Where To Stay In Lower Manhattan
citizenM New York Bowery
At the hotel, all rooms are fitted with a desk, wall-to-wall windows, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with rain showers. The rooms feature a fridge and free WiFi is provided. A buffet or American breakfast is available daily at the property.
Best Western Bowery Hanbee Hotel
Located in downtown Manhattan, this hotel is steps from Little Italy and 150 yards from the Grand Street Subway station. It features guest rooms with flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. Every room at the Best Western Bowery Hanbee Hotel provides coffee facilities. Each includes cable TV with in-room movies and a variety of international TV channels.
World Center Hotel
Each of the rooms at the New York World Center Hotel is decorated in neutral tones and includes a desk. Guests can charge and listen to their iPod on the iPod docking station or adjust the room temperature with the bedside touch screen monitor. A fitness centre and a 24-hour concierge staff are available at the World Center Hotel. Free bottled water stations are also located on each floor.
Seeing Santa And Friends
As of Thanksgiving weekend, Eloise, the Plaza Hotels most famous resident, is joined by Santa Claus for photos and merriment.
A fantastic holiday celebration with your family is starts with Eloise tea in Palm Court before heading below to the concourse level to see with Santa.
There are several holiday events targeted for young children with Eloise or Santa in November and December like Hanukkah celebrations and gingerbread house decorating. There are more informal child teas in the Eloise salon if your brood is too big or your kids too young to enjoy Palm Court.
Check the Plazas website for these events scheduled in the Eloise room off the wonderful Plaza food court which is a great place for purchasing exquisite gourmet gifts.
The Carlyle, one of our favorite New York hotels offers Madelines Tea every Saturday from the beginning of November to the end of December.
There are seatings at 10:15AM and 1PM and include a sing-along around the piano at one of the New York hotels with the most impressive jazz pedigree . The tea takes place inside Bemelmans Bar, whose murals were crafted by Ludwig Bemelmans, illustrator of the Madeline books. Madeline makes a cameo appearance on the walls, too.
Theres even a Mommy and Me at Yves Durif, the salon on the third floor of the Carlyle, where mother and daughter can
have a shampoo and blow dry together before attending the Madeline Tea to make you picture perfect. This combo service costs $125.
See The Rockefeller Christmas Tree 2021
Obvious, I know. But, would you go to Paris for the first time and not see the Eiffel Tower? Exactly.
In 2021, the Rockefeller tree lighting ceremony is on Wednesday,p.m. 9 p.m. Once its lit, you can see the tree through early January 2022.
To attend the tree lighting ceremony, youll need to arrive by 3 p.m. in order to have the best chance to see the tree when the lights switch on.
If you cant get to Rockefeller Plaza immediately surrounding the tree and ice rink between 48th & 51st streets from 5th or 6th Avenues, try to get a spot in the Channel Gardens between 49th & 50th Streets along 5th Avenue. Otherwise, head to 5th Avenue and stand just at the entrance of the Channel Gardens, with Saks Fifth Avenue Department Store at your back.
To see the musical performances before the tree lighting, you must be within the first few rows of people around the ice rink. If this is your goal, arrive by midday to claim a spot.
Even after the lighting ceremony, Rockefeller Center and the tree is unbelievably crowded during the holiday season. You might even momentarily wonder why youre shuffling along with hoards of people just to see a Christmas tree.
But, its truly spectacular and a New York Christmas holiday must! The decorations inside Rockefeller Center add to the display of lights and festivities. It just wouldnt be a very New York Christmas if you didnt see the Rockefeller tree!
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Best Hotel In New York Freehand New York
Located at the heart of Midtown, Freehand New York is our top choice for where to stay in New York City. This hotel is close to the best landmarks, museums, and restaurants in New York.
Rooms are spacious, comfortable and outfitted in a modern-rustic décor. The hotel has a coffee bar, dry cleaning service, and on-site restaurant and bar.
Best Apartments In Nyc
Apartments are a great choice for all travelers that want to feel at home and enjoy some space and a different kind of vibe compared to hotel rooms. Booking an Airbnb while you travel is also a great choice for people that want to save some money or for families or groups of friends that want to stay together.
The good news is that New York City is anything but short on apartment options for all budgets, that is! I have selected the best ones I could find for you below and I grouped them by budget for your convenience. By the way, theyre all in the Midtown area of Manhattan, also known as the best neighborhood for travelers who are coming to New York for the first time:
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Where To Stay In New York Around Christmas Time
My friend and I will be in New York for our first time around Christmas for 3 days. We were originally looking at the Helmsley Park Hotel but after reading up on a few different websites I’m now not so sure.
We want to be close to Times Square/Broadway, Rockefellar Center etc and get to experience New York at Christmas. Don’t mind if we’re surrounded by crowds, noise etc and budget isn’t really an issue.
If anyone could suggest some great hotels / activities that would be a big help!
My wife and I were in NYC about that same time last year and had a wonderful trip. Christmas decorations were everywhere and it was all very festive. As far as lodging, it doesn’t really matter where you stay as long as you are near a subway. We stayed near the 911 Memorial on our trip, and that was not a problem at all as far as getting around.
One thing to be on the look out for around that time of year is SantaCon, which is a sort of “flash mob” event that is held annually . There were literally thousands of people dressed in all manner of Santa costumes, filling the streets with a lot of merriment and “ho ho ho”. We stumbled on it completely by accident, and it was one of the highlights of our trip.
As far as activities, you can check out the Christmas decorations on 5th Ave and at the Macy’s on 34th St, go ice skating at any one of several places, and of course do some shopping if that’s your thing. I’m sure you’ll enjoy your visit – we certainly enjoyed ours!
-JimG
Hola AshD.
Abrazos,
Why Avoid Midtown West
Midtown West is an expensive area and incredibly busy. There are people walking and cars tooting until the early hours so its not ideal if youre a light sleeper. Its also constantly bright from all of the billboards. Obviously, its a very touristy area so you wont get much of local life here and have to deal with ticket touts trying to sell things more than you might like.
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What To Wear What To Bring New York City In December
Bundle up December in New York City ranges from cold to freezing cold, with some occasional unseasonably warm days. As a year-round rule, layers are always a good idea when traveling to NYC. But make sure to pack hats, scarves, gloves, waterproof shoes/boots, sweaters, coats, umbrellas and so on. It is always advisable to bring a small knapsack for warm winter accessories, as temperatures can change quite a bit while youre walking around.
Back to Top of Best Things To Do in New York in December
Is Visiting Nyc In Winter Worth It
Yes! While I think I prefer NYC when it is warmer, there are some special experiences that you can only have during the winter. If you come prepared, hopefully, the weather wont feel so bad. If you think you wont be able to enjoy yourself in the cold, consider postponing and visiting NYC in the spring.
I do think the Christmas season is the best time to visit NYC in the winter. Keep in mind though that hotels will be more expensive and there will be more crowds. Its best to book your accommodations early!
Have you been to NYC during the winter? What have been some of your favorite things to do?
-Anisa
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Save Money On Attractions With The New York Pass
Visiting NYC for the first time can be stressful. New York is a big city and theres lots of fun things to do and see. It can be challenging to plan an itinerary and determine which attractions to spend your money on.
For my first trip to NYC, I didnt have a plan. I tried to do some research before my trip to decide what to see and do, but I quickly got overwhelmed. I thought I could just figure it out while I was there.
BIG mistake! When I returned home from my trip, there were so many attractions that I missed, because I didnt plan ahead.
Thats why for my second trip, I didnt want to repeat this mistake. I discovered the New York Pass, which helped me easily plan my itinerary and visit all the top attractions in the city. With the New York Pass, I saved time, money, and enjoyed stress-free sightseeing.
PRO TIP: Buy the pass online to save time and hassle. Plus, youll save extra money off the retail price. To buy the New York Pass, to go to the official website.
Visit The Ny Public Library
The NY Public Library is as beautiful on the interior as it is on the exterior. Its definitely worth exploring for its architectural details alone.
The best way to see the library is to take one of the free docent-led tours. On the one hour tour, they will take you to see the Rose Main Reading Room and the Librarys exhibitions.
Winter is the perfect time to check out the inside of the New York Public Library.
The tours run on the hour from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm Monday through Saturdays and at 2:00 pm on Sundays. Tours are available on a first-come basis and are limited to 25 people. Meet the tour at the reception desk in Astor Hall.
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Why Stay In Chelsea
A great hub for foodies, and people who love trendy bars, cobbled streets, art galleries, and nightlife. Its an ideal alternative to the busy Midtown and is located just West of there so its not far from most of the number one tourist sights of Manhattan. The Flatiron building is in this district as well as Union Square with plenty of coffee shops, small restaurants, and bookshops including the famous Strand bookshop. Its a great choice for people who love markets as this is the sight of the famous Christmas Market, the Greenmarket four days a week, and various other flea and antique markets throughout the week. Theres plenty to do after dark in terms of entertainment so its an ideal base for people who like to be kept busy.
Where To Stay In New York City The Best Area For First Timers
Planning a city trip to New York City? Cool! Youre going to love the Big Apple! But finding a hotel in New York can be really stressful. Especially if its your first time traveling to New York. In this post, well help you get your bearings in New York. Well show you the best areas to stay and share our personal hotel tips.
Your trust is really important to us: This post contains so-called affiliate links. More information
Your trust is very important to us: This post contains affiliate links. If you book your hotel using one of these links, we get a small commission. It wont cost you any extra and its an easy way for you to support our work. Thanks, we really appreciate it! Jenny & Basti
Hi! We are Jenny & Basti.
Were head over heels in love with photography and traveling. On our travel blog, we share useful travel tips and give you practical photography advice.
Were head over heels in love with photography and traveling. We turned our shared passion into our profession and have been at home everywhere in the world ever since. On 22places we share everything about our travels: with a lot of attention for details, inspirational, authentic, and above all: always honest. On our travel blog, we share useful travel tips and give you practical photography advice.
Its no secret that New York isnt exactly the cheapest destination for a city trip.
But lets be honest: This sprawling metropolis is most definitely one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
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Winter In New York: What To Expect
Winter in NYC is cold. Sometimes the wind can be brutal and New York does get a decent amount of snow. To be honest, New York winters can be unpleasant.
Coming from Texas, the first few winters I spent in NYC were rough. I did learn to deal with the cold and not let it stop me from enjoying NYC. The key is to choose things to do in New York in winter that minimize your time outdoors and take advantage of some of the indoor attractions.
You wont be able to avoid the outdoors completely though. Even with indoor attractions, there is the walk to and from the subway or the wait for your cab/uber. Additionally, there are definitely some outdoor spots worth spending time exploring even in the winter.
Make sure you come to NYC prepared! Its important to be able to be outside in the winter without absolutely freezing. Check out my list of winter essentials.
Times Square Where To Stay In New York City On A Budget
Times Square is home to those famous flashing lights and the New Years Eve ball drop. It is the beating heart of touristy Midtown Manhattan and attracts millions of visitors each year.
When you started researching where to stay in New York City, was Times Square the first place you searched for on a map?
Its nothing to be ashamed of, almost all first time visitors to NYC book a hotel somewhere in or near Times Square.
Now, thats not a bad thing. Times Square is arguably the best place in NYC to book a budget hotel and it is ideally located for a huge portion of bucket list attractions.
However, it is a gritty area, renowned for pickpockets and tourist traps. That doesnt mean dont book a hotel here, it just means be aware that there are more attractive areas to stay in New York City.
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New York Neighborhood Guide
New York City is one of the most massive and sprawling cities in the world. A epicentre for food, fashion, culture, finance and trade, NYC is truly a global metropolis.
It is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the planet each year New York City attracts more than 50 million domestic and international visitors to tour its museums, gawk at its iconic sights, and stand at the center of Time Square.
Divided into six boroughs, New York City is home to 59 neighborhoods. Each borough has its own unique culture and atmosphere, and could be a city all on its own. In fact, if Brooklyn was its own city, it would still be one of the biggest cities in the US. For that reason, we are going to focus on accommodation in Manhattan, NYCs most famous and touristy borough.
Midtown is the heart of Manhattan, and where you will find NYs most iconic landmarks, like Time Square, Rockefeller Centre, Broadway and Bryant Park.
North of Midtown are the charming neighbourhoods, Upper West and Upper East Side. On either side of Central Park, these neighbourhoods are home to world-class museums, verdant parks, and famous addresses like Madison and Park Avenues.
Still not sure where to stay in New York City? Dont worry, weve got you covered!
The Empire State Building Tower Lights
The Empire State Building tower lights are visible from many points in the city. The building has a computer-driven LED light system capable of displaying numerous colors. The Empire State Building looks especially spectacular in December during the holiday season.
The Empire State Building tower lights
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New Years Eve In Times Square
If youre staying through New Years Eve, watching the ball drop in Times Square is the quintessential New York event, but its not an ideal or appropriate place for young children. Rather than standing for hours in the crowded, cold streets, consider hotels or other venues in Times Square where you can watch through the windows, such as the New York Marriott Marquis, the DoubleTree Guest Suites Time Square, or the Hyatt Times Square New York.
New York City Vacation Packages
Our local New York City Vacation Package company has been around over 20 years and scours the city for the best hotel and attraction deals. These are not random packages picked by a computer they are chosen by New Yorkers.
These special NYC Vacation Packages include great rates at choice Manhattan hotels, free attractions personal vacation advice and much more, depending on the package you choose!
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