Hi all. Hope everyone had a great holiday.

Hubby & I are flying in from London into JFK on one airline, want to stay the night at an airport hotel, & then fly out of La Guardia (haven't booked yet, so can book JFK airline if need, but it costs about $50 more per person).

So, my question is - What are our options for transfering from JFK to La Guardia & does anyone know the approximate cost? We will land at JFK about 3:30 p.m.

Also any suggestions for a hotel near La Guardia, or if transfering is not a good option, at JFK? (we don't need luxury, but don't like tacky either; definitely want clean & safe)

Thanks in advance, Julie

Julie, the airport hotels in New York aren't that great, so I'm afraid I can't make a recommendation. But they are written about here, or I'm sure you'll get some kind of post about one. The ones at LaGuardia are likely to be cheaper than the ones near JFK.

Transfers are relatively simple. There's a New York Airport Service bus that does the connection, which usually takes less than an hour, but it won't drop you at a hotel, just at the terminal. I believe it still costs $13 per person. What I'd suggest is simply a taxi, which will take you straight to your hotel and will cost roughly double the cost of the bus, so it's no great difference in the cost.

But my honest opinion is that if you are saving only $50 per person, the cost of meals, one night in an airport hotel, and the taxi will be significantly more than $100. If you want to go into Manhattan, then it might be worth it, but to stay at a sub-par airport hotel, I just can't see the point of spending that kind of money. They are no bargain.

None of the airport hotels are anything to write home about. Check out tripadvisor.com for recent reviews.

And it's easy to get from one to another by shuttle bus.

But - if you can continue on from JFK on the same day for only $50 more per person I would grab it - any airport hotel (no matter how unpleasant) will cost at least that much including taxes.

If you mean you MUST stay - no matter what airport - I would pick a hotel that has free shuttles to whatever one you pick. (Don't know if any of them has free shuttles to both.)

Maybe I misunderstand the question, but I didn't get the idea that Julie is looking for a major desination hotel or even a place worth "writing home about". The high rise Marriott Courtyard right by JFK is a nice hotel (no, it's not the Four Seasons by a long shot, but clean, friendly, nicely furnished, comfortable rooms, and organized). They will pick you up at JFK for free. I'd suggest the next day you take a taxi from the hotel to Laguardia. That will be easier and probably no more expensive than returning to the terminal at JFK and taking any kind of shuttle.

I agree that if this is to save $100 in airfare (how many are you?) it's not worth the trouble if you can go from JFK on the same day. If you have to stay overnight anyway, save the money and fly from LGA. It's very close to JFK. (Where are you going? Do you know about Jet Blue and other low cost carriers?) If you need to stay overnight, the hotels near La Guardia are better than JFK and it will be more convenient. Another option, once we ascertain that you do indeed need to stay over, is to stay in Manhattan for 1 night on a Priceline bid. LGA is quiet close to NYC.

One hotel option is the Pan American hotel. It's NOT fancy and happens not to be that close to either airport BUT it has free shuttle service to/from both airports, it's clean and there are some restaurants near it PLUS you can get to/from Manhattan on public transport from it should you chose.
panamhotel.com

The best hotel option near LGA is probably The Courtyard, but it can be pricey.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev..._New_York.html

Now, if you do indeed need to stay overnight either way, your flight isn't too early and you are just 2 people, you might consider bidding on Priceline for the 1 night. I would bid 4* only in midtown east or midtown south as those areas will be easiest to get out of town to the airport.

Do a google. There are several pages of transportation options between all NY airports.
I would stay in the city overnight, have dinner, see a show, relax, shop, etc.
M