New York, New York Hotels and City Guide

New York - Getting There

Arriving by Air

For those traveling by air, the City is served by LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), both in Queens, and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in neighboring New Jersey. LaGuardia airport primarily serves domestic destinations, with a small number of flights to and from selected Canadian and Caribbean destinations. Kennedy and Newark airports each serve both domestic and international destinations. New York airports, like all airports in North America, have stepped up their security operations since 2001. Travelers should be patient and allow plenty of time when arriving or leaving.

From New York John F Kennedy International Airport

Jamaica, Queens, New York, 718/244-4444
This airport is New York's largest, serving more than 110 primarily international airlines. It is approximately 15 miles from midtown Manhattan. Follow signs marked "Ground Transportation" as you exit the airport.

Airport Taxis
$45 flat fee (non-metered) plus bridge and tunnel tolls and gratuity; 30-60 minutes to midtown Manhattan. 212/NYC-TAXI (212/692-8294)
One fare covers all passengers. Accept taxi ride offers only from uniformed airport agents and only in yellow medallion taxis. Do not accept rides from people who approach you in the airport if you have not booked a private car service in advance. Tipping is not mandatory, but a 15%-20% gratuity is expected.

AirTrain
$5 (children under 5 free); 60-90 minutes to midtown Manhattan
Operating 24 hours and every day, AirTrain JFK is the airport train service that takes you between John F. Kennedy International Airport and MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) trains, MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) subways and local buses. A trip from JFK to Jamaica or Howard Beach will average about 12 minutes; add 60-75 minutes for the subway to midtown Manhattan.You will need to purchase a MetroCard to pay for the trip. You will use the MetroCard entering and exiting AirTrain at the Howard Beach or Jamaica stations.

Subway
$7: $2 subway + $5 for AirTrain; 60-75 minutes to midtown Manhattan from the A subway line at the Howard Beach station or the E, J, Z subway lines at Jamaica station
It's about an hour on the A train to Howard Beach from Midtown; at the Howard Beach station, you will need to use a MetroCard vending machine to purchase a $5 card to ride the AirTrain, which connects the station to the airport's terminals. Allow 15-25 minutes for the AirTrain connection.

Public Bus
$2 (free transfer from subway); 60-75 minutes to midtown Manhattan. 718/330-1234; non-English, 718/330-4847; MTA bus information, 718/995-4700
Public bus transportation is offered by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), which runs the Q10 bus (formerly the Green Line Q-10) at JFK. In front of each terminal at the airport, look for the Q10 bus stop. Buses run approximately every 20-25 minutes, 24 hours a day. Take the bus to the last stop: Kew Gardens/Union Turnpike. Directly in front of this stop is the connection to the E (Eighth Avenue) and F (Sixth Avenue) subway lines into midtown Manhattan.

Shuttle Bus

Airlink NYC
$16-20 one-way fare; 45-60 minutes to midtown Manhattan. 877/599-8200, 212/812-9000
Share-ride airport service between airport and hotels in Manhattan.

From airports: Go to ground transportation desk. See staff or use Airlink NYC courtesy phone to connect to dispatcher for pick-up directly outside the terminal.

From midtown/hotel: Reservations are required 24 hours in advance of pick-up. Visit Airlink NYC website for more information.

New York Airport Service
$10-13 to midtown; $17-23 for hotel shuttle service; 45-60 minutes to midtown Manhattan. 718/875-8200, 212/875-8200
Bus to Manhattan and shuttle to/from JFK and LaGuardia airports and midtown hotels.
From airports: At the airports, New York Airport Service bus stops are located outside the baggage claim area at every terminal; look for a bus stop sign that says New York Airport Service. Buses run approximately every 20-30 minutes and make stops at Grand Central Terminal, Penn Station and Port Authority Bus Station.

For transfer service to hotels: Take shuttle to Grand Central; transfer is available to midtown hotels for an additional fee.

From Midtown to airports: Service is available from Grand Central Terminal, Penn Station and Port Authority Bus Terminal.

From midtown hotels to airports: You can either make a round-trip reservation upon arrival at airport Ground Transportation area or call from Midtown; a 24-hour advance reservation for pick-up is required. Visit New York Airport Service website for more information.

SuperShuttle
$15-20 one-way fare; 45-60 minutes to midtown Manhattan. 800/258-3826, 212/315-3006
Door-to-door airport transfers. From airports: Go to Ground Transportation desk; use SuperShuttle courtesy phone to connect to dispatcher who will arrange for your pick- up directly outside the terminal. From midtown/hotel: Reservations are required 24 hours in advance of pick-up. Visit SuperShuttle website for more information.

Private Car and Limousine Services

Rental Car
Rental Car Free phones or service desks at each arrival terminal can connect you with your auto rental company. Car rental companies at JFK include Avis and National Car.

From New York Newark Liberty International Airport

Newark, New Jersey, 973/961-6000
Newark Airport, servicing 47 airlines (36 of them international), is across the Hudson River from New York City, 16 miles and 45-60 minutes from Midtown.

Taxi
Follow signs marked "Ground Transportation" as you exit the airport.

Taxis serving Terminal A
City of Elizabeth Taxi and Limousine Commission, 908-820-4178
Taxis serving Terminals B and C
City of Newark Taxi and Limousine Commission, 973-733-8912

The following are approximate taxi fares (tip and tolls not included):

Newark Liberty International Airport to downtown and midtown Manhattan West side of Fifth Avenue between 14th-185th Streets: Fares range from $40-60.  East side of mid-Manhattan, additional charge of $5. During weekday rush hours, mornings (6am to 9am) and afternoons (4pm to 7pm) and on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) from noon to 8pm, there is an additional $5 surcharge to all points in the State of New York except Staten Island.

Newark Liberty International Airport to JFK International Airport Flat fare is $75 plus toll. $7 Verrazano Bridge toll must be paid by passenger for driver's return trip.

Newark Liberty International Airport to LaGuardia Airport Flat fare is $65 plus toll.

There is a $1 charge for each piece of luggage over 24 inches (60cm) when handled by the taxi driver. 40-50 minutes to midtown Manhattan. One fare pays for all passengers. Use only taxis at authorized taxi stands. Refuse offers for transportation from "helpful strangers," as they could be illegal operators. Tipping is not mandatory, but a 15%-20% gratuity is expected.

If you're taking an NYC taxi to Newark Airport, there's a $15 surcharge.

AirTrain
Costs vary according to destination; 45-60 minutes to midtown Manhattan. 800/626-7433, 800/247-7433, 973/762-5100
AirTrain Newark is the new regional rail transportation connection to Newark International Airport. AirTrain provides direct service from all three Newark Liberty Airport terminals into New York's Penn Station at Seventh Avenue and 33rd Street in Manhattan. Look for signs marked "Monorail/AirTrain Link." Note: Do not follow signs for Ground Transportation.
• Passengers traveling to Newark Liberty International Airport by rail should take scheduled NJ TRANSIT or Amtrak rail service to the new Newark International Airport Rail Link station, situated close to the airport terminals. At the Rail Link station, passengers transfer onto AirTrain for the short ride direct into the airport terminals.
• At the new Newark Liberty International Airport Rail Link station, passengers can check flight information, purchase airline tickets and check in for their flight.
• Passengers arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport can take AirTrain Newark directly from the arrivals terminal to the new Rail Link station and then connect with NJ TRANSIT or Amtrak for rail travel to their final destination.
• Destinations that can be easily reached by AirTrain Newark and NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak service include New York Penn Station, Newark Penn Station, NJ TRANSIT destinations throughout New Jersey and Amtrak destinations on the Northeast Corridor between Washington and Boston.
Buy an NJ TRANSIT or Amtrak ticket to or from Newark Liberty International Airport Train Station and that ticket will cover both the NJ TRANSIT or Amtrak portion of your ride and the AirTrain portion. You must use the ticket twice— regardless of which direction you're traveling in. You'll need to show the ticket to the conductor on the NJ TRANSIT or Amtrak train, and you'll also need the ticket to pass through the fare line at Newark Liberty International Airport Train Station. So don't forget to take the ticket with you. For more information, visit the The Port Authority of NY & NJ website.

Please check with your airline for services supplied at the Rail Link station.

Shuttle Bus

AirLink NYC
$16-20 one-way fare; 45-60 minutes to midtown Manhattan. 877/599-8200, 212/812-9000
Share-ride airport service between airport and hotels in Manhattan.

From airports: Go to ground transportation desk. See staff or use Airlink NYC courtesy phone to connect to dispatcher for pick-up directly outside the terminal.

From midtown/hotel: Reservations are required 24 hours in advance of pick-up. Visit Airlink NYC website for more information.

Olympia Airport Express
$11-$16; 40-50 minutes to midtown Manhattan. 908/354-3330
This bus company offers frequent shuttle service: every 15-20 minutes between Newark Airport and various locations in Manhattan, including Grand Central Terminal, Penn Station, Port Authority Bus Terminal and midtown hotels.
$11 to Grand Central, Penn Station and Port Authority; $16, connecting service to hotels between 23rd St. and 63rd St. From airport: Go to Ground Transportation desk and purchase ticket from an Olympia representative. Bus stops are directly outside entrances to all terminals. From Midtown: Frequent service from the various stations. From hotels: Reservations required; 24-hour advance notice requested.

SuperShuttle
$15-20 one-way fare; 40-50 minutes to midtown Manhattan. 800/258-3826, 212/315-3006
Door-to-door airport transfers. From airports: Go to Ground Transportation desk; use SuperShuttle courtesy phone to connect to dispatcher, who will arrange for your pick-up directly outside terminal. From Midtown/hotel: Reservations required, 24 hours in advance of pick-up.
Visit SuperShuttle website for more information.

Private Car and Limousine Services

Rental Car
Rental Car Free phones or service desks at each arrival terminal can connect you with your auto rental company. Car rental companies at Newark include Avis and National Car.

Gotham Limousine
$99 with tolls and gratuity; 40-90 minutes to midtown Manhattan (depending on time of day). 718/433-1212
Provides on-demand limo service from the airport; go to Ground Transportation desk upon arrival.

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is located in New Jersey, 26 kilometres (16 miles) from Manhattan. Taxis from Newark Airport are readily available but tend to be expensive because Newark is situated in the state of New Jersey, and passengers going into New York City are required to pay the round trip fare even if only travelling one way. An alternative is the Olympia Trails bus service that runs every 20 minutes between 06:15 and 24:00. This is probably the quickest, as well as being a fairly comfortable way to get into Manhattan, as there is a bus lane most of the way, resulting in an easier journey.

From New York LaGuardia Airport

Jackson Heights, Queens, New York, 718/533-3400
This is New York's second-largest airport, serving more than 20 airlines to mostly domestic destinations, Canada and the Caribbean. It is on the northern shore of Queens, directly across the East River about 9 miles from midtown Manhattan. Follow signs marked "Ground Transportation" as you exit the airport.

Taxi
Metered fare; $16-26 plus bridge and tunnel tolls and gratuity; 20-25 minutes to midtown Manhattan. 212/NYC-TAXI (212/692-8294)
One fare covers all passengers. Accept taxi ride offers only from uniformed airport agents and only in yellow medallion taxis. Do not accept rides from people who approach you in the airport if you have not booked a private car service in advance. Tipping is not mandatory, but a 15%-20% gratuity is expected.

Public Bus
$2 (free transfer from subway); 20-25 minutes to Queens subway connections; 60-75 minutes to Upper East Side and Upper West Side subway connections; add another 15-20 minutes for subway into Midtown. 718/330-1234 or 718/335-1000; non-English, 718/330-4847
The MTA offers two choices for transportation between LaGuardia and Manhattan. Follow the airport signs to "Ground Transportation." The MTA's M60 bus stops in front of all terminals (look for MTA bus stop marked "M60 to Manhattan"); service is available between 5am and 1am. The bus makes stops in Manhattan on the East Side at Lexington Avenue and 125th Street (connect here to the 4, 5 and 6 subway lines to Grand Central Terminal in Midtown); the bus continues to the West Side, stopping at St. Nicholas Avenue, where you can transfer to the A, B, C and D subway lines; last stop is Broadway and 106th Street, where connections can be made to the 1, 2 and 3 subway lines.

Another alternative is a bus service between LaGuardia and subway connections in Queens. Stops are in front of each terminal, marked "Q33" and "Q48." The Q33 bus goes to the Roosevelt Avenue subway station for the E and F subway lines. The Q48 goes to 74th Street and Broadway in Queens for the 7 subway line.

Shuttle Bus

AirLink New York
$16-20 one-way fare; 45-60 minutes to midtown Manhattan. 877/599-8200, 212/812-9000
Share-ride airport service between airport and hotels in Manhattan.

From airports: Go to ground transportation desk. See staff or use Airlink NY courtesy phone to connect to dispatcher for pick-up directly outside the terminal.

From midtown/hotel: Reservations are required 24 hours in advance of pick-up. Visit the AirLink New York website for more information.

New York Airport Service
$10-13 to Midtown; $17-23 for hotel shuttle service; 30-35 minutes to midtown Manhattan. 718/875-8200, 800/872-4577
Bus to Manhattan and shuttle to/from JFK and LaGuardia airports and midtown hotels.

From airports: At the airports, New York Airport Service bus stops are located outside the baggage claim area at every terminal; look for a bus stop sign that says New York Airport Service. Buses run approximately every 20-25 minutes and make stops at Grand Central Terminal, Penn Station and Port Authority Bus Station.

For transfer service to hotels: Take shuttle to Grand Central; transfer is available to midtown hotels for an additional fee.

From Midtown to airports: Service is available from Grand Central Terminal, Penn Station and Port Authority Bus Terminal.

From midtown hotels to airports: You can either make a round-trip reservation upon arrival at airport Ground Transportation area or call from Midtown; 24-hour advance reservation for pick-up is required.

SuperShuttle
$15-20 one-way fare; 30-35 minutes to midtown Manhattan. 800/258-3826, 212/315-3006
Door-to-door airport transfers. From airports: Go to Ground Transportation desk and use SuperShuttle courtesy phone to connect to dispatcher, who will arrange for your pick-up directly outside the terminal. From Midtown/hotel: Reservations are required, 24 hours in advance of pick-up. Visit the SuperShuttle website for more information.

Private Car and Limousine Services

Rental Car
Rental Car Free phones or service desks at each arrival terminal can connect you with your auto rental company. Car rental companies at LGA include Avis and National Car.

To get great deals and quotes on car rental at New York airports, visit out Car Rental page.

LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is primarily responsible for flights within the United States, but also serves the greater New York area internationally. Located in the Borough of Queens, New York City, bordering on Flushing Bay and Bowery Bay, LaGuardia Airport is 13 kilometres (eight miles) from midtown Manhattan, and the journey by taxi is likely to cost around USD 25.00. Carey Transportation also operates bus services from LaGuardia Airport every 30 minutes, between 06:45 and 24:00.

Arriving By Rail

Amtrak
Amtrak, 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245), operates from New York Penn Station, which is directly under Madison Square Garden, its largest hub in Amtrak's east-coast system, with dozens of arrivals and departures daily. Amtrak's Acela express train provides regular fast commuter service between major points on the east coast from Washington, D.C. up to Boston. Direct Amtrak services are available to points along the East Coast down to Florida; to points between New York and Chicago; to New York State; and to Toronto and Montreal in Canada. Service to California (three days) requires a change of train in Chicago. Popular trains leaving near rush hours can fill up quickly: it's a good idea to make train reservations online, or via phone, and pick up your ticket at one of the electronic kiosks.

Amtrak's Metropolitan Lounge, located near the big security desk in Penn Station, offers Airline Business Class lounge amenities (and clean bathrooms). Travelers with sleeper tickets, First Class Acela tickets, or Continental Airline Business First tickets (for travel from Newark to Hawaii, Guam, Tokyo, HongKong, or Transatlantic destinations) can use this lounge.

Tickets for Northeast corridor trains can be purchased from QuikTrack machines with a credit card. Tickets booked online can be collected at these machines (keep the credit card or reference number handy). It is best to buy your tickets in advance for popular services.

Commuter Rail
New York City is served by three commuter railroads.
Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) operates from New York Penn Station with service to points in Long Island with stops at Jamaica Station, Long Island City, Hunters Point, and others in Queens and Atlantic Avenue station in Brooklyn. The main LIRR lines include services to Port Jefferson, Montauk, Oyster Bay, Port Washington, and Greenport; with a number of branch lines to other points on Long Island.

Metro-North Rail Road (Metro North) operates from Grand Central Terminal to points north and east of the city (Westchester, Putnam, Duchess Counties in New York_, and points in the state of Connecticut). The New Haven line serves cities along the coast with a branch line to Danbury. The Hudson Line serves points along the Hudson River to Poughkeepsie. The Harlem Line serves Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties to Pawling and Wassaic. Trains also stop at the Harlem station on 125th street and Park Avenue in Manhattan. At New Haven, passengers may transfer to Amtrak or to the Shore Line East providing local service between New Haven and New London, Connecticut.
New Jersey Transit operates from New York Penn Station to points in New Jersey. The Northeast corridor line goes to Princeton and Trenton. Services are also available for points along the Jersey Coast and along the Hudson River to points north of the city. Connecting service is available from Trenton to Philadelphia via SEPTA or to Camden (New Jersey) via RiverLINE. Connecting service to Newark Liberty International Airport is available from some Northeast corridor trains.

Arriving by Car

From upstate New York, travel on the New York State Thruway (I-87). This road crosses the Hudson on the Tappan Zee Bridge and becomes the Major Deegan Expressway (I-95) through the Bronx. From here on in, take the Triborough Bridge and the FDR for the east side and the Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95) for the west side.

From New England, the New England Thruway (I-95) connects with the Bruckner Expressway (I-278), which leads to the Triborough Bridge and the FDR on the east side. For the west side, take the Bruckner to the Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95) to the Henry Hudson Parkway South.

On arrival in Manhattan, the best thing to do with your car is to park it in a garage and leave it there. The garage costs are likely to be upwards of USD 25.00 a day but this is favourable to driving in Manhattan.

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