Hudson Valley - renting a car

Old Aug 14th, 2013, 07:44 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,072
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hudson Valley - renting a car

Good morning

I need to get on the stick about prepping for our trip coming up soon... We will be in the Hudson Valley for 3 nights, starting and ending in Manhattan.

Would it be the easiest for us to take ourselves (with luggage in tow) via train to the end point in the Hudson Valley and pick up a rental there, or, should we get a car closer to Manhattan/in Manhattan?

Seems like the train makes more sense (pickup and dropoff three days later, then train back to Manhattan) but thought I'd ask.

Muchas Gracias
flygirl is offline  
Old Aug 14th, 2013, 08:25 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 26,243
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Personally, that sounds like a pain - I'd just pick up and drop off the car in Manhattan. Why not?
sf7307 is offline  
Old Aug 14th, 2013, 08:32 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,959
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It all depends on your definition of "easier".

Where in Manhattan will you be arriving- one of the NYC area airports, train station, some place else??? Where in the Hudson Valley do you plan to start your trip????? What time of day, what day of week????? How many is"we"????? How much luggage will you have????

Generally speaking car rentals are more expensive if pick-up is in NYC or at airports vs. picking up the car in one of the suburbs, HOWEVER, there are sometimes extra fees to pick up a car in one location and dropping it off in another which could wipe out any cost savings.

To find out what options are the most cost effective you'll have to factor in the cost for the car rental, drop off fees (if any), train tickets, etc. and what is YOUR OWN TIME worth to you?

Personally, in terms of "ease" it is always "easier" to pick up a rental car at your first point of arrival and drop it off at your point of departure from the area you are visiting but while it's "easier" it may not always be the most cost effective.

Give us a little more information.
RoamsAround is offline  
Old Aug 14th, 2013, 08:42 AM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,072
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We will be in Manhattan, in our hotel, leaving Tuesday morning and back in Manhattan Friday late afternoon and back in our hotel. I figure we can get a cab to/from the train station on both ends, in Manhattan. The dropoff would be at the same Hudson Valley destination if we do the train.

Time most important, not as worried about cost (unless we are talking about tripling, which I doubt would happen). Which I guess means this boils down to: leaving Tuesday morning, is it quicker to navigate Manhattan traffic and leave the city for points north or just get a cab to the train station and train to end point (Poughkeepsie?) and is the same vice versa Friday late afternoon the most time efficient.

Thanks.
flygirl is offline  
Old Aug 14th, 2013, 09:21 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 10,210
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I would recommend renting from Hertz in North White Plains. Close. To the train station and highways. Otherwise you'd probably have to rent in Poughkeepsie, which is considerably farther. I don't believe you can rent in Hudson or Rhinecliff. You could rent in Albany however.

But it's much cheaper than in the city either way. Ian most familiar with North White Plains.
doug_stallings is offline  
Old Aug 14th, 2013, 09:31 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,959
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well, driving out of Manhattan on a weekday morning is relatively easy as you'll be going "opposite" the flow of rush hour traffic. Once you get from your hotel or rental car pick-up point on to either the West Side Highway or East River Drive you should have clear sailing to Poughkeepsie - it's about 85 miles from mid-town Manhattan and probably take you about 1:45 to 2:00 for the drive. FYI - the earlier you leave, the less mid-town traffic you'll encounter.

Driving back late afternoon on Friday should be similar as you are again going against the Rush Hour flow. You could experience a little delay as you first enter the city and again when you exit the main artery and get on the streets of mid-town but it should not be too difficult - besides you'd be encountering the same mid-town traffic conditions if you took a cab from the train station to your hotel.
RoamsAround is offline  
Old Aug 14th, 2013, 09:42 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 17,986
Received 22 Likes on 4 Posts
Car rentals in the city are much more expensive.
HappyTrvlr is offline  
Old Aug 14th, 2013, 09:42 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Another easy option would be to take the subway to 181st Street (A train) and rent from Uptown Car Rental (http://www.aamcar.com/index.html). This way, you miss city traffic as you'll just be hopping on the GWB, and you have the beautiful ride up the Palisades, then you return and hop on the subway downtown.
MeghanInNYC is offline  
Old Aug 14th, 2013, 10:17 AM
  #9  
J62
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,916
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you can get a good rate then I'd just rent in Manhattan at a location convenient to your hotel.

Otherwise I completely agree with Doug - rent at Hertz north white plains.

Renting in Poughkeepsie is not convenient - you need to get a taxi from the train station to a rental car office a few miles away.

Travel time by car from Manhattan to Poughkeepsie is about 90min.
J62 is online now  
Old Aug 14th, 2013, 10:59 AM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,072
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you everyone, great ideas I would not have known about. I will research the options now.
flygirl is offline  
Old Aug 14th, 2013, 11:20 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 27,868
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Enterprise is right near the White Plains station [NOT North White Plains station, which is different]. They will pick you up at train. I find prices are better and White Plains has better train service [express] than No.White Plains.

OP needs to price it all out and see which works the best.
DebitNM is offline  
Old Aug 14th, 2013, 12:34 PM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Agree I would look into the costs.

If there is not a significant difference I would pick up a car on the upper west side (several companies have offices on w 76th or 77th). You can drive a couple of blocks - get on the Henry Hudson Parkway and you have highway - with a couple of choices - all the way up the Hudson.

Coming back is the same - you would be on city streets for only 3 or 4 blocks.Bigger offices - lots of car choices - but do be sure you reserve in advance. And be aware that summer rates are much higher than the rest of the year - since so many people have summer houses at the beach or in the mountains - but don't own a car.
nytraveler is offline  
Old Aug 15th, 2013, 04:02 AM
  #13  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,072
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi everyone

I did a quick check on Expedia and there is an Enterprise located at 44 WESTCHESTER AVE, WHITE PLAINS, NY, is this the one DebitNM is referencing (near the train station)?

Y'all were right, it looks like picking up in the city is nearly double. Poughkeepsie versus White Plains have the same costs.

Thanks!
flygirl is offline  
Old Aug 15th, 2013, 04:54 AM
  #14  
J62
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,916
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I believe the Enterprise on Tarrytown road is closer & within walking distance of the RR station. One thing I don't like about Enterprise is that their "we'll pick you up" can take a long time depending on how many agents are working and how many customers are waiting, so if you can walk it may be quicker. One person can stay at RR w/ luggage if needed.
J62 is online now  
Old Aug 15th, 2013, 05:51 AM
  #15  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,072
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks, I will check it out.
flygirl is offline  
Old Aug 15th, 2013, 06:06 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 27,868
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
J62 is correct. The one I was referring to is at 15 Tarrytown Road. It is within walking distance, but it is worth a call to see how long it would take for them to drive over and get you from train station. There are also several gas stations close by for filling up upon return.
DebitNM is offline  
Old Aug 15th, 2013, 06:28 AM
  #17  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,072
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I am so glad I asked! Here I thought it was a no-brainer and everyone came through with much better ideas. Thanks for the tips.
flygirl is offline  
Old Aug 15th, 2013, 08:32 AM
  #18  
J62
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,916
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Here's the link to the Metro North RR for schedules.

http://new.mta.info/mnr

White Plains is on the Harlem River line, departing from Grand Central.

You will buy your tickets at the station from either a kiosk or ticket booth. Kiosks accept credit cards. Off peak trains (>9am?) are slightly cheaper than peak/rush hour. Express trains are faster than local, but you may not have options depending on when want to travel. Express trains are usually at evening rush hour.

There's a lot of good food options in GC for packing a lunch or breakfast to-go, ranging from a great deli market for fixins (on the east side of GC), or lots of fast food options/ food court in the basement.
J62 is online now  
Old Aug 15th, 2013, 12:06 PM
  #19  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 27,868
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
And IF you are of a certain age, there are senior rates which are the same, regardless if the trains are peak or off peak.
DebitNM is offline  
Old Aug 15th, 2013, 12:09 PM
  #20  
J62
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,916
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
or so you've heard....
J62 is online now  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -