I would love suggestions for a vacation during Christmas time in New York. We are looking for either this year or next year. Not sure yet. I would love suggestions for Hotels and restaurants and must do and see. Any tips would be appreciated.

What's a good area to stay and where to stay away from?

We haven't looked into a budget on the rooms but I would like something nice with a pretty view. Maybe $100-200 a night. Don't really know. We like to try different restaurants so that price range really is no big deal.

This would be a total tourist trip...you know i've got to the tree, central park blah blah blah.

Thanks,
Megan

Megan, I would suggest that you start off by doing some reading on these forums -- search for New York, Times Square etc. The reason - unfortunately, "nice with a pretty view" and "$100-200" just don't coincide in New York. An average hotel in New York during the high season (October through Christmas)will run about $400 a night, sad but true. You should consider visiting in the off-season (even then your budget is at the very low end for Manhattan) or increase your budget for accommodations by a fair amount. Or maybe reduce the number of days you planned to be there so you can spend more on a hotel.

Nothing is set so our budget can go up. I was just looking for suggestions. Thanks for your post.

That's good. I'd still suggest going into the upper right corner on this page and clicking on "New York">Search. You'll find a lot of reading -- places to stay and eat, things to do and see, when to go and when not to go, etc. Give yourself a few hours!!

Christmas week is the busiest tourist week of the year. There will be times when the streets in Times Square and near Rock Center are virtually impassable.

The stores windows are beautifully decorated and there is great exceitement in the streets. I would advise to eat whenever possible in any place but midtown.

Nicer hotel with a pretty view in high season in NYC is probably from about $600 per night and up. $350 to $400 will get you a room in a basic chain hotel with no view.

The only way to get a nice room in the $100 to $150 range is to bid Priceline in Jan or Feb - and then you don;t find out which hotel until you have paid - and it;s good for 2 people only (1 double or 2 twin beds).

Not sure where you're from - but although it's possible to visit NYC on a budget if you're very careful- prices (hotel, restaurants, shows, sights), esp in high season, are similar to those in other world capitols.

Also - many things essentially sell out in busy seasons (popular hotels are fully booked for many days this year already) - so, if you want to go this year you should move quickly.

With restaurants you have innumerable options - and it's certainly possible to save money there - but any sort of special dinner for 2 with wine will be in the region of $200 or so.

Unfortunately, Christmas is a really time of year for NYC and your budget is completely realistic. Christmas/winter is the most expensive time for hotel rates.

I can recommend the Hyatt at Jersey City, NJ. It is 2 stops on the PATH train to NYC with a beautiful and amazing view of the NYC skyline. Normal rates are around $200 for this hotel, but probably a bit more during the holidays. You will not get anything under $200-$300 during this time.