Enjoy the ultimate in retail therapy with a Christmas shopping spree in the spectacular New York State – at the largest outlet in the world

HAVE you ever considered taking a seven-hour flight to New York to simply shop until you drop?

Although it might not seem everyone’s cup of tea, it was a challenge a shopaholic like me was more than happy to accept.

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After all, if there’s one thing I’m good at - it’s storming the stores to snap up a bargain (or 20). And low-cost airline Norwegian make it easier than ever to fly Stateside without having to max out on the credit cards.

We took the journey from Edinburgh Airport to New York Stewart International for a Christmas shopping trip at the largest outlet in the world — Woodbury Common — a whopping 910,000 square feet centre which, after its latest expansion, boasts 240 stores.

Although it seems like a lengthy journey for shopping, the pleasant and easy flight made it all the more achievable.

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There’s no on-board entertainment but the friendly, and on-the-ball, airline staff make sure you’re topped up with plenty of drinks and snacks throughout.

The brand new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft are sleek and meticulous and the soft leather seats have good legroom - so if you fancy napping the whole journey, it’s comfier than ever.

I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the flight went by and I felt suitably refreshed for shopping the next morning.

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Our first night was spent in a quieter part of New York State — Orange County, which meant we weren’t lured by the temptation of a heavy night on the tiles like we would had we been in Manhattan. See I told you — serious shopper!

This unexploited part of New York is the perfect way to experience the state’s amazing wineries, art exhibitions and shopping outlets without the full-blown chaos of the Big Apple itself.

Dinner was traditional Italian food served at the hip Cosimo’s family restaurant in Newburgh.

And they like to do things big here — as everywhere in the States — the penne in my Arrabiata was around three times the size of normal pasta in the UK!

The meal was cooked to perfection and the restaurant had a real homely, laid-back vibe.

We stayed at the cosy Homewood Suites and enjoyed the huge rooms and plush beds.

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The décor is an elegant, American Shaker-esque style which reminded me of an earlier hotel I’d stayed in during a Vermont ski trip.

Feeling a bit naughty from the amount of pasta I indulged in the night before, I even have enough space in the room for an early morning workout before shopping — I had to get warmed up after all — and the jetlag made sure I had plenty of time thanks to its 6am wake-up call.

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Breakfast in New York wouldn’t be complete without a bagel and eggs, which we indulged in before heading out for our shopping spree.

Conveniently accessed via the New York State Thruway at exit 16, Harriman, Woodbury Common Premium Outlets features some of the most sought-after, high-end fashion and designer retail brands anywhere in the world.

I managed to snap up a gorgeous handbag and shades from designer store Coach — the most popular shop of the outlet for a mere $180 — probably a quarter of the price I’d normally pay in the UK.

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River Island is selling a stylish £70 jacket that looks just like Balmain’s £1,495 designer version – can you tell the difference?

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Amanda Dana from the tourist board told us how stores including Bottega Veneta, Polo Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Burberry, The North Face and more have savings of 25 per cent to 65 per cent every day. You could literally spent a whole day shopping there.

The newly renovated Market Hall also offers a variety of grab-and-go options including Chipotle, Pret A Manger, and Pinkberry or dine in at YO! Sushi, Shake Shack, and Le Pain Quotidien, perfect for keeping you fuelled for the entire day.

After an amazing lunch at Applebee’s, where I had a huge sirloin steak and a few cheeky margaritas, I was ready to shop some more.

I almost wept with joy clutching my beautiful new designer bag and luxury makeup purchases, so I was certainly satisfied with the shopping trip.

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After realising I was now teetering on the verge of overdraft, I had to exercise restraint and swapped shopping for some sightseeing in the escape-worthy Hudson Valley.

Our first stop was a cool, hippy-esque winery named Palaia Vineyards located in the heart of the New York state region.

In the spirit of October, the whole place was already covered with Halloween decorations and the staff were dressed in the cutest tie-dye shirts I’ve ever seen.

October visitors are also treated to trees turning shades of gold and red and every colour in between, and all still in reasonably mild temperatures.

We’re told the bosses treat punters to live music outdoors there every weekend and they also have plenty of blowout festivals and spooky events in the former farmhouse.

We tried their speciality rose wine named Pink Floydish — a tribute to one of the best bands of all time — while listening to rock music and to be honest I could have wound up spending the whole evening there.

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In upstate Hudson Valley there’s a real bohemian, artistic spirit and it’s plain to see why expat city-folk are moving there to escape urban life.

If you’re a fan of art and sculptures be sure to pay a visit to the Storm King Art centre, a 500-acre outdoor museum offering spectators a vast amount of exhibition collections covering topics such as climate change and animal cruelty scattered throughout the site’s expansive landscape.

We took a tour in one of the buggy karts and gawped at the range of large-scale sculptures and site-specific commissions under open sky.

Check out Alyson Shotz’ stunning mirror fence reflecting back images of the landscape for some seriously enviable Instagram pics.

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Later we dined at the quaint Kitchen Sink Food and Drink, a tiny but intimate restaurant serving in the eclectic village of Beacon.

The farm-to-table fare is served in a homey space with modern, rustic decor and it’s where I had the best cauliflower risotto I’ve ever tried in my life.

The spice addict inside me obviously had to try out their lip-smacking blistered shishito peppers for starters.

Having pushed my gluttony to another level, I was ready for a final New York slumber at the all-suite Hyatt House hotel in Fishkill, before spending the last day exploring Hyde Park nearby.

Of course, a visit to Hyde Park wouldn’t be complete without taking a tour of the former home of the 32nd US president Franklin D Roosevelt.

The well-preserved, historic site features the home and estate of Roosevelt, Springwood, and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum opened to the public in 1941.

We had a sneak peek inside the home he lived with former First Lady and author wife Eleanor and our informative tour guide gave us a great insight into his life as president while living with a disability after battling polio.

The museum was covered with posters of the Great Depression, New Deal, and war-time slogans and pictures and you can even visit the graves of FDR and Eleanor in the Rose Garden.

One place you’ll definitely want to dine in is the amazing Charlotte’s restaurant in Millbrook.

Housed in a striking 1934 building that was originally a 19th-century church, you can enjoy a supremely cosy dining experience in a cute country setting beside the fireplace.

The chef made us feel right at home by cooking up a wholesome and comforting three course meal comprising Butternut Squash soup, Pork Tenderloin and a chocolate brownie and ice cream dessert.

So — with bargain shopping, wineries, country landscapes and cheap flights — New York State is the way forward.

As Eleanor Roosevelt would say, ‘A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous’ — and one simple way to be both is a heart-pounding shopping trip to Woodbury Common with Norwegian Air.

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