JillDavis

Hello there! I was wondering what the cheapest and safest way would be to get from a New York airport to Manhattan? I need to get to 81st street between 2nd and 3rd on the Upper East Side. I don't care if I fly into La Guardia or JFK. We will have one piece of luggage with us.

Thanks so much!

vjpblovesitaly

Here is some info from Trip Advisor.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g6...Departing.html

People ask there every single day about how to get from the airports so in addition to the thread I've attached, there are tons of threads.

There only "unsafe" ways I can think of would be to hitchhike or accept a ride from one of those gypsy cab types

Cira

I always land at Laguardia. SEEMS a tiny bit closer to Manhattan. I have gone two ways, by taxi and by shuttle to the hotel. Needless to say, the shuttle is less expensive, if you don't mind going in circles before reaching your destination, this is the way to go, I guess. Taxi, self-explanatory. Best of luck! Have a fun and safe trip!

JillDavis

How much is the shuttle into Manhattan? What is the name of the shuttle company? Is it easy to find the shuttle at the airport?

Thanks VJ and Cira!

Aduchamp1

The shuttle could eat up a lot of time depending who is dropped off when.

It is cheaper to take a cab from LaGuardia.

Marija

If you're staying in NYC you can go to the Hudson's newstand at baggage claim and buy a Metrocard which you can use to take public transportation to the city.

crayon78

Public transportation is the cheapest. From my apartment (near Times Square) to JFK, it's less than $10, and safety isn't really an issue (not more so than anywhere else). Public transportation to/from LaGuardia is a bit of a hassle so we fly to/from JFK (or Newark) whenever possible. The other advantage of public transportation over taxis and shuttles is not getting stuck in traffic. If you're flying in/out late at night or really early in the morning, traffic's not really a concern and the subway doesn't run as frequently, so taxis might be easier just for time.

Never taken the shuttle except to Newark (years ago) so can't really compare prices with that.

ellenem

How many people are traveling? You said "We will have one piece of luggage with us."

To that location from LGA, a taxi would be $25-$30, with toll and tip included. If there are two of you, that's about the same cost as a shuttle but no agonizing "tour" of Manhattan as all the other riders are dropped at their hotels. With two people, I never question taking a taxi from LGA. You can put up to four people in one taxi for the same price.

padams421

Public transportation is the cheapest but a taxi will be more convenient (door to door). I'd go with a taxi.

BTW, JillDavis, you owe us Fodorites a trip report from your European adventure for all of the questions we answered for you. Did you buy the purse?

nytraveler

From LGA public transit is a PIA. there is no special line to the airport and you need to take regular commuter bus and subway to get into the City - with flights of stairs to negotiatie, no place to put your luggage and no place to sit if it's crowded.

From JFK public transit is esier - since you can take the Air Train to the subway - but for the upper est side there will be acouple of changes and definitely stais to negotiate with your luggage.

(My philosophy is to always take a cab if you have luggage saving a few $ isn;t worth the hassle of schlepping it all over hell and gone. Subway is great to get around the City - but not with bags.)

Gwendolynn

a taxi from JFK is $45 plus tips and tolls. The East 80's are relatively close to LaG compared to other locations in the city so unless there's some grand tie up it should be cheaper. Usually a taxi to the 80's will take the Triboro bridge and exit the FDR at 96th St. However, once the bridge was unavailable and we had to go around to the 59th St bridge at considerably more expense. But that scenario should be rare.

JillDavis

Padams! I do owe you a trip report! It was so amazing! I need to do it. You are so sweet for remembering my purse. Yes, I got the LV bag in Paris and my husband was so in love with Venice that he was feeling generous and bought me a Gucci unexpectantly. We can't resist a good bargain!

bigbomoho

ive been using Dial7.com--- very depndable From LGA to 53rd/3rd was $25 and took 25 minutes at 1PM.He took Grand Central thru mid-town tunnel.In the 80s theyll take tri-borough.Im too old (65) to put up with the hassle of taking bags on public transport,but agree it is cheaper and safe.If youre landing at a rush hour time,public might be quicker as well.

sandi

Dial7 and Carmel fare between LGA/Manhattan is $33-35; $45 JFK/Manhattan, both plus bridge/tunnel tolls and tip.

For drop-off at 81st St. between 1st/2nd Ave (upper east side), it's simply less expensive by taxi; a 15/min drive, on the meter is about $25, plus bridge toll and tip.

Door-to-door is simply easier from LGA. Across the Triboro (RFK) bridge, onto the FDR drive, exiting at 96th Street, south on York Ave., right turn on 81st St to address between 1st/2nd Aves.

bigbomoho

heres a link to dial 7 https://www.dial7.com/daytimevoucher...r_vehicle.aspx
$29 plus tolls,tip
the only issue with a taxi is a possible wait to get one at the AP.There are plenty there,but sometimes the queue waitng for a cab to pull up can be 20 deep if you land at a busy time.

doug_stallings

A 20 deep line lasts less than ten minutes in most cases, so that's just not a problem. Take a taxi if you are in a hurry, but just realize that you're going to pay more than what is on the meter. Expect to pay about $35 total (at minimum). The bus from LGA costs $12 to Grand Central. There are actually several shuttle companies. nY Airpport Service goes to Grand Central, but you could also take Super Shuttle or Grayline door to door (but i just cant recommend any of these companies). Then you have to take the subway or a $10 taxi ride from Grand Central.

You could also just take the bus to the 6 subway, which is by far the cheapest way. But it will take at least twice as long as the taxi.

All are equally safe. But for schedule reasons, don't do the subway option after 10 pm.

awygn

When I have no one to meet me at the airport...I use Airportshuttles.com. This is a safe way of using an authorize company and they are not that expensive.

Carrying luggage up and down subway stairs... take the shuttle.

Michael

Check out this site for LGA:

http://www.ny.com/transportation/airports/LGA.html

Ackislander

From LGA I take a car service like Carmel since the price is fixed; if you get stuck in a taxi, it can mount up uncontrollably.

Sher

I have actually taken the bus and subway from LGA into Manhattan. It is pratically free. But a pain.
It is the cost of a one way Metro fare which combines the subway and bus.
But if I am by myself I usually take the shuttle: Super Shuttle which is about $18 with tip door to door. It can be time consuming.
For more people, a taxi or car service. A fixed price would appeal to me.
From JFK, I took the train and then the subway. You don't have to worry about traffic and it is about $8.00.
From Newark, the train but it is more expensive about $15.
All of these I would say are safe.