Is there a subway from La Guardia to mid town Manhatten
 

We will be arriving at La Guardia Airport 8:30 AM, and need to get to our hotel at 55th Street & 7th Avenue area. I see from a current NYC subway map there is the #7 subway from Times Square to Willets Point-Shea Stadium somewhat near La Guaria Airport. There maybe a bus line from the airport to this subway station. Is the subway very practical with baggage, or is a cab or bus shuttle the best way to Manhattan? There is 6 of us.

Take the subway. Its easy and convienent. Most New Yorkers get to LaGuardia this way.

A subway isn't at all practical with luggage(anything more than a small wheeled carry-on per person). Unfortunately, with 6 people, you'd need two cabs at a total price of about $50 total, same or less than a shuttle or airport bus would cost.<BR>If you were going to be on the Upper West side, a slow but cheap and somewhat more manageable option is a regular city bus, the M60 which actually goes from LGA to Broadway and 106th street and takes about an hour. Since it's a bus, you don't have to go up and down subway stairs and drag luggage through stations. Theoretically, you could still take this option and then transfer to the M104 bus down Broadway to your hotel, but that would take about another 30-40 minutes and is really quite out of the way for you. <BR>Taxi is the way to go.

Helpful Henry must be a troll, because most NY'ers DON"T take the subway to LaGuardia, in fact , it's quite the opposite. NOBODY takes the subway. People do take a bus to LaGuardia, but NOBODY takes the subway to LaGuardia.<BR>The post by 'nyer' is right on target.

Just as a sidenote, I've taken the bus/subway from LaGuardia in my days of poverty. New York, with its anti-tourist ways, makes no provision for luggage on buses/subways. If the bus is crowded, you may end up holding your suitcase on your lap.<BR><BR>If you absolutely want to punish yourself, you can take either a Q33 or Q48 bus which connect with the #7 train. Or use the M60 as stated above.<BR><BR>Unless you are absolutely on a tight budget, take a cab. For 6 of you, you will have to take two but it will save your strength for touring.

Most New Yorkers do NOT take the subway to Laguardia, since the cab ride takes only 20 minutes.<BR><BR>ONCE I took the subway out there because the president was in town and traffic was a mess. I took the F train to somewhere in Queens and from there took a gypsy cab to the airport. A bus would have been crazy...I couldn't imagine lugging my bags up those steep bus steps!

I took a cab once from LaGuardia when we landed after midnight. Even then the trip was almost 40 minutes. Since then, I have always used the M60. I travel fairly light, so getting on the bus with my wheeled pilot case & a shopping bag is usually no problem, even with a crowded bus. And when we aren't stayomg on the UWS, I have also used the express train to 125th. Example: Memorial weekend, we stayed near Grand Central, so we took the #4 (I think) Express to Lexington & 125th. The bus stops at that intersection, so connection was a snap. The 4, 5 or 6 trains would have worked. On the west side, the 1 or 9 train will take you up to 106th or 110th. And you can't beat the price. Just remember that if you can't find a Metrocard vendor at LGA (I never have) you'll need exact change (no bills) to ride the bus.

Lori:<BR>You must have ahd a bad cabdriver - as a native NYer, and there's 2 or more people going to the LaGuardia, we always take a cab. It has ALWAYS be under $25 before toll & tip. I make a special note of that particular threshhold, because most car services charge $25 flat rate to LaGuardia. Having many bad experiences of car services not showing up, I now just take a yellow cab, even though it is a metered ride. But for the last 15 trips to/from LaGuardia, it has never been more than $25, and usually it is about $19-$20 to the UWS, by the Museum of Natural History.<BR><BR>If I'm traveling along, I'll take the airport buses. What is it - $11/each way?<BR>Ican't imagine why any tourist coming /leaving NYC couldn't spare $11 to get to the airport. Hassling with your bag, when you're supposed to be on vacation, especially during the hot , summer months, is not a fun experience.<BR>If you are tight on funds, spend $2 for breakfast for 2 mornings (coffee and a bagel) and you saved enough money to take the bus or cab to/from the airport.

Geez... bad cabdriver? Maybe so.... That would explain why it was $35, too....

Geez... bad cabdriver? Maybe so.... That would explain why it was $35, too....

<BR><BR>Mike - Take a taxi. Or, in your case, two. I fly into and out of LGA several times a month, and a taxi is the only way to go, unless time is worth nothing to you, you're alone with no luggage, and you really need to save a few dollars. After the hassle and aggravation of flying, why compound it with a miserable trip into Manhattan? TAXI.<BR>

M60 bus to the end of the line and then transfer to the M104. This comination leaves you closest to the hotel, 55th and Broadway, one short block to the hotel.<BR>Cost is $1.50 a person and you must have the amount in change. This trip will probably take close to 1 1/2 hours. Other options: M60 to 125th and 7th Avenue and then #2 or #3 train to Times Square (42nd and 7th) Trip will take, airport to Times Square, about one hour. You then either walk or take a cab to the hotel. Walk is just over 1/2 a mile. Cab will cost about $5 with a tip. Unless you have a Metro Card the bus will be $1.50 and the subway fare is $1.50. You could also take the Q33 to the subway station to get the #7 to Times Square. This trip will takes about an hour

Skip the subway. Most New Yorkers do not travel to LaGuardia this way. It's time consuming and a general pain in the ass, especially with luggage.<BR><BR>You know, just last week I took a bus -- not a city bus but a private company, the name of which unfortunately eludes me at the moment. When you leave baggage claim you can pick up this bus on the far right end of the sidewalk, down by the taxi stand. (It was called something like New York Express, and there was a large sign.) The cost was $10 per person, they threw your luggage underneath the bus and it made 2 stops, Grand Central and Port Authority Bus Terminal. From either of these stops you could pick up a shuttle to your hotel. <BR><BR>Not luxury by any stretch, but at least you had a seat and you don't have to drag your luggage up and down subway steps. <BR><BR>Of course the best way is still a cab.<BR><BR>

The bus mentioned by Al will cost $60 for six. Two cabs from the Port Authority to the hotel will cost abouit $5 a cab - total cost $70. Two cabs, airport directly to the hotel, will not cost more than $50. The subway/bus is a very inconvenient wey to go despite the low cost. Use a taxi

Another idea. For less than the cost of the $50 cab fares, rent a car. Check websites for cheapest rates, use AAA or other discounts. The parking will cost you as well, but you also have the ride back to the airport covered, as well any touring beyond convenient public transportation.

<BR>Dan - Car rental under $50? HA HA HA. Good joke. Car rental + parking = Cheaper than cabbing it? NO WAY. You must not live around here!

I don't think this has been mentioned before but you can take a bus for about $12 to the Jamaica Long Island Rail Road station and from there it's a 15 minute train ride into Manhattan.

Suzanne is laughing about a car rental for $50?? What is funny about that? I rent at Laguardia all the time and I always pay $50 or less. www.hotwire.com has cars for $40-$60 all the time. Rent a car and pay for parking. There are six of you so you can split it and it will be cheap.

Let's get real here. A car rental for $50 (if you can get one at that price) is not the answer. How do you get six people into the car, forget the luggage.<BR> Then there is the bus to the Jamaica station suggestion. $!2 times six is $72. TRain fare for six will be more than $2 a person (let's say $2) - cost $12. Two taxis to hotel at about $7 a taxi - $14. <BR>Total cost - $98 maybe more. You could rent a stretch limo for that price. Will a stretch take 6 plus luggage? Take the taxi to the city.

Suzanne is laughing about a car rental for $50?? What is funny about that? I rent at Laguardia all the time and I always pay $50 or less. www.hotwire.com has cars for $40-$60 all the time. Rent a car and pay for parking. There are six of you so you can split it and it will be cheap.

Shawn, even if you can get a car for that price, at best it will be a wash with taking two cabs, so why would a tourist bother driving into the city?<BR><BR>Parking would be $30 per day and they wouldn't weant a car in the city anyway.<BR>And as others have mentioned, trying to fit 6 passengers and luggage into a standard rental car--you're kidding, right??<BR><BR>Mike, you know the answer, right?<BR>Take 2 cabs and get started on a great trip in NYC!

Even if you can rent a car for under $50/day (which I still have to see to believe) I assume this group is staying for more than 1 day. And they will have to pay additionally for parking. And they have to fit 6 people plus luggage - so it would have to be big enough to fit 3 in front, 3 in back (is THAT size car available for $50?) 2 cabs is the most reasonable option here, though I've heard the M60 bus is a good option if you're not carrying too much...and for $1.50 per person, it's tough to beat the price.