droolpatrol

Hi all -- Tuesday before Thanksgiving we will be landing at JFK and hope to take the Long Island Railroad out to Bridgehampton to see relatives. Should we take a taxi to the nearest train station? What is the LIRR station nearest to JFK? Do we need to change trains in Jamaica? Any info is of course, most appreciated. Thanks

joethekay

No need to take a taxi if you are going directly to the LIRR. Just take the air train pople mover at JFK directly to the jamaica LIRR train Station. Cost $ 5
See http://www.airtrainjfk.com/airtrain/
Have a nice flight.

mclaurie

As Joe says, the best idea is AirTrain to Jamaica. But, the trains out to the Hamptons unfortunately don't run very frequently.
There are NO trains between 11:30 am and 4:25 pm.
http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/lirr/html/ttn/bridgeha.htm
So if you need something in that time period, your only public transportation option is to use the Hamptonjitney.com
You make a reservation and must either take a taxi or arrange for a car service pickup at JFK to the Jitney stop in Flushing, Queens. There's more detail of the location on the Jitney website.

If there are a lot of you, since the Jitney is pricey, it may wind up costing about the same to get a private car service. Price around $150-175 now. You'd pay that for 3 on the jitney.

mclaurie

Actually, just read the sched. again and on the train, nothing til 4:50. The 4:25 doesn't run on Tuesdays.

nytraveler

Agree you should plan on using the Jitney - and be sure to make reservations well in advance since it is often full.

Unfortunatly silver snail (LIRR) service to the Hamptons is not good even in the summer - and once you hit the off season is almost non-existent (hence the wild success of the Jitney).

Also - service has been even more irreguar than usual recently due to construction. Don;t know what stage it will be at by Thanksgiving - but a friend of mine has had trains delayed and even cancelled recently due to track works/problems.

droolpatrol

Thank you for your answers to far. We have a train-loving toddler with us, and our flight arrives at JFK around 2:15 so I don't mind waiting until 4:59 at Jamaica for a train. But you all are scaring me with the "delayed possibly cancelled train" scenario. I'll check out the Jitney. Car rentals are charging mafia prices for pickup at JFK. Also these "car services" you have mentioned, do those just go to train stations, or is it possible to get a service all the way to our final destination of Sag Harbor? I wouldn't mind the names of a few reputable car services. Thank you all again!

mclaurie

The jitney actually will take you to Sag Harbor on some buses, but not the one that would make sense for you. There's a 2:25 from the airport connection which you couldn't make. The next is at 3:25 which sounds ideal, but that one doesn't have a connection to Sag Harbor. That would put you into Bridgehampton at 5:35.
http://www.hamptonjitney.com/PDFS/HJSFNewSchedule.pdf?

The toddler fare is discounted, but not by much.

The 4:25 train is scheduled to hit Bridgehampton at 6:05 so you'd only be there a half hour later than the jitney and I think the price difference is substantial. It's just that Jamaica station is not a wonderful place to wait for 2 hours (although I haven't been there in a long time, I don't think it's changed much)

The car services I know are not cos. but retired locals. One lives in Sag Harbor and the other in Southampton. I wouldn't want to post their #s publicly. Have you spoken to your family? They may know someone.

If you're going to be visiting through the weekend, you might want to have a car anyway. Have you checked all car rental options?

mclaurie

But to answer the question, car services will give you door to door service.

ellenem

The other possibility is to see if your relatives will meet you part way. Trains run much more frequently to Patchogue. If your relatives were willing to make the drive, you could take an earlier train when the sun was still shining.

droolpatrol

Thank you all so much. I think we're going with the Jitney. If the train service is at all spotty, we will be stuck. We won't need a car while we are there. MIL is driving from NJ, and of course would be willing to pick us up; but my child will NEVER ride in a car with her at the wheel. Ever.

mclaurie

It's probably too late, but do you realize Islip MacArthur is a better airport for the Hamptons? Southwest is the primary carrier. Code is ISP.

droolpatrol

I do realize that Islip is closer, but we can fly nonstop to JFK, whereas flying to Islip requires changing planes in either Baltimore or Chicago Midway. Flights have been booked on Jetblue and we are excited to fly them as they are new to our city and I keep hearing how great they are. Oh, and Fodorites, please don't think me bitchy for disparaging my MIL's driving. It's worse than you can imagine.

mclaurie

Jet Blue is terrific. Are you flying the new service from Chicago? Hope you got that great introductory fare, if so.

On the Jitney airport connection, their website describes the location eastbound (for your arrival) as

"Airport connection passengers should take a cab from JFK or LaGuardia to our stop in Fresh Meadows, Queens, at the corner of 190th Street and the Eastbound Service Road of the L.I.E. (Take L.I.E.to Exit 25 eastbound, follow the service road to the front of the Fresh Meadows Cineplex Odeon Movie Theatre).

Make sure you make a reservation so they know you're coming.