Okay, priority #1 is getting your hotel booked. Hotel prices have actually dropped from previous years, which is great. But I'm sure you know that New Year's / Christmas is absolute peak season so rooms sell out quickly and prices rise rapidly as the time draws near.

You mentioned you want a "grand New York hotel" kind of experience. I agree, this is a fabulous way to experience New York, especially during the holiday season. So let's stick to notable places (no Holiday Inns).

Based on your preferences, it seems clear you want to stay around Midtown (which is really the epicenter of everything). Your main consideration is whether you want to be in Times Square or not. I think there are two main clusters of hotels worth considering: those around Times Square and those around 5th Avenue.

As you know, Times Square is an absolutely insane environment on New Year's Eve. So, especially during this time, there's a *huge* difference between staying at Times Square and anywhere else. This should be your primary decision: if you love the idea of staying right in the center of the world's biggest New Year's party (and don't mind paying the price), Times Square is the way to go.

Otherwise, 5th Avenue is classier, more attractive, and arguably more "Christmasy". And it's got all the famous Christmas window displays.

Let me give you a few options to consider. Stay tuned...

Oh, I should warn you, this class of hotels is expensive over New Year's: probably $300 and up. Let me know if you'd prefer a lower price range.

Okay, here's some options. I'm focusing *away* from Times Square hotels in this list:

• The Warwick - A classic grand New York hotel in a super-central location, close to 5th Ave & Central Park. New Year's prices $450+
• New York Palace - A gorgeous hotel on Madison Ave, one block from Rockefeller Center and the epicenter of "Christmas New York". Great in all ways but not cheap ($550+)
• Grand Hyatt - A fine hotel, business-oriented and not historic, but directly next to Grand Central, so it's a great location and good holiday vibe. $400+

I'd also consider the following, even though they're not in Midtown:

• The Excelsior - A decent hotel in a beautiful location overlooking the Museum of Natural History and Central Park in the Upper West Side. It's about 10 minutes from Midtown. $450+
• The W Union Square - Another classic / iconic building, overlooking Union Square, a really bustling and vibrant neighborhood. Lots of good restaurants in the area. $350+

Some pics:

The Warwick:



New York Palace:



Grand Hyatt (the glass building in the middle):



The Excelsior:



The W Union Square (tall building in the middle):

Great! Let's focus on the other things you'll need advance reservations for: Broadway shows and the Statue of Liberty. I'll start up separate discussions for them.

Once we've got those taken care of, you'll be in excellent shape.