Airport Arrivals: Flights, Shuttles, and Taxis
Getting to New York City from the three major airports is usually fairly easy and straightforward. I love that there are multiple airports to choose from because it means I can usually find a pretty affordable flight and times that suit my needs. NYC transportation is not as intimidating as you might think!
I typically fly in and out of JFK and take an airport shuttle. Rates are getting more competitive, especially since Uber has a special airport service that’s now extremely inexpensive. I didn’t want to drop the name of my usual shuttle company here for one reason—service has been severely hit or miss. I’ve had amazing white-glove service from some drivers, while others have dropped me off three lanes away from the curb with my luggage in the middle of the road while I was using a walking stick and had a wrapped leg. Super inconsistent service! Shop around and check the reviews (but here’s the one I use anyway, it’s called Air Link).
Taxis aren’t as crazy as they used to be in terms of fares and service, and I’ve actually discovered that I like cab drivers a lot better than rideshare drivers (who have gotten ruder than the cabbies). Now that you can basically book taxis ahead and pay with Apple Pay or Google Pay, some of the advantages of rideshare have disappeared. Yellow cabs typically have flat-rate pricing to and from JFK, which helps a lot. While there is no flat rate to and from LGA, sometimes drivers are willing to cut you a deal. It never hurts to ask!
Navigating EWR and Newark Airport Transit
Getting to and from EWR in Newark is a little different and, honestly, it was just as straightforward. From Liberty, you can catch the Airtrain, transfer to New Jersey Transit, and take a train straight to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan. The fare with the Airtrain is under $20 per way.
NYC Transportation Guide: The Subway
Once in town, you’re going to want to utilize MTA as much as possible. Between the subway and the city buses, getting around New York is just so easy and pretty inexpensive. In the past, I would get a MetroCard with unlimited rides for about 3-7 days; however, now that MetroCard has been retired, it’s super easy to just tap to pay for each ride. You still also get the discounts—after you pay for 12 rides, the rest of your rides for the seven-day period are free. Just keep tapping your card, and it will show a $0 charge. This caps spending for a week at about $35-36 for the majority of your transportation. Don’t let all the TV shows and movies fool you—the subway is not as scary as they make it seem.
A few things to remember when riding the subway: Check if you need to take the local (more stops) or the express (way fewer stops). You don’t want to waste time ending up in Queens by mistake if you hop on the express that skips your stop. Likewise, you don’t want to waste time on a ton of stops if the express will take you where you need to go.
Check the times for your subway route. Some subways stop running at certain times or will be closed certain days of the week. There’s also maintenance to consider. Make sure you check signage, alerts, and Google Maps for any up-to-the-minute info that might help you determine your ride correctly.
Alternative Travel: Rideshares, Taxis, and Buses
Rideshare is still helpful if you need to schedule a ride in a hurry. Make sure to compare pricing between Lyft and Uber! Sometimes the difference is significant, and you’ll want to save as much money as you can for other things (like souvenirs and food). Rideshare and taxis are especially helpful if you have any mobility problems, as getting up and down from the subway stations can be difficult. They also come in handy if you’re just not used to walking at least 15k steps a day!
Using MTA buses is a great compromise if rideshare/taxis are too expensive and your joints are screaming at you to avoid subway station stairs. They’re usually not quite as crowded as the subway and are all fairly punctual and direct. Google Maps is your best friend when it comes to NYC transportation. Use it wisely! NYC transportation does not have to be a headache, it just takes some planning. Figure out your root at the start of the day (or the night before), to travel easily all day long!
