New York – one of the most vibrant cities on earth, comes to life even more from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
A three day trip does not have to be expensive and can make a wonderful escape and chance to do some Christmas shopping at the same time. Many airlines have mid-week specials to and from New York as business travellers tend more towards the beginning and end of each week, so check around for the best prices. Take a taxi from the airport into Manhattan. Law regulates the fare to be a flat rate of $50 from the airport to your hotel, so you don’t need to worry about the meter if you are stuck in traffic for a while. Hotels often have package deals and there are a multitude to choose from at varying prices. Even if you want to stay right in the heart of Times Square, there are beautiful hotels, offering great prices. You may find that by staying in the middle of everything, you save by walking.
Before you go, check out some of the Christmas bus tours that are offered on certain dates. These tours are about $40 – $45 for a 2 1/2 hour ride in a luxury touring bus to see the sights of New York City in the evening, visiting some of the major department store window displays such as Macy’s, and Lord & Taylor and famous Christmas movie shoot locations for films such as ‘Home Alone 2’, ‘Serendipity’, ‘Elf’ and ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ to name just a few.
Before going, check out some of the Broadway shows that are currently playing. Don’t be in a rush to buy tickets online though as the half-price ticket booth in the middle of Times Square offers some of the best prices around. A ”don’t miss’ favourite is always the Christmas extravaganza at Radio City Music Hall, again within walking distance of Times Square and Rockefeller Centre.
You might want to take a yellow taxi to Chinatown for some inexpensive gifts and then splurge on something special like a horse and buggy ride through Central Park. Many of the drivers are wonderful tour guides, pointing out everything from the famous bridge in the park, used in many movies, to the building where John Lennon once lived.
Another great option are some of the all-in-one packages for taking an escorted bus tour to New York. Visit your local AAA or CAA for some exciting options.
