imitate the real thing, but are actually made from low-quality materials, at exorbitant prices. It's all the more difficult to avoid this kind of trap if you can't speak Spanish. We recommend that you go directly to the craftsmen to find out more about the product being sold.