Liz5959

My daughter (19) is taking train in from New London, CT to Penn Station to visit my parents on UWS. It's just been so long since I've been in Penn Station, I could use some help.

The decision is should she take a train that gets in Thursday night at 9:45, or wait and come in Friday morning. She has done it before during the daytime and just taken 1 train and walked 2 blocks from subway stop. But, she is hesitating about doing that at night. I would do it, but she needs to feel comfortable.

I said she could take a cab, but I always think its sort of creepy around MSG at night. What would be the best route for her to take to exit Penn station to grab a cab and feel comfortable. It is, I think, more lively on 7th ave than 8th-right? Just could use a few pointers from NYers more on top of it than I am.

As always, thanks in advance to this helpful group of Fodorites!

lizziea06

There is a very large taxi stand on 7th Avenue with taxi stand workers. Only legitimate NY cabs will stop there. Your daughter should follow the signs towards 7th Avenue. She'll go up an escalator, and she should be facing the Hotel Pennsylvania. The taxi stand is towards the left, and she does not need to cross any streets. She can get in line and the taxi stand operator will tell her which cab to get into and help her with her luggage. It is quite safe, and there will be a ton of people around.

mclaurie

Agree with Lizzie but a heads up, 7th ave. will be going in the wrong direction for her. It goes south and she wants to go north so she shouldn't panic if the driver turns around.

Marge

Penn Station area is much better than it used to be. On a night when something's going on at the Garden there will be plenty of people around too. And the cabs are right outside the Garden. I personally would do it, but I'm a couple of decades older than she is.

It doesn't sound like that big a deal to wait and go the next morning, then she can take a subway to the west side. Better to feel safe and comfortable.

Liz5959

Thanks to all. That's what I meant by asking about 8th Ave vs 7th, although I certainly wasn't being clear. I just didn't think there would be a good way for her to catch a cab on 8th ave heading uptown.

Why, actually, is there a cab stand there? Who does it serve? MSG, Macy's, Penn Station, Penn Hotel, all of then? I just don't remember there being that much traffic there to require a cab stand, though I'm glad to know there is one. (I had one interesting summer working at Macy's....)

Thanks again.

Liz5959

My mother just called. She thinks that there is also a taxi stand at 33rd and 8th. True?

That, of course, would be sending DD in the right direction to begin with.

lizziea06

I always take the 7th Ave b/c I live downtown. It will cost like an extra $.40 or whatever to have the driver loop around the block, so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

mp

There is a cab stand at 8th and 33rd - just short of the Theatre at Madison Square Garden, a concert venue. Check the MSG schedule to see if there is an event that night - she actually might have a problem getting a cab becuase there are TOO many people leaving around 9:45 or 10 . . . but most likely she will be fine - MSG/Penn Station at that hour is busy and the area has changed considerably in the last 5 - 7 years. Either exit will work for her - after she's done it you'll probably both laugh at your concern . . . .

Gekko

She should go to the major, attended taxi stand on 8th Avenue, which runs north. No need to go to 7th.

Tell her to follow the signs to 8th Avenue & she'll be fine.

(The subway is perfectly safe at that hour, of course, but if she's not comfortable, it's a cheap & easy cab ride up 8th.)

nytraveler

The subway is fine that time of ight - no reason not to take it. But - as others have mentioned there are cab stands on both the 7th and 8th avenue sides of the station - with cabs pulling up all the time. No reson she should have to wait more than a couple of minutes to get one.

If you/she are concerned that the streetss are too empy - they're not. But the 7th Ave side has more foot traffic and shops/eating places across the street - if that would make you more comfortable. (Going around the corner to head uptown won;t add any more than a few cents to the cost of the ride - if anything.)

Liz5959

Just to report back...she called around 11 last night, from my parents apt. Ringling Bros circus was at MSG last night, so of course there were tons of people around.

She took the subway and walked to apt. Felt completely comfortable.

The train was 15 mins late because it hit a couple of deers on the tracks and had to stop to re-test the brakes. I'm sure it wasn't a good ending for the deer, but it was for my DD. Thanks for the help.