We booked a room at The Paul on 29th between Avenue of the Americas and Broadway for our night in New York in mid-May. We'll get to JFK about 7:00 p.m.

I'm thinking the easiest way for us to get to our hotel is take the Airtrain to Jamaica Station, then the LIRR to Penn Station. We can walk to the hotel from there (unless there's a good reason why we shouldn't).

Is there a better inexpensive way to get where we want to go?

Lee Ann

Taking the subway from Jamaica Station is less money that taking LIRR. The "E"subway will get you to Penn Station too.

Thanks, DebitNM.

Lee Ann

Riding LIRR before 8 pm is peak, so it will cost $10 per person.

Subway is $2.75 each, plus $1 for Metro Card, which is reusable, so you can use it again the next day and then the fare is only $2.75

http://web.mta.info/mta/airtrain.htm

How much luggage will you have?

If the LIRR is truly crowded - but you will be going agains most commuters - finding a place for luggage can be difficult. If you take the subway - the same is true and you may hae to deal with a couple of flights of steep , narrow stairs.

nytraveler, we will each have a carryon suitcase.

Lee Ann

In that case any of the options should work for you.

I just dread to see people each with a large checked bag and overstuffed wheelie carry-on trying to figure out how to haul all that gear up 3 flights of steep narrow stairs - against a line of people trying to descend.

If you arrive at 7pm, you're not going to face horrendous crowds on either the subway or the LIRR. You probably won't get to the station until at least 7:45, and by then the commuter crowds have thinned considerably. I see no problem with this plan. I would opt for the LIRR over the E train both to save time and a further walk. The E train lets you off at 8th Avenue, and then you have to walk all the way back through the station or around. You may encounter crowds around Madison Square Garden, so just cross the street. It will still be crowded around Penn Station but not unmanageable.

Whatever it's official name may be, no one calls it "Avenue of the Americas" - it's 6th Avenue.

And if you really want to shorten your walk, take the E train to Queens Plaza, walk across the platform to catch the R train and take that to 28th Street - it'll leave you at 28th and Broadway, about a 1.5 blocks from the hotel.

nytraveler, I would hate that too!

BigRuss, thanks for the suggestion. Given that we'll have just arrived from Milan, I think we'll be OK with the walk, but I'll let Mr. Pickle know there's a shorter walking option as well.

Lee Ann

BTW, it's real cute to see you and Deb working together - all you Enchantmentvillers sticking together. ;-)

Since I am responsible for LeeAnn going to Italy, and being a native born NYer...I just had to butt in.

Lee Ann