We're flying from Calgary, Canada, into Newark airport because it's cheaper than flying into JFK. A cursory search around the web led me to believe there were fast and cheap trains to get us from Newark to Manhattan (where we're staying). Now several people have told me there are no trains and I need to take a $50 cab ride. A more comprehensive search on several websites (NY Transit, etc.) has left me more confused. Can anybody straighten me out?

When in doubt, always check the airport's web site

http://www.panynj.gov/CommutingTrave...portation.html

Someone here will be able to give you very direct "directions". I can only share that last Oct I took a train from Penn station directly to Newark. It was fast, easy and no issues. Because I have only done it one time I cannot really share specific information I know you will get here but because we only had carry on bags - it was very easy.

We will be doing that journey ourselves in a few weeks. There is a train though it is not direct from the airport, there are connections. There is also a bus

http://www.coachusa.com/olympia/ss.newarkairport.asp

Lots of people recommend a car service as well. It depends if you are travelling on a budget and if you have lots of luggage. We will probably catch the bus, it suits us.

Kay

Your best choice depends on how many of you there are, how much luggage you have and how far you re willing to schlep it.

A car service (not cab) can be arranged in advance and you should check web sites for coupons. this is probably the best choice for 3 or more people or those with a lot of luggage or not willing/able to carry it.

For 2 people with luggage a shuttle bus to a central location (Port authority? Grand Central?) and then a cab from there may save you some money. Do NOT take the SuperShuttle, which takes you dirct to your hotel. It usually stops at many different ones and you can be riding around n traffic for an extra hour or more before your stop.

If you don;t have much luggage and don;t mind carrying it up and downstairs then you can take public transit. This is AirTrain to NJ Transit station where you pick up a train for NYCs Penn Station. From there you can take a cab or subway to your hotel. Using the subway usually involves carrying your bags up and down 2 flight of stairs each way.

We often use dial7 for car service. Cost about the same as taxi and is a much better option.

Agree, don't use SuperShuttle.

The train is easy. As others have said, AirTrain to the NJ Transit station at the airport where you have your choice of Amtrak or NJ Transit. Amtrak is more expensive and doesn't run as often, so we usually take NJ Transit. The only word of caution - the trains stop at Penn Station in Newark. Don't confuse it with Penn Station in Manhattan. Stay on until you reach NY's Penn Station.

Yes, there is a fairly cheap direct train from Newark to Penn Station in NYC (be careful because there is also a Penn Station in Newark, NJ). You take a shuttle from the terminal directly to the train station, buy your ticket, and then hop on. I believe the cost is $15 per person each way.

Here's the rub: depending on where you are staying, it may still be a better choice to take a car service for about $50 (not including toll and tip) or a bus even though the latter takes longer. If you are staying far away from the immediate Penn Station area, then it can be a pain to get from there to your hotel. Times Square is a short hop by taxi ($7 or less) or subway ($2.25 each ... i.e., with 2 it's easier and almost as cheap to take a taxi a short distance).

If you are staying on the East Side, especially near Grand Central, then the Olympic Trailways bus is a better idea. It takes longer than the train (sometimes considerably longer), but it will get you much closer to your hotel.

Probably more information than you wanted to hear, but I am a strong advocate of the train and really like it. Don't listen to the people who tell you the ONLY way is by car service. That's simply not the case.

Many years ago we did the Olympic bus... it was cheap and conveient.. especially if you're staying on the East Side as Doug_S says.

you might pay $75 to 85 to go to Manhattan. Why don't you contact http://www.conciergeriedeluxe.com and ask them if they can help you to book a limo. They are cheap.

Kay - there are no connections required when using the AirTrain from EWR to NYC Pen. It does stop momentarily at Newark Penn and Secaucus but there is no need to change trains.

The major advantage to the train is avoiding potential traffic waiting time. Buses get to use a special lane but even they van get backed up at times. As Doug notes, your ultimate destination in Manhattan will dictate whether the bus or train would be a better option.

There is a monorail train from the terminal to the Newark Airport station--that's probably what people mean by changing trains. You do have to move luggage off of one small "train" and get onto another "real train", so it isn't one ride from your terminal straight into NYC.
(And does the train always go through Secaucus? I recall only Newark airport, then might depend on which NJ Transit train line you get on, the Northeast Corridor or the Raritan Line)

I always take the NJ Transit to and from EWR, except when we had 3 people. I made my 80 year old mother-in -law take it to the airport last May, and she said it was a snap. I've even done it with two bags and a small dog from the UWS.

The only problem I ever had with luggage was once at Penn Station when the elevators were out of order. I later found out there is a backup elevator. At the airport end, there are both elevators and escalators at all level changes.

<There is a monorail train from the terminal to the Newark Airport station - that's probably what people mean by changing trains>

Yes, at least that's what I meant.

bookmarking

Seamus' post hits the nub--traffic. We drive into NYC from suburban Northern New Jersey fairly often; it seems that traffic has gotten a lot worse recently--at virtually any time of the day. Most travelers don't realize that, from the general direction of Newark Airport, there are only two Hudson River crossings into Manhattan, the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels. Together, depending on the time of day, they account together for only four or six lanes of inbound automobile traffic. They are almost always congested.

You really need to balance how much waiting time in traffic you're willing to tolerate against the relative inconvenience of dealing with luggage on public transportation.

I haven't read every post, but I don't think the train is necessarily easy or fast and definitely not with luggage. And you still have to get to your hotel by cab or subway, etc. We have done the shuttle from the hotel, and found it adequate.

I suggest that the OP state where in Manhattan they are staying.

This posting is from 2009, just brought up because someone bookmarked.

Hey, editors--is there a way to bookmark without bringing up old posts that people answer without realizing they're out of date?

So, maybe someone else needs to find out. Works for me.

gretchen,
of course there are always questions that people ask about year after year, but when something is brought up to the top after a year or more, people usually don't notice and then try to answer the specifics of an old question.

SueNYC on Jun 12, 10 at 10:03 AM
I suggest that the OP state where in Manhattan they are staying.

Well, it's irrelevant (even to the person who bookmarked--and I have nothing against him/her)) where someone else a year ago stayed.
I think it's a great idea to look at old posts for informational purposes, be able to save or bookmark them all for yourself without distracting others. Maybe after reading all the posts on a topic, a poster then wants to start a new post with his own details That way we don't answer Person A's needs (like a year ago may be one person with no luggage) while this year's question from Person B is for 3 elderly people with heavy luggage.

I think it gets everyone the best answers that way, IMO.