Watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is part of many families’ Turkey Day traditions. But why watch it on TV when you can see it in person?
If you want to visit in person, you could opt to watch the parade at street level and stand out in the cold for hours fighting selfie-stick-wielding tourists just for a glimpse of Snoopy. Or, you could instead watch the floats from the plush confines of a strategically placed hotel room.
The parade route travels south along Central Park West from 77th Street to Columbus Circle, heads east to Sixth Avenue and then south until it reaches its final destination: the Macy’s flagship on 34th Street. The route just happens to be lined with some of Manhattan’s most luxurious hotels with incredibly plush suites on their upper floors — perfect for balloon spotting.
Note that some hotels we mention here are still bookable on points, but you likely won’t get a room with a view of the parade route since nearly every hotel is selling special Thanksgiving Day Parade packages. If you want a guarantee that you’ll end up in one of the suites or standard rooms with a view of the parade, you’ll need to seek out these seasonal packages and pay cash. Of course, even if you don’t have a room with a view, these hotels are well located to enjoy the festivities at street level.
Here are eight suites offering up-close-and-personal views of the balloon floats and other parade festivities.
Related: 5 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade tips for first-time watchers
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park (a Category 8 Marriott property with redemptions starting at 85,000 points per night) has a prime location — Sixth Avenue and Central Park South — that allows incredible parade views. Forge your own parade-watching tradition by booking a Park View Corner Suite, then heading to dinner at the on-site restaurant Contour. It serves Thanksgiving dinner, and there will be complimentary hot beverages and “chef delights” offered in the lobby.
If money is no object, the hotel comes to the table with its $25,000-per-night Specialty Suite package that raises the bar with Thanksgiving brunch for up to eight people in the Artists’ Gate Suite. It also offers a cornucopia of perks, such as a $250 room credit, treats from Dylan’s Candy Bar, airport transfers in the hotel’s Escalade and an instant camera package.
Hilton Club The Quin New York
Upscale and artsy, Hilton Club The Quin New York is a member of Hilton Grand Vacations and has a prime location near the midpoint of the parade route at the corner of 57th Street and Sixth Avenue.
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Book the 850-square-foot Terrace Premier Suite on the 17th floor, which features glass doors that open to a 450-square-foot furnished terrace. It’s the perfect perch for a bird’s-eye view of Central Park and Sixth Avenue. Inside, there’s an elegant living and dining area, a king-size Duxiana bed outfitted in Sferra linens and a glass-enclosed wet room with a multijet rainfall shower and a deep-soaking bathtub. There’s also a sleeper sofa in the living room, so there’s plenty of room for the kids.
This hotel has limited standard room rewards in the Hilton Honors program.
1 Hotel Central Park
From its location at the 58th Street and Sixth Avenue intersection, the eco-conscious 1 Hotel Central Park luxury boutique hotel offers top-notch parade-watching points from its Sixth Avenue-facing rooms. We suggest the Greenhouse Suite, a 1,200-square-foot nature-inspired retreat with two bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths. City or Park (view) suites provide excellent vantage points, too.
You can also make a brunch reservation at the hotel’s restaurant, Jams, on the ground floor. It offers parade views and can also create a brunch basket to send up to your room for parade snacking. Extra bonus: The property is pet friendly, so your pooch can watch the parade from your suite, too.
New York Hilton Midtown
The behemoth New York Hilton Midtown on Sixth Avenue between 53rd and 54th streets has myriad possibilities for parade views, thanks to its 47 floors and nearly 2,000 rooms.
For the most lavish experience, book an Ultimate Corner View room on floors seven to 18. From there, you can watch the parade make its way downtown from Central Park from the 54th Street-facing window and then enjoy another close-up view as the parade passes by the windows overlooking Sixth Avenue. If you’re redeeming points, standard awards start at 90,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
JW Marriott Essex House New York
The historic art deco (circa 1932) JW Marriott Essex House New York is a popular, high-end, Category 7 Marriott property with award nights starting at 60,000 points. It’s perfectly situated for parade viewing with a location on the south end of Central Park between Seventh and Sixth avenues.
The hotel’s Central Park Suite Collection provides several suite types — many of which feature terraces — for prime parade views. Suites all have pillow-top king-size beds, marble showers and dedicated workspaces, too. Note, though, that according to the property’s website, “Parade-View rooms and suites are not available online and must be booked through our Thanksgiving Team.”
Residence Inn by Marriott New York Manhattan/Times Square
Unobstructed parade views are on offer at The Residence Inn by Marriott New York Manhattan/Times Square. This family-friendly all-suite hotel (a Category 5 Marriott property with redemptions starting at 35,000 points per night) sits at 39th Street and Sixth Avenue. Suites will give visitors eye-level views of the balloons, plus plenty of space to spread out in the two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Rooms also have separate living, dining and kitchen areas facing Sixth Avenue.
Warwick New York
A New York City landmark for nearly a century (it was built in 1926 by media tycoon William Randolph Hearst), Warwick New York boasts a location almost as impressive as its history. It allows easy access to some of New York City’s iconic sights, such as Central Park, the Museum of Modern Art and Times Square. It’s also the perfect spot to catch a good view of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Book the 550-square-foot On the Avenue Suite or the more than 700-square-foot Jane Suite, which celebrates actress Jane Russell. Both face Sixth Avenue and the parade route. Note that this is another hotel where you’ll need to call the property directly to book a parade-view suite.
Bottom line
It’s not too late to plan a magical Thanksgiving getaway to New York City. Enjoy the parade from one of these swanky suites or watch at street level to get an in-person view of all the great balloons and floats and, of course, Santa Claus and his entourage at the end.
Planning a trip to New York City to see Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? Here’s more advice:
