louise1928

Thanks for all the suggestions regarding trains/buses to NYC from Philly. Good tips. I called the Hotel/Ramada Inn and was told parking is $20.00 per day..We are staying two nights. If we take the train (R7 and NJ Transit) we are looking at $60.00/couple, if we take Amtrak it will be approx $90.00/couple, would it be better to drive and pay $40.00 or would it be more of a nightmare and not worth the headache driving from Philly??

Thanks again

esg

Drive car up to hotel entrance, let them unload your bags, & park your car. Pay $40 and have a good time in NYC.

Patrick

Philly isn't like driving from Florida or California. There's something to be said for throwing your bags in the back of your own car at your own home, and arriving at the hotel a couple hours later -- no transfers, no complications. I would certainly drive if I were you.

Rob

Not only will it cost less to drive there is the convenience of going door to door when you want to go and not being bound by a train schedule.

Parina

Have you driven in The City before? Personally I avoid it, except for the outer boroughs when i drove to JFK airport, which can also be a pain.

The train from Philadelphia is so convenient. It will leave you off at Penn Station (8th Ave. and 34th St.) which is right where the Ramada is located. Can't get any closer than that unless the train were to stop right in the lobby. The trains run frequently betwen New York and Philadelphia depending on the time and day of the week. Generally they run about every half hour.

LoisL

Personally, given those facts, I would drive, but I would definitely keep in mind traffic times and conditions. Are you arriving on a weekend? If so, there shouldn't much of a problem, especially if you arrive early. On a weekday, it's a whole other matter. Whatever you do, don't go during the week, during rush hour!

Gretchen

Driving in NYC is not that difficult because the midtown area is a good grid--the streets and avenues are easy to navigate. Take your time, have a good map locating your hotel in hand and have at it.

mclaurie

If there are just 2 of you, I think it's 6 of one, half a dozen of the other (ie adding gas & tolls to the parking fee will wind up costing about $60-the same as the cheap train option-and in terms of convenience, it's a wash between hassle of driving vs hassle of train schedules & carting luggage.) If there are more of you (since you quote per couple, maybe there are 2 couples?) I'd drive, split the costs AND the driving. Agree to avoid arriving or departing in rush hour traffic.

mclaurie

PS You might be able to do better than $20/day parking. Go to iconparking.com & put in the hotel address. They might have a garage in the area that's a bit less (but $20 doesn't sound bad at all). Have a great trip!

HowardR

I think it's a no-brainer: Take the train. They run frequently, you avoid the hassles of driving on the PA and NJ Turnpikes (and in the city) and you can have a relaxed trip. Costwise, remember you've also got to figure in the cost of gas and tolls.
Further, the hotel is so convenient to Penn Station in NY.
I'm a New Yorker who doesn't mind driving in the city. Still,I say, why bother, when the train in so convenient?

wantsomesun

Do you have to stay at the Ramada? The Travel Inn on W. 42nd St, I highly recommend as being in the same price range as the Ramada, but it has free parking and you can go in and out as a guest.

My cousin stayed there a month or so ago with her family and loved the place. There is also a pool, and it's very close to lots of restaurants, it's right off the Henry Hudson Parkway, and close to Times Square and Theatres.

Hope this helps.

wantsomesun

ttt

paperback2000

We went to NYC several years ago; it was our last stop on a trip to New England and Northeast US, so we had our vehicle.
Some on this forum discouraged us from driving but it was not all that bad. We did as esg suggested, we parked our car in the hotel parking and left it there until we were leaving town. We used cabs, subway system or walking to get around.
I had expected NYC to be dirty and unfriendly--we were only going to that we could see the Status of Liberty. But it was great, we loved it and would like to go back again soon.
So bottom line, I would say if you have driven in a big city, and if you are good at reading a map (or get good directions online)--go for it and have a great time.

k_marie

Have you considered a combination of driving and the train?

Depending on your starting point in the Philly area, you may find it convenient to drive and park the car at a NJTransit station.

At the Hamilton NJTransit station (just a short distance--a quarter of a mile or so--from the Sloan Street exit off Route 295), you will find a section for long-term parking, up to seven days. Park the car, pay at the machine ($3 a day, I think), and take the train in to NYC.

I am not reluctant to drive in NYC. We live in South Jersey; our daughter lived in Manhattan for six years--turnpike driving and city driving were an essential part of most of our visits.
But there are times now when I would much rather take the train, even if the car-train combo adds a bit of distance and time to the trip. After a day or two of NYC fun and activities, I don't want to face the traffic on the few routes leaving Manhattan and on the NJ Turnpike. Relaxing on the train is a much better way to conclude a busy visit.

k_marie

Sloan Avenue

esg

My opinion only, but the cost savings in taking a train vs car would have to be enourmous to make up the inconvenience of taking the train. Imagine bringing luggage up a flight of stairs and then walking through Penn Station to get a cab (additional expense) or subway(another flight of stairs). Your cost
actually seems must less in parking your car. Therefore it seems a no brainer to me to go with the car. Driving in to city is not that much of a nightmare. Is your hotel on Lexington Ave? If so, exit Lincoln tunnel and head east. I'd avoid 34th street. I've found 44th(or 43rd) can't remember which goes east, to be the best way heading east after taking Lincoln Tunnel.