Im bringing thre3 22 year olds to nyc dec 19-23. thinking of staying in Times Square and doing a show. Any recommendations on accomodations and shows? activities?

What is your nightly budget - a specific amount in $ - and do you want to put all 4 people in one room (basic rooms in NYC have only 1 double bed).

In terms of shows - are you looking for a big hit musical comedy? What shows have you seen and liked or not?

As to what to see and do - what are your interests? There are hundreds of things to do - something for every interest. Have you ever been to NYC before?

Some things we always do for the holidays:

View the animated window displays at major stores: Lord & Taylor, Saks, Bloomies. There is usually a long line so best done after 10 or 11 pm.

Visit Rock Center to see the tree/wonderful decorations and the skating rink - then hop across Fifth to St Pat's which is gorgeous.

We often have a special dinner at the Sea Grill - from which you can see the skating if you get a window seat - if you want to spend the money.

We also always go to see the Nutcracker at Lincoln Center - but some people prefer the Christmas show at the Radio City Music Hall (get discount tickets in advance).

A couple of the best trees are at the Met (antique neapolitan tree and creche) and the Am Museum Nat'l Hist ( an origami tree).

There are a ton of other special activities. You may want to look at the web sites of New York Magazine and Time Out New York to see specific activities for your dates.

General must sees:

Top of the Rock

Visit the Met (the greatest cultural institution in the western hemisphere)

Staten Island ferry - trip across the harbor is about 1.5 hours and the views of Manhattan on the way back are incredible - also views (but not close) of the Statue of Liberty

If you plan on shopping be aware that the major stores are open very long hours and are MOBBED much of the time - some have "facilitators" to pull slow people off the escalators to prevent pile-ups

The Westin is one block west of Times Square (W 43rd St/8th Ave.)

Lots of good casual restaurants in gayborhood of Hell's Kitchen/9th Ave.

Thin

Bid on priceline

LOL, there's a lot of hype in NYC, too, as you've seen. We love the Met but get real.

Times Square will be busy, for sure, and a lot of people might say that is the last place you should stay but it is within easy walking distance of many theatres (including the Met).

Are we talking about the Metropolitan Opera or the Metropolitan Museum of Art? I think we have some confusion here. It's a long walk to the museum which isn't a theatre.

Isn't it late to be first choosing a hotel during that time period. Won't the availability of theatre tix be very limited if one wants to see the hit shows?
(Just asking, I live here but curious..)

I would be amazed if you can find a hotel room for that time period without breaking the bank. Hard to help with such vague information given.

I see no mention of budget. It takes a lot to "break" some travelers' banks!

That said, yes, we do need more info, but if price isn't a real issue there is plenty still available that close to Christmas.

Met is the Metropolitan Museum of art.

While the other Met has wonderful programs would not call it the greatest cultural institution in the western hemisphere.

If you're willing to go the "anonymous hotel" route, there's a 4-1/2* hotel in Times Square that gets 95% favorable ratings on Hotwire, 4 adults, $267 a night (I presume that's plus tax). That's a great price for that time of year.

One activity could be the new Star Wars exhibit at Discovery Times Square. Was there Saturday and it's amazing. It's all about the costumes and worth the two hours you spend in the exhibit. There is also a Hunger Games exhibit if interested.

Look at travelzoo.com. There are some discounts that sound pretty good.

LOL, there's a lot of hype in NYC, too, as you've seen. We love the Met but get real.
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There is the Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale.

Did someone suggest that the Swimming Hall of Fame is the "the greatest cultural institution in the western hemisphere"? If not, I can't imagine the point of that post, IMDonehere. How does it even relate?