Looks like trip may be back on but in November. It's hard fitting 4 trips a year in lol

Getting on to hotels now. Any tips for November travel?

Keep in mind that Thanksgiving is a major U.S. holiday that brings many to NYC for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and Christmas shopping. It will be November 28 in 2013.

November is high season - so expect hotel prices to be sky high and restaurants full, show tickets scarce. You need to reserve many things in advance.

It's a great time to be here - esp from right before Thanksgiving - with the incredibly decorated store windows and mobs of happy shoppers. Do understand that everything will be mobbed (the day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday - the day stores start to turn a profit for the year) and places will be open at all hours (some stores open Thansgiving night and stay open 24 hours with a few doorbuster sales) and traffic can be truly hideous (gridlock alert days). More upscale stores will open at 7 or 8 am and stay open until 11 pm or so. (Not designer boutiques - but major stores.)

Earlier in the month will still be expensive - but not SO mobbed.

I would look for hotels now and hope you can get advance purchase discounts.

We are thinking 7th Nov, prices don't seem to be too bad, flights are consistent

We were there that time in November last year Mucky. We stayed through to after Thanksgiving, even went out on Black Friday, admittedly just to Grand Station Central Christmas Market, not too many people there. The streets weren't too crowded either but started to get busy around 11am. We were there about 9am.

November is a great time of year, but can be cold. We had a couple of snow-storms while we were there.

Early November is a good time to visit. The Christmas decorations go up earlier and earlier each year, so you'll probably get to see some pretty stuff before the hordes arrive. The skating rink at Rockefeller Center will be open and that's always entertaining. It can be quite cold and gray but it's preferable to August, when it's beastly and humid and, quite frankly, stinky. (May and October are the best months, btw.)

november is a good time to visit but hotel prices continue to be high, as this is peak travel time .

It's too early to get a good rate on a November hotel reservation. If you find something you can live with, that's cancellable, book it now and keep checking. quikbook.com has secret sale hotels (great value and good hotels, 3* and up), for early November for around $345.00. Check back there in August for discounts and you will likely find a lower rate.

Hi Mucky,

I have booked The Beacon from 12th Nov for about $180 a night. I don't know where you are travelling from but I got a fantastic deal booking through an American travel agency in Dublin. Flights and accommodation for 8 days is coming in at about €1900 which I think is quite good. The package worked out cheaper then booking flights and accommodation separately online at the time.

The Beacon, at that price, wikedelphie, is fabulous. In fact, it's so low I am questioning whether your reservation is valid. Please contact the hotel to confirm. If all is ok, then by all means...Enjoy, and good for you!

$180 a night for the beacon in Nov is VERY low - can't imagine how they got it for that. I would definitely check with the hotel to be sure the reservation is legitimate.

I think that's what I just said, nytraveler but Thanks for the validation! :)

wickedelphie, Since air/hotel packages are often quoted on a double occupancy basis, could it be that you're actually paying 2 x 180 per night (360) for the Beacon? And is that in Dollars or Euros?

I agree with nyer. I would check if it is per person or in Euros. I paid approx $295 per night before tax last October but even with that being a peak time I couldnt see it getting as low as $180. If its correct that is an awesome deal.

Now you have all got me a little scared!!! Its definitely $180 per night for two people. I booked the deal through a very reputable travel agent in Dublin but I am going to contact the hotel directly to make sure!!! Thanks for the heads up but Im hoping I really snagged a good deal and havent been misled!!!

The hotel may not have your reservation under your name. Ask your travel agent in Dublin how the room was reserved. Good luck and keep us posted.

Also, the Beacon doesn't advertise Discounts on any of the hotel 'warehouse' sites like expedia, travelocity, etc. However, this could be a one off they offer to European travelers visiting the U.S. It's possible this discount is available to you and not to 'us' State-side. Anyway, let us know.

Whether in June or Xmas time, hotels would be costly in NYC, you may search for hotels across Hudson river in Jersey City which is well connected by Metro to WTC and 42nd street and area around is easily walk-able or taxi is rather affordable.

There is no "Metro" in NYC. And if you mean the subway - it doesn't go to New Jersey.

There is PATH train from NJ to Manhattan - but unless the hotel is right next to the PATH station, the time and money spent going back and forth to NY can be a huge PIA.

And yet so many people easily commute from Cliffside Park to Manhattan in New Jersey, everyday.