New York in December

[MsSquiz]

DH and I have been discussing going to New York this year. Originally we were going to go in September in honour my DM's 60th birthday (she died last year and we always said we would go together, and never did) but the more I think of it, I think we would be better off going in December to take in all of the Christmassiness...

Has anyone been, any tips, suggestions, recs?

I went the beginning of December and it was amazing! We saw the rockettes singing Christmas songs (a must!), all the amazing lights, skating in Central Park. It was awesome.

Will it be just adults?

I loved New York in December, the tree, the millions of lights and music was lovely.

I would recommend seeing a Broadway show, an Ice Hockey game (if it's your kind of thing), and a good walk through Central Park while bundled up. It will be cold though - averaged around -4 while we were there. We went ice skating in Bryant Park which was also great.

I loved the Rockefeller Christmas tree but be warned - it gets very busy the nearer to Christmas you get.

What sort of thing do you enjoy OP? We did a mix of tourist stops, walking in the park, sampling all the food and drunken evenings.

I've been to NY three times, the last being December just gone. Compared to the other times I honestly didn't enjoy it at all. The crowds were unbearable. Next time I'll totally avoid Christmas. Such a shame as I thought it would be magical.

Yeah, sorry, just DH and me. Probably 4 or 5 nights.
We'd be looking at the 1st or 2nd weekend in December ideally - is it just crazy busy throughout December or would it be less busy early in the month?

Just really want the New York experience... shopping, touristy sites, maybe a broadway show, some kind of sporting game (mainly for DH)

Maybe going around Thanksgiving would be better? But then you have Black Friday... and that does not sound fun for avoiding the crowds!

We went on the 3red December. I haven't been at other times of the year but I didn't find it awfully busy. No different to London on a normal day.

I went in Nov for Thanksgiving! We got up early to see the parade and although we went out black Friday it didn't seem that much busier (I think it might be the outlets that get rammed) plenty of places did have trees up and decorations so you do definitely get in the Christmas spirit! We went home the day the big tree went up and I was upset to miss it!

I was there for Christmas through to New Year's Day, so it may well be less busy in early December. But in future I'll avoid December and January.

Also one other thing, it was bitterly cold at Christmas.

Agree it was freezing but expected, we stayed from mid Nov to early Dec and some days it was so cold it was 3 pairs of socks, leggings under jeans and 3 top half layers including gloves hats and earmuffs!

We went last year in mid December. It was snowing as we landed! Bitterly cold, -11 over night but fortunately the worst of the snow was our first day/night. It made for a stunning trip to central park early the next morning.

We had a fab time, and I would recommend it but in a weird way it felt less christmassy than some European markets we've done. Also, parts of it were ludicrously busy, Rockefeller tree, Bryant park Christmas market, they were not that much fun, we didn't think. Columbus circle market was much more enjoyable.

We really loved our trip but I'm not entirely sure I'd necessarily go back at Christmas, maybe autumn or spring to make the most of the parks and all the walking we did. Go for it, but take loads of properly warm clothes, just in case!

We saw the Book of Mormon which was great and well worth the cost. We loved shake shack (but we had already decided this wasn't going to be the trip for fine dining). Also particularly enjoyed walking the high line, Chelsea market and the vintage subway train, that was completely and utterly fantastic and I would totally recommend seeing if you can tie your trip in with it - I think it runs on Sundays only in December. It was fab. We stayed on the Upper West Side and thought that was a great location. We were near Trader Joe's and had a big Fairway across the street which was ideal for snacks and drinks and we got dinner one night from the hot food section at fairway when we just couldn't find the energy to go out again. There's also an awesome cookie shop/bakery on the UWS, begins with an L. I'll get back to you! To be honest the location made it for us, I'd have hated staying in midtown.

NY is lovely in december, but as others have said, it is absolutely freezing. The shop windows are amazing, as are the Christmas shops in places like Macy’s. It can get very busy, but I don’t think it’s any busier than London. I found it busiest between a Christmas and New Year - that was the only unbearably busy time. Just plan to get to places like the ESB or Rockefeller early, then you won’t lose lots of time queuing.

Oh we also went to a burlesque show which included dinner. It was expensive but very worth it!

I went with Dh 12 years ago ( and have just returned for the second time on Monday). The first time we went it was end of November but we were walking down 5th in t shirts, 5 days later it was thick coats hats gloves etc!
The Christmas displays are fab, skating at the Rockefeller & Wollman rink in Central Park, the shopping back then was $2 to the £ so we bought loads, this time it seemed very expensive, dad wanted to buy makeup but it was no cheaper than at home.
Would definitely take in a Broadway show, have just seen Chicago and see The Rockettes at Radio City.

Dd not dad! My dad doesn’t wear makeup😂😂

Would recommend getting a city pass too, it saved quite a bit of queuing.

Thanks ladies, lots to think about

This is my dream (to go to NY at Xmas)

I watch a lot of vlogs about it - it seemed quite mild/warm on the vlogs last year? 🤔 I’d like it cold!

I love both Christmas and NY so I have been over Christmas twice. Sad to say I am always disappointed. Thanksgiving is definitely the bigger holiday over there. Christmas is sort of just like another day. There are some pluses, the Rockettes show is amazing, and all the decorations and the rockefeller tree is brilliant, but the actual day isn't Christmassy enough for me!

I absolutely love NYC at Xmas time! It's really magical.

Downsides are the cold, you layer up but then boil when you go inside shops etc. Also if the snow melts a bit and it's pure slush everywhere, I stepped off a kerb into what I thought was the road and it turned out to be a knee high slushy puddle 🤦🏼‍♀️

Fave restaurant - spotted pig in Greenwich Village - love it!

So much negativity on here! Been to NYC in December the last four years. Love it! Two years ago it snowed as we arrived and Central Park was just glorious. Macy’s and Lord and Taylor Xmas displays, Rockefeller, Bryant Park, take in a show, wander through the different neighborhoods... Sure, it’s cold, but it’s generally bright and sunny with a gorgeous blue sky, not grey and damp like the UK. And for everyone complaining about the busyness, it’s NYC! There’s a reason it’s called the city that never sleeps 🤪