please could someone advise how best to make this transfer. We are a family of 3 coming for a weeks holiday arriving midday. Thanks.

take the airtrain at newark airport, (free, i think) to the newark train station. (only a few moments) new jersey trains to penn station run quite frequently, and one way should be under $15. the only way to go! good luck.

Just to clarify. The airtrain from the airport terminals to the airport train station is free, and it's called the "newark airport station". Takes about 10-15 min. The NJ PATH trains from there to NY Penn Station is $14. [You can also take Amtrak, but it's about $28 and runs less frequently] You will stop at Newark Penn Station, but don't get off - keep on it until NY. [I know, too many Newarks and Penn Stations but it is pretty easy].

Otherwise there's always the cab.

just take a cab. With three people taking the train ($42) into Penn Station you'll still have to cab or subway to your hotel.

or arrange for a car service beforehand. typically only $5 more thana taxi and you don't have to wait in line for the taxi which who knows how long it will be.

taking the train into manhattan from newark is a pain. some new jersey trains stop and you have to transfer at Newark the city not the airport. and then you get to penn station and have to take a taxi to your hotel.

with 3 people and luggage, it's just better to take a car directly to wherever you are staying

For a family of 3 cab maks the most sense. Shuttle bus will cost at least as much as the cab. And the public transit option - incluidng a $10 cab ride from NY Penn station to the hotel - costs almost as much.

I wouldn't want to do all that trekking and changing from train to train with luggage after a long interntional flight - just to save $10 or so.

Just want to "clarify" what dfr4848 says about the AirTrain. It's actually not a "free" service between the airport and the Newark Airport train station.

In fact, it's at least $5.5, but potentially more.

Here's why and how.

- From EWR to New York Penn (NYP), assuming you're taking AirTrain to NJTransit, I believe you just have to pay the $15. No choice.

- From NYP to EWR, if you buy that same NJTransit ticket, it will cost you $15. But you can buy a ticket to North Elizabeth (the next stop), which cost $5.5. Get off at the Newark Airport station and then pay another $5.5 to transfer to the AirTrain. Total cost $11. Save $4.

So, when you pay that $15 to get from EWR to NYP via AirTrain and NJTransit, at least $9.5 of that fare is for the AirTrain. Definitely not free.