Hello:

how much is it to get from LGA airport to midtown hotels in a taxi?

how about the NY aiport service is that a better less expensive route?

thanks -

It seems no matter how much or how little traffic along the way, I almost always seem to pay right about $25, including the tolls and usually the tip, or if it's running close to the $25, I add another dollar or two.

The one time we took a shuttle it cost the two of us as much as a taxi and took us over two hours to get to the hotel -- including the time we sat in front of Grand Central where they had us change busses, and then sitting in traffic delivering people to four or five other hotels before getting us to ours. There are some other options, but I probably wouldn't bother unless you are a single traveler and looking to save $10 or $15. With two or more -- just take a taxi.

I agree with the previous post. LGA to midtown has never cost me more than $25, tip and toll included. . It is the way to go especially if two are traveling.

If you purchase tickets in advance http://www.nyairportservice.com/ the Airport Service is $16 each, roundtrip from LGA direct to Grand Central & P.A. Bus Terminal, with (transfer) shuttles from Grand Central to Penn Station & mid-town hotels. I prefer to walk or take taxi from GCT to anywhere else, as the shuttles seem to stop EVERYWHERE, so unless you're one of the first stops it takes too long. I've been very pleased with the scheduling and actual travel time from LGA to GCT, and the price for two or less is ok by me.

Taxi. Any savings on the shuttle isn't worth my time.

Without a doubt, take a taxi. All other options are a waste of time and you'll be lucky if you save a few bucks.

I just came from NYC Oct 4-11, and I learned from Fodors.com to share a cab from the airport into the city. It's an idea worth trying. Just ask someone who looks friendly and nice while you are waiting at the gate at the airport. I did and it saved me half a fare. We were staying 6 blks of each other.

Yipes! Beware of the unlicensed "friendly" drivers who may ask you if you need a cab while you are at the baggage claim in LGA.
There is a designated cab line outside the terminal and they will hand you a fare card before you get in the cab.
As everyone said, it's about 25.
Sharing a cab can get you burned too - the driver will charge more!

The driver CAN"T charge you more. A licensed cab can charge what's on the meter at the end of the trip and any tolls incurred. When you share, if one passenger gets out at a stop before the other, the passengers negotiate the fare to that point between themselves. The last passenger dropped off pays the cabbie. As long as you announce that you will be making two stops at the beginning of the trip, you should have no problem.

Another vote for taxi.
We did meet someone on our flight and ended up sharing a taxi and it worked out really well. We told the taxi driver that there would be 2 stops and there was no problem.
Good luck.

Many of you post that the shuttle is a waste of time. It usually takes me about 35-40 minutes from LGA to GCT ... so how long does taxi usually take? The two times I used cab, it took longer than the shuttle's scheduled time, and we paid for "standing" time. I agree that when more are in group it's usually worthwhile to take taxi, but if a taxi only saves me 15 minutes for the ~$17 (or so) dollars difference, I'd rather spend the $$ towards lunch or a museum. The smaller transfer shuttles are a waste of time, I agree.

Okay, so maybe you get to Grand Central in 35-40 minutes. Then what? I presume you're not sleeping in Grand Central Station.

Do you schlep your luggage onto the subway or a bus to get to your final destination? Carry it to a nearby hotel (the Hyatt perhaps)? Take a cab to your hotel from GC?

Perhaps the shuttle makes sense if you're traveling alone and have little or no baggage or are staying adjacent to Grand Central, otherwise I still don't get the logic.

We prefer a car service (have used Carmel and Tel Aviv, among others) to a txi. The cars are much nicer and the price is about the same.

If I know the taxi line will be a mile long at LGA, like at Christmas, then I'll arrange for a car (usually Carmel). But otherwise I don't think the added expense is necessary, and one can wait longer for the car service than a taxi (if the line is short or non-existent).

$25-30 for the taxi with toll an tip sounds right to me. I would recommend that over the bus or shuttle.