A friend and I are flying in and out of La Guardia over thanksgiving weekend and we are looking for the most inexpensive way to get into Manhattan (we are staying at this hostel: http://www.starhotelny.com/location.php). I did a bit of research and it looks like it IS possible to take public transportation but it seemed to be quite complicated (i.e. a combination of buses/trains or several train transfers). Does anyone know the best way to make this trip? The research I've found on this board seems to suggest a taxi but between two people that could get quite expensive! We do not arrive during rush hour (8:15pm on the Wednesday) so I guess it wouldn't be as bad as it COULD be...

The other problem is that we fly home on the Sunday at 6:30am. Would public transportation (if we can find a way to make this trip) even be running early enough for us to get to the airport in time for our flight?

Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated! My apologies if I missed the answer in previous posts.

Here is the page from the LGA website with taxi estimates

not very expensive if you ask me.

http://www.panynj.gov/airports/lga-t...n-service.html


"The research I've found on this board seems to suggest a taxi but between two people that could get quite expensive!"

Doesn't it get cheaper, not more expensive between two people?

vjp, I think she means "only two people" splitting the cost, as opposed to three or four.

What's expensive to me or you isn't the same as what's expensive to someone looking for the "most inexpensive" way into the city, and staying at a hostel.

Your hotel is on West 30th St near 8th Avenue.

I think you can get there for $2.25 each.
Q33 bus > E train (one connection)

Here's how:

At the airport, catch the Q33 city bus bound for "Jackson Heights-74th St Broadway" Station. (about 30-minute ride)

Get off at at 74th St Broadway Station (end of line).

From there, take the Manhattan-bound E train. (I think you can transfer from bus to train for free. There are a fe train lines there, so check carefully--the E train is definitely best for you.)

Get off the E train at "34th St-Penn Station" at 34th St/8th Ave in Manhattan. (about 30-minute ride).

Walk 4 blocks south to your hotel.

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Public transportation runs all night, but much less frequently. I'm not sure about the Q33 bus schedule. At that hour on a Sunday morning, the two of you can be at the airport in 20 minutes by taxi for about $25-$30.

One bus and one train from LaGuardia. Just as ellenem has laid out. That's about as easy as public transport from LaGuardia gets. However, be prepared for this trip taking quite a while ... probably over an hour. But it does just cost $2.25 per person.

Going back, you'll have to take a taxi or car service, and this will cost $30 to $35 plus toll plus tip for a total of $45 minimum. While it's true you can get there in 25 to 30 minutes, you have to pay a toll to do that in most cases. If the taxi driver will do it, you can go over the Queensboro (59th Street) Bridge and pay no toll, thus reducing your costs by $5. But it's $20 bucks per person regardless of how you look at it, and there's no reliable alternative at that time of the morning.

Thank you all for your responses. Given the amount of time involved in public transportation it sounds like a taxi might just be our best bet. $30-$45 isn't too bad split between two people. I was just worried it was going to be in the $100 range...

The public transit is straightforward but you need to ujnderstand that you will have to tote your luggage up and down several flights of stairs and the trip will probably take about an hour an a half.

In terms of getting back to the airport I would definitely do a cab. If the flight is at 6:30 you will need to be at the airport at 5 am. And while transit does run 24/7 in the middle of the night it may be a 30 minute wait for bus - so you would have to set out at 3:30 in the am at the latest. Much better pay a little more and get there in 20 minutes or so.

If you do take the 33 bus, it is change only, no bills. I too take the cheap public transportation every chance I get. It definately is not for everyone, but it is for me.