Going for a vacation abroad is a very exciting prospect. There’s not just the excitement of seeing new places, but tonnes of shopping as well. Depending on which part of the world you’re going to, it’s usually nearly impossible to resist buying new and notable and tech products that despite conversion rates come cheaper in vacation-land.

This is especially true of South East Asian locations, so going tech shopping there is most definitely a pleasure. If you are a technocrat, chances are you have been saving up to splurge on some really cool gizmos that haven’t hit our shores yet, or if they have, are way out of your budget.

But is the shopping done abroad really worth the money spent? Is there enough guarantee/warranty on the products bought? Here are a few tips.

Before you decide to invest in any product, that too, a slightly high-end tech product, such as a laptop, it’s best to compare prices with what’s being offered back home. It’s always advisable to go in for a product/brand that has its presence in our local market. That way, you are assured of help in case something goes wrong during or after the warranty period.

For those going on long vacations of a month or more, visiting relatives, perhaps, there are several deals that you can avail from local retailers. It also pays to look around for special offers from companies. Jamshed Avari, assistant editor, CHIP India, chanced upon one such steal offer. He was visiting relatives in the US when he stumbled upon a Dell coupon quote online offer (reserved for the US only). The deal offered each person a coupon code, through which they were eligible to avail a certain percentage discount. It so happened that he got a code that offered him a discount of $300 (Rs 11,793 approx) on the purchase of a laptop above $1,000 (Rs 39,358 approx). He then logged on and configured his chosen Dell laptop's specifications in a way that it amounted to around $1,000. With an effective $300, he managed to get a Dell notebook for $700, which is approximately Rs 27,550. Buying the same notebook in India, with that particular spec sheet would have amounted to at least Rs 70,000. A smart move for a smart deal.

If you want to buy a newly launched mobile phone abroad, and be one of the first few to get it back home, then you need to ensure there aren’t any unlocking issues. Although, buying a mobile phone abroad, is not necessarily a good deal, as there are plenty of variety back home, that too topped with dollops of discounts and offers running throughout the year. Then again, if you are among those mobile addicts, who like owning a phone as soon as it launched (internationally), then you could satisfy the compulsion by treating yourself to such delights. For instance, the iPhone had a lot of Apple loyalists we know getting their pockets dented way before it made its entry in the Indian grey market. If you are this buyer type, then the US would be your destination. For toy addicts, Japan and Singapore are the places to hunt for uber cool gizmos.