emsmom

I am traveling to NYC next week with my 16 year old daughter. We have never been to New York. We are scheduled to arrive at 4:45 pm on a Thursday. We are staying at Excelsior Hotel on the Westside. I have been reading posts and trying to decide on the best way to get from the airport to the hotel. Is the $5 Airtrain really confusing? Would a taxi be better or will traffic at that hour be horrid? We are only bringing carryons. so luggage won't be too tough. Thanks for any advice.

Michael

Depending on where on the west side, the Airtrain to the 8th Ave. express would be a logical way to go. If your hotel is between 59 and 125 St., you will have to transfer at 59 for the local by crossing the platform.

ellenem

I don't think the AirTrain is that confusing, but I live in NYC and deal with subways and trains all time time. Yes, traffic might be horrible at that hour, but the fare from JFK to Manhattan is a set rate of $45, not including tolls and tip, so you know you will pay $55-$65. Only you can decide how you would like to begin your trip--door to door in a taxi, or following one of these routes below.

Your hotel is located at Central Park West and 81st St. To reach this location you would have to change subways since your location is a "local" subway station while the subway connections from the AirTrain are "express."

Before I totally confuse you, let me explain the two options for AirTrain and the connections. I verified both these routes at hopstop.com, which provided the timing.

For all options: From JFK, take the AirTrain (elevator and escalator access) to Jamaica Station/Sutphin Blvd. As you exit the AirTrain, you pay $5. Follow the signs, using elevators and escalators to reach one of these two travel options:

1) Cheaper, Slower, Slightly-Easier Connections:
Pay $2 and take the E train (subway) to Manhattan. (E train arrives in Manhattan heading in a downtown direction.) Get off at 42nd St. Walk upstairs and immediately go down the other stairs to the "Uptown" platform. Take the C train uptown to 81st St. You'll be right by your hotel.
Hopstop estimates this trip at 1 hour 20 minutes door to door.

2) More money, Faster, Longer Connections:
Pay $7-$8 (rush hour fares) and take the Long Island Railroad to Manhattan/Penn Station (33rd St), the last stop. Walk upstairs and follow signs through the station to the C train. Pay $2 and take the C train uptown to 81st St. You'll be right by your hotel.
Hopstop estimates this trip at 1 hour 7 minutes door to door.
(You might opt for a taxi once you reach Penn Station, which would cost about $10 from there to your hotel.)
Hopstop estimates this trip at 1 hour 20 minutes door to door.

nytraveler

Your choices are taxi (flat fare of $45 to Manhattan, which with tool and tip is about $60).

You can take a shuttle bus to Port Authority for I think $18 each - then a cab to the hotel - which will cost perhaps $10 less.

Or you can take the Air Train ($5 each) to Howard Beach - NOT Jamaica. there you will pick up the subway - the A train - which will take you to the upper west side. Subway is $2 - but Metrocard only - no cash - so be sure to buy a Metrocard at one of the shops in the airport. You can expect this trip to take between 1.5 and 2 hours and you will have to tote you luggage up and down stairs and along long passageways.

(If you prefer you can take the Air Train - $5 each - to Jamaica, there take the LIRR - $7 each - to Penn Station and there switch to the subway - $2 each on Metrocard. This will probably be 20 minutes or so faster - but again trekking through passageways and up/down stairs with your luggage - for a total coat of $14 each.)

Frankly - I would do a cab - which will be faster - even in rush hour - and certainly simpler and more comfortable - esp if the weather is very hot and humid.

ellenem

nyt,

Certainly the A train goes to the upper west side, but it stops at 59th St or 125th St. The poster would have to change trains anyway to get to 81st St. The ride on the E train and then changing is shorter by 10 minutes or more than taking the A train.

However, if the poster took the A train, to change to the C they could just cross the platform at 42nd or 59th since the A goes "uptown" from JFK.

Austin

I have a question - what about going back to JFK. Some mentioned hiring a car instead of a cab...can anyone explain? (Too many bags here for the A train/subway)

thanks

nytraveler

You can hire a car service (try Dial 7 or Carmel) and it saves trekking out into the street with your luggage and searching for a cab, If you go to the web site in advance you can get a discount coupon - but the price will still be about the same as a cab - total of about $60 inclusive to JFK.

AJPeabody

Whenever a New Yorker is asked how to get somewhere and starts talking about changing from different alphabet letters locals and expresses and you mare crrying baggage, you can be sure it translates into "Take a Cab!" Of course you can get anywhere in NYC in 2 hours with 3 or four changes. So, take a cab.

gard

Hi

We took a taxi from JFK when we went there is December last year. Here is my trip report with pictures http://gardkarlsen.com/NYC_travelogue_2007.htm . I hope that you can find some useful info there

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

wildblueyonder

We had no problem getting a taxi from JFK to Manhattan (even with 3 of us and hundreds of bags!!) You just line up at the taxi stand and hundreds will arrive at once!

Margo_Chester

I realize that the OP has already traveled, but I wanted to offer a comment to help others. When you need to return to JFK, there is no need to be "trekking out into the street with your luggage and searching for a cab" as nytraveler stated. If you are staying at a large hotel simply go outside and join the taxi queue, or if you are staying someplace smaller with no doorman walk to over to the nearest large hotel, join the queue, tip the person assisting you with luggage/cab and get in. There is no trekking and searching!

sobster

To clarify the Dial 7 and Carmel suggestions their #'s are 666-6666 and/or 777-7777. They usually come in the typical Town Cars. I would simplify my life and take a taxi.

nytraveler

Sorry -

That works only if you have unlimited time. NYC has a chronic shortage of cabs - and if the weather is bad, or it's rush hour, or the hours taxi shifts change (8 am or 4 pm) it can easily take 30 miinuts or more to get one. arranging a car serviice in advance avoids that problem.

Gekko

Another vote for Dial 7.

I always reserve online:

www.dial7.com

Margo_Chester

Well NYT of course a service can always be arranged, I only offered an alternative because you implied that getting a cab to JFK was some type of a huge production which it is not.

nytraveler

It can be a huge production under a number of circumstances which happen fairly often.

If you're not aware of this you must not take a cab in NYC very often. I do so several times a week - for the past 25 years - and there are many times when finding one is a big PIA.

JulieAA

Can I just thank you for posting the hopstop website! We're on our way to NYC at the beginning of Sept. and this is such a neat tool for figuring out how to get around. I really appreciate it ellenem.

Gekko

Getting a cab at JFK certainly CAN be a "huge production."

I've waited in a taxi line for over an hour when I was foolish enough not to reserve a car service.