E18 EZ EE THE WASHINGTON POST.SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22 , 2020
How it’s different: The holiday
light show will cover a larger ex-
panse of the zoo and feature nearly
50 more animal lanterns repre-
senting five geographic areas,
such as Africa, Asia and Latin
America. The miniature trackless
holiday train will still run but
without riders. No musical per-
formances, but more s’mores sta-
tions: The number of fire pits will
triple to 12. The zoo has reduced
capacity by 33 percent, and guests
must purchase the $35 tickets in
advance online.
More options: The Brooklyn
neighborhood of Dyker Heights
cranks up the wattage for the holi-
days, a decades-old tradition. The
bulk of the displays appear be-
tween 81st and 86th streets and
10th to 13th avenues. Residents
typically unveil their decorations
around Thanksgiving and keep
them up through News Year’s Day.
Explore by foot or catch a ride with
A Slice of Brooklyn, which runs
nightly bus tours for most of De-
cember.What: LuminoCity Festival on
Randall’s Island
When: Nov. 27-Jan. 10
How it’s different: Guests hold-
ing a timed ticket ($38 for general
admission) follow Lumi, the magi-
cal lightbulb who hails from Uni-
corn Kingdom, through a won-
drous world of ancient civiliza-
tions, illuminated jungles and
glowing art installations. Organiz-
ers removed the holiday tent, win-
ter stage and workshop but added
an open-air gallery that explains
the origins of lantern-making in
Zigong City, China. Other high-
lights include a dozen light sculp-
tures of cat and dog influencers, a
gift shop, a Christmas tree pop-
ping with bulbs and NYC food
trucks.
More options: The city's major
department stores will dress their
windows to the nines for the holi-
days. Saks Fifth Avenue, for one,
will take a global spin with its
theme, “This is How We Cel-
ebrate,” while reminding viewers
that NYC is the center of the uni-
verse. On select weekdays, a differ-
ent fashion or entertainment per-
sonality will push the button that
illuminates the facade, the retail
version of ringing the bell on the
New York Stock Exchange. Macy's
will fill its windows with animated
and interactive interpretations of
the idea, “Give. Love. Believe.” and
send a heartfelt thank you to first
responders and essential workers.
Also check out the window won-
derlands at Nordstrom and
Bloomingdale’s.
[email protected]ice sculptures, music and dance
performances. Attendees must
buy the $30 timed-entry ticket in
advance.
More options: The New-York
Historical Society welcomes back
the Holiday Express: Toys and
Trains from the Jerni Collection
exhibit from Nov. 27 through
Feb. 21. On view: toy train engines
and stations from the 1800s to the
1950s, including the Grand Sta-
tion by German toymaker Märklin
and the Blue Comet, a mini ver-
sion of the New Jersey Central
express train that shuttled vaca-
tioners and gamblers between
New York and Atlantic City in the
1920s and ’30s. Timed-entry tick-
ets required, and capacity is limit-
ed to 25 percent.What: Chanukah Family Fest at
the Jewish Children’s Museum in
Brooklyn
When: Dec. 13-17
H ow it’s different: The mu-
seum had to eliminate the ball pit
and reduce the number of partici-
pants attending its workshops,
but families can still learn how
olive oil is pressed, decorate
doughnuts with sprinkles and
frosting, and help design a mural
made of stickers that portrays an
image of children from the ancient
Hanukkah story and modern day.
Cost:$15.
More options: Mark the first
night of Hanukkah (Dec. 10) with
an outdoor concert and lighting of
the largest menorah in Brooklyn
— and the biggest candelabra al-
lowed by Jewish law — at Grand
Army Plaza.What: Bronx Zoo Holiday
Lights
When: Select dates through
Jan. 10roomier shopping experience. The
vendors are a mix of returnees and
first-timers, including four minor-
ity-owned businesses that earned
rent-free booths through the
Small Business Spotlight initia-
tive. The city’s only free skating
rink will reduce capacity by one-
third and requires reservations for
skating and rentals. At the out-
door Lodge Deck, grab a cocktail
and a six-pack of flavored marsh-
mallows and watch the mittened
and masked skaters glide by.
More options: Inside Out Tours
plays Santa’s little helper on its
three-hour New York Holiday
Markets and Christmas Lights
walking tour, held Thursdays
through Saturdays in December.
UrbanSparkle, an exhibit orga-
nized by UrbanGlass, an arts non-
profit group in Brooklyn, high-
lights five female artists who have
transformed the glass into wear-
able statement pieces. Their
works will be on sale through
Jan. 15. Only 20 shoppers are al-
lowed in the space at one time.What: Holiday Train Show at
the New York Botanical Garden in
the Bronx
When: Through Jan. 31
How it’s different: The flora-
forward train show is limited to
NYBG members and patrons.
Membership starts at $90 for an
individual and $120 for a couple,
and includes year-round admis-
sion to the garden and Enid A.
Haupt Conservatory, plus special
exhibitions. As a consolation, the
botanical garden created NYBG
GLOW, a new outdoor experience
accessible to the general public on
14 nights between Nov. 27 and Jan.- After dark, the garden will erupt
in a riot of color and lights, plus
installations in the reflecting pool,
OUT MY WINDOWThe coronavirus pandemic has disrupted travel domestically and around the world. You will find the latest developments on The Post’s live blog at http://www.washingtonpost.com/coronavirus/This photo of leaves through a rain-splattered windshield in D.C. was taken
by Ralph Blessing, 75. This year, Washington’s fall foliage peaked between
Oct. 19 and Nov. 2, though some trees are still changing, such as the
ginkgos, whose leaves turn mustard yellow.
While we’re all spending far more time at home than we’d like, the Travel section is inviting its
readers to submit photos of notable places or things they can see from their windows. Can
you spot a historic building or mountain range? Do you have a great view of a landmark, park
or main thoroughfare? None of the above? How about a Cooper’s hawk, a stunning sunset or
a spectacular azalea? We want to hear about those, too. We will feature selected images in
print — and our staff will supply some historical or cultural tidbits about your view.
Submit the view from your own window at wapo.st/outmywindow.RALPH BLESSINGEditor: N icole Arthur • Deputy Editor: Elizabeth Chang • Art Director: J osé Luis Soto • Photo Editors: H aley Hamblin and Monique Woo • Staff Writer:
Andrea Sachs • Editorial Assistant: H elen Carefoot • Travel Advertising: Ron Ulrich, 202-334-5289, [email protected] • To respond to
one of our articles: E -mail [email protected], call 202-334-7750 or write: Washington Post Travel section, 1301 K St. NW Washington, D.C. 20071.
TRAVELThe motto for New York City
could be, “The holidays must go
on.” Though Broadway and the
Rockettes are sitting out the festiv-
ities, most of the big events are still
on, though with a few tweaks.
(Masks, social distancing, sanitiz-
ing and advance reservations are a
given, of course.) Here are some of
the major celebrations, plus a few
ancillary events, that have adapt-
ed to the health crisis without
sacrificing the joy and cheer of the
holidays.
What: Macy’s Thanksgiving
Day Parade
When: Nov. 26
How it’s different: The Thanks-
giving tradition is tossing out its
dog-eared playbook: No 2.5-mile
parade route, student marching
bands or Inflation Celebration
held the night before. The street
performers, clowns, musical acts
(Patti LaBelle and Dolly Parton!),
floats and giant balloons will con-
gregate around Herald Square
and the Macy’s flagship store on
34th Street. The organizers are
reducing the number of spectators
by 75 percent and only allowing
residents from the tri-state area to
attend. Everyone else can watch
the spectacle on NBC and Tele-
mundo from 9 a.m. to noon. One
upside: Without the crowds, you
can more easily spot the parade’s
oldies (Rocking Lobster, Astro-
naut Snoopy) and newbies (Boss
Baby, Her Future Is Stem-sation-
al).
More options: Throw on your
running shoes and Tom or Tina
Turkey mask for the NYC Turkey
Trot, which has gone virtual. Pick a
distance — the Thankful Turkey
half-marathon, 10K or 5K — and
then a route, such as the two laps
and change around Central Park
for the half-marathon. Submit
your results between Thanksgiv-
ing Day and Nov. 29 to earn your
medal.
What: Rockefeller Center
Christmas tree lighting and ice
skating rink
When: Dec. 2 (lighting) and
Nov. 21-Jan. 17 (rink)
How it’s different: The 88th
annual tree lighting ceremony is
closed to the public, but the tree
will be open for viewing from
6 a.m. to midnight on all Decem-
ber nights except New Year’s Eve,
when it shuts down at 9 p.m. The
Rink, which opened on Christmas
Day in 1936, will limit the number
of skaters to 25 percent capacity.
Reservations are required. Cost is
$5 to $35, depending on age and
time; discounted rates are avail-
able for the first (9 a.m.) and last
(midnight) sessions. With the VIP
package ($85-$95), enjoy an
apres-skate snack and sip at the
rinkside City Winery Lounge.
More options: The American
Museum of Natural History will
unveil its Origami Holiday Tree on
Nov. 25, continuing a tradition
that goes back more than 40 years.
For this year’s Cranes and Colors
theme, 1,000 paper cranes will
adorn the 13-foot-tall tree that re-
sides indoors, in the Grand Gal-
lery. Timed admission ticket and
temperature check required. The
museum will not open its ice skat-
ing rink this year, but Wollman
Rink is nearby, at the southern
entrance of Central Park.
What: New Year’s Eve Times
Square Ball Drop
When: Dec. 31-Jan. 1
How it’s different: The end-of-
the-year party that typically draws
about 100,000 revelers is going
virtual. Even so, 2020 will still
receive a proper farewell with
hosts, performances and, of
course, the ball drop 10, 9, 8 sec-
onds before midnight. A Times
Square Alliance spokesman said
the group will announce details in
coming weeks.
More options: The Renais-
sance New York Times Square Ho-
tel has seven rooms with private
terraces overlooking the ball drop,
so you can bid adieu to 2020 in
your flannel pajamas. Or try the
New York Marriott Marquis,
which boasts 130 rooms with ball-
drop views on the 10th through
45th floors. Tip: Pick a room on a
lower floor.
What: Bank of America Winter
Village at Bryant Park and ice skat-
ing rink
When: Through Jan. 3 (holiday
market) and March 7 (rink)
How it’s different: The open-
air holiday market cut the number
of kiosks from more than 170 to
about 60 and cleared furniture
from the walkways to create a
HOLIDAYS FROM E17
In New York, the holidays revised
SHUTTERSTOCK/ELEPHOTOSTISHMAN SPEYERAMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Scenes from last year’s holiday season include lights at the
LuminoCity Festival in Randall’s Island Park, at top; the
Rink at Rockefeller Center; and ornaments on the Origami
Holiday Tree at the American Museum of Natural History.Politeness can work wonders,
says Dale Johnson, who co-owns
a marketing firm in Cardiff,
Wales. He recalls checking into a
hotel in Bali that had been
recently renovated. A little too
recently. The paint on the walls
had not dried yet, and he
couldn’t breathe.
“I informed the reception
desk, and straight away, she got
the manager,” he recalls. “They
were so apologetic, and on the
spot, issued me a refund for the
remaining days. They looked
visibly upset when I left.”
Donald Parker, who has
checked out early from several
hotels, has a few strategies for
making the process easier. First,
he recommends keeping your
request for an early checkout as
brief and cordial as possible.
“If they offer a refund, make
sure you get the name of the
hotel employee agreeing to the
refund,” says Parker, a retired
pharmacist from Carrollton, Tex.
“Note the date and time this fact
was discussed with the hotel
representative.”
And if you can’t negotiate a
refund? Appeal to a manager or a
general manager. If that doesn’t
work, go to the hotel chain.“Whatever the outcome, thank
the individuals with whom
you’ve communicated,” Parker
adds. After all, that’s the polite
thing to do.
Hotels are in an almost
constant state of renovation, so
you may just check into the
wrong property on the wrong
day. But what if you find a hard
mattress, no hot water or a
broken air conditioner?
Typically, those will show up on
hotel reviews online. Doing your
due diligence on a hotel before
making a reservation might
avoid an early checkout.
Here’s something else to keep
in mind. Hotels almost always
have an empty room or two. If a
room has a problem that can’t be
fixed to your satisfaction, why
not give the management a
chance to move you to a different
one? You will avoid an angry
confrontation with a manager, a
lengthy credit card dispute and
the bother of spending hours
trying to resolve a problem that,
perhaps, could have been
prevented in the first place.Elliott is a consumer advocate,
journalist and co-founder of the
advocacy group Travelers United.
Email him at [email protected].When Irena Shie
rejects a hotel
room, it’s usually
because of
hygiene.
“If the room is
dirty, I call the
front desk and
request a
cancellation,” says
Shie, a software
developer from
Glen Mills, Pa.
When Nancy Usich leaves
ahead of schedule, it’s because
she is uncomfortable. She says
she and her husband recently
checked out of a bed-and-
breakfast in Gettysburg, Pa.,
because their room had a soft
and lumpy mattress.
“It was so uncomfortable that
we could barely get out of bed,”
says Usich, a retired teacher
from Avon, Conn. “We snuck out
the next morning without asking
for a refund. The owners were so
nice, and I didn’t want to hurt
their feelings.”
How do you know that a hotel
isn’t for you? When should you
check out early? How do you
break it to the hotel — and get at
least a partial refund? And what
can you do to avoid such
awkward situations altogether?
“If a hotel is unsafe or
unsanitary, then there is no point
in staying in your room and
trying to resolve the issue with
the property,” says Yatin Patel, a
co-founder of Reservations.com,
a travel site. “Conversely, if you
find that the hotel staff is flat-out
unhelpful in accommodating
your concerns, then you should
make the decision to leave.”
But those aren’t the only
reasons. Cadry Nelson, a food
blogger from Iowa City, recalls a
short-lived hotel stay in Orlando.
“That night, the couple in the
next room started having a huge
argument,” she remembers.
“Sometimes they were taking the
arguing to our adjoining balcony,
right outside our window. The
yelling continued for hours.”
After midnight, Nelson called
the front desk to ask for an
intervention. But no one was
there. They had all gone home
for the night.
The quarrel continued into
the early morning.
“Finally, at 3 or 4 a.m., I booked
a different hotel online, and we
packed up our things,” she says.
When she requested a refund
from a hotel manager, he was
“unapologetic and rude,” but he
eventually reversed the charges.
Technically, you’re on the hook
for your entire stay, at least as far
as the hotel is concerned. When
you make a reservation, you are
under contract. The hotel will try
to charge you for the nights you
have stayed and may try to bill
you for the remaining nights on
your reservation, even if you
leave early.
As a practical matter, though,
most hotels don’t want unhappy
guests. If you can’t resolve the
problem by moving to a different
room, a manager may offer a
partial or full refund. It depends
on the circumstances. For Nelson,
noisy neighbors were enough for
a refund; for another customer at
another hotel, it could be a heater
that doesn’t work or a mattress
that is too hard.
It really depends on how you
present the problem, and to
whom. A courteous,
nonthreatening appeal, in
person, to a manager on duty or
a general manager is often the
best path to a resolution.What to do when that
hotel room just won’t do
The
Navigator
CHRISTOPHER
ELLIOTTWhen you make a
reservation, you are
under contract. A hotel
will try to charge you
for the nights you have
stayed and may try to
bill you for the
remaining nights on
your reservation.
As a practical matter,
though, most hotels
don’t want unhappy
guests.