You have a choice: you can load up on sparkly earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, ponytail holders, and little boxes at the many shops on 6th Avenue between 28th and 38th streets, or you can for the same price go to Saks or one of the speciality shops in the West Village or Soho and buy one item. My two favorite shops are Jindeli Jewelry, 864 6th Avenue, and Signature Time Inc. at 1014 6th Ave.

Writing from a British perspective, I found shopping in New York's department stores a sadly disappointing experience. Bloomingdale's and Macy's were both incredibly confusing, and a day each needs to be spent, especially since Macy's maze of departments is spread across buildings and blocks. Saks and Bergdorf Goodman were regal enough, but a little out of mine, and most people's, pockets. FAO Schwarz and Toys R Us looked excellent, with huge displays and moving robots everywhere, but obviously only visited with children. The best area I found for clothes shopping for cheaper brands and nicer clothes was around Park Ave. between the early sixties and the late fifties. With the Levis flagship store, the Diesel Stylelab, Gap, etc., etc. More interesting shops (go to Evolution in SoHo, you'll know when you go) are all in lower Manhattan, but quality is not always assured, and as it is New York, you pay even extra for originality.

Everyone knows that a trip to the Big Apple is not complete without a bit of shopping -- well, window shopping anyway! There are a whole host of shops, but Macy's (the world's biggest store) and Bloomingdales are musts. Hershey's is also really popular and there is a huge Toys R Us in Times Square that has a Ferris wheel inside! The Christmas window displays were in another world! The ones at Saks even had queuing systems in place!

Two shopping emporiums that you are almost required to visit when in NYC are Macy's and Bloomingdale's. The first of the two is conveniently situated on Herald Square. This ten-storey giant dwarfs its retail counterpart Bloomingdale's. Selling everything you might need, it has various smaller departments within it from make-up and perfume to cafes and the Metropolitan Museum Gift Shop. This is the place to visit even if you just want to get a few souvenirs of your time in New York. On first entering the store, you are greeted by a display of various bags, vanity cases, and other knickk=knacks that are fairly priced and work as handy gifts for friends and family, all proudly showing off the Macy's name. And even if you don't want to travel into the maze of counters too far, it's worth popping in to pick up a Macy's bag or other accessory.

But if you really want to show off, then head to Bloomingdale's, a little further away from the centre as it's situated at 1000 £rd Avenue (Lexington at 59th Street). With affordable prices (more so than Saks), Bloomingdale's is the place to go to pick up one of those cool small, medium, or big brown bags so often sported on Friends. Although the store as a whole impressed me less than Macy's, the layout is less accessible and it was harder to find. But if you're a shopaholic or just after a 'brown bag', this is definitely worth a visit.

Bloomingdales: 1000 Third Avenue. Huge Department store with name brands, only on the esat coast. Burberry: 9 East 57th Street. Quality clothing and accessories. I'm sure you have seen the Burberry plaid! (it's their trademark!)Fiorucci Mega Store: 622 broadway. It's almost like a mini mall it's so big!Kenneth Cole: 603 W. 50th Street. Really urban sophistiated clothing, a lot of dark colors but I really like them! Macy's New York: 151 west 34th Street. Believe me you won't miss it! The world's largest department store. Manhattan Mall: 33rd Street and Avenue of the Americas. It is literally eight stories high, but oddly enough, not a lot of selection. Nicole Miller: 780 Madison Avenue. Just a boutique. Sephora: 41 west 57th Street, 6th floor. The greatest make-up selection ever, really cool stuff!