Which Airport is Better for Downtown Manhattan?
Apr 20th, 2012, 03:18 PM
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Which Airport is Better for Downtown Manhattan?
I see that Southwest flies into both Newark and LaGuardia. I've flown so rarely into Newark that I can't recall how we got to Manhattan from the Newark airport.
Could you help?
Which would be easier to get to the Westside, say, to Clinton and further north? Easier from Newark or easier from LaGuardia?
Could you help?
Which would be easier to get to the Westside, say, to Clinton and further north? Easier from Newark or easier from LaGuardia?
Apr 20th, 2012, 03:35 PM
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The West Side makes the difference: EWR is more convenient via EWR AirTrain and NJTransit to Penn Station, 31st and Seventh. Any means of surface transportation from LGA to the West Side would likely get caught up in mid-Manhattan traffic.
Apr 21st, 2012, 07:07 AM
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We're doing well, thanks. And the same to you.
One thing to note about the NJTransit ride from the EWR rail station to New York: It's cheaper than using Amtrak for that leg, and you want to get off at the last stop of the NJTransit trip, NY Penn Station, not Newark Penn Station, the next-to-last.
Here's all the info you need: http://1.usa.gov/Jc3l8o
One thing to note about the NJTransit ride from the EWR rail station to New York: It's cheaper than using Amtrak for that leg, and you want to get off at the last stop of the NJTransit trip, NY Penn Station, not Newark Penn Station, the next-to-last.
Here's all the info you need: http://1.usa.gov/Jc3l8o
Apr 21st, 2012, 07:42 AM
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Yes. After years of somehow thinking flying into Newark makes for a more difficult trip to the city, I've since learned it's really the easiest/quickest/cheapest by public transportation. Especially cheap if you are a senior and the NJTransit fare becomes half price.
Apr 21st, 2012, 07:59 AM
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bspielman: many, many thanks again! That's excellent information! I will definitely get off at the last stop!
...and the reason for visiting New York again, as you can guess, is more opera!
Patrick: thanks for the tip on getting the half price fare.
...and the reason for visiting New York again, as you can guess, is more opera!
Patrick: thanks for the tip on getting the half price fare.
Apr 21st, 2012, 08:46 AM
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One note about those senior fares. If you buy your tickets from a NJ Transit machine (which is very easy) one thing seems odd. You can't buy a round trip senior ticket -- only a one way. And because they are destination and origin specific, you can't buy two to use one for a return. You'll need to buy your return senior ticket at the other end. Unless someone else knows something I don't.
Apr 21st, 2012, 01:09 PM
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Re NJTransit round-trip senior tickets:
Yes, they are origin- and destination-specific. But we routinely buy a pair of one-ways ($5 each) at the Madison station, often well ahead of time, for each of us when we go to New York from Madison. The conductors have never, ever, refused to honor a Madison-to-Penn Station ticket on the return journey.
Give it a try, Neo.
Incidentally, NJTransit has completed installing ticket vending machines at all its stations. That means you must buy your ticket before boarding to avoid the $5 surcharge for buying a ticket on board. The surcharge is, however, waived for seniors.
And to easy: Is it the Ring? Just finished listening to Siegfried this afternoon. Having seen two of the four ring operas on our subscription series, I'm happy we didn't have to see it (with the $16 million "machine"), just listen.
Yes, they are origin- and destination-specific. But we routinely buy a pair of one-ways ($5 each) at the Madison station, often well ahead of time, for each of us when we go to New York from Madison. The conductors have never, ever, refused to honor a Madison-to-Penn Station ticket on the return journey.
Give it a try, Neo.
Incidentally, NJTransit has completed installing ticket vending machines at all its stations. That means you must buy your ticket before boarding to avoid the $5 surcharge for buying a ticket on board. The surcharge is, however, waived for seniors.
And to easy: Is it the Ring? Just finished listening to Siegfried this afternoon. Having seen two of the four ring operas on our subscription series, I'm happy we didn't have to see it (with the $16 million "machine"), just listen.
Apr 22nd, 2012, 07:31 AM
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Interesting, bspielman. Actually the reason for my comment about one way only is that just last week going from Hamilton to NYC, when the conductor checked my ticket, I specifically asked if it made any difference which way the ticket was -- if I could buy two one way tickets the same way, and her reply was that "no, they must be for the direction stated". Maybe they don't really care, but she seemed pretty definite that it is one direction only.
Apr 22nd, 2012, 09:51 AM
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Just a note about Southwest. Although its possible to fly into LGA, the connections are so bad that it's almost a necessity to chose EWR, which has a much wider range of flight times. Of course, it depends on where you are coming from. But EWR is much more convenient for the west side.
FYI: "Downtown" is really reserved for Manhatten below 14th street.
FYI: "Downtown" is really reserved for Manhatten below 14th street.
Apr 22nd, 2012, 04:52 PM
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Neo,
Your comment about NJTransit tix makes me wonder whether there's an actual policy. I'm going to make an online inquiry to their customer service. Believe it or not, their replies are prompt, if not necessarily satisfying. I'll report back.
Your comment about NJTransit tix makes me wonder whether there's an actual policy. I'm going to make an online inquiry to their customer service. Believe it or not, their replies are prompt, if not necessarily satisfying. I'll report back.
Apr 23rd, 2012, 03:58 AM
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bspielman, you are right behind me. I sent an email to NJTransit yesterday asking the official rule for that as well, specifically asking if I can buy two Hamilton to NYPenn tickets and use one for the return.
I had in the back of my mind that one reason you couldn't do that is that two people could buy a round trip ticket and use it for two one ways -- but now I wonder what difference that would make as I don't believe there is ever a savings in buying a round trip over two one ways.
If I hear from them, I'll post.
I had in the back of my mind that one reason you couldn't do that is that two people could buy a round trip ticket and use it for two one ways -- but now I wonder what difference that would make as I don't believe there is ever a savings in buying a round trip over two one ways.
If I hear from them, I'll post.
Apr 23rd, 2012, 05:39 AM
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OK, I just got a reply. It says:
"Thank you for contacting NJ TRANSIT with your inquiry. When you use our TVM to purchase your senior fare one-way ticket, it will give you the opportunity to select a "Round Trip" and will produce two-one way tickets that are valid for use in either direction between the two stations printed on the face of the ticket."
Now two questions remain. When does the machine offer a round trip when you are doing a senior ticket? I only see the option for one way "senior or disabled". And why did that conductor tell me that you can't use one for the wrong way?
"Thank you for contacting NJ TRANSIT with your inquiry. When you use our TVM to purchase your senior fare one-way ticket, it will give you the opportunity to select a "Round Trip" and will produce two-one way tickets that are valid for use in either direction between the two stations printed on the face of the ticket."
Now two questions remain. When does the machine offer a round trip when you are doing a senior ticket? I only see the option for one way "senior or disabled". And why did that conductor tell me that you can't use one for the wrong way?
Apr 23rd, 2012, 06:48 AM
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And now a quick answer to one of those two questions. Clearly there is no way to buy a round trip senior ticket -- what they meant to say was to buy two one way tickets. Here's the actual response:
"Thank you for your follow up comments. To purchase a senior "Round Trip" ticket you simply need to select the add or change ticket quantity and purchase 2 one-way tickets in a single transaction. Again, they are good for travel in either direction between the two stations printed on the face of the ticket."
"Thank you for your follow up comments. To purchase a senior "Round Trip" ticket you simply need to select the add or change ticket quantity and purchase 2 one-way tickets in a single transaction. Again, they are good for travel in either direction between the two stations printed on the face of the ticket."
Apr 23rd, 2012, 09:54 AM
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Precisely. Here's the response I got:
Dear Mr. Spielman,
Thank you for contacting NJ TRANSIT with your inquiry.
One-Way tickets can be used in either direction. For example a One-Way Madison/NYP ticket can be used to travel from Madison to New York Penn Station. That ticket can also be used to travel from New York Penn Station to Madison.
Again, thank you for writing and for your support of NJ TRANSIT.
Sincerely,
Christel Thomas
NJ TRANSIT Customer Service Team
Sounds like we've got 'em covered!
Dear Mr. Spielman,
Thank you for contacting NJ TRANSIT with your inquiry.
One-Way tickets can be used in either direction. For example a One-Way Madison/NYP ticket can be used to travel from Madison to New York Penn Station. That ticket can also be used to travel from New York Penn Station to Madison.
Again, thank you for writing and for your support of NJ TRANSIT.
Sincerely,
Christel Thomas
NJ TRANSIT Customer Service Team
Sounds like we've got 'em covered!
Apr 23rd, 2012, 12:04 PM
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In any case I'm glad to know this. I've always hated entering Penn Station in NYC at rush hour to buy my return ticket after a Wednesday matinee -- I can't tell you how often the lines at the machines are extensive and a couple of times I've actually missed the next train because of that. Now I can just buy two tickets in the morning where I depart.
Apr 24th, 2012, 06:53 AM
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Again, many thanks to the diligence of two Fodorites for invaluable information on getting to/from EWR to Manhattan!
Bspielman: I'm afraid it's not for the Ring cycle - I've now seen all/parts of it in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vienna and Berlin over the past two years, so am really "ring"ed-out!
This trip will be for the 2012-2013 season. Maybe we will meet again on the grand staircase!
BTW, am very curious to know what you think of "The Machine"!
Bspielman: I'm afraid it's not for the Ring cycle - I've now seen all/parts of it in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vienna and Berlin over the past two years, so am really "ring"ed-out!
This trip will be for the 2012-2013 season. Maybe we will meet again on the grand staircase!
BTW, am very curious to know what you think of "The Machine"!
Apr 24th, 2012, 10:36 AM
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I commented yesterday on The Times's latest interview with Robert LePage, creator of the new Ring production. Here's a link to the thread.
nyti.ms/I8AS4w
In three words, I hate it. In many more words, Here's what I wrote:
"Stuck with me" indeed. Mr. LePage has quickly picked up on the Met's own arrogance. The critics and the audience can't possibly be right. No, just keep spouting the company line and all will be well.
"Entertaining"? Story-telling"? "A concert-version of the 'Ring'"? Mr. LePage completely ignores the majority of the operagoers who go to hear the music, or, at the very least, displays his utter disdain for us. Go back to Cirque du Soleil, Mr. LePage, since, with its spectacle above all else, that's obviously where you belong.
We are Center Parterre Box subscribers, former Met Patrons, former Met contributors, and former Ring Cycle attendees--the last three Schenk Cycles. This year and last, having seen two of the four works on our regular series, we have voted with our wallets.
We are not attending the Ring this year and won't next year. And, apparently, we're not alone, as we have noted individual seats and entire Ring Cycles still for sale by the Met. In past years, the Ring was a complete sell-out. Not this time. And you can't say it's the economy alone; people come from all over the world to see the Met's Ring.
We've also told the Met in so many words to cease its incessant fundraising telephone calls. We will never again contribute to the Met nor rejoin its Patron program.
But we're not ever really heard by the arrogant Met. Only when the big-money people, the Basses, Montrones and Ziffs of the opera world object, will we be rid of this $16 million piece of garbage.
nyti.ms/I8AS4w
In three words, I hate it. In many more words, Here's what I wrote:
"Stuck with me" indeed. Mr. LePage has quickly picked up on the Met's own arrogance. The critics and the audience can't possibly be right. No, just keep spouting the company line and all will be well.
"Entertaining"? Story-telling"? "A concert-version of the 'Ring'"? Mr. LePage completely ignores the majority of the operagoers who go to hear the music, or, at the very least, displays his utter disdain for us. Go back to Cirque du Soleil, Mr. LePage, since, with its spectacle above all else, that's obviously where you belong.
We are Center Parterre Box subscribers, former Met Patrons, former Met contributors, and former Ring Cycle attendees--the last three Schenk Cycles. This year and last, having seen two of the four works on our regular series, we have voted with our wallets.
We are not attending the Ring this year and won't next year. And, apparently, we're not alone, as we have noted individual seats and entire Ring Cycles still for sale by the Met. In past years, the Ring was a complete sell-out. Not this time. And you can't say it's the economy alone; people come from all over the world to see the Met's Ring.
We've also told the Met in so many words to cease its incessant fundraising telephone calls. We will never again contribute to the Met nor rejoin its Patron program.
But we're not ever really heard by the arrogant Met. Only when the big-money people, the Basses, Montrones and Ziffs of the opera world object, will we be rid of this $16 million piece of garbage.
