Momburd

We fly into LG Airport at 8AM on Saturday, August 5 and need to to get to the Sheraton NY Hotel and Towers, but not sure if we should take taxi or other transportation. We are a family of 3 and want to get their easily, and as cost effective, as possible. Please advise!! Thanks

MikeT

A Taxi is probably the easiest. There is a shuttle, which will require a change at either Grand Central or Port Authority, but money wise a taxi may be just as simple.

MikeT

You could also get a driver to pick you up. There are tons of taxis at LaGuardia, but lots of people in NYC will use a driver/car.

nytraveler

A taxi is you best choice. It should be about $35 - less than the shuttle - and certainly more conenient.

Be sure to take only a yellow cab from the official taxi lines. Ignore any drivers that hang around near baggage claim and offer you special deals - they're scam artists.

(It is possible to do it by public transit - but involves takng a public bus to 125th St to catch a commuter subway and dealing with several sets of stairs and long passageways with your luggage.) IMHO not reasonable unless you're a student with a single backpack.

Momburd

Many thanks! I assumed a taxi would be our best choice, but just wanted to check with people that are "in the know."

mclaurie

Make sure you do NOT accept a ride from anyone who approaches you. Get on the official taxi line where there'll be a dispatcher. He/she will hand you a "receipt" when your cab pulls up. KEEP the receipt. Should you leave something in the cab or have any problems you want to report, the cab # is on the receipt and makes finding that cab easy.

Tell the driver the LOCATION of the hotel (7th ave & 53 st). He may not know the location if you just give him the name.

You will pay "on the meter" meaning traffic will affect how much the fare is. I would ask to take the 59th st. bridge for the great view (and there's no toll). When you arrive, you pay the fare on the meter plus a tip of 15-20% of the fare. There should be no extra charges.

djkbooks

I agree with taking a taxi. When you've picked up your bags, head outside and look for the official taxi stand. Typically, the driver will ask which bridge you prefer. We always ask for the Triborough for the views of the skyline!

williamscb13

What bridge you want depends on where you are going in Manhattan? Your taxi driver may use the midtown tunnel. don't assume you know better than the taxi driver. also taking the triborough bridge will make your taxi fare much higher as it is out of the way unless you are going to upper manhattan.

nytraveler

Sorry - Triborough Bridge is not out of the way unless you're going to far downtown. It is very convenient for anything above 59th St (this isn't upper Manhattan - which is from 145th or so up) - and is often faster for midtown.

And taxi meter fares are based on a combo of distance and time - is you go a shorter distance but are stuck in traffic it can cost more than a longer distance.

Personally I prefer the view over the triborough - esp if you've never been to New York before.

djkbooks

We take the Triborough to Midtown even when we're driving.

Gekko

At 8am the taxi line could be quite long, and you might be better off with a car service:

www.dial7.com

The cost is the same or, if traffic is heavy at it might be at 8:30am, the cost could be LESS than a taxi.

No other method makes sense -- a shuttle for 3 takes longer and saves very little money, if any.