New York

So I'm planning our BIG family vacation for 2008...I actually started planning a few months ago but it's been hard getting things reserved due to the fact that most places don't book more than a year in advance. Since I was young, I've watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV each year and I've always wanted to attend the parade. And that's what we're doing for Thanksgiving this year. John's family and the three of us are going to spend 8 days in NYC around Thanksgiving. My family is also going to meet us there. First thing, secure hotel rooms. I first called the Park Central Hotel where John and I stayed a couple of years ago...we liked the hotel, loved the location and payed around $200 a night for the room (a very good price in NY). Well...since they've done renovations and we'll be there during a holiday, they wanted $600 a room!...we need 2 rooms, 7 nights...you do the math. Wasn't happening! (John and I could take a nice European vacation for what that would cost!) So I began looking into vacation rentals (apartments/condos/town homes) on VRBO & Manhattan Lodgings...I'm still making calls and sending emails, but I'm excited about the idea of us staying together in one place and having a kitchen. IF ANYONE HAS ANY OTHER IDEAS, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT WITH INFORMATION! The second most important thing was getting our Thanksgiving dinner reservations made. I decided we'd go non-traditional and have a NY/Italian Thanksgiving Dinner...Carmines!...great food, great atmosphere, and famous in NY. I started calling at the beginning of December but got the run around...not taking reservations yet (even though they book a year in advance), the computer system has to be reprogrammed since they take different reservations on Thanksgiving, yada, yada, yada...Until yesterday! Success! Finally!...we have a dinner reservations at Carmines! (Unfortunately since we're a large party, they would only take us at certain times, not the time I wanted, but I'll get over it...we have our reservations!) And third, shows! Once I find a place for us to stay, we'll start looking into theater tickets.
I'm relieved that it's coming together because I was quite discouraged after making the first call and being told $600/night x 2 rooms!