Sher

I would like to take public transportation from JFK into Manhattan. I have read ways to do this with the Airtrain/LIRR and Airtrain/Subway.

I really would like to hear from someone who has made the trip recently. Can you give me any pros and cons. If I understand correctly the Airtrain/Subway connects to the A line and the Airtrain/LIRR goes to Penn Station. I only will have a small carry on so luggage isn't a problem. But a 1 line stop is only four doors from where I will stay.

I always fly into LGA so this is new for me.
Thanks

Aduchamp1

Where are you staying?

The Airtrain connects to the E but the A stops at some of the same stations at 42nd and below.

And downtown the E and 1 are often close to one abnother

mclaurie

It sounds like you're staying in Tribeca. If you use hopstop.com
you can get different travel options. The difference between using the subway vs. LIRR is cost (LIRR is slightly more) and time (LIRR is faster) but having to go to Tribeca, it probably still makes more sense to use the subway. On the hopstop form if you ask for more transfers and less walking you may get directions to transfer to the 1 at some point.

Sher

Hi. I am staying in SoHo. Actually it is the Houston St. subway exit. Houston is a pretty popular stop so I might be in luck there.
I am more familiar with that stop then the one on Spring Street which I think is the C train. That is only a couple of blocks but if the weather is like this I would just rather get as close as I can.
I usually use the Super Shuttle from LGA but I think it might take me very long to get to my destination because I am so far downtown. Sometimes it takes quite a while with the Shuttle as the passengers to go to my neckof the woods are much less than midtown.

Thanks. Will check out hopstop. The $45+ cab fare is just a little steep for me one way. And the Airtrain appeals to me becuase sometimes traffic can be awful with the shuttle.

Aduchamp1

There is no fixed cab fare from LaGuardia and and the fare if he takes the Willambsurg should be closer to $35 with the tip.

ellenem

The OP is coming from JFK on this trip.

For a location near the 1 train Houston St stop (Houston at Varick St), I would take the AirTrain from JFK to Howard Beach, where you connect to the A train, and then take the A train to West 4th St. Be sure to get off and walk toward the back of the train to the exit at West 3rd St. (If you walk toward the front of the train, you exit close to West 8th St.) The walk to Houston and Varick is 7-10 minutes from there. If the weather is bad, grab a cab from there.

There is no really convenient connection between the 1 train and the A train for your destination--you'd end up having to change trains twice.

doug_stallings

The real trade-off is time. If you think a shared shuttle service would take too long, then add on about 15 minutes minimum for the Airtrain/subway combo.

I'd do Airtrain/LIRR and then hop on the subway to get to the hotel. This should take about 50 minutes door to door. Add at last 30 minutes to that if you take the subway.

Sher

Aduchamp1. Cab drivers from LGA always give me a hard time about taking the Williamsburg bridge. And when I have the fare with tip runs more like $45. So I started taking the Super Shuttle for $19 with tip.

hopstop says that it should take me about 1hour and 6 minutes to get from the AirTrain to Jamaica Station to the LIRR Babylon Branch train to Penn Station to the 1 line to Houston.

That really isn't too bad for the price.



Thanks everyone.

Aduchamp1

Sorry, I got this thread confused with all the LGA threads.

Aduchamp1. Cab drivers from LGA always give me a hard time about taking the Williamsburg bridge. And when I have the fare with tip runs more like $45. So I started taking the Super Shuttle for $19 with tip.

It could be the time of day. It could be they might not know thw route. When I have an early flight the cabbies love the route from Manhattan. When I get into a cab, I ask how the traffic has been and what is the best route and offer the Williamsburg as an alternative.

Sher

Aduchamp1. You probably sound like you know more than I do. And you probably do. But they always tell me that the traffic is very bad. I wonder if the other routes add a little more to the tip.
My son insists that the cab fare could not be that much but it always is. When Mr.Sher and I go together we just get a cab. The price is almost the same as two shuttle rides. But most of the time I go by myself. And I very rarely go into JFK but the flight from PIT on the day I am going is just timed better.

Aduchamp1

There are many instances where native NY'ers know a great deal less than visitors, this is especially true with hotels, many of the well known sights, and Broadway shows, where statistically 2/3 of showgoers are from out of town.

When it comes to cabs it is crap shoot. I never know if a cabbie knows the city or just the routes he knows. Nor do I know whether he has been paying attention to just BSing with his buddies on his cell phone. And like your son, I always think the fare too high. And over the past three years the fares have increased dramatically. It is just good to know the alternate routes.

ellenem

"AirTrain to Jamaica Station to the LIRR Babylon Branch train to Penn Station"

Don't even worry about what branch the train is, since that only matters when traveling east and you will be heading west to Penn Station. Just take the next LIRR train headed to Penn Station. Chances are it will depart from track 1 or 2.

christabir

Airtrain to either Howard Beach ($5) to the blue A subway line to W 4th station ($2.25) or the Airtrain to Jamaica ($5) and go outside and downstairs from the train staion to the blue E subway line to W 4th station ($2.25). Both are the easiest ways to go - I'd think the first being quicker. The W 4th station is just a short walk from Houston St. (btw it's pronounced Howston, not Hyooston so you don't sound like a tourist if you need to ask directions). Check mta.com for a subway/Airtrain map. Buy a $20 metro card and you'll have enough for both direction and a couple of subway or bus rides while in town. Have fun.

Sher

christabir. I really do know how it is pronounced but thanks very much anyway. I know exactly where the W4th station is and how to get to the house from there also. I just always take the 1 or a connection for the 1 because if I am shopping and have lots of packages, the house is only four doors from the Houston exit.

So far when visiting New York I have taken a taxi to the house from LGA and also the bus believe it or not. That was just to see if I could do it and it was really cheap. I have taken the train to Penn Station from Newark, and a taxi to the house from there and also the subway to the house from there. I have done the Super Shuttle numerous times.

I have done it a lot of ways but never from JFK. I really like to do public transportation sometimes just to see if I can do it.

But I will never take the #33 bus from LGA again. I don't care how inexpensive it is. Going through the turnstile and the steps at Roosevelt stop with luggage is a killer. Unless they have changed since I did it.

And again. Thanks to everyone for all of the help.

Sher

I just wanted to say that I arrived at JFK on Wed. evening. I took the Air Train to Jamaica and then the LIRR to Penn Station and the 1 train to the house.
It took me about 1hr,40min from the time I picked up my luggage at 9:45pm.
I left a day early to avoid the snow and a possible delayed flight. I consider that pretty good timing for such a late arrival time as the train was on an off peak schedule.

Thanks