Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be worried about New York in December?

53 replies

Landseer · 19/01/2023 23:21

DH wants to go to NY in December for around 5 nights.
We used to go to America every year and have been to NY twice but since Covid I’m so anxious about travelling and I don’t know why.

Im thinking NY in December will be unbearably cold??

Risk of airports being snowed under

Other things I’m scared about that I can’t quite explain …

AIBU to be worried about going at this time of year? We’ve not been abroad since before Covid

OP posts:
notimagain · 20/01/2023 07:10

Aprilx · 20/01/2023 06:55

I would be more concerned about January / February than December. I have been a few times in December and it is fine, obviously needed my big coat, but generally fine.

^^

Agreed,

As I recall it NY does not generally get as eye wateringly and breath freezingly cold as the likes of for example Chicago. A good coat, hat, gloves and it's fine.

As for airports JFK and Newark don't generally get snowed by snow for days on end but it's the eastern seaboard in winter so realistically there's no getting around the fact it's one of those rolling the dice things when it comes to travel..

LlynTegid · 20/01/2023 07:15

Being snowed in and having disrupted travel plans is a reasonable concern.

If you have not been out of the UK for what will be four years, could you not consider another trip first? France by Eurostar perhaps?

Lagirl20 · 20/01/2023 07:18

Lockheart · 19/01/2023 23:28

Millions of people live and visit there year-round, it's not the Arctic tundra. You'll be fine.

What a stupid comment. Of course the OP knows this. But they’d like to have a holiday that’s enjoyable, not just about bearable! How stupid can you be?

cluecu · 20/01/2023 07:18

I've not long come back from a week's holiday in NYC. We were there from 30th Dec for a week and the weather was basically the same as where I live in the UK but NYC seemed to have more sun. It was cold but then in the sun I had to take coat off. Bit rainy or overcast some days and chilly at night but I didn't need to wear the hats or thermals I'd packed at any point.

I was worried beforehand but for various reasons we needed to go when we did and I understand it's a bit of a lottery (especially as there'd been awful blizzards in the US through Christmas) but I wouldn't let it put me off and would go again in the winter months, although the longer hours of daylight in spring and summer do appeal to me for next time.

Hobbesmanc · 20/01/2023 07:19

It's amazing with the Christmas build up. The shop windows, skating, Christmas music everywhere. It's perfect.

ithoughtisawapuddycat · 20/01/2023 07:20

We've been to NY for new year and it was freezing but we love cold weather. Didn't go about zero degrees celsius but just make sure you have lots of layers, thermal hats and gloves and you'll be fine.

On the flip side we just did another city not too far from NY for new year and it was unseasonably warm (16 degrees celsius on new year's Day). It's normally a lot colder which is why we picked it so we were a bit disappointed but still had a good time.

PuppaDontPreach · 20/01/2023 07:23

I love New York, especially in December- it is cold but it’s also a really special time in the run up to Christmas.

That said, if you want to avoid the cold or any risk of disruptions it may not be the best time to go. April/May is also a lovely time there. I think your worries about covid and your unspecified worry are maybe you being anxious rather than anything about NYC.

LaSolitudine · 20/01/2023 07:53

We have been to NYC several times for Christmas - December is a lovely time to visit and there is a great atmosphere. When we visited the weather has been fairly cold, but definitely manageable with layers.

meetmeatmidnights · 20/01/2023 08:01

I've been several times in December (flying home in Christmas Eve!) it's amazing. Mostly between 0-10• in my experience with barely any snow. December is a great time to go imo, the city smells more in summer 😂 The Christmas decorations and markets are great, there's a real sense of festivity about and all in all it's lovely. It's not any more crowded than london unless you're stood in Times Square at midday! As PP have said jan / Feb is more of a risk for snow etc.

Original poster
Landseer · 20/01/2023 08:13

PuppaDontPreach · 20/01/2023 07:23

I love New York, especially in December- it is cold but it’s also a really special time in the run up to Christmas.

That said, if you want to avoid the cold or any risk of disruptions it may not be the best time to go. April/May is also a lovely time there. I think your worries about covid and your unspecified worry are maybe you being anxious rather than anything about NYC.

Yeah I think it’s general anxiety. I’ve become a bit of a hermit since Covid and NY (or USA in general) just seems so far away

Christ a few years ago I was driving through the Arizona desert in a jeep without a care in the world. Now I get scared about the thought of driving an hour to Manchester

OP posts:
thebloodycatwontstopmeowing · 21/01/2023 16:20

This reply has been withdrawn

This poster has privacy concerns and so we've agreed to withdraw this post.

AbreathofFrenchair · 21/01/2023 16:33

Landseer · 19/01/2023 23:21

DH wants to go to NY in December for around 5 nights.
We used to go to America every year and have been to NY twice but since Covid I’m so anxious about travelling and I don’t know why.

Im thinking NY in December will be unbearably cold??

Risk of airports being snowed under

Other things I’m scared about that I can’t quite explain …

AIBU to be worried about going at this time of year? We’ve not been abroad since before Covid

We went in December pre covid and went the week before Christmas. Everyday I only needed to wear my long sleeve top and a hoody and my hat, it wasnt that cold. We then went another year and needed a coat because it was cold but ive never been in December and its been unbearably freezing.

However I've frozen there in snow February/March time.

Are you vaccinated? Some places in Manahattan were only allowing you inside if vaccinated and into America in general too. I've no idea what the situation is now.

Travel post covid is no different to pre covid, at least I've not noticed any difference other than some places were requiring masks. I've been abroad in 2020, 2021, 2022 and will be several times this year

AbreathofFrenchair · 21/01/2023 16:38

And the Rocketts Christmas Spectacular at Radio City is spectacular and worth doing! And Dyker Heights for the Christmas lights.

HiccupHorrendousHaddock · 21/01/2023 16:57

February. NYC in February is awful. In December it’s great!

Zanatdy · 21/01/2023 17:01

I’ve been in December and May. I preferred May as I hate the cold and it was cold. But with appropriate clothing and going indoors regularly it’s manageable

Hellocatshome · 21/01/2023 17:02

I've been December and February and didn't find either unbearably cold. Just dress for the weather.

BHRK · 21/01/2023 17:06

New York is fantastic. Your anxiety is making excuses why you can’t go.. don’t let it beat you! Get some help if you need it for anxiety

AbreathofFrenchair · 21/01/2023 17:40

Lagirl20 · 20/01/2023 07:18

What a stupid comment. Of course the OP knows this. But they’d like to have a holiday that’s enjoyable, not just about bearable! How stupid can you be?

Show quote history

I doubt she will find it unbearable, its not like she will be stuck outside and never allowed in.

There's always somewhere warm to go in NY so to suggest she wouldn't enjoy it because of a potential cold day is you being as stupid as you think the previous poster was.

Its definitely colder In the few months post December but not to the point of being unbearable. It's currently 4 degrees in manhattan with temps expected to reach 7 and where I am in the UK, it hasn't got over freezing all day.

The average daily temp for Manahttan in December is 7 degrees

budgiegirl · 21/01/2023 17:51

I have been several times, three times in December/January. Two times it was fine, cold (around zero degrees), but fine, as long as you wrapped up. But once it was unbearably cold - it got down to minus 16 with a wind chill of minus 19. It was miserable, and we spent most of the time in coffee shops!

However, I think we were just a bit unlucky and we are going again this December!

That said, the best time we went was in October - the weather was great, around 15 degrees, lovely for walking around, Central Park was beautiful with the autumn leaves, and we could walk for miles without getting cold. All the houses and shops were decorated for Halloween, which was great.

Sukisal · 21/01/2023 17:55

This is not about NYC, is it? This is about an anxiety problem.

VanCleefArpels · 21/01/2023 18:03

I last went in December 2019 and the skating rink at Rockefeller Plaza was nearly melted it was so mild! Just take lots of layers including something waterproof and you will be fine!

AlisonDonut · 21/01/2023 18:07

PurpleFlower1983 · 19/01/2023 23:33

It snowed 10 inches when I went the week before Christmas in 2009, it was magical though!

I think I was there the same time. -8 with a wind chill factor of -32?

BashfulClam · 21/01/2023 18:10

I went in the first week of February and it was -7c. All the flights were grounded just before we went. Central Park was so snowed over that nothing was visible. From other people I’ve heard December isn’t as cold.

elevenplusdilemma · 21/01/2023 18:16

It IS really cold but also amazingly festive. I've been twice at Christmas time (consecutive years) and loved it. I'd go back in a flash but can't afford it now there's 4 of us.

ZZTopGuitarSolo · 21/01/2023 18:21

One more thing to consider. DD was in NYC a weekend before Christmas 2022 and the shops were packed with queues to get in. I’m assuming that’s just a weekend thing end it should be fine on weekdays.

Swipe left for the next trending thread