The famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is a sight worth seeing -- if you can manage to shove your way through the crowds to get a peek, that is. If you book one of these hotels along the parade route, you could watch the giant balloons and floats from the comfort of your hotel room. Be warned, though -- many rooms will cost more than three times the normal rates.
The Mandarin Oriental is the best choice in the city for luxury travelers who want to celebrate Thanksgiving in style. Premier Central Park View rooms and suites on the 43rd to 54th floors have superb parade views through floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Columbus Circle.
The Hilton New York boasts a prime location smack-dab in the heart of Manhattan on Sixth Avenue, right along the Macy's parade route. It is offering a number of Thanksgiving Packages, with viewing options ranging from Partial View to Premium View. The Ultimate Corner View starts at $2,000 a night with a five-night minimum stay, while a partial view starts at $599 a night with a three-night minimum stay. If you decide to book a room without parade vistas, you can still try to snag a sidewalk spot in front of the hotel for prime viewing.
This 1926-built Warwick Hotel may be just five blocks from Central Park, but it's Sixth Avenue that is the center of the New York action during the Macy's parade. To be sure you'll get a parade view, book one of the On the Avenue Suites, which, of course, face Sixth Avenue.
The JW Marriott Essex House makes for a great Thanksgiving option for its proximity to Central Park and stunning city views, which look out over the parade's route down Central Park South. The hotel has a special booking page for Thanksgiving to ensure you'll get a parade view from your room, but it doesn't hurt to give them a call to confirm.
Located at the corner of Central Park South and Sixth Avenue, The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park is perfectly situated to watch the parade make its turn south from the park. The hotel offers three packages for parade view accommodations -- they start at $2,095 a night with a three-night minimum.
The Quin hotel is a relative newcomer to the New York scene compared to some of the icons on this list, opening in 2013 and offering a luxurious boutique experience. While some of its 208 rooms do have parade views (you can contact the hotel directly to get one), guests can also line up on the sidewalk in front of the hotel -- suggested arrival time is 7 a.m.
Parade-view rooms at the Trump are hard to come by; the coveted rooms and suites with park views usually book a year in advance. If a luxurious atmosphere and top-notch services are a must, then book early -- and be ready to drop some serious dollars for this prime location.