Just in time for the holidays, Playbill Travel, in association with Dailey-Thorp Travel, invite you to take part in two exciting travel packages. The first spans the whole holiday weekend of Thanksgiving in New York Nov. 22 through 26 and includes a New York Philharmonic performance, two Broadway musicals and two Metropolitan Opera performances. The second lets you spend a long weekend of Holiday Shopping in the Big Apple while enjoying three opera classics at the Metropolitan Opera and a performance by the New York Philharmonic Nov. 30-Dec. 3.

THANKSGIVING IN NEW YORK

Arrive at the elegant Essex House on the spectacular Central Park South on Wednesday, Nov. 22 to a welcome reception and appetizing dinner at the hotel. At 8 PM that night you will enjoy the first performance of your trip at Avery Fisher Hall as Lorin Maazel conducts the New York Philharmonic in their rendition of Bruckner's Symphony No. 8.

Thanksgiving morning is yours to explore the lovely city of New York and maybe even take in the marvel of the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. In the afternoon, spend your holiday dinner being served at the exquisite Room With A View restaurant overlooking Central Park South in the Park Lane Hotel. Be careful not to take the traditional after-dinner nap or you'll miss the splendor of Meredith Willson's The Music Man on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre. Craig Bierko and Rebecca Luker star in the magnificent musical about the "Trouble Right Here in River City" when con-man Harold Hill comes to town. But will love foil his plans? See for yourself.

The next morning spend a few hours on the Art Gallery Stroll along the treasured West 57th Street with an expert art historian. Then, at the conclusion of the tour settle your craving for left-overs at Michael's Restaurant, known for its private art collection as well as its cuisine. The afternoon is left to your leisure before the evening's entertainment, Wagner's "Der Fliegende Holländer". Enjoy the opera classic at New York's cherished Metropolitan Opera that night as Valery Gergiev conducts. Saturday morning spend more of your leisure time however you wish before your return to the Metropolitan Opera at 1 PM. There you will witness the performance of one of Puccini's masterpieces, "Turandot," under the conducting hand of Marco Armiliato. Then appease your appetite at the charming Barbetta Restaurant right in the heart of New York's theatre district before taking in Tony Award-winner Brian Stokes Mitchell in Kiss Me, Kate. Mitchell, who is set to leave the cast at the end of January, stars alongside Marin Mazzie in this production about a married couple who become maybe too involved in their parts as they rehearse a production of Taming of the Shrew. The play-within-the-play plays on Broadway at the famous Martin Beck Theatre.

The total price for this tour is $2,775, with a single room supplement of $645. Each additional night following the Noon checkout on Sunday November 26 is $305 per room.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING IN THE BIG APPLE

If opera is more your taste, then maybe this package is more up your alley. Start your stay in New York by arriving on Nov. 30 at the Park Lane Hotel on Central Park South to a welcome reception and dinner at the hotel. That night you'll dive right into the entertainment with the opera favorite "La Boheme" by Puccini at the Metropolitan Opera at 8 PM.

The following day you have the morning and afternoon to head out into the city and do some holiday shopping or whatever you wish. The night belongs to opera though, as you will take in another great performance at the Met. This time valery Gergiev conducts Wagner's "Der Fliegende Holländer."

Your third day in the city starts with some more free time to catch anything in this Big Apple you may have missed. Then, at 1 PM, take in one more Met opera as Jiri Kout conducts Richard Strauss' "Der Rosenkavalier." Dinner for the evening will be provided at the savory West 63rd Street Steakhouse, just across the street from Lincoln Center. There at 8 PM in Avery Fisher Hall you will be delighted by the New York Philharmonic as Franz Welser-Moest conducts a program that includes John Adams' "Chamber Symphony," "Bach's Oboe d'amore Concerto," and Schubert's "Great C Major Symphony."

Checkout for this trip is Noon on Dec. 3. The total tour price is $2,175, with a single supplement of $495. Any additional night will amount to $325.

For more details on these and other upcoming trips, please call Director of Playbill Travel, Janice Marie Johnson at (212) 307-1555 weekdays. You can also email her at [email protected]. Make sure to include your name, mailing address and telephone number. She will take care of all your arrangements and any special requests you may have.

Please make checks payable to: DAILEY-THORP TRAVEL, 330 West 58th Street, Suite 610, New York, NY 10019-1817.

So book your trip to New York, New York today! Don't miss your chance to enjoy Broadway, the Opera, and all this majestic metropolis has to offer for the holidays.