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Inside the 10 Coolest Shopping Malls on the Planet

February 15, 2012 By Lena

(Technically, the website only published nine (9) malls, but who’s counting? Except everyone, of course.)

You know how some people have a bucket list? I have a “mall bucket” list. As in, must visit these malls before I kick the bucket. Because life wouldn’t be complete, you know, unless I went bowling at the Cevahir in Istanbul.

Yesterday, Business Insider released a list of their picks for the 10 9 Coolest Malls on the planet. While there were some familiar favourites (West Edmonton Mall, holla! #CanandianPride) I did manage to experience at least four jaw-dropping moments. And so the following destinations have been added to my list:

1 UTAMA: Located in Selangor, Malaysia, it’s the fourth largest shopping mall in the world, featuring an indoor rain forest with koi ponds.

CENTRALWORLD: CentralWorld, in Bangkok, Thailand, is the fifth largest shopping mall in the world, featuring an indoor salt-water lake with sea lions.

GRAND CANAL SHOPPES: Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian comes complete with a gondolier, who will guide you around the mall if you so desire.

MALL OF AMERICA: Also called “Megamall,” the Mall of America is located in Bloomington, Minnesota, and is one of the largest malls in America. ‘Nuff said.

WESTFIELD LONDON SHOPPING CENTRE: Located in east London, this shopping mall has a variety of luxury stores, including Burberry, Dior, and Gucci. And, when you register for hands free shopping, you can have someone else carry your Mike Kors. #yesplease

Rounding out the list is the The Cevahir, in Istanbul, Turkey, West Edmonton Mall in in Edmonton, Alberta, Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, UAE and the Zlote Tarasy Mall in Warsaw, Poland.

To view the complete list of cool shopping malls, visit Business Insider online.

Have you been to any of these malls? Do they live up to the hype? 

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: coolest shopping malls, family travel, fun, shopping

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kristina

    February 15, 2012 at 11:33 am

    I’ve only visited the Venetian mall in Vegas. Would love to go to all of the others!!

    • Lena

      February 15, 2012 at 8:06 pm

      Awesome! That is definitely on my list – even maybe this year!

  2. Lara Mai

    February 15, 2012 at 11:48 am

    i need a Get Rich bucket list before i start on the Mall bucket list – then i’m in! i think that first one in Malaysia was featured on the Amazing Race last season. they bungee jumped inside the mall? i could be wrong tho. looks very similar! :)

    • Lena

      February 15, 2012 at 8:07 pm

      Ha! The wonderful thing about a mall bucket list is that you can window shop!

      • Lara Mai

        February 16, 2012 at 11:41 am

        ya but that’s like having a dessert tray in front of you and not being allowed to have any! i couldn’t do it!

        • Lena

          February 16, 2012 at 4:28 pm

          Maybe put yourself on a shopping “diet”? Go for H&M but skip Michael Kors? LOL

  3. Jennifer

    February 15, 2012 at 12:15 pm

    I’ve always wanted to see the West Ed mall and maybe go to the beach and skate there all in one day lol

    • Lena

      February 15, 2012 at 8:07 pm

      Sounds divine! Ha ha ha. Me too, totally want to visit that one…

  4. RubyRed67

    February 15, 2012 at 2:32 pm

    Do you need someone to hold your bags? Take me and I will totally be your mule. Those malls look incredible.

    • Lena

      February 15, 2012 at 8:07 pm

      It’s a date! Though if we go to Londontown, we’ll just hire a mall porter :)

  5. Kendra

    February 15, 2012 at 4:03 pm

    I’ve been to the mall of America, it’s more like a circus than a mall. We spent all day there and I still can’t say I saw it all.

    • Lena

      February 15, 2012 at 8:08 pm

      You know, judging by the picture, I can totally see that :)

  6. Melissa

    February 15, 2012 at 8:59 pm

    I did the Mall of America a couple of times when my daughter was in school in Minn. I thought I would like the “megamall” idea but in the end, just took in the sights. the pressure to spend money, money and more money became overwhelming.

    However, the Utama in Malaysia looks mighty interesting.

    • Lena

      February 16, 2012 at 8:20 am

      I would have to agree with you on that point – especially if you’re travelling a great distance to visit the mall. For example, how many times do you go on vacation and feel pressured to bring back a souvenir? I’m assuming the same feelings would apply when visiting these malls!

  7. TracyD

    February 15, 2012 at 11:09 pm

    Great post..I’ve got 2 on this list, WEM and Vegas. So many to go… ;)

    • Lena

      February 16, 2012 at 8:10 am

      Yes, but two out of nine certainly isn’t bad! I still have nine to go!

  8. Tasha W

    February 16, 2012 at 2:23 am

    Geesh! I need to get out more, I’ve only been to West Edmonton Mall, as I live 10 minutes away! LOL Great post:)

    • Lena

      February 16, 2012 at 8:11 am

      Wow, it must be swe-eeet to live 10 minutes from WEM! Does the charm wear off at all, being so close?

  9. Mike

    February 16, 2012 at 6:36 am

    Embarrassed to say I’ve been to Vegas twice and have not been to the Venetian mall duhh!

  10. Lena

    February 16, 2012 at 8:11 am

    OMG! SUCH an oversight!

  11. the brother

    February 16, 2012 at 10:40 am

    That Venetian “mall” aint nothing great. Poorly organized and quite a few vacancies. I personally prefer the forum shops at Caesars’ Palace.

    • Lena

      February 16, 2012 at 4:31 pm

      Good to know – thanks for the tip! Although I think I’d have to insist on the Venetian for the gondola ride :)

  12. Bonnie-B

    February 16, 2012 at 4:41 pm

    I’ve been to the WEM many many times and to the Vegas one once. I like the WEM for the unique shops they have. But there are tons of same as everwhere else stores too. My kids like the rides and shows and mini golf. I agree with the comment about the Venetian that other than the boats floating through it isn’t as good as Ceasars Palace.

    • Lena

      February 16, 2012 at 5:51 pm

      I definitely think that WEM would be a good attraction for my little guys – maybe I can have daddy keep them entertained while I shop!

  13. silverbullet71

    February 16, 2012 at 10:02 pm

    I’ve been to WEM and I loved it! Hubby and I spent hours at the indoor waterpark and while I was getting a pedi, he bought me a bracelet from Swarovski that he later surprised me with.

    One thing though – I was fooled many years ago – someone I knew who grew up in Edmonton told me that the mall was so big that there was a train inside the mall, kind of like a trolley that you can jump on when you needed help getting somewhere, and then you could jump off wherever you wanted. I guess he was pulling my leg, but I totally believed it. So when we got there, I asked my hub where the train was, and he said, “What train??” and I told him the story…needless to say, he laughed his arse off!

    • Lena

      February 16, 2012 at 10:06 pm

      OMG that story is priceless!!! But I can’t laugh at you, because I can totally see how you may believe that! I mean, it’s got a roller coaster, why not a train? LOL!

  14. Diana - Teacher Mom

    February 18, 2012 at 5:35 am

    I’ve never been but that Megamall looks like tonnes of fun!

    • Lena

      February 18, 2012 at 2:54 pm

      We should plan a girls trip!

  15. Josee Parent

    February 18, 2012 at 8:46 am

    OMG! OMG! that is totally my bucket list. Even if you don’t buy anything just looking around and enjoying the mall. I could easilly spend days in each of them. I’m not a gambler so Vegas never interested me but now I want to go totally know where I would go. lol

    • Lena

      February 18, 2012 at 2:54 pm

      Ha ha ha, EXACTLY! Window shopping vs. sitting on a beach – same thing to me!

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Lena Almeida

Toronto Blogger, Social Media Strategist for Listen to Lena Inc. Television & Radio Personality, Columnist and Speaker. Family Travel Expert. Star Wars Fanatic. Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion. Read More…

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