Howdy,

Would it be impossible to find the following: A really cool hotel (to an eleven year old girl) near Rockefeller Center ice skating, Tiffany's, and a toy store the first weekend in December, for under $300, a Sat. night only? And it has to be "not cheesy", but "historic is okay." (Quoting my daughter.) She also wants to have tea at the Plaza. She's such a romantic.

We plan on driving although could take the train. We're from R.I. Any recommendations on a good cheap clean not-cheesy hotel within walking to some of these attractions?

Thanks so much - I am clueless.

Signed,
Cluless Mom.

Tea at the Plaza with taxes and tip will be close to $80.

Skating is $15 with rental (methinks) per person so that is $30.

Parking is a so-so lot will cost around $40.

That leaves you $150 for a hotel including taxes and services charges.

Doubtful you will find anything on a Saturday night in NYC even on priceline for that on a December weekend with your criteria unless you wait until the very last minute.

Can you up your budget? Even by $100 would make your trip do-able.

Sorry, missed the part about the first weekend in December. That is one of the most expensive weekends in NYC. Can you change your dates until later?

Three of my friends and I are all taking our daughters (age 13) to NYC the second weekend in December for the same type of trip. We got a rate of $246.21 thru Orbitz at the Washington Square Hotel in Greenwich Village. Hotel looks beautiful and the area is soooo cool. Lots of shopping and restaurants nearby.

I assumed the $300. was just for the hotel. If so, have a look at the Broadway Inn, we've stayed there twice:

http://www.broadwayinn.com/rates.aspx

~Liz

Clueless mom, is your entire budget $300 or is that the hotel budget? Now I'm clueless.

Whoops! That's just hotel budget.
Parking is pricey. We could do the train, because it would be about the same as parking/traffic aggravation/gas.

AND if we bring our own skates, and teabags... sheesh, I didn't know the plaza tea thing was so pricey.

It would be worth it though, right? The tea thing?

The only thing my daughter wanted one year was lunch at the Ritz (in Boston). I have no recollection of what I spent, but I sure do have fond memories of that meal. Go for the tea, and then for Christmas, buy one less sweater that will be worn only a couple of times and forgotten.

Tea (especially at Christmastime!) would be a wonderful splurge. I just checked the Plaza website and there are several options for Tea, ranging in price from $29 - $44 per person. There is a children's tea for $19.50, but I do not know what the age restriction is.

Skating at Rockefeller Center is $13; children $9, skate rental is $6. In addition to the RC rink, you can skate at The Wollman Skating Rink in Central Park (kids under 12 are $4.50 adults are $11).

Do yourself a favor and take the train. The car will be a hassel especilly driving in and out of the city with the holiday traffic.

Have fun!

Thank you!
I found a neato sounding hotel called The Warwick, 90% of the Tripadvisor advice was gungho for the place, and the rate was below budget, so I'll have some extra for extras.

Thanks all!

I was there with my mom for the Christmas tree lighting last December.We stayed on the concierge floor of the Hilton near Rockefeller center. We loved that. We were on the 42nd floor or so and there were appetizers in the reception area there where you could see the Empire State building and lounge around. We also had a great view from our room. Really fun for us. It was very near Rockefeller Center and all the shopping. We loved it there.
Also, I remember walking into the lobby of the Warwick-right across the street. That seemed very nice too.
Have a great time-let me know if I can be of further help.

Here's a few websites that may help when trying to visit New York on a tight budget.

http://www.ny.com/free.html

http://www.cheapotravel.com/ny/index.php3

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...110730193/pg_2 --- new york on a shoestring

The Warwick is a terrific hotel and somewhat historic (I think I read William Randolph Hearst built it for his mistress ) It's not too far from the places you mentioned. Le Parker Meridien would also be well located (more modern looking place with an indoor pool).

The Carnegie Suites hotel and the Salisbury are both all suite hotels with kitchenettes in the rooms, not far from the Plaza Hotel. The Warwick or Parker Meridien are a bit nicer I think.

Don't miss the American Girl store in Rockefeller Center and Toys R' Us in Times Square.

WE have stayed at the Carnegie Suites Hotel in NYC and LOVED it. So convenient. Very close to the park. They upgraded us to a larger suite and it was huge with a great kitchen and dining room. They also had a continental breakfast in the AM if I recall. I am surprised more people don't mention it here.

Oh I hope you can treat your daughter to Tea at the Plaza, but in case you decide on some nice hot chocolate near Rockefellar Center for less than $80, do walk over there and do not miss the painting of "Eloise" in the Plaza lobby!

My mom took me there to Tea when I was 12, and I've never forgotten that experience! Don't know if the tree will be up yet, but it's beautiful. You can also find a Magnificent Xmas tree in the Museum of Metropolitan Art, on Fifth Ave around 82nd St. It's decorated with antique figurines and creches from Naples, Italy. Entry fees are at your own discretion, so it's fine to just give $1.00 to go in. Don't know about hotels, sorry to say. How great that you are bringing her to NYC, have an unforgettable time!!!

Sorry - while the fees at the Met are at your own discretion - this is really for the benefit of students and others who really don;t have the wherewithal to pay for a museum. Anyone who has the money to come to the city and stay in a hotel really should pay the full suggested price. After all, this is one of the great cultural institutions of the Western world - isn;lt it worth at least as much as one more useles trashy movie - that will be forgotten 5 minutes after it ends?

Friends of ours from London stay at the Warwick every time they visit NYC.
You will be happy there, I think..
Try to get over to the East 60's and have something to eat at Serendipity, your cool factor will go way up with your dotta~
Have fun~

Thank you thank you all.

One more question - she's a vegetarian. Any cool vegetarian restaurants nearby?

(I'm not a vegetarian, but I'll eat them if I have to, haha.)

Unfortunately I think many of the vegetarian places are downtown (where the young people live ), but as I'm sure you know, you can manage a vegetarian meal at any Italian restaurant. My favorite Italian near there is Trattoria Dell'Arte. It IS fun, has a huge antipasto bar in the front with lots of grilled veggie options and delicious pizza if she's not vegan. It's at 7th & 56th so very close. If she eats fish, there's a place right near Trattoria called the Redeye Grill that's fun with good food.

Tao is a very cool Asian place on east 58th that will have some vegetarians options. Menupages.com is a good place to search for restaurants by neighborhood, cuisine etc. and you can see menus too.

Many Indians have vegetarian dishes and some regular places have at least one vegetarian option. The closest all vegetarian I can think of is Zen Palate in the theater district at 9th & 46th st.

A new Whole Foods market has opened in tbe new Time Warner Building on Columbus Circle (59th Broadway area) with a salad bar etc. that people have been raving about.

There's a well hidden Indian called Utsav in an office building on 6th betw 46-47 (1185 Sixth Ave) that has both vegetarian and meat dishes. They have a bargain lunch buffet.

re Museum entry fees,
Of course, if you wish to pay the full fee, that's fine too.

Many residents can't afford the full fee, because basic living expenses here are so high. Many also don't go to movies anymore, since they went up over ten dollars. The idea is to give what you can. If they didn't have such a policy, quite a few locals wouldn't get to go.

If you only have a 300 dollar budget to cover all your expenses for the visit, I am thinking that is an affordable way to get into to see and appreciate the beautiful Xmas tree on the first floor. It's really lovely.