I love this time of the year for one reason and one reason only, it's BONUS time! Yep, my firm’s financial year is coming to a close meaning us mere employees are all lined up to receive our annual bonuses and pay review. So have I decided to do something sensible with my extra cash? Have I heck! As our company has done well this year, we’re all expecting quite a large sum in our pay packets and I plan to spend mine by combining two of my favourite things – shopping and travel!

I have the desire to visit one of the world’s most glamorous shopping malls in a really exotic location and quite literally shop till I drop - I just need to work out where. After doing some extensive research here are my top five must-visit shopping malls. 

Villagio, Doha, Qatar

A little slice of, erm… Venice (?) in the Middle East! Although not particularly special on the outside, when you walk inside Villagio and look up you’ll see it’s sheltered by a roof that reproduces the visual effects of the sky. Different areas of the mall represent different times of the day – so you can see sunset, night (complete with street lamps) and day. But the icing is the canal that runs through the centre of the shopping complex - complete with gondolas. Bridges cross over the canal, and comfortable chairs line its sides for you to rest your feet and what's more, for a few riyals you can travel, Venetian style, up and down the canal! It even rivals Venice in the ice cream stakes as there is an amazing Häagen-Dazs café there too. Oh and the shopping’s not bad either…

The Mall, Athens, Greece

In a land of fine artisans, it's hard to believe you might miss the mall experience - but the maze of small shops in Athens may be daunting. Fear not - The Mall Athens in the Maroussi area offers a dizzying amount of shops (about two hundred of them) and can provide pretty much anything you need, as well as all of the designer shops, it also has, an ELTA (the Greek Post Office) so that you won't miss the chance to send a card to your loved ones back home, a drycleaner's in case you need some clothes pressing, a Häagen-Dazs café in case you need an ice cream fix, oh, and a pharmacy, in case you’ve got a hangover from too much shopping!

Siam Paragon, Bangkok

They call it the pride of Bangkok and for good reason. In the middle of this exuberant metropolis, Siam Paragon offers an elegant shopping experience and impressive architecture. Here you get the total package: design, choice and ambience. Inside top international brands have established their Bangkok flagship stores and in the Paragon department store, you will find more of the world’s top labels all under one roof. Meanwhile at the Gourmet Market you can buy ingredients from anywhere in the world to take home and play chef with. Luxury and service are top of the list of “must-haves” here at the Siam Paragon. As a special service to tourists, the centre offers a unique card that allows shoppers five per cent off the total of all of their purchases. And of course, all of your bags and parcels will be delivered to your hotel within 24 hours, free of charge. What more could one possible want from a shopping mall?

Shopping Iguatemi, São Paulo, Brazil

Established in 1966 and located at the heart of the financial district, Jardins, this is the city's oldest mall. With more than 300 shops, it's a sure bet you'll find whatever it is that you're looking for, even if you didn't know you were looking for it! Iguatemi houses famous national and international brands such as Burberry, Bulgari, Tiffany & Co., Ermenegildo Zegna, Calvin Klein, Clube and Armani. On the top floor there is a cinema, several full-service restaurants and a food court (including a Häagen-Dazs café!).

Wafi, Wafi City, Dubai

Staying with the Middle Eastern theme - one of the most distinctive shopping centres in the world, Dubai's Wafi Mall is known for its opulent décor as well as its range of shops and restaurants. Shaped like an Egyptian pyramid, it has hieroglyphics that decorate the walls, while statues of pharaohs sit next to the gold-foiled white pillars lining the walkways. Arabic fashion stores like Eve N Black stand alongside big-ticket European luxury retailers such as Missoni and Chanel. Wafi is one of the best examples of how extravagant and sometimes over the top the world's malls can be.

Even though I have managed to narrow my picks down to five, I am still struggling to decide where I should go. The one thing they have all proven is my love for ice cream, as most of them have a Häagen-Dazs café! So if I can't choose it based on ice cream availibility I am going to have to pick the destination depending on which airlines fly there and which also have the largest luggage allowance!