when I visit New York, what is the best place to just SHOP?

If you are looking for clothes, I usually tell my friends to catch a bus to the Jersey Garden Outlet Mall in Elizabeth, NJ. Clothing purchases are tax-free, and all of the major brands have outlet shops in this mall. My friends from Belgium liked it much more than slogging through overpriced shops on 5th Ave and Times Square.

May I recommend the following.

Shopping

-Macy's (West 34th Street and Broadway in the heart of Hearld Square)

-Bloomingdale's (Lexington Avenue at East 59 and East 60 Streets)

-The shops along Fifth Avenue (just don't max out you credit cards)

-FAO Schwartz

-Toys "R" Us in Times Square

-Lord and Taylor (5th Avenue at East 38th Street)

-Chinatown/Canal Street Area (if you want to go on the cheap for the stuff you can't get on Fifth Avenue)

-NBA Store (for the basketball fan - 5th Avenue at East 52nd Street)

-The Apple Computer Store (East 59th Street and Fifth Avenue)

-The Time Warner Center (West 59th Street - Columbus Circle)

-Hershey Store (for those with a sweet tooth)

-M&M World (49th Street and 7th Avenue)

-Grand Central Terminal (for the shopping)

-H&M

-Century 21 Department Store (Church and Cortlandt Street)

-forever 21

-Barneys New York (660 Madison Ave)

-Abercrombie & Fitch (5th Avenue @ 57th Street and Water Street between Fulton and John Streets)

-American Eagle Outfitters (4 locations in Manhattan)

-Urban Outfitter (8 locations in Manhattan)

-Adidas Originals Store

-Alikat NYC

-Diesel

-Gap (several locations in Manhattan and around the city)

-Diesel (4 locations in Manhattan)

-GirlPROPS

-Niketown (East 57th Street between 5th and Madison Avenues)

-Old Navy (several locations in New York City)

-Olive & Bette’s (3 locations in Manhattan)

-Paragon Sporting Goods (18th Street and Broadway)

-The Puma Store (521 Broadway near Spring Street)

-Quicksilver (3 locations in Manhattan)

-Kenneth Cole (6 locations in Manhattan)

-Tommy Hilfiger (3 locations in Manhattan)

-Wet Seal (West 14th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues)

-Zara (7 location in Manhattan)

-Manhattan Mall

-Queens Center Mall

-Queens Place Mall

-Roosevelt Field Mall (on Long Island)

-Fulton Street Mall

-Kings Plaza Mall

-Woodbury Common Premium Outlets

-Garden State Plaza

-The Westchester Mall

-Palisades Center Mall

-Westfield Sunrise Mall

-Green Acres Mall

-Jersey Gardens

-Newport Center Mall

I hope this information is very helpful.

Good luck