New York City - DPChallenge Forums

02/06/2006 05:18:36 PM · #1

Hello.

Manic and I will be in NYC on April 19-21 or so and we were wondering what the best way to get into the city from JFK is. Can anyone recommend any cheap but decent hotels? Thanks in advance!

June

ButterflySis

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/06/2006 05:28:55 PM · #2

Cheap in NYC? I usually stay in NJ, just on the other side of the Lincoln Tunnel...

Have a fun trip! Should be perfect weather then.

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

02/06/2006 05:31:12 PM · #3

Originally posted by ButterflySis:

Cheap in NYC? I usually stay in NJ, just on the other side of the Lincoln Tunnel...

Have a fun trip! Should be perfect weather then.

This is not a leisure trip :( We will be there to sort out my settlement visa for the UK.

June

ButterflySis

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/06/2006 05:48:00 PM · #4

Originally posted by Chiqui:

Originally posted by ButterflySis:
Cheap in NYC? I usually stay in NJ, just on the other side of the Lincoln Tunnel...

Have a fun trip! Should be perfect weather then.

This is not a leisure trip :( We will be there to sort out my settlement visa for the UK.

June

Oh, sawwy. :-( Good luck!

pawdrix

Nikon D700

02/06/2006 05:51:40 PM · #5

If you'd like I'll look into some inexpensive B&B's in Hells Kitchen, that are nice. There are also a few Holtel/Motels west of Hells Kitchen (10th Ave-ish) off the beaten path but nice that I assume are much, much cheaper than the mid-town joints.

Message edited by author 2006-02-06 17:54:07.

th3ph17

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/06/2006 05:53:31 PM · #6

the fare for a car or a cab should be about the same from JFK to NYC...not sure what it is these days, $30 or something?

cheaper is buying a Metro card and taking the metro in...but that takes a long time, and depending on where you are headed you may have to grab a cab once you get off the metro.

having visited alone and with my wife, and having used both methods, i'd say get a cab or towncar at the airport. nice ride, easy, and it is a standard fare. If you want more excitement, and don't have a lot of luggage, try the metro.

pawdrix

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

02/06/2006 05:58:20 PM · #7

Take the JFK bus to(1st stop)Grand Central or(2nd stop)Port Authority if your hotel is nearby to either stop and if you're traveling light...unless I'd just take a cab.

misterjosh

02/06/2006 10:40:17 PM · #8

What's your budget for lodging? Manhattan lodging pricing are idiotic... :(

Four options good options from JFK:

If you want to save cash, the least expensive but still very efficient way to go is taking the AirTrain from any JFK terminal to either the Long Island Railroad (into Penn Station on the west side of Manhattan) or the subway (to anywhere) will cost you ~$10/pp or $7/pp respectively and get you into Manhattan in 30-50 minutes.

Most hassle free, but also most expensive, way is to take a cab. To anywhere in Manhattan will cost you about $50-55 ($45 flat fee plus tolls and tip).

$25 cheaper than a cab, the airport bus that Pawdrix described takes 45-60 minutes and costs $15/pp, leaving from the airport terminal and dropping you off at either Grand Central Terminal, the Port Authority Bus Terminal, or Penn Station.

For around the same price, you can also take the Super Shuttle shared minivan for $17 directly to your hotel in Manhattan, but you need to reserve in advance.

pidge

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

02/06/2006 10:49:13 PM · #9

Can't you take the A line (subway) into the city as well?

45$ from JFk flat fee? wow has it gone up.

Chiqui, there are some decent hostels in manhattan as well. There is one in chelsea somewhere... 17th and 8th ave or so? Give hotels.com or orbitz a try... they may be able to get you a good deal on something in the area you want to be in.

Are you're flight's already booked? Flying into Newark gives a nice option to get in the city. You take the NJ Transit train into Penn Station, which is quite pleasent and not to expensive.

From La Guardia you can take a bus that takes you north of central station and then you can transfer to the subway.

Good luck!

digitalpins

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

02/06/2006 10:53:58 PM · #10

cheapest and easiests way is just to catch the new shuttle or a cab to the A train and that takes you right to the city. Thats the most simple way to do it other wise it will be like 45-50 bucks for a cab.

Message edited by author 2006-02-06 22:56:09.

misterjosh

02/06/2006 11:46:13 PM · #11

Originally posted by pidge:

Can't you take the A line (subway) into the city as well?

45$ from JFk flat fee? wow has it gone up.

Pidge, you used to be able to take a free shuttle bus from the terminals to the A train, but no more. Now you have to take the $5 AirTrain from the terminals there. Unless you are going to Brooklyn or way downtown, it's a far more pleasant (and often more convenient) ride to take the AirTrain to either the Long Island Rail Road or E train at Jamaica Station instead...

And yes, the cab flat fees jumped $15.

Edit: BTW, Manhattan parking tickets are now $65-$115 and you don't even want to know what it's going to cost you to get your towed car back... :)

Message edited by author 2006-02-06 23:52:35.

pidge

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

02/07/2006 12:04:38 AM · #12

Well, it has been 7+ years since I've lived there.

Listen to those who know!

Olyuzi

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7

Panasonic Lumix G 14mm F2.5 ASPH

02/07/2006 01:21:20 AM · #13

If you're going to be coming with lots of expensive photo gear then I would forget about taking the A train as it takes you through some pretty rough neightborhoods. Besides, it's going to be a long and arduous trip with the A train as you have to get a bus into Howard Beach and then a long ride through the Rockaways and Brooklyn by train until you get into Manhatten.

Though I've never taken it, I think the best way to go would be to take the AirTrain (not sure where to pick it up in the airport) (the Train to the Plane, as they call it) from the airport into Jamaica Queens which will drop you off right in the Long Island Railroad Station. There you will transfer to platform #1 or #2 for the train into Manhatten. I'm not sure how much the AirTrain will cost, but the LIRR will be about $3.00 each. This is a lot more comfortable way of going, safer, and a lot less confusing. In addition, they have just refurbished the Jamaica station with a futuristic look and it's a neat place to visit, if you find railroad stations interesting architecturally. (You can see a picture of the station HERE.

Here's ANOTHER LINK from the same web site to help you with further planning with AirTrain. Btw, the Long Island Railroad will leave you off in Pennsylvania Station (34th street between 7th and 8th Avenues in Manhatten) and you can catch any of the subway lines to your final destination from there. Plus, there are a gazillion cops and railroad personel to help if you need to ask. Port Authority is just 8 blocks north of there too, if you need to take a bus anywhere.

Cheap accomidations?...hahahahahaha...How does $150/night sound (weekday rates)? That was about 7 years ago when I last checked at the Marriot. My recommendation to you would be if you really want to save money and are not averse to "roughing" it a bit, is contact American Youth Hostels, or Elder Hostels and see if they still have any locations in the city with vacancies. (If you decide to do the hostel thing, don't forget to take sleeping bags.)

Have a safe and enjoyable trip.

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

02/07/2006 04:16:28 AM · #14

Thanks for all your help guys. Yes, the flights are booked to JFK and we booked the hotel too. It's the Best Western Convention Center I think by the Lincoln tunnel. That hotel is an easy ride to the British Consulate which is the reason we are there. As far as expensive photo gear, I don't really think we'll bring much since we are flying in on a wednesday and leaving friday afternoon, not much time for proper shooting. We will have some spare time and I do hope to do some sightseeing but this is really a business trip if you will. Once again, thanks for all your help and I wish we could have stayed longer and met some of you!

June

pawdrix

Nikon D700

02/07/2006 06:36:35 AM · #15

That's by The Javits Convention Center, maybe a 6-8 minute walk from The Port Authority and a slightly further walk from Penn Station. So if you're traveling kinda light it's an ok walk...at least that's what I'd do. Either the airport bus or the LIRR will save you a buck but I'd avoid the subway. There's nothing worse than having luggage on the subway, very awkward.

...keep in mind, that you'll pass right by B&H if you take the LIRR into Penn and walk from there.

02/07/2006 06:38:06 AM · #16

NM, turns out the Best Western was sold out so we back to searching for hotels.

June