What is the best method of transportation for a woman arriving alone to get from JFK to midtown arriving at 1:30p.m.?

Best as in easiest? A taxi cab. Flat fare of $45 plus toll and tip. Look at all the options here

http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/jgtsfram.htm

The airtran is evidently getting better but I've not tried it.

It depends on how adventuresome you are and your budget. There is a special bus that goes from JFK to the hotels which is cheaper than a cab. There is also the airtrain ($5) to the subway (A train) which is very easy to take.

I agree with the cab. That's the route I always go, especially when I'm traveling by myself.

Do they still have the large flat fare licensed minibuses where they wait till there is about 4 or 5 of you and then do a door to door service. That could be a cost effective way.

I like the New York Airport Service ( http://www.nyairportservice.com ) buses for $15 1-way/$27 round trip. Stops at Grand Central and PABT. Can take you to many mid-town hotels but requires transfer to smaller buses at Grand Central. They use large motorcoaches with under-bus baggage compartments for the main shuttle between JFK and the locations cited above, so baggage shouldn't be a problem. The smaller shuttles often take a long time, stopping at many hotels, so I'd consider other transportation (or walking?) between above locations & hotel.

If you're not carrying loads of luggage, do the Airtrain. I tried it a month ago...it was surreal. I felt like I was in Europe. It's super-quiet, clean and safe. And it moved faster than the cars below. It is just as fast as taking a cab, because the traffic around JFK is just horrendous all day long.

How long do any of these methods take to get to, say, Greenwich Village?

~gnr~

Forgot to add that it would be a Saturday AM.

~gnr~