Reviews

We loved the trip, the people from SBNYC went out of their way to make sure we were pleased. They were professional yet they seemed to enjoy what they did, especially considering it was Thanks Giving week. A huge successful trip! Thank You.
By Deb W for Jenison Families - Charter Coach - To/From NYC & Jenison HS on Dec 10, 2023
CC
Overall we had a great time visiting NYC. People were friendly and helpful, weather was great, and sightseeing was fun. However we were not impressed with the hotel. It was the worst Holiday Inn Express we've ever stayed at. The thermostat was broken, for starters and when we called they said they would send someone to fix it but no one came. It was outdated, beds/mattresses were broken, like sunken in spots and noisy bed frame every time we moved. My parents found 2 beetles on the floor of their room. We also had outdated tv's and half of the channels only worked part of the time. The lounge seating area was tiny and they wouldn't let us use the breakfast room after breakfast to gather together. We came to the city knowing that the rooms would be smaller than normal, and that the hotel elevators would be a wait because of how many floors there were, however we weren't anticipating all of these other things in a Holiday Inn Express in Times Square. We were very disappointed about that. I will say though that the staff was friendly and accommodating and the breakfast was good every morning. The dinner cruise was a little unorganized with getting food, but it was good food, great views and the DJ did a nice job.
By Christa C for Jenison Family, Friends & Alumni II - Holiday Inn Express Times Square on Nov 30, 2023
Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. We will forward it to the hotel.
By Students on Broadway on Nov 30, 2023
So
The arrangements that were made for family were in general very good. The employees were where they needed to be at the designated times and were helpful and friendly. There were a couple things, however, which were frustrating and challenging: -our kid's flight info was left off of every agenda, including the ones sent the day before the trip began. -other than designating a street corner to stand on for the parade, there was no information about what the parade might be like. We did not enjoy the parade as the conditions were extremely unsafe and based on our experience in the crowd surge, dangerous. Of course this is not the fault of SBNYC, but it is something that they can provide information on so that we are better prepared for being trapped in a crowd for 45 minutes with no ability to move, wondering when that one person is going to fall or pushes to hard and someone gets crushed.
By Alice F for MIHS Band Family, Friends & Alumni - Hampton Inn Times Square Central on Nov 30, 2023
Thank you very much for taking the time to provide feedback. We did our very best to encourage all families to follow us on FB. Messages were sent through the Booster Organization, at parent meetings and direct email reminders from us through WeTravel to all registered participants. The issues you raised re: the parade were all addressed via several FB postings advising that a parade viewing plan be made - There was also a Useful and Pertinent letter sent to each registered participant that reiterates the essentials. I'm sorry that you did not enjoy the parade. NYC is a very crowded City, especially Thanksgiving Week. We did our best to convey all aspects of the parade viewing experience on FB. We used FB as the method to convey the info to avoid confusion. Many parents of future Macy*s Band will no doubt take not to your feedback. If I may, on Thanksgiving Day, during the parade - this City has layers upon layers of security in place. Some of those layers will be obvious, other will be less obvious. In our decade of working with Macy*s Bands - the family viewing experience has never been described as "dangerous" or unsafe. We encourage all future families who are making the trip to NYC to watch their children perform in the parade to head the advice and suggestions SBNYC on it's FB page starting at T-minus 90 days. And then just about every 2 weeks until "go time" Starting at T-59 days - the posting was: T-Minus 59-Days until those legendary words are spoken “Let’s Have a Parade!” Making a list and checking it, well… a bunch of times. Start planning your parade watching / viewing strategy sooner than later. We suggest a multi-stage plan. First, sometime between your arrival day in NYC and the “BIG Day”, walk a few minutes from your hotel to the parade route (6th Avenue) to get “the lay of the land”. Pick your preferred location. Consider finding your parade watching real estate along the WEST side 6th Ave. somewhere between 40th - 45th Streets. Get to your preferred location along 6th Ave. by 6:00AM on Parade Day. The later you are, the more spectators in front of you. Here’s the fun part: folding chairs or similar, not permitted, restroom facilities, non-existent. You get the idea. We have arranged an Early (5:00AM) breakfast at each of the Main Band Family hotels on Thanksgiving where Mercer & Jenison families will refer to as home for the week. Second, the night before, check the weather and prepare your clothing for the day ahead. Using the last 5 Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parades as a barometer the weather here in NYC has been snow, rain, heavy winds, sunshine, with temperatures ranging from well below Zero into the 50’s. Dare we say pack accordingly. Here’s the strategy for getting “two bites of the apple” during the parade. Your mission is to watch the parade in person along the parade route and then make a beeline back to your hotel to watch your band perform live on NBC Channel 4. From the time you Band passes your viewing location, and their live performance on TV is about 10 minutes give or take. Leave your TV on in your room before leaving, tuned into Channel 4. Thank you- TEAM SBNYC
By Students on Broadway on Nov 30, 2023
So