beachgirl86

Hi everyone,
I just came back from a girls' weekend in NYC this past weekend, and loved it so much, I booked another 3 nights in December! I will be going with my husband, Dec. 27-30. This will by my 5th trip and his first, so I really want him to enjoy it. (It's a surprise for him -- we are getting married in 2 weeks and I am going to tell him on the honeymoon.)

I have booked the Renaissance for now (may try Priceline when the date gets closer). Any recent stays there? I just stayed at the Courtyard Marriott Times Square South on West 40th and had no complaints...the girls and I really liked it. I am assuming the Renaissance is much nicer??

Also, what sort of things do you suggest I show my husband? I know this will be a very busy week, and I am assuming the Rockefeller tree, lights/decorations will still be up. NYC is so magical at Christmas, I think it will be great for my husband's first time. Although this past weekend was my 1st time going in the summer, I have to say it was great walking around in the warm weather!

I was thinking about hitting the following:
1. Times Square obviously
2. Rockefeller Center, tree, ice-skating
3. St. Patrick's, 5th Ave.
4. a Broadway show
5. Ground Zero -- what is it like there now?
6. Empire State Building
7. Central Park (I have never been there either)

Any other ideas/tips/past experiences? Thanks in advance!

vacationdreamer

4 trips and you haven't been to Central Park? In December, if it is snow covered, it is really beautiful -- if not, most people get cold and head out pretty fast.

Ground Zero is basically a construction site at this point. There isn't much to see. 7 WTC will be mostly built by then (they are desperately searching for tenants for the office space), but all the other work I believe will still be underground construction at that time.

Does he have any particular interests / likes/dislikes?

atilla

If it happens to be miserably cold outside, the Metropolitan Museum would be a great (warm) way to spend an afternoon.

Postal

I stay at the Renaissance whenever I'm in Manhattan. Unlike most other hotels in Times Square, this is a small, very friendly, place. I never entered the lobby (which seems like your living room) when someone didn';t say hello, and the very approachable concierge was full of advice and anything else you needed.

None of the rooms face Times Square since the hotel faces east and west, but you can see the beginnings of its north end, where the hotel is located. Be sure to eat at their Foley's Fish House even if you just go for breakfast, as the views of Times Square are wonderful.

It's a very quiet and calming experience after the hustle and bustle of the city. I know you'll love it!

HowardR

That week is the peak tourist time of the year. So, don't expect to find many bargains on Priceline.
It's also a beautiful time of the year to be in New York. And, yes, the tree in Rockefeller Center will still be aglow.
Don't wait too long to get tickets for a show. Since it's a peak time for tourists, it also a peak time for the shows.

beachgirl86

Thanks -- I have a feeling that PL will be high around this time of year, so I may end up just sticking with the Renaissance. On another thread, somebody said that PL prices could be as high as $200 that time of year, so maybe I'm better off sticking with a hotel I know I want for $60 more per night.

As for my husband's likes and dislikes, I am just starting to introduce him to the joys of travel! He is 9 years older than I am, and I think he thought he never had the funds (or the adventurous spirit) to travel. We are going to Hawaii for our honeymoon, and California in Feb. He's a sports lover, a big "foodie", and has enjoyed most of the plays/musicals we've seen together in Boston.

I think because he's never been to NYC before, he will just be amazed at Times Square and the surrounding areas. But I am open to any other suggestions!

Also, I loved shopping at the street vendor's tables this past weekend -- are they out in the winter, too, despite the weather?

luv2fly

Holiday decorations do not get taken down until Jan. 2nd.

Visit the beautiful tree at the Met Museum, the tree at Lincoln Center and the Rock Center tree.

The giant illuminated snowflake hanging over the intersection of Fifth Ave. and 57th St. is my favorite.

gracieb

I got the Hilton on PL for $86 two years ago by bidding MTW (exactly the same dates). I already had reservations there for around $160 night. Rock Ctr is just down the street. I wanted to see the Christmas Spectacular but my travel companions were non-committal. So, the day before I booked it online from our hotel room. I bought something along the lines of VIP tickets, although I wasn't sure exactly what they were. What an awesome experience. We didn't have to wait in the lines in the cold but were directed to the side of the theatre and were escorted immediately into the lobby. Someone took my photo id and cc I used to book the tickets and within a few minutes we were handed our tickets. We entered the theatre and kept going and going and going. We were about 7 rows back from the stage. Waiting in our seats were gift bags with the souvenir program and popcorn. Wait staff appeared to see what we would like to drink and we were brought cold drinks (sodas and water offered). We were so close we ice chips from the ice skating show hit our cheeks. ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. When I booked, I thought it was a splurge but I didn't want to be in the nosebleed section since we booked so late. What a deal! And we definitely enjoyed the VIP treatment.
On another winter trip I also took two neat trips offered through imar.com (I don't know it that website is still in business). One was a walking/tasting tour of Greenwich Village and it was a real treat. Another was a tour by a policeman of the WTC. Unique ways to see more of the city.
Have an absolute blast. Be sure to take a carriage ride in Central Park!