parties arriving JFK and LaGuardia but leaving out of JFK next day
 

We are arriving at JFK and our son will be arriving at LaGuardia late at night and then all of leaving the next day from JFK. Where should we stay, in the city, somewhere in between or near JFK? Thanks.

It really depends on what time your flight leaves from JFK - if the flight is early in the morning staying at one of the hotels (just about every major chain and a few independents) near the airport makes the most sense. All offer free shuttle service to the airport making it quick and easy to get to the airport. You can go straight to the hotel upon your arrival at JFK and your son can take a cab there from LGA.

if your flight out of JFK is later the following day or the following evening you could all meet up at a hotel in NYC but do this only if your schedule gives you enough free time to enjoy some aspect of the city (perhaps a nice dinner, a good lunch, a visit to a museum, etc.) before going to the airport otherwise it just doesn't make much sense. Remember too, that depending on your flight's departure time you might have to factor in "rush hour" traffic into your travel time.

Lastly, staying at a hotel "somewhere in between" isn't really a viable option - LGA and JFK are not that far apart and there's really not very many hotels mid-way between the two. Staying "mid-way" is almost the same as staying near JFK so why not just stay at one of the JFK airports?

Ditto - very good advice. If you tell us the hours of the flights - and what time the airline requests you check in at JFK people can make specific recos.

You can probably all stay cheaper at a hotel in Long Island City Queens, and then you can get into Manhattan easily on the subway. I would probably not spend the extra money to stay in Manhattan. However, if your flight from J f k is early, then youd probably be better off at a JFK hotel. There's bus and shuttle service for your son, or he can just take a taxi ti the hotel on arrival.

thanks so much...we get into JFK about 6pm and then have to be back at the airport about 2-3pm the next day

If you have any intention of seeing or doing anything in Manahattan, stay there.

Then I'd definitely position myself with easy access to Manhattan. You'll have time to go into the city for dinner after your arrival and then again in the morning if you want.

But to me, regardless of what mclaurie suggests, it's not really worth it to pay double or trip to stay in Manhattan for just one night when you can be 10 minutes away from midtown on the subway in Long Island City. There's a Country Inn & Suites almost next to the subway (a choice of about 6 different lines), and this is often the cheapest. But there are also other hotels nearby.