Brief Layover: Newark
 

Hello,
My husband and I have a brief (5 hour) layover at Newark on route to South America. We arrive at around 4:30pm and our next flight leaves around 10:00pm. We were thinking about making the trip to Midtown Manhattan for dinner. We were wondering how to get to Midtown quickly and cheaply from Newark airport and if it is even worth it at all, given that we will be arriving around rush hour.

We are also looking for recommendations for dinner around Times Square (American cuisine).

Thanks.

OK, you figure you are able to leave the airport around 5 pm. Rush hour. It could take over an hour to get into Manhattan. Then to wherever it is you wish to eat. Now it is close to 7 pm. You want to give yourselves more than an hour to get back to the airport and to the plane. Which means you should leave before 9 pm.
Do you think it is worth it?
If you really want to leave the airport, there might be a restaurant in NJ that would suit.

I agree that there isn't enough time. For a 10 PM international flight, you'd need to be back at the airpoirt by 8 PM.

I agree. Too much time and too much variability to get into Manhattan.

Even if you've checked already, you'll need to be back at the airport before 9 to get through security & to the gate. I'm sure there are lots of excellent restaurants in NJ you can get to by taxi.

There are some great Portuguese restaurants in Newark downtown near the train station. Just a short taxi ride to/from, and you won't feel pressured for time.

I agree with the others that Manhattan is a stretch. ((b))

I think the fastest way into NYC would be by train.

http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/egtsfram.htm

But it's doubtful your luggage will be checked through to South America so you'll have to deal with that I'd guess.

You could go to one of the restaurants in NJ with a view of Manhattan. Might be safer. Arthur's Landing is one idea.

http://www.arthurslanding.com/home.html

Don't know what a taxi would cost.

mclaurie. asking because I'm curious. Are SA destinations treated differently from Europe or Asia? I've always had my bags checked straight through to my final overseas destination from my origin elsewhere in the US. This is true even if on 2 different airlines.

I would have assumed aingem's checked bags would be taken care of, and they'd have to just take carryons with them.

AND don't forget to check your flight gate. We weren't flying to SA , BUT folks were in our gate and SUDDENLY that flight was leaving from somewhere else with no notification. It was close to the time. NO foolin'.

Ever living on the edge, I have done this with a 5 hour layover in Newark and made it to the gate on time, but there is not a lot of cushion in the schedule. Newark's great Portugese restaurants are a fine suggestion, though I cannot recall the names of the places we enjoyed there.
If you are determined to go into Manhattan, absolutely take the train. See www.portnynj.com/airtrainnewark/ Two service providers - NJ Transit Amtrak. NJT is cheaper ($14 vs 27 OW)and more frequent. The 5:19 arrives NY Penn at 5:46. Jump in a cab and get to where you are going pronto. Savor (but not linger over) a nice meal, then cab back to Penn station for your return at 8:11, arriving EWR at 8:36. That should allow sufficient time to get from the airport train station through security and to your gate. Do check the boards before security to confirm that your gate has not changed.
Note that this is premised on being checked through to your final destination when you originate and not having much carry on luggage to deal with.

No way would I attempt this. Too many variables. Eight hours is as close as I would cut it.

Sorry J62. I have no personal knowledge of the bag checking situation SA vs. anywhere else (I fly out of NY) but perhaps mistakenly assumed they wouldn't be checked through with all the security issues.

Budman's suggestion for Portugese in Newark is the best idea. You can easily take the train from EWR to Newark Penn Station and numerous restaurants are in walking distance from the train station. Just check your luggage in for your next flight & you'll be ok.

Iberia - 67 Ferry Street is a good one.

Going into NYC would definitely take too much time.

Thanks for all your advice. I think's we'll go with the dinner in Newark suggestion. Other than Arthur's Landing, does anyone have any other recommendations for a restaurant with a view of Manhattan?

There's also a Chart House in Weehawken but I don't know how good it is.

The restaurant (Vu) in the Hyatt hotel in Jersey City has a view. There's also a Japanese rest. in Jersey City at the Newport Center called

Komegashi too
99 Pavonia Ave
Jersey City, NJ 07310

There is PATH train to Jersey City. (You'd take AirTrain to Newark, then PATH train to Jersey City). I think you'd need a taxi or possibly a bus to Weehawken. But going to Newark is closer still.

While you didn't ask, there is an outlet mall called Jersey Gardens that runs shuttle bus service to/from Newark airport. The website says its a 30 min. trip. Not suggesting you go there to eat, but if you wanted to pass some time shopping...

http://www.jerseygardens.com/info/information.cfm

Even with bags being checked through we have encountered LONG security lines at Newark. And be sure to check where the plane will be leaving from close to the time of departure--not what you were told upon arrival. We were in a gate area with lots of folks seeming to be on our plane, only to have them scurry off for their SA plane at a gate far away.

Agree with others. Forget Manhattan. Even if you make it there without any problems you won't be able to enjoy your dinner, you'll be checking your watch every few minutes.

Budman, I would appreciate specific recommendations for great Portuguese restaurants. We will have almost five hours before our next flight to Paris in April. Thanks

For Portuguese restaurants in Newark, tpatricco is the resident expert. We went to dinner with them last year in "little Portugal." About a block from the Newark train station. ((b))

Security lines at 9pm shouldn't be a problem. Unlike in the late afternoon. And keep in mind that there are three sets of security checkpoints at EWR Terminal C. The "left" set close to gates 120-139 are usually the most busy. Go through one of the other two, and walk back, even if your flight does leave from 120-139.

Also, the AirTrain only goes to the Newark International Airport trains station. You need to first ride the NJTransit to Newark Penn, if you want to connect to PATH.

As was said above, the AirTrain is not actually user friendly, although there are a lot of very friendly service agents who willhelp you.

The AirTrain itself is fine. However, the Newark International Airport train station is pretty 3rd world, at least for that one time I went into Manhattan from EWR.

The "next train" monitors are either not-functioning, or worse - they display wrong info. A whole bunch of people just kept looking at their watches and the track. Finally, when a NJTransit train pulled up, there was no announcement, no nothing.

I know all trains on that platform goes to New York Penn, but it'd be nice to at least hear an announcement.

It was worse than China.