Have booked five nights in New York, Upper West Side, in April. We are on a very strict budget, and can't afford taxis from airport into New York, but have figured out that we can take the A train from Howard Beach to 103rd St, and it looks as though we could walk from the station there to our hotel in West End Ave. However, have just realised it may be about 9pm when we arrive at 103rd St, and am not sure just how safe this walk would be - two fit sixty somethings with roll along bags. Fit and strong though! Any thoughts please? Have been to New York before, but had a hire car.

Carrabella, there are things you scrimp on and things you don't.

The subway and Airtrain will take you two hours to get into Manhattan.

I'd splurge on a cab and save money elsewhere.

First of all, I don't think the A train stops at 103rd, at leat not all the time In any case, the stop there is not what I'd consider the best block. Instead,you can take the A train to 59th street, and switch to the 1 train which will take you to 103 and Broadway, one block off of West End Avenue.
Where exactly is the hotel? 9pm on the upper west side (103rd st) is still pretty busy outside, except possibly on a Sunday night. Most likely you will just look like locals coming back from the airport, not a tourist since there aren't many tourist up there except the kids going to the hostel on Amsterdam avenue.
It's a long trip, but if you must save money...

Take a taxi, without a doubt.

Where on West End Ave. are you staying???? If you don't want to spend the $60 for a taxi (safe and sane) then take the Express Airport Bus to Port Authority Bus terminal at 42 st & 8th ave. ($15/person or $30) and from there either taxi or bus uptown. Bus would be $2/person, taxi about $10.

Am curious about what hotel you're staying at - since I'm not aware of any there. It's primarily residential (very mixed, some upscale, some moderate and some public housing) with tons of restaurants and shops on Broadway.

I know there's a hostel on 103rd and Amsterdam - but don;t know any hotel at 103rd.

This area is quite busy until late - but what time deos your plane land - since Air Train and all the way by subway can easily take 2 hours in the evening. (JFK is at the very far end of Queens and at that time of night the train will stop at every station.)

This one maybe?

www.westendstudios.com/

I sure hope not. This place is the WORST. I'd rather sleep in the street.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev..._New_York.html

Oh boy!

Have never heard of this place but it appears to be VERY bad news.

They're listed as a 1* hotel on the same site that shows the infamous Marrakech (which keeps changing names to avoid being identified with it's reviews) as a 2*.

I would VERY seriously reconsider this place. Check out the Hotel Newton - very basic and in the same general area - but at least clean - and not trying to hide who they are. They have rooms with shared baths if you're on a super budget.

Hi! First of all, I do not think that walking to your hotel from the subway stop at 103rd street at 9pm at night is at all dangerous. That neighborhood is very gentrified.

The A train does not stop at 103rd. The A train is an express train. It stops at 59th street and then not again until 125th street. However, you can easily take the A to 59th street and then change to the #1 train (uptown). That's the simplest and most sensible thing to do.

Just in case you are looking for info on that neighborhood where your hotel is -- La Rosita (Broadway and 108th?) is an absolutely delicious run-down-at-the-heels latin place. One of my favorites.

Good luck!

Two 60+ tourists rolling suitcases on the subway, transferring, and then walking crosstown on 103rd Street (with their rolling luggage)???

Are you kidding me?

Take a taxi, Carrabella. Please.

Thank you all for your concern and advice, and especially the hotel info.
We WERE booked in to the infamous Westend, but have spent the last couple of days getting out of it and finding somewhere new. It's now the Days Inn, on Broadway, at I think 79th St, so this will affect our A Train plans a bit. Maybe #1?

Gekko and GoTravel, we really can't afford a taxi - we are two retired old Aussies, but this is our fourth overseas trip in the last two years, all of them done on a strict budget. Strike while we have the energy and desire, even if not the money! This time, we are going first to Cape Town in South Africa, then Cologne in Germany, before NewYork and on to Vegas, Flagstaff and LA. If we used our money on taxis etc, we'd have to cut a week off our time away - six weeks. It's just what we have chosen to do with our lives - travel and enjoy what we see as much as possible on what we can afford. I don't think we'll look like "tourists" unless I open my mouth!

From what I've been reading, Upper West Side sounds like lots of fun.
Thank you all again,
Carrabella

Carrabella, no offense, but 2 60+ Australians pulling suitcases on the subway?? You'll SCREAM 'tourist'.

But Broadway & 79th is better than 103 @ West End.

But, seriously, if you can afford your hotel you can afford a taxi, and you should.

I don't understand why everybody says taxi is a must. It is not. Subway is not easy, but it's possible. My dad's 72 years old today (his birthday), travels around the world, and he's hardly taken a taxi anywhere.

So, go ahead with your subway plan. Travel light and you'll be fine.

Here's a link to the NY subway map. http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm

orangecats is right about the stops. Carra -- you would switch from the A to #1 at 59th but I don't really remember just how many stairs you will have to navigate to do this so that may be your biggest consideration. 79th and Broadway is definitely a better place to be, will be quite lively and busy. I take it you know there are fixed fares for taxis from JFK to anywhere in Manhattan, plus toll and tip -- so you're probably looking at a savings of about 45 dollars. It is a very long train ride.

Travel light??

" . . . we are going first to Cape Town in South Africa, then Cologne in Germany, before New York and on to Vegas, Flagstaff and LA . . . "

I may not, but my 72-year old dad can travel indefinitely with just a backpack with wheels.

I think the Days Inn is further uptown, maybe 93rd or 94th street. I really don't think there is one at 79th street. Given that, the 1 stops at 96th street, which is an express stop.

The subway isn't horrible. It'll just take time. If you travel a lot and are used to public transportation then taking the subway in New York is perfectly okay. Just make sure you take the right Airtrain at JFK to go to the A train not the E train though the E train may be faster and you can transfer from the E train to the 1 train as well.

It will take time, but if you have enough time, it's not bad. Also, changing from the A to the 1 at 59th street is not bad. There aren't too many stairs. I have definitely seen more stairs on other subway locations.

Also to the poster who posted about La Rosita up near Columbia, I think it just closed. Sorry.