Depending on where you go there will be different large craft stores and some are better than others for cross stitch supplies. We don't have a JoAnn's so someone else will have to tell you about it. The prices should be pretty similar for the big stores which also include Michaels (though not the best one by any means in terms of what is there. Prices are generally good), AC Moore (better than Michaels). You might want to check if there are any LNS near where you will be. They will have better selections, though thread will likely be more expensive (less than Europe, I think) than the big chains.
Hope you have a great time over here.
Carole
WIPs
Star Wars Afghan:Chewbaca
HAEDs:
O Kitten Tree
Dancing with the Cat
Everything else "on hold"
2022 Finished: Star Wars Afghan: Princess Leia, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Finn, Rey, Poe, Han Solo,Darth Vader, BB8,Luke Skywalker
JoAnn's in store pricing is always cheaper than online.
But in store selection of kits is much less compared to what they offer online. And they are usually 30-40% off online. Sign up for their newsletter and they will email you online and instore coupons.. but unsubscribe as soon as you can, I think they get a little spammy with their emails.
And a kit will have fabric, thread and needle. Most of JoAnns kits are Dimensions or Jannlyn
Standard DMC floss in store is about $0.40 (all colors)
Twisted skeins of #5 pearl cotton (maybe 25-30 colors to choose from) and balls of #8 and #12 pearl cotton are around $2 (very limited to white, b5200, black, red, maybe one of the burgandy reds, and maybe maybe navy)
They also stock your basic supplies- needles, bobbins, boxes, stitchbows, floss bags, threaders, fabric pens, magnet boards, etc.
I'm in New Jersey, and the JoAnns closest to me has their DMC skeins of floss for .39 cents each. The one by me doesn't have a ton of kits, but when they do say kit, it typically includes the fabric, a needle, floss and pattern.They also sell 1 yard (39 inches) of Aida for about $8.
AC Moore is also near me, they have a much better selection of kits, but the one by me is very limited on floss.
I can't speak for Michaels, I haven't been there in ages.
If you get to go to a WalMart (Asda) *some* of them carry floss - that in NJ by me is .30 cents a skein.
If you have an iphone (and possibly also android) they have an app where you can snag coupons without signing up for any of their lists. I go to JoAnn's more often than any other craft store because they tend to have better selection and deals than Michael's and Hobby Lobby, though I do shop at both of those as well. They often have some beautiful cross stitch kits marked 50% off MSRP in store which you can then turn around and use a coupon on as well. I got my Joan Elliot kits out of the reduced price stock. But their kit selection is definitely limited in comparison to the website.
- Luca
WIPs
Joan Elliot's "Grace"
"Sephina's Secret" by Illustrated Ink
Small Projects - Belle & Boo girl w/dove
Don't forget about hobby lobby. Not sure if there are any near where you'll be going but it's worth a look. The dmc there is about 0.40. And they have a decent selection of kits. IMHO in my area between joanns michaels and hobby lobby (never been to ac Moore) joanns is your best bet as far as kit selection goes. Happy shopping and enjoy your trip here!
Definitely check out the apps and online coupins for JoAnn, Michaels, etc. Right now Michaels has 15% off entire purchase and their floss is 35 cents around here...that makes it 30 cents each, can't beat that! Also, many of the stores take competitors coupons as well which can help out too.
WIP:
HAED Mini Autumn Cat (18 ct Aida, 2x1 full cross)
HAED Mini Unleash the Butterflies (28 ct Monaco, 2x1 tent)
Yeah, I have the Micheal's app, too. I wish Hobby Lobby had an app. I always have to load my email coupon for there before I head in because my reception in the store is awful.
- Luca
WIPs
Joan Elliot's "Grace"
"Sephina's Secret" by Illustrated Ink
Small Projects - Belle & Boo girl w/dove
Wal-Mart does seem to have the least expensive per skein of DMC (item #117) BUT I've found that they only carry a limited # of the colors (I think our local Wal-Marts stock starts around the 200's) & they skip quite a few #'s (and the 3000 & up series were not well supplied there).
Hope you have LOTS of fun on your visit!
Diana
WIP
Rejoice in Today Rooster=Stoney Creek
White Dorkings=Leisure Arts
White Wedding-Ellen Maurer-Stroh
Finished Masterpieces:
His Name Is Jesus
Never too old for teddy
Turn off the water sign
Debbies bookmark
JoAnn's is my store of choice, I was in there a few days ago and they had the perle cotton #5/8 (can't remember now) vergated (spell?) in a pack of six. They don't always have a lot to choose from, but they seem to always have kits that are on sale that include everything that's needed for the chart (need fabric thread beads) Everytime I go in to pick up threads they seem to be always stocked and I know in my store the workers are always helpful and nice. One time I needed one skein to complete the set I needed and she went to the back and looked to see if they had any hidden back there. There isn't a lot of fabric choice. And the ladies there are always interested to see what I'm working on, and they have some helpful tips of there own.
Hobby lobby is the store I go to when looking for a new kit, somewhat pricey and I don't have very many nice things to say about there workers. I use hobby lobby more for my drawing and painting than cross stitch.
An Angel in the book of life wrote down my baby's birth. And whispered as she closed the book "too beautiful for earth."
2013 Big WIPs
HAED Sistine Chapel
HAED 2013 SAL Heather
Blessings
HAED Libra
Forest Chapel
There are 3 kits I've seen online that I like so I'm going to get them sent to my Dad's house and pick them up while I'm there. I'm going to upload the threads I need for one or two HAED and get them while I'm over... A wee day trip out. Lol
Thanks for the info on the other stores, I'll look online and see if there are any in the New London area
Current WIP
Arise on the Wings of Your Dreams
Twilight Bridge
Nativity Scene
My local Joanne's has a good selection of floss and that's about it. Very limited for fabric or kits. We did just have a new Hobby Lobby open and they have a much better selection that Joanne's or Michael's, lots of fun kits to look at, but again not much for fabric.
Santa's Flight 
They often have some beautiful cross stitch kits marked 50% off MSRP in store which you can then turn around and use a coupon on as well. I got my Joan Elliot kits out of the reduced price stock. But their kit selection is definitely limited in comparison to the website.
