To ask what I should buy/bring back from New York?

[yayyyyyy]

I'm going to New York next month, it'll be my first time visiting America so I'm really excited!

I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations for particular things to buy when out there e.g. particular American candy/food, makeup, etc.

Thank you :)

I love target and trader jo but most of my shopping is on pharmacy type stuff. Melatonin and Neosporin and there are some whitening eye drops I cant remember what they are called, will check and report back.

Depending on people's health needs, you might be surprised at the amount of chatter about OTC or available meds for some health conditions.

You'll have seen some of the news discussion about parents who take their children to cannabis legal states in the US to buy formulations to control a child's severe epilepsy.

Even in countries like Turkey, people with hypothyroidism who can no longer get an NHS prescription for T3 nor import it, stock up on T3 there because it's available OTC.

Lots of people shop for LDN (low dose naltrexone) when they're on holiday and can purchase it abroad.

B12 ampoules and such are readily available in Germany and similar countries. For some people who are tired of fighting to keep their B12 injections with the NHS, it's easier for them to buy them when on holiday and self-inject.

@Calphurnia88 it will have been naproxen. It’s a wonderful tool for period pain and other painful conditions where ibuprofen is like pissing in the wind.

Maybe the OP can update on what vitamins and various other medications she needs then...since she asked for recommendations for make up and sweets on her first visit to the US 😅

Sounds great. Thank you @MotherWol

Lol… if I didn’t have terrible luck I’d be considering starting a US OTC delivery service to the UK…. with some bagel spices and cornbread mix on the side 🤣

——
This is a joke MNHQ, I have no intention of going down for melatonin and advil! Rules are important and should be followed without question. I hereby denounce all shenanigans related to sensible OTC decisions made by sovereign countries, and so should everyone else reading this thread
——

Well you could make melatonin laced bagels. Naproxen cornbread 😂

🤣 I needed this tonight… only wish I hadn’t just taken a drink before reading it!

@Needmorelego I like the sound of your NY trip - old bookshops and second hand shops are right up my alley and what I spend my time browsing through wherever I go. However, I also seek out pharmacies for sunscreen and cosmetics and other stuff that isn't necessarily available or as cheap where I live.

@FleasNavidad - there's more to a tourist trip than seeing the sights. Hitting a local Target or Walgreens or catching a train out to NJ to shop is part of seeing the place too.

... and I don't think you've seen America if you haven't been to Walmart.

We always go to Century 21. I’ve not been in a few years but it used to be really cheap.

Are the crest white strips they sell on Amazon not the same?

@saltinesandcoffeecups They sell O’Keffee’s Working Hands in Boots now! Great stuff

Just don’t bring back Sarah Jessica Parker

You can buy O Keefe's in the UK too 😊 I use it and love it!!

@2023nn Nope, why would you think it is ?...... travelling is about making memories for me, not spending time in shopping centres or buying paracetamol, but everyone is different.

@Lakeyloo yes I with you. There is probably very little you can buy in America that you can't get online in the UK.
I don't think I would want to spend a trip to New York going to a shopping mall either. So much more interesting things to see and do.

@mathanxiety I have been to Walmart. Many times. Never wasted time travelling out of NYC to go there though. That's something you do when you've got a car and car hire is not usually on my list of essentials in that particular city.

I think anyone who does waste their time doing that might as well travel closer to home tbh

@mathanxiety I don't know if this is true but I vaguely remember reading that when Walmart joined forces with Asda they thought about launching the George clothing in Walmart but it was decided that George clothing was "too good" for the average Walmart customer so they didn't do it.
George clothing (which I personally love) is often considered "cheap and cheerful" and where "poor" people buy their clothes. But that was considered too good quality for Walmart 🤣🤣
Like I said. Don't know if it's true....
Last year Walmart did have some exclusive Lego merchandise so I suppose if I had been in America and a Walmart was right there I might have popped in but to be honest I can easily get that merchandise online via eBay, Lego fan groups etc. I believe there's some weird thing about there being no Walmart's in Manhattan so I would have to take a special trip to get there but it certainly wouldn't be high up a priority list of things to do.

@Needmorelego have you ever googled "people of Walmart" images 😂

@Lakeyloo yes I have (it is a bit mean and horrible though).

@Needmorelego its awful !... but can't help smiling. I'm sure some people dress up especially to get noticed.

I live in New York so I certainly wouldn’t suggest anyone spends their time buying paracetamol. It’s a wonderful city.

But Tiffany and Victoria Secret are widely available in the UK - and apologies, I thought the bringing back empty Bloomingdale’s bags and dead leaves from Central Park was a joke!

Currently coming to the end of a week long trip to NYC. No bargains here. It's incredibly expensive at the moment. Husband got a bargain on some Levis but that was down to the store having 50% off. Bought my daughter her first necklace from Tiffany. It was a little less expensive than in the UK but not by much. We've spent our time seeing the sights and walking the city. As someone said upthread - make memories not purchases