Shopping and pampering

If you are too busy earning money to spend it and feel in need of dedicating some time to updating your wardrobe, buying those style pieces for your home and treating yourself to a little pampering, then Scotland's two largest cities are your playgrounds.

The shopping in Glasgow is said to be the best in Scotland and the city is easy to navigate, with each kind of shop finding its own area of the city. There is Buchanan Street, with all the high-street stalwarts, airy department stores, and quirky independents, Merchant City where you will find the designer emporiums and the ultra-hip West End, which is the place for vintage one-offs and stylish homewares.

The city is also easy to get around thanks to the "clockwork orange" the circular subway system that runs pretty much like clockwork and will take you to all the key places.

For your fashion fix you'll be wanting the city centre. The stylish, pedestrianised Buchanan street, which forms the backbone of the central Glasgow, is home to all the familiar shop fronts. Here you'll find Top Shop, Zara, the stylish Urban Outfitters and the shoeshops Dune, Soletrader and Nine West. Buchanan Galleries has 80 big name stores under one roof including Open, the design specialist, that stocks the well-known style brands such as Ted Baker and Miss Sixty as well as more exclusive ranges.

Argyle Street and Sauchiehall Street are the other two key shopping thoroughfares in the city centre, which connect to Buchanan street at each end, forming what is dubbed the "golden Z". Argyle Street is home to Next, Marks and Spencers, Oasis and St Enoch Shopping Centre, which is the largest glass structure in Europe and is known to locals as the "glass menagerie" for its eclectic range of shops, including a massive branch of Debenhams.

The extravagant Princes Square arcade has the boutique Raspberry Ripple, which stocks Nougat, Pink Soda and Cultura among their labels. There is also Whistles, Reiss and Lacoste as well as the cosmetic sweetshop Space NK.

If you are looking to seriously abuse the credit card, then head to Merchant City. The seatraders of the 19th Century left behind grand buildings that have been utilised for designer collections. Here you will find Ralph Lauren, Armani, and LK Bennet. The exclusive Cruise stocks Prada, Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Fendi, Paul Smith and D&G and Orro one of Europe's leading contemporary jewellery galleries is the place to buy anything from a pair of fun and funky plastic earrings to a stylish platinum and diamond ring. In Fifi and Ally is an Aladin's cave of funky fun, from fashion, accessories and homewares to stationery, chocolate and wallpaper.

If boho is more your thing, then you'll love the West End, this is the student quarter and also known as the hang out for artists, musicians and writers and you'll find shops to suit from the vintage clothing outlet Starry Starry Night where you can find 70s retro rubbing fabric with Victorian gowns to the Heart Buchanan Deli where you'll find brightly coloured organic vegetables and delicious breads. There is also a number of charity shops along Byres road if you want to try your luck. Also find time to check out the boutiques such as Pink Poodle and Moon and the record store Fopp.

If you are looking to give your home a makeover, then head to Great Western Road, where you'll find Galletly and Tubbs offering everything from expensive designer furniture to cheap and cheerful picture frames. Also check out Timorous Beasties, which stocks fantastically stylish wallcoverings and fabrics.

After all that shopping you'll be in need of some serious relaxation. Edinburgh's new boutique hotel Tigerlily is effortlessly cool, and is fast becoming the place to stay in Scotland's capital. Located over five floors of a restored Grade-A listed townhouse in Edinburgh's historic George Street it is beautifully designed with contemporary fabrics and wall-coverings in bold colours and patterns offsetting the original Georgian features. Check in to one of the Georgian suites, with huge four-poster beds or try the black suite at the top of the building where grown-up toys include a PS2, an aqua video screen in the bath and a regularly updated Ipod. For a slightly more grown-up experience, a suite in the Glasshouse will provide you with your own personal terrace with views over the city. This boutique hotel was voted one of the 50 coolest places to stay in the world by Conde Nast Traveller and has a beautiful rooftop garden for some tranquillity in the heart of this vibrant city.

Edinburgh has a range of spas offering unique treatments. One Spa at the Sheraton is the Grande Dame, its thermal suite has every kind of sauna and steam room, with a tropical rain and cold fog shower and heated relaxation beds. There is also an outdoor hydra pool. Their signature treatments have an ayurvedic influence. Try the Ama Releasing Abhyanga, which is nearly two hours of pure relaxation and includes a foot massage, body exfoliation, facial cleanse, marma point massage and head massage, all intended to release congesting and restrictive toxins and to free the flow of natural energy through the body and mind. Alternatively try the Cowshed at the Scotsman hotel, which is a spin-off from the famous spas at Babington and Soho House. They have recently introduced advanced facials using SkinCeutical products intended to protect from premature aging and restore environmentally damaged skin. They also have one of the funkiest relaxation rooms, with a hanging chair and a fish film playing on a plasma screen.

Fully indulged you can return to the grind, knowing there is always a Scottish city to escape to.

For more information, please visit the Glasgow and Edinburgh areas of the website.