Here's travel information for getting from New York's airports to Manhattan:
LaGuardia: Although the closest airport to midtown, it doesn't have a rail connection and therefore takes approx the longest travel time.
Options: Taxi/Limo/Shuttle costing between $15.00-$50.00. Tell driver to take Midtown Tunnel at a $5.00 toll to 34th Street. Take 34th Street west to 8th Ave. The New Yorker is on the NW corner. Or go from tunnel to your respective hotel. If above 72nd Street, take the Triborough Bridge at same toll.
Travel Time: Approx 1 hour.
Q33 bus from terminal arrival level to Jackson Heights and Blue E Train to 34th Street. Take rear car and go up stairs at 34/8 in front of hotel.
Cost: $2.25 exact change for bus, purchase 7 day unlimited Metrocard from machine for $23.00 cash or CC/DC. It's the best way to handle travel while in NYC.
Travel Time: Approx 45 minutes.
JFK: Taxi/Limo fare $40.00 plus tolls. Shuttle $25.00.
Travel Time: Approx 90 minutes.
Airtrain to Jamaica Center, Cost: $5.00-Go downstairs to LIRR station for frequent service to NY Penn, $3.50-$5.00 peak hours. Find hotel as below. Or go down to subway station and buy a 7 day Metrocard. Make sure to go to UPPER level for E train to 34/8, rear car to hotel.
Travel Time: 35 minutes with good connection.
Newark: Taxi/Limo/Shuttle-I don't know fares. $7.00 toll into NYC.
Travel Time: Approx 40 minutes
BEST BET: Airtrain from the airport (walk UP from the terminal to get to the Airtrain). It takes you to NJT railway station-NJT train to NY Penn. Exit at west end of station-Blue A-C-E subway lines are at west end. If you see red 1-2-3 signs you've gone the wrong direction. You'll be on 8th Ave. Walk 1 short block north to 34/8. Hotel is caddy-corner across intersection.
Cost: $15.00 (possibly higher). Alternate is Airtrain to NJT, 3 minute ride to NWK Penn. Get off and ride the interstate PATH subway to 34/6, 1 block east of hotel. Cost: $8.50.
Vinny's notes about travel in New York:
- Concerning the Airtrain, I know that Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York wanted to go to New York Penn Station in both cases. Due to the infighting, the Airtrains are of a totally incompatible technology. EWR is a monorail. As for JFK, the tech is interesting.
- The system is standard gauge rail, but it utilizes linear induction motors, making it totally unusable on the Long Island Railroad and subway. LIM puts the motor field coils on the roadbed to pull/push the armatures of the motors along the track. It's millions of dollars of added expense per km ro eliminate moving parts in the motors. Also, the trains are fiberglass and can't meet federal crashworthiness requirements. Remember the test train that derailed on a curve and the test load of wheels loosened and killed the operator? The car bodies had to be scrapped due to heavy damage at a speed of 50kmh
- Airtrain will NEVER be able to get to Manhattan unless a seperate line is built and will never be built due to prohibitive costs
- LGA is near the Astoria line but the northeast corridor bridge cuts it off from being built from Hoyt Ave. as the Transit Authority wants to do. Another line would be needed to connect with the G,R,V lines in Woodside.
- The bus trip to the subway takes 20-40 minutes and would take 8-10 minutes by direct connection. The M60 to NYU-believe it or not-is 10-15 minutes to the N line but the buses are always packed with workers. I live 5km from LGA and 15km from JFK. I can get to JFK in 25 minutes by subway/Airtrain but need a good hour to get to LGA by subway/bus or 2 buses if I go through Flushing vs Elmhurst. It's pathetic!
- I included all LGA connections, but the Q33 to E Train has elevators if anybody is heavily laden with luggage. The bus drops you off 3 meters from the Metrocard machines, then it's 10 meters through the gates to the elevator down to the platform. The ride to the corner of 34th Street and 8 Ave is scheduled for 18 minutes. Trains run between 6 and 10 minutes apart depending on time of day. For those unladen and going directly to the restaurant, take the orange F Train to 57th Street. Take the 56th Street exit where it's up 1/2 block to 123 west 56th Street. That running time is also 18 minutes. Bit of trivia: the F Line is the only line among a dozen or so to stop at a station in the middle of a river. It's Roosevelt Island and the station juts out 15 meters beyond the shores of the island into the East River. It's a narrow island.
- My mobile # is 917.653.5760 if anybody's in dire straits for transport info. The quite useful site for "service diversions" is MTA.INFO. It covers the entire MTA service area for any mode.
- NJ Transit also has a helpful site.
- In either case, schedules/fares can be pulled up for railway and bus info. Subways aren't listed due to the 24/7 schedule.
George Lewycky's commentary follows:
Hi everyone,
Along with Vinnie I also work for the MTA-New York City Transit
I see many are also coming from Hotels in Jersey City (where I also live). You'll need the PATH TRAINS FROM NEWARK, JERSEY CITY:
the PATH also uses the MetroCard but not the UNLIMITED CARDS ($7/$13/$30 DAY). You need the PAY-PER-RIDE value cards and they give you a bonus amount too!!!
http://www.panynj.gov/path/ has their maps
ASK FOR A FREE MAP:
They give FREE maps at the Subway stations- so be sure to ask for one. Also ask for the BUS map it has more details and is handy if the subway doesnt go where you want to...
UPTOWN OR DOWNTOWN ( relative to Manhattan):
Also remember the subways usually say UPTOWN or DOWNTOWN and depending which way you are going the entrance can be on opposite site of the Avenue your on - so be sure your going the right way at the right entrance.
ALSO IF YOU'RE IN BROOKLYN or QUEENS it will tell you which way to MANHATTAN:
LOCAL (all stops) & EXPRESS (select stops):
Some stations like 34th Street Penn Station have the Express (A train) and Locals (E & C) on seperate platforms where others its on the same (4,5,6)
BUSES:
something I use to get crosstown on 14th Street (M14), 42nd Street (M42), 34th Street (M34) are the crosstown buses to get from west side to east side......
WHICH METROCARD TO BUY:
http://mta.info/metrocard/mcgtreng.htm
I REALLY SUGGEST THE PAY-PER-RIDE -unless you are staying for a week or more and will be travelling alot. The Pay-per-Ride allows you to pick how much money you want to put into your card. Then, as you take trips on the subway (you slide the card at the turnstile) it deducts the amount of each ride until your card is empty. Then you can refill it or buy a new one. Buy as many rides as you want from $4 to $80. Put $8 or more on your card and receive a 15 percent bonus. For example, a $20 purchase gives you $23 on your card. 10 trips for the price of 9, with $.50 balance. Refill your card to use the balance. You get an automatic free transfer between subway and bus, or between buses. PLUS IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING WITH OTHERS YOU CAN ALL USE THE SAME CARD AS LONG AS YOU HAVE MONEY ON IT. with UNLIMITED you have to wait 18minutes till you can use the card again.. IF YOU'RE JUST ONE DAY OR TWO DAYS get the "FUN PASS" for each day at $8.25
Good for unlimited subway and local bus rides from first use until 3 a.m. the following day. Sold at MetroCard Vending Machines and at neighborhood stores. Not available at station booths.
CELEBRITIES: If any of you are like me and like celebrities here are some sites and links, book signings, etc. :
link 1 link 2 link 3
This one might be of interest to some of you:
A STEADY RAIN at Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre with Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman Jon Secada & Manhattan Transfer will be J&R Music World - performing & signing 6pm Finally: WATCH YOUR BAGS, WALLET, POCKETBOOK, etc. in crowded areas and crowded trains/buses IGNORE PANHANDLERS AND BEGGARS George cell: 908 705 0404
work: 646 252 8882 (monday & tuesday) - I work downtown at 2 Broadway
From the mind of George Lewycky (visit George's site -- click the link to left)
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