Thanksgiving in New York

Fifth Avenue — Upper East Side

I always go to New York City for Thanksgiving, but not for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (which I've never watched in person). Though I've lived in California for twenty years, I'm a transplanted east coast native with the rest of my family back east. My mother lives on the Jersey Shore, my sister and daughter live in Manhattan, and my son and his wife live in Washington, DC ... so Thanksgiving in New York has become an annual tradition.

What to do in New York? Well, basically anything and everything you can imagine. Here are some of the things I've done in past years:

1. Shopping — Need I say more? 5th Avenue has all the brand names, Madison Avenue the boutiques, and downtown the cheap electronics stores. And don't forget the Apple Store (open 24/7) and FAO Schwartz.
2. Museums — the Metropolitan Museum, the MoMA (buy tickets online in advance to avoid long lines), and the Museum of the City of New York.
3. Walking — Central Park (see Strawberry Fields), the High Line.
4. Visit the 9/11 Memorial.
5. See Times Square (it's a mob scene after the Parade).
6. See Grand Central Terminal (which has its own Apple Store).
7. Entertainment — see a movie, go to theater, or see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
8. Explore Chinatown or get pizza in Little Italy.
9. Rooftop bars at the Gansevoort and the Peninsula (ideas suggested by Sarah)
10. Hotel Site Inspections — I don't expect this to be high on most readers' lists!

Where to stay? New York is blessed with lots of great luxury hotels. Here are some recommended hotels in which I've personally stayed: 

• The Lowell
• Plaza Athenee
• Four Seasons New York
• Ritz-Carlton Central Park
• Ritz-Carlton Battery Park
• The Plaza 

Book any of these through your Virtuoso travel consultant for the best prices along with free breakfasts and other valuable amenities you can't get online.

Thanksgiving in New York (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2012 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Ritz-Carlton deals for STARS guests

Ritz-Carlton Central Park — third night free. With an ideal location in the middle of Central Park South at 6th Avenue, Deluxe Park View rooms offer an outstanding view over Central Park. Valid through March 5.

Ritz-Carlton Battery Park third night free + guaranteed upgrade to the Club Level at time of booking. Offered from December 17 - March 31 (excluding New Years Eve). The hotel offers views of the Statue of Liberty from its Harbor Rooms.

Ritz-Carlton Boston Commons offers an upgrade at booking from January 1 - March 31. The hotel is located steps from the Boston Commons.

Ritz-Carlton Washington, DC offers an upgrade at booking to Club Level from a Deluxe room. Available through January 31 for visitors to our Nation's Capital.

Hotel Arts Barcelona offers an upgrade at booking into an Executive Suite from January 1 - March 31. The hotel is right by the Mediterranean Sea in the area of the old Olympic village.

These are just the highlights of current specials available for STARS guests. In addition to these Ritz Carlton deals, value-added amenities and VIP service is available everyday to every STARS guest at every Ritz-Carlton hotel in the world, including a complimentary daily breakfast for two for rooms booked at the best available flexible rate. Ritz-Carlton is always a value option for the luxury conscious traveler.

Ritz Carlton deals (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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