Getting from JFK Airport to Manhattan

Hi there I am travelling to New York for the first time in Feb (Soooooo excited!!)

What is the best way to get from JFK airport into the City, there will be 5 of us %26amp; we will be staying at the Hotel Metro.

Many Thanks in advance.

Caroline x

Getting from JFK Airport to Manhattan

All the answers you could possibly need on this are on the FAQ sticky at the top of the forum.

Getting from JFK Airport to Manhattan

Caroline - This question is asked very frequently and you%26#39;ll find it in the FAQ%26#39;s

I prefer to take the JFK AirTrain, it is by far the fastest and most economical way during rush hour when traffic is heaviest. I take my luggage and I%26#39;ve never had the slightest issue or concern.

Some people prefer to take a taxi, the fixed rate is $45.00 plus toll and tip but you never know whether you%26#39;ll have to wait for a minivan taxi and whether they%26#39;ll get all the baggage and five people in. Two cabs will cost almost $120.00 split five ways, that is alot of money (to me at least).

You could arrange for a van / people carrier with a company like Dial 7 or All State Limo. You can check their prices.

After I%26#39;ve been sitting on an international flight for eight hours I need to stretch my legs, I don%26#39;t want to sit for another hour squeezed into a taxi stuck in traffic. I get the JFK AirTrain to the Long Island Rail Road, it puts me in New York Penn Station in 40 minutes and then you are a short walk from the Hotel Metro.

There is a ten ride AirTrain ticket for $25.00. It only allows four swipes at a time so unfortunately you%26#39;d still have to pay the full $5.00 fare for the fifth person each time but that is still $35.00 roundtrip for five people. The LIRR is an additional $5.25 per person (off peak weekday). LIRR is less expensive on the weekend ($3.25).

Essentially you can do a JFK roundtrip for about $17.50 per person on public transport.

Let us know if you have any questions.

Hi there,

Am also coming to New York for the first time in June and staying at the Hotel Metro.

Have decided to use the Airtrain to Jamaica based on the great information I have read on here but am unsure as to whether to get the Long Island Railroad into Penn Station or to get the Subway using the F line into Herald Square.

The reason for asking is that husband and I don%26#39;t mind walking to hotel from subway with luggage but wondered which subway station is easiest to use with regards to stairs and distance to hotel metro which is at 45 W35th Street.

Sorry Caroline to hijack your post but seeing as you are going to the same hotel I thought the answer to my question may be of interest to you as well.

Many thanks

Marie

i personally would do the Long Island rr. i think it would be less stairs to deal with. LIRR would def. be more money but less hassle.

The Long Island Rail Road (and yes, it really is spelled Rail Road, and not Railroad) will leave you at Penn Station. You can exit from the LIRR concourse up an escalator to 34th Street just west of Seventh Avenue (ask any MTA cop you see where the escalator to 34th and Seventh is.) The address you gave is on 35th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, which is about a five minute (at most) walk: up Seventh (walk against the direction traffic is driving) one short block to 35th Street, turn right and cross Seventh, continue one long block to Sixth/Broadway/Herald Square along the side of Macy%26#39;s, and then cross Herald Square to your destination.

There is a huge subway complex under Herald Square, and there is a way to get there from Jamaica by subway without any more stairs than the intial entry(the E to Queens Plaza; change on the same platform for the V; ride towards the rear of the train and get off at 34th Street; take the elevator to the mezzanine, and then the other elevator to the street) but I don%26#39;t recommend it with a lot of luggage.

Thankyou to both of you for your quick response to my question. Having never been to New York before it%26#39;s good to be able to ask people who live there for their inside knowledge.

Am so excited about coming because New York is one of those places in the world that i always hoped I would be able to visit and now I am coming for 4 nights with my husband for our wedding anniversary.

Think we will get the Long Island Rail Road into Penn Station since it is not too far from the hotel and sounds like it is a bit more comfortable if you%26#39;ve got luggage.

Thanks again

Marie

Marie - No problem. The good news is that virtually everybody speaks English, there are tons of signs and lots of people in uniforms whose job is to help steer people in the right direction. You%26#39;ll be in very good hands.

I prefer the Long Island Rail Road because it is so fast, frequent, the trains are clean, comfortable and have rest rooms (toilets).

The subway is fine too. It takes a little bit longer. You can sit on the subway, I ride the subway every day, I take my luggage on the subway between New York Penn and either home or the office. The Long Island Rail Road is just quicker and easier really. You can use your unlimited ride MetroCard on the subway.

The Rail Road is $3.25 on weekends (City Ticket), $5.25 off peak and $7.00 peak. Peak Fares are charged during business rush hours, on any weekday train scheduled to arrive in NYC terminals between 6 and 10 AM or depart NYC terminals between 4 and 8 PM.

Note that if you decide you want to arrive at 34th St. / 6th Avenue / Herald Sq. on the F train you have to do the following. Jamaica AirTrain to the E train. Get off the E train at either Forest Hills or 74th St. / Jackson Heights and wait for the F train to arrive on the same track following the E train.

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