Is this outlet mall worth it?

We were staying in New York City and decided to take an express shuttle bus from Times Square to Woodbury Common. The roundtrip ticket was only about $50, which I thought was pretty reasonable considering you’re traveling about an hour outside of New York City. We decided to catch one of the earlier buses around 8:30 a.m. because we wanted to get there right when the stores opened. If you’re going to make the trip, I definitely recommend going early. Not only did it give us plenty of time to explore, but there was something nice about arriving before the shopping center really got busy.

And when I tell you I was overwhelmed when I got there, I mean it in the best possible way. Woodbury Common is HUGE. It’s not your typical little outlet mall where you can walk through a few stores, grab a couple of things and head back into the city. There are tons of stores spread throughout the property, including a pretty impressive selection of designer and luxury brands. You can find everything from fashion and accessories to shoes, beauty and home goods, and there are enough stores to easily turn this into an all-day shopping experience.

My biggest mistake? We did not come prepared to shop like we were going to shop. And by that, I mean we absolutely should have brought an empty suitcase. We saw people walking around pulling suitcases behind them and at first I thought, “Oh, that’s smart.” Then I realized exactly why they had them. When you’re shopping at multiple stores and buying bags, boxes, shoes and clothing, having something on wheels to put everything in makes so much sense. We were only there to check things out, so we didn’t think we needed one. But trust me, if you’re planning a serious shopping day, bring the suitcase.
There were so many stores I wanted to go back and actually s

pend time in, especially the designer stores. I found myself looking around thinking, “Okay, I need to come back when I have a PLAN.” Because Woodbury Common is not the place I would recommend visiting casually if your goal is to maximize your shopping. You’ll want to know what stores you want to visit, have a budget, wear comfortable shoes and, most importantly, give yourself enough time.

Which brings me to the big question: Is Woodbury Common worth it? Based on my first visit, I would say yes, especially if you love designer shopping and outlet finds and you’re willing to make the trip outside of New York City. The fact that you can take a relatively affordable roundtrip shuttle from Manhattan makes it even easier. But I would approach it differently depending on what kind of shopper you are. If you’re just curious like I was, going for a few hours to explore and see what’s there can be fun. But if you’re serious about shopping, make a full day of it.

As for me, I’m already planning my next visit—and it’s going to look VERY different. This time, I’ll be saving my coins ahead of time, bringing an empty suitcase and rounding up my girls because I think Woodbury Common would make for an amazing girls’ shopping trip. There’s something about spending the day shopping, grabbing lunch, trying things on and hunting for designer deals with your friends that sounds like the perfect New York getaway.

So, did I buy anything this time? Not really. But that was the point. I was scoping it out so I could report back to you, and now I know exactly what I’m getting myself into. Next time, honey, I’m coming ready to shop until I drop. Woodbury Common, consider yourself warned