We will be celebrating my oldest daughter's 16th b-day in NYC from Nov. 21-25.We would like help locating a hotel and we need to know where to stand on the parade route. This will be the first trip with our girls ages 15 and 12. What to wear in Nov.? Any fun suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

You are going to NYC on one of the busiest and most expensive weekends of the year.

Find a hotel IMMEDIATELY before there is nothing left - and expect to pay the earth.

For 4 people I would reco the Affinia group of moderately priced all suite hotels - but don;t know if they'll have any room left at this point. (Hotels right on the parade route were booked when I was trying to help someone find a room in MAY - so don;t worry about neighborhood, just quality of hotel and space within your budget.)

As for watching the parade most of the special activities take place in Herald Square(34/35th Sts) but that is reserved for TV and VIPS. If you go very early - before 7am - you may be able to get a spot on 39th/40th and Broadway (the parade marches down Broadway from the Museum of Natural History at 79th St.)

We watch the start of the parade in the upper 70's then walk home to see the end (and performances) on TV.

Be sure to go to the park next to the museum the night before to see the balloons blown up - incredibly fun- but mobbed. Also - this is a good area to have dinner - mid/upscale residential with tons of places with great food of every kind fromm inexpensive to moderate plus.

The day of the parade could be 50 or could be in the 30s. I have never seen snow, but rarely rain. If you're going to be outside for hours I would go with a medium weight jacket (leather?) that you can layer with sweater, turtleneck of just blouse depending on the weather. (Sometimes the Rockettes' breath looks like a pack of steam engines - I don;t now how they dance on colder days.) Bring gloves and a hat - but you might need to stuff in a pocket.

For fun suggestions - don;t know your girls interests. My steps at that age loved the Met, Natural History, riding in Central Park, skating at Rock Center, Tower Record or J&R Music and a giant B&N - and shopping at Bloomies or trendy downtown areas.

Avoid Serendipity (it's just a big ice cream blob and a huge wait). Don;t know what to reco for food since don;t know their tastes or attitudes (are they uber sophisticates or is the yonger one still girly?)

Give info on budget and tastes and people can make recos.

But, most of all, MAKE HOTEL RESSIES NOW!!

Just checked Affinia and they're showing some availability for about $400 per night for a junior suite, including tax. If that's above your budget you could try the applecore group of budget hotels.

Also - Embassy Suites downtown (nice hotel, prety location) but will be quiet on a holiday weekend has 2 queen bed suites for aboout $360. It might be worth staying downtown to have a nicer place - depending on what else you plan on doing.

I agree with the advice nytraveler has given you, but I see availablility on quikbook.com for several of the Affinia hotels and some other suite hotels for less than $400 on those dates. The cheapest is the Beekman Tower at a total for 4 nights of $1206 (different price each night). While the location isn't near the typical Thanksgiving activities, it's a nice hotel near the UN. Look at reviews on tripadvisor.

The Kimberly is a nice midtown suite hotel a bit closer to Fifth ave. for $335/night or $1340 total (these prices don't include taxes).

The Affinia Manhattan is closest to Macy's and is $1416 for the 4 nights.

Bottom line, perhaps since you're not spending the weekend, there's plenty of availability and prices aren't too bad considering those are all for 1 bedroom suites.

I would try to stay midtown (all the hotels I've mentioned are midtown) or on the upper westside where the parade starts (hotels there are the Lucerne, the Excelsior, the Beacon, On the Avenue).

Bring warm clothes that you can layer. Some years it's freezing and other years it's not so bad. Layering is best b/c heat inside buildings can be stifling.

Here's a guide from last year's NY Magazine about holiday events.
http://nymag.com/guides/holidays/index.html

You might want to consider getting tickets to a Broadway show and/or the Radio City Xmas Spectacular or the Nutcracker ballet or????

What do the girls like?

Wow! These are great ideas. My girls like music,dance,theater,history,MTV,shopping,animals,g ames,and all kinds of food except French. Our dates have changed 11/18-11/24. Should we do the bus pass thing? Please send any ideas. Thank you

Still think the first thing you need to do is get a hotel locked in. Agree the Affinias are good choices for 4. (My prices differ rom McLauries somewhat since I always include the 18% tax when I quote - so it's not a surprise - also availabiity is always changing).

For what the girls like I would include the zoo in Central Park (pick a nice day) - it's small but interesting. the real zoo is in the bronx and is fabulous but would take most of the day.

For theater/dance I would definitely book the Nutcracker at Lincoln Center. Also check their web site for other special activities, including backstage tours which they offer fairly frequently. For broadway shows go to Broadwaybox.com 60 to 90 days out to get codes of shows that are discounting. then go to the regular on-line seller with the discount - IMHO better than standing on line at TKTS for discounts and not being sure what you're getting.

Would also reco the Met (check the web site in advance to pick 2 or 3 departments you'll all like) and do try to fit in the Ellis Island Immigration Museum - if they're interested in history they will adore this.

If you give us a restaurant budget we can make recos. Or you could check out menupages.com - which lists hundreds of places- and you can search by cuisine and neighborhood - and see actual menus and reader reviews. Also New York Magazine web site has a new article on best inexpensive restaurants in NYC (some are actually inexpensive - but some are places where you can get a $100 dinner for $60 - but a good mix and some nice trendy places).

"....but some are places where you can get a $100 meal for $60..."
Oh, please, explain that one to me!

Some of the places listed are really inexpensive - but most are in the outer boroughs. Some in Manhattan are places that provide a meal that in most places would cost you $100 - but they're less expensive - so a $100 for $60.

Haven;t you ever eaten in a place that had great food, service, ambience etc and you thought - this is the equivalent of what I would pay much more for at some more "name" place?

Yea,we have a hotel! (The Times Square Westin) Thank you all for your fantastic responses. Can anyone tell me when the Christmas decorations go up? If you have anymore ideas or suggestions I would love to read them. I have become addicted to Fodor's!

Gee, Labor Day has already passed. Aren't the decorations up by now?

I'd sure catch the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Show. It starts well before Thanksgiving. There is also a new stage production of The Grinch this year.

The Radio City Music Hall show starts the first weekend in November. Agree, it is a must see.

Affina hotels are an excellent choice.

Watch the parade on the Upper West Side and you can beat the crowds to Thanksgiving Lunch. They'll still be standing in the cold while you are comfy and cozy in a restaurant.

Wear layers. Did I mention it will be cold?

Most of NYC's Christmas decorations will be up by the time of your visit. The stores with famous decorated windows usually unveil them the week before Thanksgiving. The one major exception: the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center will be in place but not lit until the week after Thanksgiving.