Magical Holiday Shopping

As Christmas rapidly approaches, I'm reminded of one of my favorite holiday traditions. SHOPPING! I don't just shop though. I like to shop in big cities. There's nothing better than combining a weekend get-away with a mega shopping expedition. One of my favorite weekend get-away cities for shopping is New York City. Seriously, there is no better place to spend your money during the Christmas season than in the Big Apple.

Hotel Reservations can be a bit difficult to acquire during the holiday season so you must plan ahead. Don't wait until the weekend before Christmas and expect to find yourself a great room. Use a site such as HotelReservations.com when you make your travel arrangements. They work to find you the lowest rate for your specified dates and I find their site to be one of the easiest to maneuver around.

One you get to town and find your hotel...drop off the luggage and immediately hit the streets in your most comfortable of shoes. DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT expect to do a marathon shopping spree in NYC in spiky little heels. We are not Carrie Bradshaw. We are also not stick figures. Put on something sensible and something that you're prepared to walk in for a solid seven or eight hours. Be certain to visit all of the major department stores in Manhattan as their Christmas window displays are absolutely amazing. Saks, Macy's, Bloomingdales...all of them. Definitely a must see. And believe it or not, you can shop in Manhattan on a budget. You don't have to spend thousands of dollars and take out a second mortgage on your home. Just don't spend all of your time on Fifth Avenue. Check out lower Manhattan for some great bargains and discount shops.

So in conclusion...plan your trip and get your reservations as soon as you've decided to take your weekend get-away. Map out a strategy as far as your shopping route. Try to find a hotel in close proximity to where you plan on doing the majority of your shopping. Cabs are expensive. Most of all, treat yourself to a wonderful weekend in a wonderful city full of the best shopping possibilities ever!