just tell your good lady its illegal and she might get arrested, fined and the bags confiscated, if that fails put her in a cab to karama, shell find them soon enough!

hope ive been of assistance.

lovl eodoman,

taxi to Karama - sorry we not allowed to mention any particular shops on here -TA will pull the posts - but she will be spolit for choice, ok for your wife to go on her own but its such an experience you could all go ? I would allow 1-2hrs for it - she will be spolit for choice...ohh and dont forget to haggle.

Karama area,

Although, Stan, your not the man if you interrupt your holiday just to look for hooky handbags. You'll only save a few pounds as any hooky place/stall in UK. It's also illegal, and you do stand a chance of being stopped at customs and questioned. If you condone piracy and sweatshop exploitation then please feel free.

On a more practical note:

RAK to Dubai is 2 hours best, 5 hours in rush hour and LRM is 1 hour at best to Karama and 3 hours in rush hour. Have a think, buy her a hooky handbag from a local stall and love the extra day by the peaceful, romantic and tranquil beach in RAK.

Stay in RAK, enjoy and put your foot down....

Marc

Sorry Stanleyman1 but I'm with your wife on the hooky handbags. It's just gotta be done. Aim for Karama district as all the others have indicated. If you go by taxi tell them what you are looking for and they will drop you off accordingly and point you in the right direction.

Having purchased a beautiful Tod's handbag (and yes last night J Lo was shown with a Tod's handbag on her arm on TV)I can confirm that I spent around 2-3 hours searching for what I wanted. Secret rooms (a must have a look in) and winding staircases all part of the fun.

Believe me you will never get such a choice here back in the UK. Even hubby thought it was funny to see me being led from one store to another and from one room to another. A shopper's paradise.

It's one of those places most folks want to go.

I must admit I have found a couple of faurly not bad pairs of gucci sandals etc which were fine for the beach.

Far as bags go I have to admit to being a collector of bags freak and so did not really go wild about what was on sale.

I had a real Tod with me a couple of years ago and the guiys who were selling the bags were onto it ina flash looking all over .

Could tell the difference a mile away.

However, if you are looking for some cheap bags fine if you are looking to pass them as real you need to really search around, know what you are looking for and also be able to tell what the real ones look like.

Otherwise they stick out a mile.