Going to New York

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 14:02 -0700

Sharon and I will be going to New York at the end of the month, strictly as tourist since she has never been there before. We'll be doing the usual touristy things: Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Broadway. We've been thinking of seeing either Spamalot or Jersey Boys.

When I had gone to NY in the past, I've either had a driver meet me at the airport or taken a cab. My question is: What is the best/cheapest/fastest way to get from JFK to Times Square? We're getting in to JFK at about 8pm. I was thinking either a cab or Super Shuttle.

Fanfan · Post by **Fanfan** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 14:49 -0700

The cheapest i found from JFK to Manhattan was the super shuttle, you have to ask at the airport, super shuttle take 8-10 passengers and you share the cost, it was very cheap. The fastest ? i really don't know, really fast from JFK to central Park because i was the second hotel he stopped at, but 2 hours with one hour late from manhattan to JFK...
but cabs are more expansive (for one people at least), and the subway looks quite a long way...

SonicSamurai · Post by **SonicSamurai** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 16:08 -0700

Ah, Newyork... I went there once with my family and also to Washington D.C a while back. The trip was great, i saw the white house from a far(we did get as close as we could to it though). At NY, we took a boat and saw the statue of liberty, and we got to the top of the empire state building. I told that to a friend of mine, he didn't believe me, so my dad had to tell him.

Time Square was the funnest place there. The saddest place on the other hand was seeing ground zero were the twin towers used to be.

tayocham · Post by **tayocham** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 21:30 -0700

I just got back from New York, as a matter of fact! To see my girlfriend whom I haven't seen in a *year.* We've both decided that long-distance sucks and that we'd like to be in closer proximity to one another, so I'm looking into moving there. Or to Jersey, whichever's easiest.

Hope you have a good time, Mr. Sakai!

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 10:20 -0700

I did a web search and everything points to the AirTrain-subway option as the cheapest way to get there. Apparently there is a train that leaves from the airport to the subway.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 939AAUqsXp

http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showt ... post138748

It does appear, however, to be the slowest way to get there, at 1.5-2 hours. Thing is, there appears to be multiple options. Some options that people are claiming take 45min to an hour.

Kari, a big NYC fan herself, swears a cab is the fastest way to get there, especially at the time you're arriving. It would also be the safest at that time. However, it is probably the most expensive at around $45 flat rate one way.

This article points to an AirTrain/RR/cab combo that looks pretty cheap. It dissuades cab use, but only at rush hour.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 353AA6YAD4

More tips on using a cab here. Looks like $45 one way with tolls and such.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 6012600606

More AirTrain to Jamaica station tips:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 748AAjWfek

Hope this helps!

Stormhaven · Post by **Stormhaven** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:55 -0700

Hi Stan -

Actually I moved from Texas to Long Island and currently work in Manhattan.

The best way to get from JFK to Times Square is to take the AirTrain (it's about $5/person) to the LIRR’s Jamaica Station (Long Island Rail Road). From Jamaica you can take a train straight into Penn Station – you have two options here as well, there is a subway train that will take you straight to Penn that has a lot of stops but is much cheaper, or you can take the LIRR straight to Penn which is more expensive, but much faster (I forget the subway train letter, but they should be able to tell you at Jamaica).

From Penn Station, the walk up to Times Square is *worth* the time, unless you have luggage of course (or it's raining, sleeting, snowing, etc...). Taking a cab from Penn up to Times Square should only cost you ~$20 or less. Penn Station is also directly underneath Madison Square Garden, so it might be worth popping your head out from under the ground to take your first touristy photo!

If you're "hotelling" up in the Times Square area, I would highly suggest getting to know the subway system because all of the hotspots you mentioned (except for Broadway) are either in Uptown or Downtown (Times Square is considered “Midtown”).

A 7-day unlimited ride MetroCard is only $24/person, which compared to taxi prices is a steal. It’s been a long time (3+yrs) but I seem to recall that a cab ride from Penn Station to the Financial District (Downtown/South Ferry/Statue of Liberty/Battery Park area) cost around $40 for just myself. Link to MetroCard pricing. The subway system can be very daunting, so be prepared to hitch a cab ride if you get completely lost. I will say that NYC has a ton of NYPD walking around, and everyone I’ve talked to has been very helpful. If you find one that’s not, don’t worry, you’ll probably find two more one block down. I think they teach the police to recognize the deer-in-the-headlights look of lost tourists as part of their training.

If you do plan on taking the subway, get to know this map very well. You can pick up a hard copy at any subway station (you might even find them at the airport) – unfolded the pamphlet is huge and makes a pretty neat souvenir poster in itself. I had a cousin who came in from Tokyo and she took handfuls home to give to her friends.

For Broadway shows, I highly recommend seeing the Disney shows if you can get tickets. While you probably already know the stories, both Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King are highly rated – I haven’t heard as much about Tarzan, but honestly everyone who I’ve talked to who has gone to a Disney show said that it did not disappoint. Mamma Mia and (for something a little odder) the Blue Man Group shows are also usually highly spoken of.

Last but not least, DRESS WARMLY! Winter is in full effect here and the average nighttime temperature has been around 20 degrees (daytime is in the low 30’s). The wind in Manhattan is killer, and it will flip umbrellas inside out without a second thought!

I hope that helps Stan, if you need any more information let me know and I’ll tell you what I can!

Stormhaven · Post by **Stormhaven** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:59 -0700

Oh, and before I forget, you might find this link useful:
http://www.comicbookbin.com/bubble058.html

It's an interesting short list of the comic book stores in the area. Maybe you could visit and write off lunch as a business expense!

WarriorOfIreland · Post by **WarriorOfIreland** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 9:52 -0700

Cool! I want to go to New York some day, too. I have the official Spamalot, CD, I think that'd be a good one to see. Pretty funny stuff.

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:39 -0700

We're back from New York. We had a great time. We decided on a taxi from JFK, and Super Shuttle back (though the shuttle driver left much to be desired).

The weather was cooperative while we were there. It plunged down into the 20's just when we left.

We did a lot of walking, which we like to do when we visit a new city, and saw a lot of stuff.

I'll write a report on my Live Journal once I get the chance. But now it's back to work for me. I'll start by doing that pin-up for Mouse Guard.

Fanfan · Post by **Fanfan** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 11:38 -0700

i am glad for you two !

Since you posted on Mouse Guards i started to read it, so now i am impatient to see that pinup page !

and,
Lately, my NY photo report....

http://photo.ladrevert.net/index.php?/category/9

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 11:05 -0700

For those who have not already read it, here is a link to my Live Journal with my NY travel report.

http://usagiguy.livejournal.com/