| New York City is a shopper's paradise no | | | | down the avenue. If jewellery is what you |
| matter what your prey. From the haute | | | | are after you can forego the big brands of |
| couture designer boutiques, the knock offs in | | | | 5th and head to 47th street, more popularly |
| Chinatown, to the mecca of discount trendy | | | | known as the diamond district. |
| fashion shops and big name department stores, | | | | |
| New York is the answer to any shopping | | | | Almost 90 percent of the diamonds that enter |
| question and is a world renowned destination | | | | the US pass through this thoroughfare and |
| for shopping tourism from visitors spanning | | | | it's one of the only places in the US where |
| the globe. It's true that anything can be | | | | diamonds are bought, sold, cut, traded and |
| found in the big apple where the saying, | | | | set. Gold, silver, platinum and fine jewels |
| "shop till you drop" can be fully | | | | can also be found here and for amazing |
| implemented. | | | | bargains due to the outrageous competition. |
| | | | In the shops you can see first hand jewellery |
| New York until recently was considered one of | | | | makers at work creating and repairing |
| the most expensive cities in the world. | | | | jewellery, watches and other luxury items. |
| However with the drop in the value of the | | | | Take a close look at the men with the serious |
| dollar, New York has suddenly become one of | | | | expressions walking down 47th clutching their |
| the best value for money cities to visit, | | | | briefcases which are often handcuffed to |
| especially if shopping is going to be the | | | | their wrists. They are not carrying |
| main attraction. | | | | paperwork; it is much more likely they are |
| | | | transporting small fortunes in diamonds. |
| Shopping is a neighbourhood thing in New York | | | | |
| dating back to the industrial revolution. | | | | Tourism is a huge part of the city's economy |
| The fabric district, plant district and | | | | and the plethora of places to stay clearly |
| jewellery areas all still exist and are truly | | | | makes this evident. It is easy to narrow |
| a throwback to the old days in the city. New | | | | down where you want to stay in New York if |
| shopping neighbourhoods have emerged in more | | | | you know where your credit card will take |
| recent times; the most visited probably being | | | | you. Finding a New York hotel near shopping |
| the shops along Madison Avenue. This street | | | | areas is easy and not as expensive as in the |
| on the east side of Manhattan is lined with | | | | past. The range of places to stay matches |
| top name designer boutiques such as Prada, | | | | the wide array of areas to shop around and |
| Yves St Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, | | | | you are bound to find your niche. |
| Coach, DKNY, Calvin Klein and more. | | | | |
| | | | It is not necessary to only shop in one area, |
| Just one block over on 5th Avenue are even | | | | as getting around by subway or on the buses |
| more designers like Gucci and Versace but the | | | | is easy and affordable. Taxis also pack the |
| street is probably best known for Tiffany & | | | | busy streets are easy to hail and offer |
| Co, made infamous by Audrey Hepburn in | | | | another archetypal method of getting around |
| Breakfast at Tiffany's and of course it's | | | | Manhattan when you are in town. |
| main rival Cartier just a few blocks further | | | | |