Hi all, I am going to New York in November and have never been before. If anyone has any tips of places to go and also tips in general I would be very grateful. I am arriving on 19th November so will miss Thanksgiving, Christmas Tree lights etc. I only have 4 days so want to make the most of it as I have been waiting to go for so long! Thanks.

You are talking about New York City? Maybe a guidebook would be a good step 1. Reading past threads on the subject would also be helpful. No sense in reinventing the wheel. We don't know your interests also.

I would start by clicking on the "Destinations" tab above the forum. Are you interested in walking/architecture/eating/museums/shopping/history?

Agree that knowing about your interests would help.

I reco for eveyone
Top of the Rock
Staten Island ferry (views of Statue of Liberty)
At least one Broadway show
The Met
Central Park if you get decent weather

After that, so much depdns on you interests!

November 19 is the Thursday before Thanksgiving. Many areas and stores will already be decorated by then. That week is also when the major department stores (Lord & Taylor, Saks, Macy's, Barney's) unveil their Christmas windows. The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree will probably be in position but still being wired for lights, and the ice rink there will be open. Salvation Army Santas will be on every street corner. You will exeperience a definite Christmas spirit.

Im taking several children in Dec, and on a budget any suggestions for hotels that are children friendly?

"Im taking several children in Dec, and on a budget any suggestions for hotels that are children friendly?"

It is nicer to start your own thread. Hopefully you realize you are going to NYC at the most expensive time of the year. Words like budget are pretty meaningless. Start a thread with exact dates and your nightly budget in USDs. I can't imagine any "budget" hotel being anything but "children friendly."

I was hoping to get an answer on this thread or would have started a new one.
In your quote "Hopefully you realize you are going to NYC at the most expensive time of the year" I'm very realistic I just have a budget!

I would start at hotels.com, orbitz, etc. to see if you are in the ball park. You still haven't given a dollar amount.

Thanks everyone. I am only there for a few days so really want to see the major sites and do the whole tourist thing. Our hotel is at Times Square so hopefully that is a good place to be. I also want to get some shopping done! I did want to go for the Christmas period but it was too expensive so hopefully we will still get to experience a little bit of Christmas in New York.

Rhoni - in my many searches for hotels one that kept appearing as quite reasonably priced was Holiday Inn on 57th. The reviews were ok and nearly all said the rooms were huge by New York standards. Also said it was a bit further out so quieter for kids.

Ellenem - like the idea of the shops having Christmas window displays by then and the santas! Thought that was just in the films (sorry, movies - I am English by the way).

Also, it is worth buying the New York Pass? Its $95 for 2 days.

Thanks.

Most NYers say don't bother with a New York Pass, since you may feel compelled to visit things on the pass rather than do what you'd like with the short time you have. Some places on the passes actually have pay-what-you-wish and free days, or might be closed on the days you are here, so check the details for the places you really, really want to visit to discern if a pass is really worth it for you.

Rhoni -

If you want useful hotel info you need to give us a budget and tell us how may people you expect to put in the room.

It has now turned into 4 people. The flight is very affordable so thats no problem. We want to stay where it is Christmasy does that make sense? I don't know where Macy's is in distance to times square and we would love to see both. How about Rockefeller Center is it near any of these locations? Ice skating is a must!
What do you think I can get for $200. a night?

Hi- I live in NYC. I am planning my wedding here in the city December 2009, so I am familiar with hotel rates around that time. There is just about NOTHING for $200 in a XMASY area, that time of year, let alone in Manhattan in a convenient area. I can give you 2 tips on hotels, however, that are closer to your budget- The Hilton Garden Inn in tribeca and the Marriott, financial district. The financial district is far and not the greatest for walking around, hence the rate of $219/night. HOWEVER, down there you are close to the S.I. Ferry if you want to do that thing (kinda cold in Nov, but you are only here once...maybe). And all of the subways run from the Financial District up north to both the east and west parts of town, making it an easy area to get around from.

Also, the Tribeca Hilton Garden Inn is running a special that if you book ahead of time and pre-pay, the rate is $230 for 2 double beds. They don't have rollaways, I asked, but you can probably sqeeze 4 in a room. I was rather shocked to find these rates at these hotels, so I have made arrangements to use them for my wedding. And they both happen to be nice. The Hilton garden inn is BRAND new and in tribeca which is a cool area with walking distance to the better downtown stuff to do- Shopping in Soho/West Village/Tribeca and all the great restaurants and bars. You must take a walk through the West Village(where I live) to get a feel for NYC.
Times Square and Macy's windows don't represent the city at all (unless, of course, you like that stuff- which is cool too!) But to really feel NYC, you need to walk the neighborhoods.

West Village is a MUST walk through. You should see Bank Street, Charles Street, Perry Street, then go down around Washington Square park and see all the old townhouses that line the streets. Also, the UES along 5th Ave and the 80's has lots of beautiful old mansions and you are right by the museums- the kids should go to the Metropolitan and see the Egypt room. Always my favorite as a kid.

Hope some of that helps....

$230 for a 2-bed room in NY pre-christmas is a steal!

You can't get anything for $200 per night at that time of year (a bed in a shared dorm room in a hostel is $40 - so $160 for 4 people) If you find anything clean (never ind where in Manhattan) for even close to that grab it - then you can keep looking. Remember many rooms have only one double bed - so you need a double doube - 2 double beds for 4 people. Also remember there is 18% tax on top of the rate quoted - so a room for $230 will cost $270 per night.

Macy's, Times Square and Rock Center are all in midtown and easily walkable from one to another -not even a mile overall. But many sights are either downtown or uptown - no hotel can be near everything.

But you really need to look at discounts and internet specials now - to see what you can find - since the closer you get the more likely the best deals will be snapped up.

For ice skating also try Bryant Park and Wollman Rink in Central Park, usually less crowded than Rockefeller Ctr. Also walk around Soho/Nolita and the West Village and Union Square (they may have their holiday market set up by then-lots of arts and crafts, handmade things to look at and buy).

The best way to see NYC is to leave Times Square and explore the neighborhoods as suggested earlier. Lots of nice restaurants (affordable ones)in the neighborhoods, you get to see the real character of the city.

For shopping I prefer Lord and Taylor to Macys in that area-but visiting Macys is a must.