NYC MetroCard
 

Hey Everyone,

Well I'm arriving on Saturday in NYC and very excited.
I'll be staying in SoHo and looking at getting a MetroCard.

I'm a bit confused on the best way to do this and best one to purchase;
- I'll be in NYC for 7-10 days.
- Happy to get a taxi from JFK to the city and leaving NYC by car at the end of my visit.

Should I be able to get a 7 day pass from the airport? (arrive at terminal 7).
Then top up for the extra couple of days at a station if I'm there longer than 7 days?

Every city's transport system is different! Appreciate your help :)

Cheers!

Getting a 7-day unlimited card and then buying a few extra fares does seem to be the most cost-effective solution. It's too bad you can't add days.

There's no place at JFK to buy a Metrocard easily unless you take the Airtrain, where you can buy one. But if you are taking a taxi, just go to your hotel, drop your bags, and then head out to the nearest subway station. There's probably one 2 or 3 blocks from your hotel if you are staying in SoHo.

If you decide against a taxi, then take the Airtrain to the Howard Beach subway station and the A train into Manhattan, or take it to Jamaica and then the Long Island Railroad to Penn Station and a taxi to your hotel. That will easily shave your transfer in half if you want to save money.

It is a flat rate to or from JFK to Manhattan for $52, fifty cents extra for NY State, and excludes any toll and tip.

You will not be able to get a Metrocard at the airport. What you could do is take the Airtrain to Jamaica (no charge upon entering, $5 on exit) There are machines at the exit to pay for the Airtrain and to get a Metrocard. Then you can the "E" train to Soho.

Here are all the options:

http://www.mta.info/metrocard/mcgtreng.htm#730refill

Taxi fare with toll and 20% tip is about $70. A car service can be slightly less - but you need ot add toll and tip (20% usual) to the price they quote.

LIRR or subway is fine if you have small luggage and/or don't mind schlepping it.

Wonderful info! Thank you all so much.

I'll be stepping off the plane after 20+hrs of travel from Melbourne, Australia so I think I'll end up grabbing a taxi!

Giggleguts, have a great trip, there is so much to do in NYC! Just in case you aren't aware, if it's the same pass I had then you can use it on the bus system too.