offlady

My son just found out he will be in next year's parade (2011) and I want to start planning, especially if I want to use my mileage, book rooms, show tickets, etc. I know there's been lots of posts here, but I haven't seen anything recent.

Just wondering how congested the city is during the week following the parade day. We are thinking of taking a 3-week trip, starting with a week in the city, then up to Boston and end up in Orlando to visit family. Not sure if we should consider a whole week in NYC. It's not our first trip to the city so we can shorten it if it is too crazy (or expensive) during that week.

doug_stallings

It's extraordinarily congested in the city during Thanksgiving and one of the most expensive weeks in the year. I might reconsider, though if you book in late November this year, you might find a reasonably priced room. Resist the temptation to stay in a cheaper room in NJ. Instead, either find a hotel you can afford in Manhattan, or book a fully cancelable room in Queens. Just not an airport hotel.

sf7307

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Her son is going to be in the parade -- I doubt reconsideration is one of the choices!

As for rooms, well, the price of rooms will likely shock you that week. We stayed at the Residence Inn two years ago and it was over $400 a night.

travelbuff

Since you have a year to plan your trip you should be able to find a hotel that is close to the route of the parade and within reason of your budget.

One of the hotels I recommend is The Hotel Grand Union on E 32nd ST. The rooms are large by NYC standards, and it's just off Park Ave so it's close to bus and subway lines. Staying there you are also close to Macys's which is about 6 blocks away on Broadway and 34th St.

The City is FULLLLLLLLLL that weekend from visitors, shoppers, and the windows are all decorated, so I think it's when the City really shines.

Hope this helps.

nytraveler

It is probably the busiest and most expensive week of the year. Black Friday (the day after TH) is usually a gridlock alert day (reco not to bring a car into the city since traffic can come to a complete standstill). But, as long as you use the subway to get around you should be fine - and there will be a lot of reat things to see and do.

Suggest you start looking for a hotel as soon as you know your exact dates - since this will be your biggest problem. You might have a look at Radio City apartments - which are modest but reliable and in a great location. for busy times of the year they often sell out quite a few months in advance. Another idea is to stay in a part of city away from Times Square to avoid the worst of the congestion and awful prices - have a look at the upper west side and downtown - which may have some less expensive options.

garyt22

Check the hotel that the kids are staying in... although it may be away from midtown, you could get a discount rate and they may have extra rooms for chaperones and parents... you might also get on their bus and get to the parade early for a better spot... Its much easier getting a midtown room after the parade as many people come in Wednesday and check out Friday... good luck!

doug_stallings

The kids in the parade typically stay in NJ and are bused in daily. The family should by no means do that. That's the exact opposite of what I suggest. She should find a hotel in Manhattan or NYC (near a subway station) that she can afford. There are many options now in Queens. By starting the search now, as many others have pointed out, they may find a more reasonable rate, but I highly doubt it will be discounted.

And I'm not suggesting she skip the parade entirely. I'm saying this might not be the right time to spend a full week here unless they can afford it.

sf7307

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Years ago, we stayed at the Marriott Marquis on Times Square that weekend, and it was overrun with parade participants.

garyt22

doug... your response to my suggestion seems pretty harsh for an editor... they are all suggestions and are equally valid... who says you're right all the time?

mclaurie

The city is very congested the week after Thanksgiving since all the Xmas decorations get put up for T'giving and the tree in Rockefeller Center gets lit the Tues or Wed after T'giving. So that week following is one of the most expensive of the year. Many people want to come to watch the tree lighting (which is a crazy thing to do since the best view is on tv). But, if you were to come for the week leading up to T'giving, I think you might find prices better and the prices for the holiday weekend are not usually out of sight.

I wonder about your proposed order of cities. It would seem to me to make more sense to do Boston, then NYC and then Orlando. I would plan to be in Orlando the week after T'giving. Just a thought.

offlady

mclaurie,
you are right to question the order of cities--and that has me rethinking. My son will travel with his school band separately from us, so I just assumed we would meet him after the parade, then go to Boston, and end up in Orlando to visit my husband's family. My husband has never seen the New England states nor changing of the fall colors so he thought a trip to Boston at this time of the year would be nice.

Now I realize my son won't be able to take the extra couple weeks off from school after Thanksgiving. We may have to plan a separate trip to do the Boston/Orlando visit.

That said, where can we view the changing of the fall colors if we were to stay in NY? I am thinking of a drive out to West Point. Is there a closer area that anyone can suggest? We can rent a car if needed, but don't plan to get one while in the city.

travelbuff

By Thanksgiving all the colours will be gone and the tress bare. The colours this year have not even started yet, since the lowest temp was last night at a low of 50degrees, but will be starting very soon. The end of October is usually the height of the colours, so if foliage is what you want to see, try mid-october north of the city and the end of October IN the city.

nytraveler

Thanksgiving is way too late for fall colors - even in Manhattan - the last to change - the trees will have been bare for almost a month. Go to Boston to see the city if you want - the countryside will be brown and crunchy.

mclaurie

I'm afraid that's true. By T'giving the leaves are mostly gone. The beginning of Nov. is usually peak color in NYC and they're saying this year it may be sooner. Leaves are turning quickly. http://www.yankeefoliage.com/

scrb11

Staying until the 25th, flying out of JFK at 5:15 PM.

So can I check out of the hotel (in Chelsea, leave the luggage there), then go uptown to the parade and get back to get my luggage and make it out to the airport in time?

Or is it so crowded that you have to be there really early (meaning not being able to check out at 11 AM or noon) and then maybe having problems getting back (staying near 26th and 6th).

ellenem

The parade seems longer than it actually is on TV because they drag it out with performances in front of Macy's interspersed with remote reports from along the route.

The parade is finished by noon, and that is at 34th St, the end of the parade. It takes only an hour or so for the entire parade to pass by a specific location. The parade sets off from 77th St at 9AM, so if you find a place to stand on Central Park West, you will be done by 10:30AM.

You need to be in place waiting for the parade by about 7:00AM to have a good spot, later if you don't mind standing behind people.

scrb11

OK, thanks for the tips.

Also found that you can go the day before to see some of the floats being inflated.

nytraveler

Not floats. The balloons are inflated the night before at the park near the Museum of Natural History. but expect mobs for that as well and a line at least an hour long.

ellenem

We went to the inflation last year and it was mobbed by 5PM.

sf7307

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I remember way back when we were pretty much the only ones there!