Hi!

I need some suggestions as to the most convenient area to stay for an overnight stop. We're coming in from a 26-hour flight at EWR early in the morning & we're planning to use the AirTrain to the Grand Central Station to hand over my larger suitcases to my cousin. Around noon the next day, my husband has a flight out of LGA whilst my child & I will be taking the bus to Boston from the Chinatown area. Given the limited time for us to sightsee and our different departure points, where would be the most convenient place for us to put up the night? I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

you can stay right near grand central at the hyatt there. I'm not familiar with where buses leave from the chinatown area to boston but to get to chinatown from grand central, the #6 train goes right to canal st from grand central. If the bus is leaving from the port authority, you can take the cross town shuttle form grand central to times sq.

Thank-you so much for taking the time to reply. I'll follow-up on your suggestion. Thanks again.

Doesn't the AirTrain from EWR to to PENN Station and NOT Grand Central Station?

That's correct - Airtrain goes to Penn Station at 33rd and 7th... not to GCT. If early in the morning means shortly after midnight or at 5 or 6 AM I would take a cab with three people and luggage. Easier than Airtrain and at that time of day just as fast. Airtrain would be about $33 for all three. Cab will be about $35-40 plus tolls and tip. Worth it for the extra cost as subway with luggage from Penn Station to GCT is not practical and cab would add extra cost and inconvenience. I believe Priceline.com can now be used by folks outside the US who are bidding on hotels for a US stay. Priceline recently split up the midtown zone into three separate areas - folks bidding for 4* hotel in Midtown east seem to be getting the Grand Hyatt quite regularly and winning bid is $75. No guarantee that you'll get this property but it's likely and it is a good hotel with convenient subway access - the #6 train will get you to Chinatown.

We'll be arriving around 8.00am on a Sunday morning. That's early to me . Actually, I'm rushing to meet up with my cousin as he has leave NYC by 11.00am, the latest. I figured that by the time we clear Immigration & Customs, the fastest way to beat the traffic would be by taking the Air Train & then, connecting to the GCS. I didn't realise that the journey would be so inconvenient by subway. Thanks for pointing out the problems to me.

Considering the time constraints your best bet would be to take a taxi from EWR to Gr. Central Station. That early on a Sunday morning the trip should not take more than 40 minutes. Cost with tip and toll would be around $45. Air train takes, once on the train, I understand takes about 20 minutes but you have to factor in the time it takes to get to the air train. Once at Penn station a taxi is going to be needed to get to Gr. Central station. The trip is not going to take less than 40 minutes. Further the total cost is only going to be a few dollars less than the cost of a taxi. The most important consideration is convenience. No dragging luggage to transportion to the air train, then onto the air train, then out of Penn Station to the taxi stand. Buses to Boston leave from the POrt Authority terminal at 41st Street and 8th Ave. Chintown is nowhere near the Port Authority.

Thanks for the feedback & additional information. Looks like a taxi would be my best option after all. Btw, the bus to Boston that I'm referring to is by Sunshine Travel. The company runs inexpensive shuttles between Boston & NYC & vice-versa & is patronised mainly by students from Boston & budget travellers. The pick-up & drop off point for NYC is Bowery Strret (off Canal Street) but I've just found out that I can request for a pick-up at 42nd. street itself. Depending on the time of departure, you'll find yourself either in a nice, comfortable air-con bus during peak hours or a van during off-peak hours. A one-way NYC - Boston trip costs $25 whilst a Boston-NYC trip will cost from $10 one-way to $20 return.