New York - JFK to Grand Central

[NewtoOrlando]

So going to NYC son 8th Nov for a long weekend. Trying to find a way to get from JFK to the hotel - Westin Grand Central that doesn’t cost the earth!

What do people recommend? I’ve seen a shuttle bus that works out $74 roughly for a return trip. The website is super shuttle reservations...has anyone use these? Uber looks like it will cost $60-70 each way.

Feel so out of my depth trying to plan this one!

[chippyminton]

I did exactly this last month.
From JFK take the Air Train to Jamaica Station. You pay to exit, so find one of the staff members selling tickets and pay them, it’s $5 I think. They will give you a metro card. Top up the metro card at the ticket machines outside the barriers, to avoid the hordes the machines inside. Take the subway E line to 53rd Street and change onto line 6 and go one stop to Grand Central. Total cost is $7.75.

I did it with hand luggage, I wouldn’t do it with a big suitcase as the change from E to 6 Train is a bit of a trek with stairs.

[Burgmeister]

We did what Chippy Minton did last month too but with suitcases. It was fine.

There are lifts to help you avoid the stairs

Edit: Actually, I didn't do this. We got off at 51st/Lexington and walked down Lexington to 47th Street. You can definitely avoid stairs to do this. We used this station to get on the 6 (but without cases) and I honestly can't remember if we managed to avoid the stairs.

Sorry Chippyminton if I have given a misleading response to your reply

[YorkshireT]

I use an uber- about $70 but pricey if just one. Can get trains as suggested above.
I'll never do JFK again if I go back, awful airport. I much prefer Newark, and that's an easy ride straight into Penn Station.

[Burgmeister]

Originally Posted by YorkshireT

I use an uber- about $70 but pricey if just one. Can get trains as suggested above.

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Or the Metro for $2.75 each

Just for context... I was with my 15 year old daughter and my wife who has mobility issues and struggles with stairs. We are used to searching out lifts and avoidung stairs. It really was fine

Edit: If I have misremembered (we used teh Subway a lot during our visit!) You could always get out off at 51st & Lexington, take the escalator to the ticketing area and the elevator up to street level and get the Uber for the very short journey down to 42nd street. Or walk down Lexington if you are physically able. Would take about 15-20 minutes walking I would think. We walked from that station to the Roger Smith on 47th without any issues.

[YorkshireT]

To me, getting off a Transatlantic flight and, particularly if not been before, trying to get to Jamaica, get on subways and work everything out to save a few quid, dragging cases around isn't worth it when for $70 you can press a button in the phone and jump in a cab right outside.
If I was local and maybe a returning visitor, or with no luggage or without two young kids I agree it's the way to go getting on the train and subway as it's probably quicker and cheaper.

[Burgmeister]

Originally Posted by YorkshireT

To me, getting off a Transatlantic flight and, particularly if not been before, trying to get to Jamaica, get on subways and work everything out to save a few quid, dragging cases around isn't worth it when for $70 you can press a button in the phone and jump in a cab right outside.
If I was local and maybe a returning visitor, or with no luggage or without two young kids I agree it's the way to go getting on the train and subway as it's probably quicker and cheaper.

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You may be right YT. For me, I wanted to save some cash - everything in NY was so expensive I needed all the spending money I could get! It really wasn't difficult though - I managed to work it out!

However, I did think it would be easier to navigate your way out of the airport - that was the worst bit, getting from the Airtrain to the Subway.

[Burgmeister]

Originally Posted by YorkshireT

I'll never do JFK again if I go back, awful airport. I much prefer Newark, and that's an easy ride straight into Penn Station.

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Funny how people's experiences differ. I quite liked JFK, but we didn't have any issues whilst there (apart from the 3 hour delay going home due to a massive thunderstorm)

Haven't been to Newark for about 15 years so can't comment on how they compare.

[NewtoOrlando]

Thanks so much everyone. There’s 2 of us, we will only have one large case between the 2 of us (dh can deal with the case lol) so subway shouldn’t be a problem. I was looking at this but literally had no clue if there was an option to get the subway from JFK! So good to know, id rather not spend $70 each way if possible! How long does it take roughly? And is the subway system easy enough to navigate?

Is getting off at Lexington easier?

[Burgmeister]

Originally Posted by NewtoOrlando

Thanks so much everyone. There’s 2 of us, we will only have one large case between the 2 of us (dh can deal with the case lol) so subway shouldn’t be a problem. I was looking at this but literally had no clue if there was an option to get the subway from JFK! So good to know, id rather not spend $70 each way if possible! How long does it take roughly? And is the subway system easy enough to navigate?

Is getting off at Lexington easier?

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Depends how good you are on your feet, how tired you are and how easy your case is to move. It isn't a difficult walk, but if you are feeling somewhat tired you may just wish to get the "6" subway. We enjoyed the walk as it was our first experience of NY as a family (DD's first ever visit)

IIRC it was about 40 minutes from Sutphin/Jamaica (where you get on the subway) to 51st & Lexington.

This page tripplanner.mta.info/MyTrip/u...ipPlanner.aspx might be useful

The subway system from Sutphin/Jamaica to Manhattan is easy to navigate (just get on the correct train and it will take you straight in). Some other parts of it aren't as straightforward as the London Tube but if you are aware of the issues then you will be fine. The main issue is that for many stations (not the bigger ones) you have to enter the station via the correct entrance. For example, they will likely say at the entrance something like "6 Downtown". Don't go through that entrance if you want to go in the opposite direction - you can't change platforms inside the station.

I don't know how long you are planning on going for but I found the MTA weekly travelcard great value. $33 for a weeks travel is brilliant. We used it an awful lot.