I posted a few weeks ago with accommodation questions -- thanks for the responses on this board.

I am now booked at Westin New York Grand Central (212 East 42nd Street) in Oct.

My sister is arriving/departing LGA. I see that on another post Doug mentions a bus to LGA, so I assume it's reliable transportation, leaving across from Grand Central. Is that NYC Airporter?

Also, my sister arrives at 10 AM on a Sat., which should not be a problem with the bus, but returns 7PM on Monday. Will rush hour traffic be any more of a problem with the bus than other options, such as cab, private car service, etc.?

Yes it is. If you are traveling alone it's the second-cheapest option and will get you close to ths hotel. If she were on a tight budget, she could take the M60 bus and transfer to the 4 train fr $2.25 ($4.50 in coins ony if paid without a Metrocard). There are luggage racks on the bs, but it's very very crowded and just a regular city bus.

For the return, traffic will be just as bad regardless of the mde of travel. I'd recommend she leave at 4 if her flight is at 7.

The MTA planner suggest taking the subway to Ditmars Blvd., Astoria and connecting there with the M60. This would by-pass most of the heavy traffic going out of Manhattan.

http://tripplanner.mta.info/MyTrip/u...ipplanner.aspx

The subway s fine as long as you can manage your luggage up and down several flights of stairs (most stations do not have elevators - and the ones that there are - are often broken). Unless someone is truly pinching every penny until it screams - I would do the airport bus versus subway/bus.

No, that's not correct. You do not go to Ditmars. I believe it's the Astora Blvd stop. But be warned that there s a huge escalator or stairs if it's not working. But that will bypass the biggest art of traffic. And I often do tat myself.

The bus sounds best with luggage, even it's just one carry on.
Thanks,
Lottie

You do not go to Ditmars. I believe it's the Astora Blvd stop.

You are correct. I must have read the final stop as the stop to connect with the bus.

Travelottie: Just in case traffic is particularly bad that day (it usually isn't on Mondays, but it can be at times), the subway to the bus is a viable option and can cut 20 minutes from the travel time to LGA on a particularly bad traffic day. I have spent more than 45 minutes stuck in Midtown traffic just trying to get to LGA.