Each week our holiday hero, Neil Simpson, delves into a great holiday theme and does all the legwork so you don’t have to. This week: Christmas shopping in New York.
The countdown to Christmas is in full swing in New York. The festive rink at Rockefeller Center is open and this weekend workers are busy draping 50,000 colorful lights around the 80-foot-tall Christmas tree and pinning a 30-foot-wide star covered in three million Swarovski crystals.
“Watching skaters slide down the tree is one of the most iconic Christmas attractions in the world,” said Shelley Thomas of New York’s Big Bus Tour Company. “It’s just one of the reasons why tourists flock to New York in December.”
With all the little things: The countdown to Christmas is in full swing in New York. Above is the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center
Bloomingdale’s (above) on Lexington Avenue is a must-visit as the window dressers pulled out all the seasonal stops to celebrate the store’s 150th anniversary
Other seasonal attractions include over-the-top Christmas displays in the city’s department store windows. Luxury stores cluster around Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, with Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Bergdorf Goodman and Tiffany & Co offering some of the best displays. Bloomingdale’s on Lexington Avenue is another must, as window dressers made all seasonal stops to celebrate the store’s 150th anniversary.
Worried you might be missing out on a great display? Local guides can showcase the best of them on the New York City Christmas Markets And Lights Walking Tour, which begins in a festive village on Columbus Circle. From £38 per person on getyourguide.co.uk.
And don’t worry about the weather—New York has plenty of indoor party markets when temperatures drop. A top pick is Holiday Fair 2022 under five golden chandeliers in the Beaux-Arts Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Station. Gifts include jewelry, clothing, cosmetics, artwork, and holiday decorations.
Many travel companies can arrange mini holiday packages for Christmas shopping or bargain hunting in the January sales – and it’s not too late to book.
Private transportation from JFK Airport to your hotel is a major selling point of the seasonal tours offered by Inspiring Travel.
If you have big pockets, you can be booked at famous hotels including The Plaza, The Carlyle, The Pierre and The Peninsula. And while a three-night stay at the city’s hottest new hotel, AMAN New York, costs £5,479 per person including flights, the same stay at the newest 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge starts at a less staggering £1,869 per person (inspiring travel.co.uk).
Team up: Inspiring Travel’s three-day break at the city’s hottest new hotel, AMAN New York (above), costs £5,479 per person, including flights
Book a flight and hotel package with British Airways Holidays and you can treat yourself to a stay at the five-star Lotte New York Palace Hotel on Madison Avenue. Guests can take private, behind-the-scenes tours of the adjacent St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which looks like a real Christmas card, and use the on-site spa after a long day of shopping.
Three nights in a hotel with flights from £1,429 pp in December, or BA Holidays can find deals in various hotels for under £700 pp (ba.com/newyork).
Booking flights and hotels yourself can also be worthwhile. Low-cost airline JetBlue offers flights from London to New York from £540 return. (jetblue.com), while Virgin Atlantic flights start at £416 return (virginatlantic.com).
Stay at the Pendry Manhattan West (pictured) – it has its own winter market and free hot chocolate cart
If you have something to spend, consider the recently opened Pendry Manhattan West, where you can have Christmas decorations in your room and special stationery to send a letter to Santa.
In early December, the hotel also hosts a winter market and a free hot chocolate truck. Rooms from £750 per night (pendry.com).
For more information on New York’s seasonal attractions, visit nycgo.com.
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James is an author and travel journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a love for exploring new cultures and discovering unique destinations, James brings his readers on a journey with him through his articles.
