SiobhanP

Hi All, I am coming to NY on a stop over for a work trip that heads to Mexico city. I planned to fly from Dublin to NY and stay 3 days visiting some friends and then fly to Mexico. I am going through Newark each way. I need to know can I easily get a taxi at 5/5:30 am and or can I pre book one (I do this in Dublin). I have to be there 2 hours prior for my 8:30 flight and not sure how to get there. I will be leaving from the upper east side. Is the train from Grand Central operating that early? Is the traffic ok that early if i get a taxi? Any help appreciated as I have been away from NY so long I know nothing anymore!

mclaurie

You can't pre book a taxi, but a car service is almost the same thing and that can be ordered so you don't have to worry about whether you'll find a taxi. Early AM there is very little traffic so it won't take long-sometimes as little as 20 mins. but figure an hour to be safe.

2 most popular services are dial7.com and carmellimo.com Both use operator owned cars (the drivers own their cars, not the co.) so quality of cars/drivers not always even but you'll get there and back.

There is no train from Grand Central to Newark. You're probably thinking of a train from Penn station which is not terribly convenient from the UES. I'd just take the car service.

rkkwan

First NJTransit train departs NY Penn at 4:20 and arrives Newark Airport 4:45. With the short AirTrain ride, you can be at the terminal by 5am.

nytraveler

New York is the safest large city in the country, but I wouldn;t want to trek by subway and be in Penn Station at 4:30 am.

Agree to call a car service in advance. Look on the web sites for coupons - they usually have them for the airports.

williamscb13

I third the recommendation for a car service at 5 a.m. to Newark. Not a taxi, a car service.

SiobhanP

Thanks for all the info Much appreciated! Yes I also though that time in the am would not be great at Penn (Forgot which one it was!).

doug_stallings

There's absolutely nothing wrong with Penn Station in the early AM, so don't worry about that. The question is how much you want to pay and how much convenience matters to you over cost.

If you want the much greater convenience of a car service (and are able to pay triple the price of the train), then you should book one.

Otherwise, you should take a regular taxi to Penn Station from your hotel and get on any train that stops at EWR (but they will be few and far between that early in the morning).

SiobhanP

I think its worth the cost to take the car as I must make that flight as I will be working in Mexico city. Thanks for the all the info.