Rentals at JFK
 

Hi Everyone

I have to travel to New York for a wedding (which is really in Connecticut) in August. My flight arrives at 6:30 AM at JFK and I need to have a car to get around for the wedding. I checked the rentals at JFK and almost all the major companies I could think of have an economy or sub-compact for $100 or more per day! This usually costs $20-40 per day.

While I can imagine renting space at JFK must be expensive, this seemed tad high to me. Can you recommend cheaper options please? I don't mind an hours commute each way if it saves me a few hundred dollars!

Thanks!

Take the AirTrain to Jamaica, the subway to Grand Central, Metro North to Conn, and rent a car near where the wedding is. I don't know if it will save you any money, but it's worth a look Renting a car around here is expensive.

"Take the AirTrain to Jamaica, the subway to Grand Central, Metro North to Conn, and rent a car near where the wedding is."

If you choose to do this, skip the AirTrain. (The subway from Jamaica would involve a change of trains to reach Grand Central.) It would be easier to take the NY Express Bus from JFK directly to its stop opposite Grand Central Terminal, and simply walk across the street to catch the train to Connecticut.

Thanks.

I just checked and the hotel I'm staying at is in Rye Brook, NY. That seems (on the map) close to Westchester County Airport. If there are shuttles between HPN and JFK (on Sunday too) I could just rent from HPN (the price is 1/5th that of JFK).

Definitely the way to go - we were heading to a family event out on Long Island, so we took the LIRR from Manhattan to somewhere (Huntington?) and what would have cost us $125 instead cost about $20 (plus train tickets of course). Definitely worth doing.

I doubt that there are shuttles between JFK and Westchester County airport.

You could take the train from Grand Central to White Plains station and pick up a car there. There's a car rental near the station.

Thanks, Ellenem. I think I'll do that. Appreciate all of your comments and suggestions!

Ah! One last question: How is the rail commute on a Sunday afternoon?

Train schedule:

http://as0.mta.info/mnr/schedules/sched_form.cfm

you could also priceline a rental car for jfk if you don't mind keeping it and driving back to the airport

There is no easy way to get between JFK and Westchester airport.

Unless you have corporate account JFK car rentals are always high. Hertz White Plains is the most convenient car rental location to the MetroNorth RR - it's actually near the North White Plains stop on the Harlem line - within close walking distance.

There is an Avis office in White Plains about 1 mile from the main White Plains RR stop. They often have better prices than Hertz. They may have a pickup service available - you'd have to call them to check.

There used to be a shared ride van service from JFK to Westchester www.westchesterexpress.net. You could price the out for your return trip.

You can also take Metro North (New Haven Line) to Rye NY then taxi to your hotel - if you can share a ride hotel to the wedding that may be an option too.

Finally, check car rental prices that pick up in White Plains but drop off at JFK. I use a corporate rate for 1 way rentals (no added cost for a drop off) so I don't know if the rate would be the same.

Rather than searching different websites I like to use www.orbtiz.com for rental car price comparisons, then i go directly to the rental car co website to actually book the car.

$100 per day is standard for NYC and airports - esp for summer - when many sell out completely to locals renting cars for beach or country houses. You can try renting a car in Stamford - have no idea of price - you would have to investigate - but it would be a trek to get into Manhattan, from Penn Station to grand Central and then take Metro North to Stamford (figure at least 3 hours), Another option would be to take a limo to Stamford (check the JFK web site for cost).

"but it would be a trek to get into Manhattan, from Penn Station to grand Central and then take Metro North to Stamford"

Which is why I suggested the bus from JFK to Grand Central, and then the train from Grand Central--many fewer connections than using the AirTrain and LIRR.

Are you staying at the Hilton Rye Town? The actual closest station to Rye Brook is Port Chester, but I'm not sure about car rental options there. for assured car rental options, North White Plains is much, much closer than Stamford to Rye Brook.

Call the Rye Town Hilton. They used to have a limo (shared) from JFK to the hotel. They also had rental cars on the property.

@ellenem @debmom No I'm staying at the Doral Arrowwood in Rye Brook, NY

i would call the rye town hilton anyway, it's significantly larger than Arrowwood and if you pick up a car or a taxi at the Hilton it's less than a 10 minute drive to Arrowwood.

VERY IMPORTANT: i want to clarify the rental location near Metro North. You've been told two conflicting things. So if you choose to rent there, the Hertz office is at the NORTH White Plains station, not the White plains station. They are two different places. Trains usually about every 30 minutes from Grand Central, but you may have trouble getting a car on a Sunday morning there.

There are definitely shared van services that serve Westchester from JFK, but they may be expensive.

Thanks, Doug. I'll keep that in mind when booking.

The most important thing is to find a good rental price and reserve the car. I have friends who have tried to rent on Friday in NYC and been told the closest cars are in Philly - none at any of the airports, LI, Westchester or even lower CT.

@nytraveler Wow! Thats surprising. Based on @J62's comment I just contacted my HR dept to see if I can get a corporate discount. If so that cost will be the same as what it would cost me at White Plains, NY.