Christmas in NYC 2014
 

My family and I are planning a trip to NYC for next year. We want to visit the week of Christmas. We want to visit all of the tourist spots, but mostly we are interested in seeing a few Broadway shows. We'd like to stay somewhere either Midtown or Time Square area. Any suggestions on hotels and Broadway ticket brokers (who won't leave us broke)?

You have lots of time to plan.

Come back in January and read some trip reports.

I think if you put broadway into the search feature, some ticket broker threads will come up. I can't remember the name of any that have been recommended here.

DO NOT USE A TICKET BROKER for Broadway. Sorry, to shout, but that idea is just so silly unless you have to have tickets to a sold out show at the last minute and are willing to pay anything to get them.

All Broadway theatres use either Ticketmaster or Telecharge. Period. Those are the two and only two sources you should normally use (unless you can personally go by the theatre box office -- but they don't do phone orders). Playbill.com is the easiest source of all Broadway material, including which of those does tickets for each show. Discounts aren't available for shows until a month or two before hand, and aren't dependable if you are looking at the most popular shows. But even discount codes you can find on Playbill.com, BroadwayBox.com, or theatremania.com among others are still used only by going through Ticketmaster or Telecharge.

Meanwhile since we don't know your income or personal wealth, there is no way to know what will make you "go broke". How much do you want to spend for hotels? Broadway shows will average around $140 a ticket these days for most shows (unless you want rear balcony) or unless you want to splurge 50 to 100% more than that for the premium seats in the center of the orchestra.

If you're flexible, you can try the 1/2 price ticket booth. Google it. Forgot what's the official name, but when we used it back in early 1999, and it was in the WTC building. We got same day tickets for Les Mis and Phantom for like $30, pretty decent seats too. But that was like 14 years ago.

But last year when we were in Chicago, we were able to use the same service to get 1/2 price tickets for the Blue Man show and Second City comedy club.

If you know you're coming a year ahead, there's no reason to use a ticket broker at all. Just keep an eye out for shows you want to see and buy tickets when they go on sale.

As for hotels, prepare yourself to pay $400 a night, and you should be ok. You can book something now you can cancel without a penalty and then look for something more reasonable later.

It's far too early to make any other arrangements now, but you can certainly make a hotel reservation.

You may also consider not staying in Times Square becaue the streets become literally impassable that week.

"You may also consider not staying in Times Square becaue the streets become literally impassable that week."

Sorry to tell you, IMDonehere, but you totally miss the attraction of going to New York at Christmas. But perhaps if you LIVE there, you'll never understand why other people like what you hate.

Besides, if they're seeing a number of shows there, then they will have to deal with the crowds anyway. It really doesn't accomplish anything to stay somewhere else to avoid crowds and then get caught up in them every day when they go to the theatre.

Ticket discounts that week are sparse - and buying from a broker is the worst hting.

for hits go directly to the official ticket seller at least 4 or 5 months in advance to get good seats together. For older shows that may be discounting go to broadwaybox.com about 3 months out to see if anyone is discounting that week - and buy then.

Brokers just charge a fee on top of the top ticket prices - they are only for those with money to burn - or needing a rare ticket on an emergency basis.

Also make hotel reservations well in advance (cancellable in case you find a better deal ) some hotels are booked solid 3 or more months in advance for certain days.

What are the ages of the people in your family? And how many people total are there? This would help also to make suggestions.

A good way to compare prices for hotels in New York is to use Quikbook.com

It will show you hotels available on your dates and prices. You can then see if the rate is different on the hotel's own website and pick whichever rate is best.

For tickets to shows, the discount ticket booth referred to above is TKTS. There is one in Times Square and another one downtown at South Street Seaport. They sell same-day discounted tickets. But if you know in advance what you would like to see, you can get the same discounts through playbill.com or broadwaybox.com starting a few weeks before the performance date.

The most popular shows are not usually discounted however.

I will first say that as soon as you know your dates, reserve your airfare and hotel. Even if it's months ahead of time. I watched airfare tickets go up weekly because I did not know my exact dates. You can save big this way.

Go to playbill.com and become a member and look for deals.

Midtown and Times Square are pretty crazy and crowded that week. Sometimes it's good to be in the mix especially since it's harder to get a cab (not impossible) during the holidays and walking in the cold won't be so rough. On the other hand it's nice to be a bit apart from it all when it's time to relax. I never stay in the Times Square area so others will give you ideas. My go-to hotel is the hampton Inn Chelsea. Great prices, larger than average rooms, and free breakfast - more than continental.

Sorry to tell you, IMDonehere, but you totally miss the attraction of going to New York at Christmas. But perhaps if you LIVE there, you'll never understand why other people like what you hate.

No problem of going there, but staying there is an inconvenience. And the restuarants are jammed. It is just like another attraction, does not mean you have stay there.

Oh, by the way, we have traveled to many countries and usually we avoid staying in the main tourist areas. That way you see the attractions plus other other neighborhoods.

I understand I am horrible person because I like a more quiet setting and you are the protector of the downtrodden tourist, who cannot speak for him or herself.