New York City 8 hour layover. Need help!
 

On our way to Paris in December we will land at Laguardia @ 9 AM and transfer to JFK. We have 8 hours and would love a great deli sandwich. Pastrami or Corned Beef. Is there a decent Deli at JFK? If we were to go into NY by cab, how far away is it to a good Deli and how much is a cab ride in NY? What time do the Deli's open? Too much Seinfeld, is there a good combo, Deli and Soup Nazi???????

Delis will be open by 11 am or so for lunch. To get from the city to one of the real downtown delis would probably cost about $40 - and to get from there to JFK by cab is a flat $45 plus tip and toll fo rabout $60.

So - don;t know if getting a good pastrami sandwich is worth $100 plus - on top of the food.

And there is no good food in any of the airports - certainly noting like real deli - just chain fast food.

Do you have 8 full hours before you have to be back at the airport (or is it 8 hours until your next flight departs)? If you have 8 full hours, you should definitely go into the city, it's certainly better than sitting in the airport for 8 hours.

We arrive at 9 AM at Laguardia and take off from JFK at 5PM. Is there public transportation from Laguardia (looks closer to Deli's) or JFK into I'm guessing, Manhatten for a good Deli?

Katz Deli on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

http://www.katzdeli.com/

Are you sure you want to schlepp all your bags around with you?


Cab from Manhattan to JFK is $45 + toll

Cab from LaGuardia to Manhattan is the metered fare. I'd budget around $30-40.

If your arriving flight is ontime, and you have to be at JFK 2 hours before your outgoing flight, you will probably have a couple of hours in Manhattan.

If you have never been here before, go to Carnegie Deli or Stage Deli both on 7th Ave in the 50's for your deli "fix", that way if you want to take the subway to JFK which will take a little more than an hour from midtown, you can walk the 2 blocks to 50th and 8th and catch the C train, change to the A train at 42nd St and make sure the train says JFK.

Remember you will be shelping your luggage with you, which won't be alot of fun.

Yes there is public transit into Manhattan the bus at LaGuardia (#60 bus), but that will take alot of time to get into Manhattan, take a cab instead, and have the cab drop you off at the deli.

Have lunch, and walk to the subway to JFK. At that time of day a cab will take about the same amount of time to get to the airport. You will however be lugging your luggage up and down stairs so just be aware.

There is public transportation, but you should only do it if you have light luggage and are fairly fit. The public transportation requires you get on a city bus at the airport and then to save time, transfer to a subway in Manhattan.

There's also an airport van that you can catch and then in Mnahattan take a subway or cab.

http://www.nyairportservice.com/

We have the "Backpack" type luggage and we have taken them on 3 week trips to Europe. They are quite comfortable compared to "Schlepping" around regular luggage.

"If you have never been here before, go to Carnegie Deli or Stage Deli both on 7th Ave in the 50's for your deli "fix", that way if you want to take the subway to JFK which will take a little more than an hour from midtown, you can walk the 2 blocks to 50th and 8th and catch the C train, change to the A train at 42nd St and make sure the train says JFK."

If you are going to these delis in midtown, then DO NOT take the A train to JFK. The trip will be longer, especially with the change from the C to the A. Instead, take the E train, which is quicker than the A from this area and goes directly to Jamaica Station, where you will connect to the AirTrain to the airport. You can catch the E train at 7th Ave and 53rd Street, or 5th Ave and 53rd. From 7th and 53rd, the actual train ride should take about an hour.

KAtz's has the best padtgrami but 2nd Ave Deli is the best overall.

Katz's opens at 9:45 Monday and Tuesday and 8 AM the rest of the week.

2nd Ave Deli opens at 6 AM

"padtgrami" = Thai pastrami?

Thanks for all the input. I'm not sure what "Padtgrami" is????????

I'm sure Aduchamp1 meant "pastrami," folks. And he's spot on re NYC delis, too -- for me, the pastrami juicy on rye at Katz's is the most memorably good sandwich I've ever had. But 2nd Avenue Deli is terrific from an overall standpoint.

And both are notably better than the Carnegie or Stage Deli.

Of course Warren meant "pastrami," folks. It's a play on words, that all. Kind of like "bachslunch." I'll take a pass(acaglia) on that one, though.

Make it, "that's all," folks.

If you just each have one backpack you can try public transit - but be aware that it can be crowded (as in no seats) there is no place to store luggage (straddle with your legs or hold on your lap) and you may have to negotiate several flights of steep narrow stairs.

ellenem gives really good advice re: public transportation to JFK. And given your short timeframe, you will want to take a taxi from LaGuardia not public transportation. (As mentioned, you'd have to catch a city bus then transfer to the subway.)

I'm not a fan of Carnegie or Stage delis myself, and agree that Katz's and 2nd Ave are superior. However, the former are much more proximal for getting to JFK! As a compromise, your best bet might be 2nd Ave Deli, now located in the East 30's. From there, you could take a taxi or crosstown bus to Penn Station, catch the commuter train on the LIRR to Jamaica and transfer to the AirTrain. (Note the E subway line also comes into Penn, but the commuter train will be faster and more comfortable, and even a wee bit more room for luggage.)

The other benefit of Carnegie and Stage are that they are in quintessential midtown Manhattan and will provide the atmosphere visitors to NYC may expect . . . skyscrapers, a real buzz of lots of people and traffic, lots of shops and restaurants, a short walk from Times Square or Central Park.

2nd Ave Deli is close to the midtown tunnel for easy access to both airports by taxi, but it is a more residential neighborhood with less of a buzz, though still busy.

Katz's is downtown in a lower-rise grittier residential neighborhood that is in transition. It definitely has a NYC atmosphere--just a very different one from midtown.

It all depends on the atmosphere the OP wants to go with the sandwiches.

I LOVE Katz', but I have nothing against a pastrami sandwich at the Carnegie Deli :-)

I am writing from Turkey and the light is not too good.

Actually we were in Cappadocia where pastrami is a regional dish. We had it twice. Once in a casserole and once in a egg roll skin type thing and deep fried with chesses and dill.

Sacriledge.

Pastrami is what I was weaned on. For atmosphere, it goes to Katz's with legal bribery of the meat cutters, the silly tickets, and the controlled chaos.

I see Carnegie and Stage as tourist delis. Katz and 2nd Avenue as real delis. (Just my opinion).

Gotham, in concept I agree. But the sandwich at Carnegie was still delicious (and BTW, one sandwich is enough for more than two people), if not quite as fab as the one at Katz'. And Carnegie has all those surly waiters to boot.

Warren, I heard you have to put 50 kuruş in the meter.

Many Thanks to all that participated and shared your knowledge of great Deli's in NY. With an 8 hour layover, Yes, I will spend the $175-200 to cab into city and will eat at Katz'. All the trains and buses would be a hassle. We will go to JFK first and drop or rather check in baggage and then head into Manhattan. We can also do some sightseeing to help kill time. I know this is crazy but when you are on vacation money doesn't seem to stop you from doing a few crazy things. It's when the vacation is over you wonder "Why the hell did I do that"?????

IMPORTANT NOTE:

I think Katz may be "cash only" so you may want to hit the ATM before going in there.

With only 8 hours you don't have time to go to JKF first to drop off your luggage. I'd suggest stopping at one of the big hotels near the deil, that's why I suggested midtown Manhattan. You can ask someone at the bell stand to watch your bags for a few minutes, go have lunch walk around a bit then head to the airport. I also agree taking the train would be faster than a cab that time of day, and you are subject to lots of traffic heading out of town.

As suggested earlier take either the E train or the C/A train out to JFK. That way you will also save a bit to enjoy one more great meal on your trip.

Do not goto JFK first-it'sin the opposite direcction - and getting there and chcking in yor bags (assuming the airline desk as open then) will cut a couple of hours out of your time. Just bring the luggage in a cab.

I don't think it wil cost that much. The city to JFK is $45 flat -so a total of about $60 includngtoll and tip. You should be able to get from LGA to the deli for aourn 40 or so.

We looked at this site and it seems to be a less expensive way to go. http://www.nyairportservice.com/
Does this go from point A to point B direct or make many stops. Website didn't seem to go into details. Any info will be appreciated

Sorry but with the short window you have a cab INTO manhattan and the subway OUT of Manhattan to JFK makes the most sense. You don't have alot of time to spare, so the bus makes no sense. You will have to wait for the bus at your terminal, than it stops at each terminal and then comes into Manhattan and stops at Grand Central Station, and you would have to take a cab from there, so it would end up being more expensive than taking a cab in the first place.

Also heading back to the airport, the bus is subject to traffic at that time of day too.

OK, Thanks travelbuff, makes sense.