subject: Beating The Black Friday Crowds In New York [print this page] For those of you not in the know, Black Friday is the most significant day in the US shopping calendar. Each year, bargain hunters across the United States set their alarms, brave freezing temperatures and the rage of fellow shoppers in a bid to snap up the best bargains from the nations most-loved stores. To you and I it may sound like a relatively sedate affair for those who enjoy a spot of retail therapy. In reality Black Friday, which launches the Christmas shopping season, is stampedes of bargain hunters queuing in sub-zero temperatures in order to battle each other for the best deals.
In order to survive, its essential to have your wits about you. So, if you are about to make the most of a mytravel.com offer and fly to New York, here are some handy hints on how to survive the madness of Black Friday.
Research
Its all very well researching a cheap flight and hotel package with mytravel but if this is where your investigations end, then you will be beaten to the best bargains by the more experienced shoppers out there. Take a look at the best deals being offered up by each shop so that you know where to head to first. Utilise social media to your advantage by following each shop on Twitter and Facebook this way you will know how long the queues are, what items are out of stock and what the biggest trophy purchases are. You need to make the most of all of the information available and formulate a strategy so that you dont go home exhausted, dejected and empty-handed.
Arrive early
We know that you are in New York and the draw of cosmopolitans and apple martinis might be too much to stand but if you want to be successful in the main task of your trip, you need to be rested and ready to rock. Those with hangovers simply wont cut it against those who have been resting up for weeks in preparation for the biggest shopping day of the year. Find out when the stores you want to visit open and be there to beat the queues. Its also important to layer up one minute you might be freezing and then next minute, after a mad dash to the womenswear floor, you might be over-heating. Dress appropriately so that it doesnt hinder your mission.
Its not all about the big names
Although you will be forgiven for thinking that you will only snap up the best bargains at the biggest department stores, the truth is the smaller stores are just as good. While you may be queuing round the block for a chance to gain access to Bloomingdales or Macys, smaller stores will be far more enjoyable and are often overlooked as bargain hotspots.
Change your mind
There are a lot of things to do in New York and if you are enjoying a break there, maybe your time might be better spent experiencing the city rather than queuing in the cold only to have that dream dress snatched from your hands in the blink of an eye. Many stores are popping bargains online nowadays, so why not make the most of these deals and enjoy the sights of the city away from the crowds.
