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Getting to hotel from Laguardia

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Old Jul 11th, 2006, 04:00 PM
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Getting to hotel from Laguardia

Would it be better to use an airport shuttle or get a taxi? There will be three of us. We are scheduled to arrive at LGA on 7/27 at noon. Our hotel is the W Times Square
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Old Jul 11th, 2006, 04:32 PM
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We prefer a car service, have used Carmel and Tel Aviv with no complaints. The cars are nicer than cabs, and the price is similar.
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Old Jul 11th, 2006, 04:40 PM
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what is the price range for a car service?
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Old Jul 11th, 2006, 04:41 PM
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Also, do you have to reserve ahead of time or are they there at the airport?
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Old Jul 11th, 2006, 04:51 PM
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You're better off just hopping in a cab - then no calling for the car service when you land and waiting for them to turn up.

The cab line might look long but there is a waiting area with at least a hundred cabs and they pull up as fast as passengers can get in. Cost will be about $35 with tip and toll.

Whatever you do don;t take a ride with any driver that approaches you inside the airport - they're illegal and trying to scam you (often change prices when they get you to the hotel).
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Old Jul 11th, 2006, 04:53 PM
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The car services charge about the same as a cab. You must reserve in advance and then call when your plane gets in so they can send a car.

(If you have a car waiting for you they charge for waiting time from the time you schedule them until you actually turn up - so if the plane is late the price can be much higher.)
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Old Jul 11th, 2006, 04:57 PM
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thank you both for the info!!
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Old Jul 11th, 2006, 05:06 PM
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A taxi is usually quick and easy. Make sure to get an official yellow NYC cab on the taxi line. Do NOT accept a ride from anyone who approaches you.

The car services charge about the same and are a good idea, imo, only if you're arriving at a busy time (like rush hour) to avoid a high bill from heavy traffic. At noon on a Thurs. I don't think you need to worry. You might want to consider ordering one to go back to the airport.
carmellimo.com
telavivlimo.com
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Old Jul 11th, 2006, 05:13 PM
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We used Carmel service. They have a coupon on their web site, which covers the tolls. We paid $35 inc. tip and the service was great.
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Old Jul 11th, 2006, 05:17 PM
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thanks everyone. one more question - what is the appropriate tip amt for car service and/or taxis?
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Old Jul 11th, 2006, 05:32 PM
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15-20% of the price without the tolls.
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Old Jul 12th, 2006, 04:19 AM
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We took a cab from LaGuarida to our hotel on the Upper West Side. It was $27 plus tip, and perfectly fine. I had reserved a car service to take us back to the airport on our last day. I wish I had just let the bell man get us a cab. The service was Dial 7 and the total was $40 plus tip.

I was told on these boards that pricing would be similiar, but that was a big difference to me for the same ride. The car wasn't all that nice either, no better than the cab we took there.
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Old Jul 12th, 2006, 04:25 AM
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Taxi.
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Old Jul 12th, 2006, 04:57 AM
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Unless it is a very busy weekend, take a cab into the city and use a car service to get to the airport.
 
Old Jul 12th, 2006, 05:27 AM
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Dial 7 is pretty reliable but better for larger groups. Cost-wise, for 3, it would be similar to a taxi.
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Old Jul 12th, 2006, 06:26 AM
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$40 to LGA does sound like a rip off unless there where extra charges for time of day or they gave you a deluxe car. The other service charge about $30 and Carmel always has a coupon on their website for $4 off so it pays for the toll.
http://www.carmellimo.com/Rates.shtml
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Old Jul 12th, 2006, 08:21 AM
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hmm, the time of day was 1:30, and the car wasn't deluxe so I don't know. I probably should have questioned the driver and showed him my printout (I think I was quoted $31 plus tolls), but at that point we were ready to get into the airport and we just let it be.
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Old Jul 12th, 2006, 10:19 AM
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Were you ready to leave when the car arrived? (if you tell them to come at 7:30 but don;t leave until 8 they'll charge you for 30 minutes waiting time.)
Or did you order a limo vs a sedan?

Otherwise I can;t thing of any reason for a charge that high.
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Old Jul 12th, 2006, 10:29 AM
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Carmel car service (book ahead online) or a taxi. I used Carmel for the first time last March and I'll never use anything else. Do NOT take a shuttle or you'll spend your afternoon driving. Do NOT accept a ride from anyone who approaches you at the airport.
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Old Jul 13th, 2006, 04:11 AM
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nytraveler:
No, we were out there waiting for him at 1:25 and he came on the dot at 1:30 (that's when I saw all the available cabs go by). And it was a sedan, not a limo. I don't know what happened, obviously got mischarged. The others in my family are not very assertive and I wasn't ready to argue with the guy so they paid and off we went. It is annoying looking back on it now though.

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