Getting around in NYC
 

HI, I have my itinerary set for a 3 day trip with my mom and sister to NYC. I am not sure what the best mode of transportation is while we are there. We plan to walk quite a bit from place to place, but I'm sure there are places that we will need to take transportation. Is it safe to take the subway? Are the cost of taxis reasonable or crazy expensive? If we take a taxi cab, what is the average tip?

My biggest question: What is the best way to get from Laguardia airport to our Times Square hotel? I'm not crazy about taking a shared van as this will probably take too long. If we choose to take a taxi, about how much would the fare be and do I have to make reservations in advance? Should a book a car service?

Thanks all!

<< Is it safe to take the subway?>>

Considering that millions of New Yorkers do it every year, yes.

NEW YORK IS THE SAFEST LARGE CITY IN THE UNITED STATES, even now despite DeBlasio's best efforts.

For cabs: http://www.taxifarefinder.com/main.php?city=NY

You can just hop in a cab at the airport. There is an official taxi line with a dispatcher. You must pay the fare, the bridge or tunnel toll and a 20% tip. For 3 people a taxi is probably not more than a shuttle. Taxi fare should be $35 to $40 depending on time of day, traffic, construction, etc.

Or you can contact one of the car services and get a fixed quote for the trip - also plus toll and tip. The two largest are Carmel and Dial 7. Go to the website to get a discount coupon and make a reservation. When your plane lands you call them and they will have a car pull up outside to pick you up by the time you get your luggage. Note: for security reasons they can;t sit outside the terminal so you need to go right outside and get in the car - the driver will not come in for you.

As for moving around the city:

Yes, the subway is safe and fast - but can be VERY crowded at rush hour

For 3 people a cab will not be outrageous if you are too tired or hot/cold (depending on when you are here).

For info on costs go to hopstop.com and insert your departure and arrival addresses and you will be given an estimated taxi fare (but again you add 20% tip).

Vehicular traffic in Manhattan is 100% unbelievable. It can take 30 minutes to go a few blocks during certain hours of the day (on busy streets). Taxis can get expensive even for a short distance. The average tip in a taxi is 15% to 20% (like in a restaurant).


The subway is very safe just take reasonable caution and not flash money, jewelry, cell phones, iphones etc and pay attention to your surroundings.

The best way from LGA to Times Square would be a taxi or a car service or shuttle bus - http://www.nycairporter.com/).

The shuttle bus is $13.00 per person and will leave you at 42nd St- Bryant Park (42nd St-6th Av).

There is a public transportation option (if you have a lot of luggage I would skip this one):

From LAG take the Q70 bus to 74th St-Roosevelt Av-Broadway. Take the 7 train (elevated) or R train (underground) to 42nd St-Times Square. The bus fare is $2.75 per person in coins or MetroCard. You should be able to purchase a MetroCard (at least a $5.50 card) from one of the newsstands in the airport or You can purchase MetroCard at MetroCard Vending Machines inside Terminals B, C, and D in LaGuardia Airport (note there is a $1.00 fee for the purchase of a new MetroCard from a MetroCard Vending Machine but the card can be used for up to 4 people and can be refilled as often as needed. http://web.mta.info/nyct/service/New...e_brochure.htm
If you use a MetroCard on the bus then you will automatically get a free transfer to the subway.

The subways are the fastest ways to go north/south. There are just a few subway routes that go east/west.

Here is the map.

http://web.mta.info/maps/submap.html

It sounds like everyone is pretty agile, as most subway stops do not have elevators or escalators and even then they can be unreliable.

The subways are extremely safe as opposed 30-35 years ago, readership continues to increase and even late at night at the major stations, there are incredible amounts of people.

The buses can take a long time and whatever you do not take the 2nd Ave bus above 57th St, the construction for the subway line creates monumental traffic jams.

OTOH, buses are nice, because you can see parts of the City at a mere fraction of the cost of what the HOHO buses charge.

When I visit NYC, my hometown, I use the subway only as a last choice. Safety is not the issue. I like surface transportation because I can see the city and would rather not spend the time underground. Taxis work for me most of the time and if a but is going in your direction, that could be good too if not too crowded.

Mostly, I walk. My cutoff is usually no more than 30-35 blocks north south, I find it enjoyable. The north south streets are much shorter than east west. Walking all of the cross town should take about the same time as 30-35 blocks north south.

Don't forget to walk in Central Park some.

Thank you so much for all of your help! I will check out the links provided. We are looking forward our trip.

My fave bus route in Manhattan is M6. I hop on it at WTC site, and go to Central Park. It goes thru all the hot spots in da city.

http://web.mta.info/nyct/bus/schedule/manh/m006cur.pdf

The subway is fantastic. If you only have 3 days and a lot of ground to cover, why waste it sitting in traffic? Fares are $2.75 for each trip and you can use your fare card to transfer to a connecting bus. If you go to this website: www.mta.info, you can plug in your starting and ending points and it will tell you which lines to take.

If only 3 days in NYC, don't get 7day metro cards; a $10 or $20 will do fine as you get transfers within 2hours too.

Oh, and NYC buses do NOT accept paper bills!

<<The subways are extremely safe as opposed 30-35 years ago, readership continues to increase and even late at night at the major stations, there are incredible amounts of people.>>

Wondering about the connection between increasing readers and safety on subway . . . ;)