Hundreds of Thanksgiving shopping junkies took off for the malls and outlets of the eastern US yesterday as the great Bermudian bargain binge once again took flight.

The annual autumn rite -- a source of consternation to local retailers -- began a little later this year, as many shopaholics decided to take advantage of holiday sales that often coincide with Thanksgiving in the States.

Traditionally, Bermudians tended to go on such treks on or around November 11, the last local holiday before Christmas.

"Our first shopping tour, which involves two busloads of shoppers, is usually our biggest one,'' Mrs. Pat Trott of Meyer Travel told The Royal Gazette in September.

"But that trend is changing. The (US) Thanksgiving tour has become more popular because of the sales.'' Indeed it has. Yesterday, travel agents across the Island reported noticeable increases over last year in the number of short-term bookings to eastern US cities.

Among the most popular destinations were Boston, New York and the great shopping mall mecca: Raleigh-Durham.

"I would say Raleigh and Boston are the main centres,'' said Mr. Russ Stobo, manager of Watlington and Conyers Travel Ltd.

Mr. Gary Kent Smith, managing director of Travel Connection Bermuda and Donald Smith Travel Connection, agreed: "Raleigh seems to be the most popular destination. Florida's prices are lower, but the price of getting there is more and you have to take two planes.'' Direct flights and lower prices are some of the factors that work in Raleigh's favour, but the North Carolina city also entices Bermudians with some unique incentives.

Some area malls, for example, offer Bermudians on specially arranged package tours an hour of crowd-free shopping before stores are opened to the public.

A number of hotels provide a lower "Bermuda'' rate.

"It's a balancing act we have to do,'' said Mrs. Carol DeCouto of American Airlines, the only carrier than offers flights to Raleigh.

"We don't want to do anything that might be detrimental to local merchants, but we don't want to lose the flight.'' Overall, residents have spent some $18.14 million abroad in the year to September compared to more than $25 million in all of 1993.

"It continues to be disappointing,'' Chamber of Commerce president Mr. Bobby Rego said. "...The figures continue to stay flat in spite of additional sales and incentive shopping.'' According to Ms Vicky King of Darrell Travel, all of the sales and incentives in the world do little to stem the eastward Bermudian shopping tide, especially in November.

"You will always have the shopping people, the die-hards. Even with restrictions, you can't stop Bermudians. They're born to shop.''