They used to say it was cheaper to do your Christmas shopping out there than at home, even allowing for flights and accommodation. But "they" must have spent considerably more than me, even when the pound was riding high!
I'd love to go at Christmas, and see the decorations. We were there at Easter, and the Easter Parade was just wonderful - the Americans really go to town on occasions like that. We spent most of the week rushing around sight-seeing though, while a colleague there for the same week never got further than the shops, so it must be worth it for a shopaholic!
We did go to the huge Century 21 store near Ground Zero. We managed to lose each other and I did feel very disoriented. At one stage I came across a woman sitting on the floor surrounded by shopping bags, very slowly and methodically pulling her hair out.