Jersey City / NYC PATH Train
 

We have reservations at the Doubletree Club in Jersey City and would appreciate information on using the PATH train to get back and forth into Manhattan. Is the Pavonia station closest and is it an easy walk to the hotel; also, is it in a safe area? If we're coming from Queens would it be best to use Penn Station NY or the WTC area train? Any feedback as to ease of all this, etc. is much appreciated.

Pavonia is your station. It is perfectly safe during the day, and quiet at night and on the weekends (the area is more for business travelers).

Not sure if you are coming from North Queens or South Queens - it makes a difference.

LGA -- take the airport bus to Penn Station, then catch the Path at 6th Ave/33rd St.

JFK -- A subway line to Fulton/Broadway/Nassau - walk to WTC and take the Path from there.

If we know your specifics, we can make it a lot easier for you (e.g., where are you coming from, do you want to take public transport vs cabs, etc.).

Take the Path train is a lot easier than many Manhattanites think! It's just like taking another subway - but actually it's even cheaper! ($1.50 per ride) It'll sound daunting at first, but you may be pleasantly surprised as to what a good option it is.

You are a great help! We are coming from LaGuardia Airport. We were planning to take public transportation. Possibly a #33 or #48 bus to a subway stop in Queens; and take the subway into Manhattan where we can catch the Path Train. What subway stop would be the best and which train would take us the closest to the Path Train? Thanks so much for responding!

A bus to a subway (with luggage?) is a real PITA. Do you realize a taxi from LGA to the PATH train will only be about $25-30? How many of you are there?

Here's the PATH map which also shows which subways link to which stations.
http://www.panynj.gov/CommutingTrave...s/map_0406.pdf

Upon arrival, the easiest thing to do would be to take the <b>M-60</b> bus from LaGuardia. It stops at all terminals then heads into Manhattan over the Triboro Bridge.

You can switch to the Subway system at 116th and Broadway. Take the <b>1</b> Train downtown to 34th Street/Penn Station. It's a 1-avenue walk to the PATH terminal at 33rd and 6th Avenue.

In the PATH system, take any train with a destination of <b>Journal Square</b>, they will all stop at Pavonia/Newport. Do <i>not</i> take the WTC train, it will not go where you need it to and you will have to go to Journal Square and transfer for a Hoboken or 33rd Street bound train to get to Pavonia.

Around the Pavonia station is a safe area, it is mostly corporate offices, residences, and hotels. It will be very quiet at night. There is a large mall there as well. Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, which goes to Hoboken (among other places) is a short walk away.

PATH is fast and easy to use, particularly if you can skip rush hours. Just be careful that your train goes to the proper place, I would print out the abovelinked map because it gives you a sense of where things are in relation to each other.

There will only be two of us traveling and we will each only have one carry-on size piece of luggage, plus a purse type canvas bag, so we were thinking the bus/subway would be fine (and cheaper). A taxi would be a good option if it is no more than $30, but I was thinking because of the distance it would be more than that.

QC, I really like your idea of taking the M-60 bus. Would that take about the same time as a subway would to the same location? Is the bus stop very close to where you would catch the #1 Subway, and is that area of 116th and Broadway safe during the evening (8-9 pm) / early morning hours (5:30 - 6:00 am)? We would be arriving in the evening, and going back to the airport early morning.

QC, thanks also for the detailed info on using the PATH. I have printed up the map as you suggested. All this makes it much easier to handle getting around Manhattan.

A taxi from LGA to the PATH train won't cost much more (and could be less) than $30. If you don't want to chance the price (traffic can affect price), take the Express Bus to Penn Station which is right near the PATH train. It's $12/person or $21/person roundtrip.
http://www.ny.com/cgibin/frame.cgi?u...me/travel.html

I PROMISE you the transit bus to the subway is NOT the way you want to do this. The M60 bus will give you a grand tour of Randall's Island and it will take a lot longer. Dragging luggage up and down subway stairs is just crazy. Here's the bus map
http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/maps/manbus.pdf