There's nothing like the holiday season in NYC, from glittering holiday windows and the towering Rockefeller Center Christmas tree to classic holiday shows and timeless traditions, the city sparkles during the holiday season. If you're ready to plan a magical holiday itinerary, you're going to need an equally magical place to lay your head at night and these family-friendly NYC hotels go all out to make you feel like you're home for the holidays.
With prime locations and fun festive touches, these local NYC hotels pull out all the stops to ensure your Christmas in New York is a core memory for years to come. Find more tips for your holiday vacation in our NYC Kids Guide to Christmas and the Holidays and our Visitors Guide, which is chock full of need-to-know information for navigating the Big Apple with kids in tow.
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The magic of Christmas comes alive at The Plaza New York.
Family-Friendly NYC Hotels for a Festive Christmas Vacation
1. The Plaza New York – Midtown
It's hard to find a more magical NYC hotel in any season than The Plaza New York, but the classic beauty on Central Park South glows with holiday grandeur. Choose from a pair of suite experiences including the kid-pleasing, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York-inspired stay complete with an over-the-top ice cream sundae fit for an unsupervised Kevin! Holiday dining options include an opulent afternoon in The Palm Court, and a very jolly Santa appears on select dates. Keep your eyes peeled: You never know where he's watching from, including the lobby, restaurants, and during special Santa story times in the Rose Club so bring your best behavior!
2. Mandarin Oriental – Columbus Circle
Festively festooned suites are just the start of the fun during the Christmas season at this tony midtown hotel. Kids will delight in gingerbread decorating workshops and a festive afternoon tea or brunch with Santa. Friday nights bring plenty of holiday cheer with Christmas carolers serenading guests each week.
RELATED: 49 Holiday Activities To Do in NYC Before Your Kids Grow Up
Holiday surprises await at The Peninsula New York.
3. The Peninsula New York – Midtown East
Families in search of a special holiday experience would be wise to book the Night Before Christmas package at this stunning Midtown hotel. Kids on the nice list are spoiled with an in-room candy scavenger hunt, a gingerbread cookie decorating kit, and an exclusive trip to The Peninsula Sweet Shoppe. Select accommodations include Christmas trees, too! Beyond the fun in-room, guests can indulge in a festive afternoon tea, spend the evening on the rooftop terrace in a private igloo, or embark on a Festive Brilliance Walking Tour, where a private tour guide leads you to Fifth Avenue's most brilliant holiday displays. Carolers croon in the lobby on select dates, too.
4. LUMA Hotel – Times Square
It's a Merry Christmas in Manhattan at the LUMA Hotel Times Square, where each holiday stay includes a complimentary feast at Chef Charlie Palmer's AperiBar for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, plus complimentary breakfast daily and a cool holiday keepsake—delivered to your door by Alina, the hotel's robot butler! When you're not whining and dining, you're steps from the big Midtown holiday displays and the enchanting Bryant Park Winter Village—and FREE ice skating rink.
RELATED: Ultimate 3-Day NYC Itinerary for a Magical Holiday with Kids
Stay in Christmas luxury in one of the Holiday Suites at Lotte New York Palace.
5. Lotte New York Palace – Midtown East
For my money, there's no more beautiful Christmas tree in NYC than the stunning masterpiece that takes up residence in the courtyard of the Lotte New York Palace each holiday season, but a picture-perfect backdrop is just the start of the family-friendly offerings at this NYC hotel. Consider booking one of the Palace Holiday Suites for your stay and you'll be greeted by the hotel's trademark luxury accommodations, decked out in Balsam Hill holiday decorations in a choice of color palettes. Home-made holiday cookies are delivered to your door as a welcome gift and you'll go home with a holiday keepsake ornament, too. In the lobby, find a gingerbread re-creation of the hotel, which takes more than 300 hours to construct! Kids received personalized postcards to return to Santa in the lobby mailbox—and a hand-written reply will be delivered during your stay. Weekends mean face time with the man himself in the lobby, too.
6. Ritz-Carlton New York Central Park – Midtown West
Stay in style at the Ritz-Carlton with its home for the holiday package, which comes complete with a fully decorated Christmas tree in your room and a special FAO ornament keepsake. Its Club Lounge offers family-friendly craft workshops, holiday cookie decorating, and more seasonal treats to make holiday memories together.
RELATED: Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in NYC
The New York Marriot Marquis is filled with holiday fun.
7. New York Marriot Marquis – Midtown West
Forget 12 days of Christmas—this mega Midtown hotel is celebrating 25 days of Christmas with Jolly Old St. Nick himself. Santa's even delivered his stamp of approval to a block of festively decorated rooms courtesy of Christmas in America, and his sidekick, Buddy the Elf makes sure you have a memorable Elf-inspired keepsake to take home. Find more fun in the lobby with seasonal activations like cookie decoration parties, slime-making workshops courtesy of Sloomoo, and plenty of holiday-inspired entertainment. A Very Merry Santa Brunch is set for mid-December, too.
8. Refinery Hotel – Garment District
If your style is a real tree, the Refinery Hotel's Winter Spectacular Stay is happy to oblige. Your freshly cut tree is delivered to your door, plus decorations, hot chocolate, holiday cookies and milk so you can enjoy a festive decorating party in this home away from home. Want a little more seasonal charm: You can request a gingerbread house decorating kit, too! When you want to get out and explore, you're steps away from the aforementioned Bryant Park, walking distance to Macy's Santaland, and perfectly situated to enjoy all of Midtown's seasonal attractions.
RELATED: Rockefeller Center Tree: Insider Tips for Visiting with Kids
Celebrate 19 years of Madeline's Tea with classic storytelling and songs at Bemelmans Bar.
9. The Carlyle – Upper East Side
This elegant Upper East Side hotel offers a variety of plus suites to welcome families and indulgent dining options abound. The seasonal Madeline Tea in Bemelans Bar celebrates its 18th anniversary this season. Nosh on a lavish buffet while Tina deVaron provides live piano-and-vocal entertainment with a backdrop decorated by Ludwig Bemelmans, author, and illustrator of the Madeline storybook series. The Yuletide Carolers are stationed in the lobby on select evenings and the entire hotel glows with holiday magic.
RELATED: How to See the Dyker Heights Lights with Kids
Sip on some holiday magic at the hot chocolate bar at the Park Hyatt New York!
10. Park Hyatt New York – Midtown West
Generous guest rooms and connecting suites make a stay at the Park Hyatt particularly family-friendly. Add to that a concierge team who is ready to set up the perfect holiday outing and some fun in-hotel perks, and a holiday stay here is a no-brainer. We love its all-day long hot cocoa bar to beat the chill after a day of exploring the holiday sites, plus a direct-to-Santa mailbox in the lobby where little guests can postmark their Christmas lists. Its stunning holiday decor is a welcome home treat, too.
Photos courtesy of the hotels
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