The ultimate hen weekend

Calling all shopaholics. For a hen weekend with a difference, jet off with your friends to Florence in Italy, home to the fashion houses of Prada, Gucci, Dolce & Gabanna and Giorgio Armani. But this is no ordinary shopping trip. Hush Hush Traveller takes you to the heart of Florence's much-talked-about but well-hidden designer factory outlets where you can snap up cut-price shoes, bags, clothes and lingerie by Italy's best-known designers - for no more than the cost of shopping on the high street.

These designer factory outlets are difficult to track down unless you have insider knowledge and no time is wasted before you hit the first of them. From Florence airport you will be met by your guide and escorted straight to The Mall, which is hidden amid the rolling hills of the beautiful Tuscan countryside, just less than an hour from the city.

Marni, Yves Saint Laurent, Emanuel Ungaro, Sergio Rossi, Balenciaga, Fendi, Valentino, Gucci and Armani, to name a few, sit shoulder to shoulder behind modern glass facades that ooze Italian sophistication, while partially covered shady walkways keep you cool when the temperatures soar. Die-hard devotees of fashions' finest labels will gleefully be able to snap up outfits for a fraction of the usual price, while bargain hunters who have always wanted to own something with a designer label can be tempted by cut-price accessories: Gucci belts for €58 (approx £40) and Bottega Veneta shoes for €70 (£48). Most of the stores also have a sale section, where you can find the best of the bargains - up to 75% off the full price.

The fashion trail continues the next day to Prada, which is housed in a huge warehouse on an industrial estate about 45 minutes outside Florence. On the way in you take a numbered ticket from the dispenser next to the door, which you hand to a sales assistant with your shopping and she will keep your goodies safe until you get to the till. Despite the inauspicious first impressions, once inside you are treated to all the glamour and sophistication of shopping in a "real" Prada store - complete with plush carpet, dazzling lighting and smart displays.

The bargains here are irresistible. Make a beeline for the shoes and you'll be able to snap up a pair of trendy wedges or sexy heels by Miu Miu and Prada from as little as €50 (£35). Stock is a combination of current and last-season, but there are some seconds too, so check carefully. When www.youandyourwedding.co.uk visited, a rummage through the smart brass rails revealed a to-die-for black Prada cocktail dress for €160 (£100), a grey Prada Fifties-style A-line skirt for €55 (£38) and a pair of denim Miu Miu culottes just €35 (£24).

Last stop is the Dolce & Gabanna outlet. The prices here are still expensive, despite the discounts, and the best buy for budget shoppers is a pair of sunglasses for your honeymoon, which can be had for less than €100 (£68). There's a restaurant at all outlets where you can regroup and compare bargains while you grab a drink and a bite to eat but by far the most glamorous eaterie is Primopiano at D&G, a cool and calm oasis of all-white decor where you can refuel on a delicious plate of pasta for about €8 (£5.50).

Shop till you drop then return at the end of each day to Hotel Orto De'Medici. This family-run hotel is perfect for hens with many of the large rooms sleeping three or four people, a sunny terrace to enjoy breakfast each morning and a trendy lounge with flat-screen TV. It's also just a short stroll into the centre of the city where you can party in style at the coolest address in town, the cocktail bar at Hotel Savoy.

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Getting there: Hush Hush Traveller (0870 062 3418, www.hushhushtraveller.com) offers escorted trips on selected dates from £475, including two nights at Hotel Orto De'Medici, breakfast, flights and transfers.

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