Christmas in New York really starts on the fourth Thursday of November when the fantastic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade starts at 77th Street and Central Park West. On Thursday 26th November 2009 as the shops open, this enormous parade celebrating its 83rd event of impressive floats, enormous balloons, marching bands, troops of clowns and TV characters, will follow a new Thanksgiving Day Parade route through New York. This year the route starts at its usual point but then turns east onto Central Park South instead of Broadway. See the Macys website for full details.

Another symbol of Christmas in New York is the huge Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Centre, to be lit on Thursday 3rd December. The tree overlooks the outdoor ice rink (West 48th & West 51st Streets).  Must do visits include watching the festive decorative windows of Saks on Fifth Avenue, Barney’s on Madison, Macy’s on Herald Square (take the kids to Santa Land whilst there) and Lord & Taylor’s Christmas themed windows.

Big and little children will enjoy choosing or buying Christmas presents at the biggest toy shop in the world, FAO Schwartz on Fifth Avenue (near 58th Street), a (hopefully) snow covered Central Park, the Laser Light show at Grand Central Station and the spectacular Times Square. On Friday’s until mid January, listen to live music for the lighting ceremony for the UNICEF Snowflake at 6pm, and prebook tickets for the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden for the Cirque du Soleil winter themed Wintuk show.

For a truly authentic Christmas in New York, A Cathedral Christmas Concert is being performed on Saturday 12 December at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine by the Cathedral’s Choir with the American Classical Orchestra. Alternatively, prebook tickets to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at the Music Hall on Avenue of the Americas where you will watch spectacular dance performances suitable for the whole family, from mid November to the end of December.

If you are looking for a December City Break holiday to buy that special Christmas present or simply to escape the crowds at home, then here are a few pre Christmas city break suggestions for you!

We have blog entries on Christmas Markets in the UK and European Christmas Markets, as well as Christmas Holidays and New Year Breaks, and of course, December holidays.

But, you want to be at home for Christmas, and you have plans for New Year – so what can we find for you?

If you don’t want to travel too far, how about Lille in Northern France close to the Belgium border? This beautiful city is linked directly to London by Eurostar train and is actually where many Parisians come to do their designer shopping.  But historic Lille isn’t just exclusive boutiques (although they are fabulous) it also offers a wealth of budget shopping in its massive shopping centre and quaint one off stores along the delightful cobbled streets.

In the central east side of Poland is the capital of Warsaw, divided by the Vistula River into the left and right side (like Paris).  One of the fasted growing cities in Europe, romantic Warsaw is a beautiful combination of contemporary and historic architecture and life styles. In Warsaw’s Old Town is the Royal Castle on the Plac Zamkowy (square) and in the New Town, Stalin’s Empire State.  

How about Las Vegas, Nevada in the USA?  This magnificent desert city never sleeps and is the perfect location for non-stop partying, family holidays, gambling weekends and adventure holidays.  Jump in a helicopter for a tour of the Grand Canyon or stay overnight on a ranch. Watch a spectacular Cirque du Soleil performance in Las Vegas or retrace America’s Indian routes. Stay in a fantastic sprawling five star European recreation hotel resort or a smaller basic self catering apartment. Las Vegas has something to suite everyone – and a rental car is definitely recommended!

Why not enjoy a New Year Break abroad and escape the British winter?  The world is your oyster, so where would you like to go?  Celebrate the New Year in style and book a holiday abroad! Choose from exotic beach holidays in the Caribbean, Africa or Asia, or a family ski holiday in the Alps or Canadian Rockies – choose a romantic European city break in Prague or Paris, or the popular beaches of the Spanish Canary Islands off the coast of Africa.

Welcome in 2010 with a New Year ski holiday, surrounded by breathtaking snow covered mountains in a quaint authentic village.  Austria is a beautiful setting, and if there is a group of you venturing out on your New Year expedition, why not book a wooden Alpine chalet? Today (10 November 2009), Igluski.com are offering a brand new 4 star chalet ski holiday with steam room and sauna in St Anton, departing Gatwick on 27 December for 7 nights from £1181.00 per person, or at the other end of the price scale, 7 nights at the self catering Rauris Apartments in Rauris from £388.00 per person based on four people sharing, departing Gatwick on Boxing Day.

Count down to the New Year on a mini cruise! DFDS Seaways are offering a two night mini cruise New Year break from Amsterdam to Newcastle. From just £254 per person, board the ship at Newcastle and enjoy an en suite cabin, coach transfers in and out of Amsterdam, breakfasts, Gala New Year buffet, free house drinks during the crossings, live entertainment, and champagne to greet in 2010.

Celebrate on a New Year break in beautiful Prague. Lastminute.com are offering the luxury five star Hotel Esplanade in the centre of the historic city from £937.56 for two people sharing a twin bedded comfort bedroom departing on 30 December from Gatwick for 3 nights. The price is an additional £40 if flying from East Midlands airport.

Set on the edge of a beautiful long sandy Moroccan beach, is the four star plus, contemporary Royal Atlas Hotel in Agadir.  Perfect for a relaxing New Year holiday, the hotel offers a range of spa treatments for your enjoyment. Flying from Gatwick on 28 December Thomson Holidays are offering an all inclusive package (meals and drinks) including priority coach transfers, flights and 7 nights accommodation for £1976.00 for two people.

There is a huge selection of New Year breaks and New Year holidays in the UK to choose from.

Hire a car with easyCar and drive to a comfy country bed and breakfast for a quiet New Year break, or stay in one of the Warner Leisure Hotels for 3 or 4 nights including New Year’s Eve, and enjoy the party, evening meal, live entertainment, a piper and fireworks.

If you want to simply relax, or celebrate the festive season in full party style, there are plenty of hotels offering New Year Breaks in the UK to suit every requirement. Choose a secluded country house or a city centre hotel, a quaint rural Inn or a hotel spa resort which offers activities all through the year.

Celebrate the arrival of 2010 on a New Year Break in the Cotswold countryside, amongst the Welsh hills, on the edge of Lake Windermere in the Lake District or overlooking the south coast from Brighton.

Enjoy a two night New Year Break arriving on 28 December at Centre Parcs in Longleat Forest or five nights arriving on 30 December at Whinefell Forest where you should wrap up warm and experience a whole assortment of indoor and outdoor activities over the New Year period.

Greet the New Year with traditional Hogmanay celebrations in one of Scotland’s Hotels of Distinction such as at the Four Seasons Hotel in St Fillans, Perthshire or Ruttlets Country House Hotel in St. Andrews, Fife. 

The New Year celebrations in Edinburgh are renowned worldwide. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party is a programme of music, lights, dancing and midnight fireworks to see in the new decade. Stage events start at 9pm on Princes Street and it is worth pre booking tickets to the various events to avoid disappointment!

As Big Ben in London tolls midnight on December 31st 2009, hold hands with the person next to you and sing…

“Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and auld lang syne
For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne,
We’ll take a cup o kindness yet, for auld lang syne.”

Happy New Year!

There are lots of cheap winter deals available online.  Choose winter package holidays or make your own dynamic packages, putting together flights, transfers, car hire, accommodation and insurance.

Today (5th November), I found the following cheap and reduced deals online.

The Thomas Cook brand Airtours, is offering self catering holidays to Gran Canaria in the Spanish Canary Islands from £217 per person. For seven nights departing on Monday 23rd November, stay in the busy and popular seaside resort of Maspalomas in a studio with bath, shower, WC and balcony or terrace.

Airtours are also currently offering the four star Benalmadena Palace in the Costa del Sol for £123 per person for seven nights with flights from Manchester on Sunday 6th December staying in a self catering studio.

Thomson Holidays are also offering holidays to Gran Canaria from £125 per person flying either from Gatwick or Luton on 14 December, staying in a 3T self catering apartment for 7 nights. Depart Gatwick on 1st or 8th December and for just £132 per person based on four people sharing an apartment, you can travel to Malta for 7 or 14 nights.

Cosmos have last minute holidays to Kenya. Leave Gatwick on 23 November and for just £285.50 per person you could stay at the three star Reef Hotel in Nyali Beach for 7 nights on bed and breakfast basis.  Meals are included on the flight, but don’t forget you need a visa either purchased from the Kenyan High Commission or on arrival at Mombassa.

Travelling further afield, Virgin Holidays are also selling holidays at low cost prices.  Stock up on your winter wardrobe in New York with 3 nights staying at four star W New York costing just £649 per person for 3 nights departing on 14 December, a saving of £370 per person.  Ten nights in Thailand are going for £882 per person staying at the five star Sheraton Hua Hin Resort and Spa in Pattaya, departing between 7 November and 4 December, a saving of £497 per person.

There are many excellent low cost and reduced priced hotel offers in the UK too.  Premier Inn are offering deals at over 500 hotels in the UK from just £29 per night as long as you book 21 days in advance, on selected days for two or more nights before end of January (check premierinn.com for full terms and conditions).  Best Western are offering saving of up to 50%, free nights and free wine, in separate offers around Christmas time, as well as last minute offers for the coming weekend.