My husband and I are planning a trip to NYC from Dec 26-Dec 31, give or take a day. He has only been to NYC once, and although I have been a few more times, it has been nearly 20 years since my last visit.
We want to see the typical tourist sights and see a play or two. We are two southerners in our late 40's, not very sophisticated, and not interested in trendy hot spots.
Is the week between Christmas and New Year's typically a busy time? What do you suggest as far as lodging and other activities? All suggestions will be appreciated.

That's probably the busiest week of the year in New York City!
Book your hotel and theater tickets now!

The city is truly mobbed that week.

Besides a million kids being out of school, a lot of parents take vacation then, and more and more companies are closing that week as an extra benefit - since nothing gets done anyway.

So all the locals and suburbanites are going to the theater, shopping the sales and returning unwanted gifts.

Not to mention the New Years mania.

If you want to do this expect everything to be mobbed/expensive - and book NOW.

..."all the locals and suburbanites are going to the theater, shopping the sales and returning unwanted gifts."

All true, very, very true! Yes, it is a mob scene - very crowded

Book now and get those theater tickets in advance.

While it is very busy, I still see some decent hotel prices on a search on quikbook.com The Park South Hotel has rooms ranging in price from $189-~225. I think this hotel is in a great area although not in Times Square which is where most want to stay. I'd stay away, especially if you're leaving on the 31st, you may have a problem getting a cab. Some other hotels that look good for those dates are the Giraffe (same neighborhood) and the Lucerne (upper westside).

Here's a guide for holiday things from last year to give you an idea of what goes in the city.

http://www.newyorkmetro.com/urban/gu...sandscenes.htm

For shows look on broadwaybox.com for discounts (may be too early for Dec. now) Playbill.com will list everything that's playing on and off Broadway.

There are lots of posts here on Christmas in NYC if you do a text search.

To clarify my poorly worded post, I was suggesting staying away from the Times Square area hotels, not the hotel I was recommending, the Park South

We've gone to NYC several times during that week, and surprisingly have found wonderful hotel rates. I think that's because there are NO conventions or business happenings and the crowds are as much locals as tourists. The only hotel thing was you must leave on Dec. 31 before the hotel rates double or triple for that night!
One year we flew up late Christmas afternoon/evening and the flight was cheaper, nearly empty, and there was NO traffic into our hotel. Arriving on the 26th is a guaranteed traffic jam coming in from the airport -- trust me.

Hi Gracie,
We're going to be in NY the same week (but leaving on the 29th). I posted a hotel question and got some good advice. I've never copied a thread thing before but try this:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=1

For several hotels I looked at the 26th was very inexpensive and then the rates jumped on the 27th. I just averaged the three nights out and found an average that suited me.

We were hoping to see Spamalot but it was sold out. We did get our second choice, though, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, orchestra seats for about as much as we'd spend on theatre tickets at home. Otherwise, we're planning to walk, eat, go to galleries, visit friends, then walk and eat some more. Trendy hot spots are not our thing either, nor are we big shoppers.

I know it will sound incredibly hokey to some but my husband has never seen the inside of Radio City Music Hall (a gorgeous Art Deco specimen) or the Rockettes. I've seen the Christmas show several times since I was a kid but I think I'll try to take him to a matinee. I know it will be chock full of kidlets on their Christmas outing but so what? If I minded noise or crowds I wouldn't be coming to NY for a holiday.

First off for more ideas just type the word itinerary in the search box.
Secondly since the city will be extremely crowded that week you might want to think about buying the nycpass - not only to save some money but more to save the standing in line.
For theater tickets visit www.broadwaybox.com

hdm, I love the Rockettes Christmas Show and to this New Yorkophile, it isn't hokey at all.

Gracie, I'll not add anything except you've been given good advice.