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-   -   New York December Trip (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/new-york-december-trip-641523/)

carlota Aug 24th, 2006 02:36 AM

New York December Trip
 
Hi!!! We were thinking of parrot cay, but finally decided NYORK, so now I'm trying to plan a trip to nyork with my husband the 1st week of december...We are trying to book a hotel but they are all so expensive these dates...We are trying to get a good price on the New York Palace (we have stayed there several times and love it!!). We tried four seasons and mandarin oriental and they are far too expensive for us (4seasons standard for 900$)
We have flights reservation till tomorrow...depending if we can find hotel by that time...
any suggestion for around 500$ per night??
I'm also looking for a show. I had decided "Jersey Boys" but apparently there are no tickets available....Maybe I'm not doing it right....any help on that??
Another thing...does anyone know what is on the met and the moma for those dates??
Thanks!!!

nytraveler Aug 24th, 2006 05:12 AM

Well -

As you can see you have picked the most expensive tyime of year. And for $500 per night you won;t get 5* and probably wont get 4*.

Here are a coulle of suggestions:

Try Quickbook to see if theyhave any relative bargains

Look at the web sites of the larger chain business type hotels - they have somany rooms to sell they sometimes have rooms available at not TOO BAD rates

Try the Affinia group of all suite hotels. They are sort of 3.5* - but almost always get good reviews and give you lots of extra room. It's likely they should have somethig available in the $500 range if you move quickly.

lizziea06 Aug 24th, 2006 08:08 AM

At that price point, you might look at some of the boutique hotels further downtown.

I just checked 60 Thompson (luxury boutique hotel in SoHo), and they have queen superior rooms available the first week of December for $539/night.

The Maritime is about $400/night, the Hudson is $499/night for those dates.

Suerich68 Aug 24th, 2006 08:16 AM

What you're doing wrong is picking that week - it is the busiest week of the year in NY.

If you come in after the 18th you can probably stay within your budget.

fitznj Aug 24th, 2006 08:18 AM

Check out entertainment-link.com for cheaper NY theater tickets. If you can't get Jersey Boys see Spamalot. It's hysterical. Also, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is excellent.

carlota Aug 25th, 2006 12:24 AM

We can only go that week because in Spain there it's holiday...I know it's a pity!!!
we need to go to a musical cause my husband doen't speak english that well and if we see for example spamalot, he won't catch any of the jokes (maybe neither would I....)
We were thinking of going to miami to try the new acqualina, but I prefer to go to nyork!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NY!!!!!
I will try all the places you all suggest and give you my feed back!! thanks!!!

mclaurie Aug 25th, 2006 06:12 AM

Agree first week in Dec. is probably THE most expensive. The lights on the tree in Rockefeller Center get lit.

If you like the location of the Palace, the Affinia 50 isn't far and it's $499/night--or the San Carlos for $500/night, both on quikbook.com The San Carlos is a bit newer/fresher but both get good reviews on tripadvisor.com

The Lucerne is a nice hotel on the upper westside (near Museum of Natural History), an area many people like. It's $455/night for a suite also on quikbook.

60 Thompson is a nice boutique hotel in Soho (where there's tons of shopping) and is available on quikbook for $499. Would be a fun area to stay if you're coming for Xmas shopping.

GoTravel Aug 25th, 2006 06:47 AM

At this point, I highly suggest you take mclaurie's advice and go for the Affina 50. At this point, most of the moderate hotels are already booked and only the really expensive top end have any availability for a week.

I would call The Surrey Hotel, another Affina property and see if they have any availability. The website isn't showing any but that doesn't mean anything. It is one of the nicest boutique hotels in Manhattan on the Upper East Side. It is catty corner from The Carlyle.

mclaurie Aug 25th, 2006 12:43 PM

The Surrey is $509/539 (changes on some nights) on quikbook for a studio apt. I also notice the Sofitel is available on a special on quikbook at about the same price, but it requires prepayment/no cancellations, not true for any of the others mentioned.

wantsomesun Aug 25th, 2006 01:47 PM

As you know the begining of December is the height of the tourist season here, and not sure anymore when the low season is, lol, we seem to be packed with visitors all year long.

That said, you might try www.hotels.com for suggestions on what hotels are available the week you are going to be here and what the rates are showing.

You might try The Dream Hotel as a good choice, and should be within your budget.

A few stars less, but a nice hotel is the Grand Union on E 32nd and the Affinia on E 34th.

Have a great time while you are here.

Grandma Aug 25th, 2006 03:23 PM

Since your husband doesn't speak English have you thought of a night at the opera? If you googled the Metropolitan Opera you could see if there was anything that interested you. It's a wonderful experience. OR... the New York City Ballet will be doing their Nutcracker then. There's a lot more theatre in NYC than Broadway -:)

carlota Aug 28th, 2006 02:07 AM

thanks but we prefer a musical...
does anyone know (first hand) any luxury-well situated apartments in Nyork?? that is harder to find that a hotel (their websites are not so detailed and their pictures not so good..)The palace option is beginning to fade....by the way...the 4seasons standard rate (on their website) is already 2.000$/night!!!!!
thanks!

doug_stallings Aug 28th, 2006 05:52 AM

carlota, you will simply not find a luxury hotel room in NYC for the first week of December for less than $500, and certainly not one of the caliber you are looking for (the regular rates at these hotels are above $500 a night now). It is the beginning of the most expensive season of the year in the city. You should be able to find a well-located, decent hotel (a standard, corporate chain like a Sheraton or Marriott) if you reserve soon. I'm afraid I can't suggest a "luxury" apartment rental; if you want something more modest, look at suites at the various Affinia Hotels throughout NYC; these hotels are pretty nice and the 1-bedroom suites apartment-like.

For musicals, look at Tuesday and Wednesday nights. You might like The Drowsy Chaperone, which is a good new musical. You might be able to get tickets for Mary Poppins or A Chorus Line, which are opening this Fall, though that is one of the busiest weeks for theater in the entire year.

lisettemac Aug 28th, 2006 06:01 AM

You might try the Fitzpatrick Manhattan Hotel. It is a lovely Irish chain with nice, large, well-appointed rooms and good service. It has a certain charm. We put our wedding guests up at the one near Grand Central (they have 2 Manhattan locations). I put the dates arriving Dec. 3 for 4 nights and came up with a rate of $439 a night and $529 for a suite.

GoTravel Aug 28th, 2006 06:44 AM

The Surrey is pretty close to being a luxury hotel.

Suerich68 Aug 28th, 2006 06:49 AM

"Les Miz" is returning to NY in the fall. You might score some tickets now. The action should make up for the language barrier.

Ike Aug 28th, 2006 07:15 AM

Check with the Helmsley Park Lane on Central Park South. They usually have rates half what RC, FS, Peninsual, NY Palace et al have.

Suzieb2 Aug 28th, 2006 09:01 AM

You might consider Marriott Courtyard in Mid-town. It is not a large hotel, and is just about 2 blocks from Times Square. One of the more reasonable places, and conveniently located.

carlota Aug 28th, 2006 11:35 PM

thanks for all your suggestions!! I'm checking all of them!!! a friend has also given me names of apartments near st. patrick, so I'll have a look at them also!! I hope we can finally go!! I really love Nyork at christmas!!!

TXgrandma Aug 28th, 2006 11:49 PM

Carlota- New York is usually abreviated NY or NYC. Sorry, but nyork just sounds like something teenage boys do with their nose in the mornings!



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