Please could anyone give an opinion on my shopping trip itinerary?? Is it do-able? As mentioned previously, we are staying at the Grand Hyatt, getting there at Friday Lunchtime and leaving on Monday morning:

Friday PM - Lunch near the hotel, shopping - Madison Ave

Friday Evening - Dinner at Johns Pizza

Saturday AM - Breakfast at Grand Central Stn, Shopping at Soho then lunch

Saturday PM - Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island

Saturday Evening - 21 Club

Sunday - Bloomingdales, 5th Avenue, Saks, lunch. Then, Macy's and any midtown stores of interest.

Sunday Evening - Italian meal

My opinion: Skip Macy's. Bloomingdale's and Saks are better and more centrally located. Plus the Herald Square area, where Macy's sits, is a dump.

I don't know what you're looking for, but Canal Street isn't on your itinerary. Canal offers zillions of small shops with knock-off handbags, sunglasses, watches, scarves, etc etc ad infinitum. Plus the sights, smells, and sounds of Chinatown shouldn't be missed. You could walk Canal Street on Sunday late afternoon and then have a nice Italian dinner on Mulberry Street (which intersects w/ Canal) in the heart of Little Italy. Perfect. In fact, I do it all the time, but usually for lunch.

I would go to the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island in the a.m., then have lunch in SoHo and shop from there. You wouldn't believe how long the lines for the ferry get, especially on Saturday.

Definitely hit West Broadway in Soho. Its a nice change of pace from the uptown stores.

If you're doing Ellis Island (and I definitely would), don't do the Statue too. The stairs are closed and so is the museum, I hear. You can see the statue beautifully close from the water. The stop there will take a lot of time. And as someone above says, get on the boat to Ellis Island first in the A.M. Plus SoHo doesn't get rolling till the p.m.

Herald Square where Macy's is located ia a "dump" but do go to Canal St. What world does this person live in. The stench of the garbage, yet to be picked up, from local restaurants on Canal Street is enough to drive a person to drink.

My only comment is that you should consider swapping the shopping activities on Sunday for a trip to Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum. There's nothing particularly "New York" about Macy's.

The Herald Square area around Macy's has very little to offer tourists, plus it's dirty and attracts a less-than-optimal crowd. I know; I worked one block north in the Garment District for over a year. CANAL STREET, on the other hand, is a fun cultural experience that most everybody enjoys (including ALL of my tourist friends who have visited over the years). I myself have walked along Canal from Mulberry to West Broadway at least 100 times over the past many years (including YESTERDAY), and I have yet to be offended by the smell of garbage. The smells associated with fresh seafood can be strong, but that's how it is anywhere. When did you last walk Canal, "aaa"?

(And, since you asked aaa, UES.)

aaa clearly doesn't know what he/she is talking about. Canal Street, at least the popular shopping area, has very few restaurants anyway. It's all small shops with "imitation" goods, plus some jewelry stores and seafood vendors (which do stink, of course). I can think of only a few restaurants on Canal proper, including Burger King and Mickey D's. Get with the program, aaa, you don't know what you're saying!!

1. Do the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in the AM (early as possible). The lines will be very long otherwise.
2. The Met and/or MOMA, and/or Central Park should be added to your list.
3. Broadway Play
4. Il Mulino (in the village) for Italian dinner
5. Top of the Empire St building

Your agenda looks fine to me as a shopping trip. I'm not sure however you can get breakfast on Saturday at Grand Central Station, maybe somebody knows.

I don't know if you'd enjoy Canal Street or not. It's a lot of fun in a gritty downtown arty/mix-it-up way. If you do go there, find Pearl River Trading Company, a large Chinese department store, and visit both floors.

Your question was, is it do-able--it is. I understand the person who said Macy's isn't New York-ish--but it is actually I think even tho there are branches everywhere--it's still Miracle on 34th Street historical shopping territory, even for a breeze-by of the first floor.

Oh!!If you are discount fanciers--DO squeeze in Century 21 Department Store, which is near wher eyou go to Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island--it's the best high end discount shopping on the planet.

Thanks so much for all your comments, they have been really helpful. I have adjusted the schedule to also include Canal St, the Empire State Building and Central Park. I have also swapped round Saturday AM and Saturday PM. Just one last question, on the map I have, it looks like Soho and Canal St are close together, can I do both in the same afternoon?

Thanks, Sarah

Yes. It's very easy to see SoHo, Canal Street and Little Italy in one afternoon. Walk south on West Broadway through the heart of SoHo's best shopping and sights. Then turn LEFT, or east, on Canal Street. Canal Street picks up when you get to Broadway. (Personally, I prefer the south side of Canal for shopping.) When you reach Mulberry, turn LEFT (north) and you'll be in the center of Little Italy. Enjoy!

As you are clearly into shopping...
Make sure to get to Barney's on your Madison Ave day and to see the SoHo Prada store.
I'd skip Macy's, especially on a weekend, unless you don't mind huge crowds, long lines and bad service for the things that you could probably find at the federated dept store near your home.

Also, depending where your from, you can visit H&M. (H&M is a Scandavian cheap but "trendy" clothes store - definitely worth a visit if you've never seen one - there's a cool one right next to Rockefeller Center).

Depending you interested in Ellis island/ Statute of Liberty - i.e. if you just want to see it from a distance - there are little Cicle Line cruises that take you around the islands and then up the East River (Brooklyn Bridge, etc.).

Also, on your Sunday, I don't think you timing will work - stores open later on Sunday (although I'm not sure how late) so I would check opening times of the Bloomingdale's and Saks first. You may want to do "brunch" on Sunday first and then have a nice relaxed shopping afternoon (if you skip Macy's).