Carol27

I will be arriving at the Newark Liberty airport. What is the best way to get from there to Penn Station where I am going to meet my son. I thought about taking the Super Shuttle directly to the Doubletree Hotel on Lexington but I am not sure if this would take a lot longer than going to Penn Station. Any advice would be appreciated.

nytraveler

Whatever you do don't take the Super Shuttle. In NYC it's very unreliable - often driving you around in traffic for an hour while dropping others off.

If you have just a carry-on you can take the Air Train to NJ Transit to NYC (I assume) Penn Station. (Don't get confused since there is also a Penn Station in Newark.)

If you have substantial luggage I would grab a cab directly to the hotel.

ellenem

DO NT TAKE THE SUPERSHUTTLE. I'm sorry for shouting but I'm not. It just doesn't work in NYC--you nd up wasting way too much time packing the van full at the airport and then driving all of the city dropping off each person.

The AirTrain/NJTransit train mentioned is the best to reach Penn Station NY.

I'm not sure why you are adding to your agony by going to Penn Station if you could both just meet at the hotel.

The better transportation to go irectly to your hotel from Newark airport is the Olympia Bus, which stops across from Grand Central Station near Park Ave and 41st St. From there, with a light rolling bag, you could walk 10 minutes to your hotel at 51st and Lexington, or easily catch a quick cab ride.

http://www.coachusa.com/olympia/ss.newarkairport.asp

Seamus

To answer your original question, taking the train from the airport to Penn station is quite easy if you do not have lots of luggage. Just take the airport interterminal tram to the Newark Liberty airport train station. Buy your ticket from a vending machine. There are two options - Amtrak or NJ Transit. NJT is cheaper and more frequent. Buy your ticket, go down the escalator to the platform to wait for your train. Be aware that the train will probably stop at Penn Station in Newark, that is not the one you want, just stay on until the NY Penn station stop. From there you can meet your son and share a cab to the hotel.

If you do have more luggage than you can handle yourself (getting on and off the train) then a cab would be easiest, tough more expensive. Bus would be cheaper but you would then need to get a cab from the drop point to your hotel.

doug_stallings

The Olympia Trails shuttle does stop outside Penn Station, but then you'd have to cross busy 34th Street and get inside to find your son. That will be marginally cheaper than the Airtrain but will probably take longer. I'd do the Aitrain if I were you.

But since your hotel is on the east side, it would be easier if you could meet your son at Grand Central. Olympia Trails has a bus that goes directly to 41st Street between Lexington Ave. and Park, and from there is one block to the station. That's what I'd recommend. You can still take a cab to the hotel from Grand Central, and it will cost much less.

nstevey

If you're one person with alot of baggage, Supershuttle is the most economical option door to door. Yes, it is a mammoth waste of time, but much cheaper than a $75 cab ride from NY to Newark. I've used SS for years and never had a missed pickup. I've had problems with the Airlink Shuttle, so avoid that one.

Carol27

Thanks for the valuable information. Since I am so used to using the Super Shuttle I really was toying with that idea however now I know! - It doesn't work in New York City.
I am now looking into the Olympia bus to Grand Central Station. That makes more sense actually as my son will be coming in from White Plains. I don't think either one of us were aware that the Olympia bus was available.

So much good advice is derived from this site. Thank You.

nstevey

I was at LGA last week and the taxi queue was endless. I took the bus home. Probably took the same amount of time as the cab, but I paid less and didn't schlepp my luggage for 20 minutes on the taxi line. Sometimes the not so convenient, cheap option is better.

doug_stallings

Here's a link to the shuttle schedule from EWR to Grand Central.

http://tinyurl.com/5kokkm

The bus runs every 20 or 30 minutes (sometimes more often).

ellenem

The one time I took the SuperShuttle from Newark, it took us 55 minutes to get out of the airport. Then add in the ride time, dropping off people . . . the PATH train would have been faster.