SLHogan

I have about a 13 hour layover at JFK before I head out to Paris (crazy, but it can't be changed, unfortunately). I realize that I have to be at the airport at least 2 hours before an International flight. Will I have enough time to head into the city or should I bring lots of books and just stay at the airport? I have read different posts on the board and it appears that the majority say "stay at the aiport." I think it's mainly due to the cost and traffic problems in getting to NYC from JFK. My luggage will be checked and all I have with me is a backpack, of sorts.

Any advice would be most helpful!

Thanks.

donnabee

If you have never been to NYC and you are adventurous - go for it. With traffic, it will take about 1 1/2 hours to get to the airport - so make sure you leave yourself enough time. You can get to see most of the important sites of the City in.

rjw_lgb_ca

You should have plenty of time to head into town on the subway-- but give yourself an extra hour coming back, just in case there are unforeseen train problems (like the last time I took the subway from Port Authority to JFK!!).

JHMjhm

This really depends on what day of the week you are flying into JFK. During the week, you should be all right. On a Friday, Saturday or Sunday during the summer, you may run into a ton of Hamptons traffic and have problems.

methinks

What day of the week and time will you arrive?

SLHogan

Methinks:

I will arrive on Wednesday, July 30.

Thanks!

suzanne

Take the NY Airport Service Bus into Manhattan. It will take an hour or more, but it is cheaper than a cab, and it will take you right into Midtown, a block from Grand Central (the first stop...or you can continue on to Port Authority which is near Times Square). From there, you can walk & explore. Times Square and Central Park are both within walking distance.

The bus schedule can be found on their website: nyairportservice.com

methinks

SLHogan, I'm sorry to just be answering this back now. But I haven't had alot of freetime in the last few weeks (working stinks - I just want to travel!). I take it you will be arriving in the early morning and leaving in the early or late evening. Unfortunately that puts you getting into NYC at rush hour and needing to leave to get back to the airport just before or during rush hour. That limits what you can do. You probably have enough time to grab public transportation into Manhattan, see one or two things in the same general area, and head back to the airport by cab. The travel cost will be about $50. For $10-20 more you can get car service. If you've never been to NYC, then I would say do it. If you have been here or will be traveling here soon, it's probably isn't worth the hassle or expense. If the weather is bad, skip it or plan on doing the TKTS thing and see a show(the show will let out early enough for you to grab the A train in Times Square to the bus to the airport, it will get you back to the airport about 6pm). Alternatively, consider cabbing or car servicing it to Coney Island, grab a hot dog, sit on the beach, maybe go swimming.