Ticket to Ride Get downtown from New York City's airports in a jiffy.
Opinions expressed by BIZ Experiences contributors are their own.
Flying to New York City is a breeze compared to the hassle ofjourneying from any of its three airports to Manhattan. Someadvice:
John F. Kennedy and Newark Airports: The new AirTrainrail links are your best option if you're arriving duringfreeway rush hour. But this is not a good option if you'recarrying unwieldy luggage, since the journey requires maneuveringit on and off trains. Both AirTrain-JFK and AirTrain-Newark requireyou to take a short monorail ride from the airport to a nearbytrain station, where you board a train to Manhattan's PennStation. Total fare is about $12 to $15 each way to/from bothairports. See airtrainjfk.com or airtrainnewark.com.
LaGuardia Airport: There's no train from LaGuardia,so the fastest way into the city is by taxi. Fares run $20 to $30,plus about a $5 tip and tolls. To avoid getting ripped off, be surethe driver turns on the meter when you get in. Be prepared to waitin lengthy taxi queues at peak arrival times. On the bright side,you can cut your fare in half by finding someone in line to sharethe ride with you.
Limos: Many frequent travelers (and locals) prefer carservices. The upside: no queues, and the cars are newer, cleanerand more comfortable than cabs. However, they're subject to thesame traffic delays and, of course, cost more. Ask your hotelconcierge or travel agent for recommendations. Reservations arerequired. Rates can be as low as $30 to $40 each way, but pricesvary based on demand and type of car requested. And never acceptrides from drivers soliciting rides at the baggage claim area.
Chris McGinnis is author of The Unofficial Business Travelers' PocketGuide.
