gusjack

Hi, we are flying into JFK with United on Chritsmas Day from New Zealand(after a stop over in LA). We will have loads of luggage, including ski bags. We are a family of two adults and two boys 12 and 10 years. We arrive at 7.30pm. I think a taxi will take one look at us and drive off. We were contemplating the subway. I see we can get the A train from Howard Beach. I read somewhere about a free shuttle to Howard Beach. I wondered if this was old news and if the Air Train is now the only option for getting to Howard Beach? We are in terminal 7 with United Air Lines. We are staying on West 79th St. Where would we changed trains, I think we need the 1 train up to the West Side? I am quite keen on getting the subway, the boys will be helpful and we need to buy a 7 day metro card anyway, so thought it woudl be the cheap option. The NZ $ has gone into free fall, so we would like to economise as much as possible.

All our friends have recommended the two hour Circle Line Ferry ride. We have 8 days in NYC and I am finding it difficult to fit everything I want to do in. I am considering deleting this from our itinary. I thought it might be too cold to enjoy a boat trip at this time of year. I see from the web site we have to prebook, so it may be a terrible day when we take the trip. What are your thoughts?

Can't wait until we come, only a few weeks to go now!!
Regards Kate

GoTravel

""We will have loads of luggage, ""

You could have stopped after this sentence.

Public transportation is not a good option for your with loads of luggage.

Hire a car service.

It would be a nightmare to schlep all of your luggage around even with two boys. Subways and Air Train aren't luggage friendly and in some places you will have to climb a lot of stairs.

nyer

Don't worry about taxis taking "one look at us and drive off."
There are taxi dispatchers, and a cab is required by local law to take any passenger(S) anywhere in the 5 boroughs of NYC.

You will hear this again and again,
A taxi (or private car service) is the only thing that makes sense for 4people with "loads of luggage"

If you can fit into a regular or minivan taxi, there is a set fare of $45. Toll and tip will add another $10-15.
Is $60 for 4 people, door to door, really out of the question???

Traffic should be light on Xmas day, and you can be at your hotel door within 40 minutes by taxi

Gekko

Do NOT take the subway.

I'd reserve a car service. Reserve online at www.dial7.com

The cost is about the same as a taxi (and can be less if traffic is heavy).

doug_stallings

Under no circumstances should you attempt the subway. Take a taxi. Period. (The Airtrain to Howard Beach, by the way, charges $5, which makes it one of the worst deals in NYC.)

I really can't recommend the Circle Line at that time of the day. If you really want to get out on the water, take the free Staten Island Ferry (then get right back on and return on the same boat). That takes you past the Statue of Liberty, though at a distance. Take your savings and spend it at Top of the Rock on a day when the weather is nice. Go around sunset, and you'll enjoy the lights. But wait until the end of your trip because there will still be crowds at Rock Center to see the tree until early Jan.

Trust me ... if you get a beautiful day and still want to do the Circle Line, it will not be full.

GoTravel

BTW, Airtrain and subway will cost you $28 for four people. It is only half the cost of a car service but will deplete all of your brain cells.

gusjack

Thanks for your feedback, I will book a car service. It says you have to phone on arrival, are there phones available in the terminal? We are looking at buying a pre paid mobile in the USA. What does an unlocked mobile mean? Thanks for info on Cirle Line, we will go on Staten Island Ferry, good advice thanks.

sandi

Definitely a taxi.
Contact Dial 7 or Carmel; both have websites where you can make reservations.

On arrival and once you've gathered your luggage on carts* (you have to pay for these $3/each... welcome to the USofA) and leave Baggage Claim, into the actual terminal lobby, you will find pay phones. Nowadays, however, they seem to be hidden at the farthest ends, so ask.

Call the car service, who will ask what you're wearing and direct you outside to where their vehicle is waiting. In some cases, they'll advise at what entry door (by #) you should meet, but my recent experiences have been at a pick-up not far from public parking. Don't let this put you off... just ask the taxi dispatcher or an airport worker/Sky cap or attendant.

*if you can get a SkyCap/attendent with cart, he can put luggage on his cart and escort you to your pick-up location. Believe they charge $1 or $2/per bag.

Can't help with mobiles... don't use.

nytraveler

Trying to take public transit on Christmas Day with loads of luggage is sheer madness. Transit will be infrequent (holiday schedule) and you will have a lot of trouble lugging all that stuff up and downstairs and along long passageways.

If you can take this kind of a trip spring for a car service. Call them in advance and tell them how much stuff you have so they send an appropriate vehicle. (A NYC cab can easily hold 4 adults and normal luggage - but if you have alot of ski gear too you will probably need something larger.)

The Air Train to the subway is your only option - so $7 per person for a total of $28. And on Christmas Day it will probably take you about 2 to 2.5 hours to do the trip.

There is no reason to prebook the Circle line cruise. And if the weather is bad you'll just freeze your buns off. Instead take the free Staten Island ferry for a decent view of the Statue of Liberty and a great one of the Manhattan skyline coming back. (Put the money you save not doing the Circle Line to get a van in from the airport.)

Skiergirl

One thing to keep in mind is that if you have skis you will not fit them all into a town car. I live in NYC and travel out west to ski. I'm short so my skis usually fit into the back seat of a cab (and now they are permanently living in Colorado with my friend and I visit them often!). BUT...one time I told a car service I had skis and they insisted I take a bigger car than the usual town car, even after I insisted that the skis were short (150 cm). That said, if you have loads of luggage including ski bags you will need a bigger car so it will most likely be more than $60 OW from JFK. That is the basic price for a town car with tip/toll.

When you get to the airport and get the luggage you call the car service, then they will drive around and pick you up.

Also, do NOT do Super Shuttle

Besides dial7 there is also 1-800-666-6666 (Carmel) and 1-800-444-4444. Taken them all, they are ok.

gusjack

thanks, I will definately use a town car. You are right, it will certainly be a small cost compared to the whole trip. Regards Kate

happy_train

I hate to be the voice of dissension here, but I would definitely take public transit on this day. It might take a while, sure, but the trains are almost always empty, and you'll get to see so much more of the city. Plus, if you get a car service, they are going to jack up the price for that day, and the driver is going to expect a bigger tip.

You have the time and the inclination, enjoy it! You can take the AirTrain to Howard Beach and catch the A train there almost all the way up the West side. It's not brain surgery people, it's the subway. Embrace it.

sf7307

and catch the A train

Is the A train above ground? (Regardless, I wouldn't take the subway with a lot of luggage. I have taken it with one suitcase and a tote and it's a pain to go up and down the subway stairs).

nyer

happy_train,NYC taxi fares are set prices 24/7, 365 days per year. Legitimate car services base their rates on the taxi fare and will not have higher rates. Relatively few people travel (by plane) on Christmas day, and the airport will probably be less busy than most other days this time of the year.

nyer

Let me clarify--taxi fare TO AND FROM JFK Airport (to and from Manhattan) is a set price 24/7, 365 days a year.

cherrybomb

Calling car service is the essentially booking a town car, it's a sedan with dark windows, not a big ol' limo. If all 4 of you have skis you will want an SUV - you'd hate to not have everything fit in the trunk when the car arrives. They CAN charge you more if you REQUEST an SUV, they do not charge more if one just happens to be dispatched to you. I use Delancey Car Service (212.228.3301, $45 flat rate from JFK to Manhattan) and almost never get a car, esp. when coming/going to the airport--it's always an SUV. For a while I was getting mostly SUVs from them for every ride, now I'm getting more cars again for my regular in-city rides.

On the other hand, there are minivan/SUV taxis, you could just wait on line at the taxi stand for the larger cab.

I absolutely would never take the train to/from JFK (or any of the airports), but especially JFK--it will take you hours and the transferring and all the luggage and such, after a long flight from NZ nonetheless!

sf7307

>I absolutely would never take the train to/from JFK (or any of the airports), but especially JFK--it will take you hours

This is a gross overstatement. It may take longer on Xmas because the trains run on a holiday schedule, but on any other day, it takes about an hour to an 1-1/4 hours to midtown from JFK.

ellenem

I'm a big believer in the AirTrain subway connection. But that's for just me. With four people AND all that luggage, a taxi/car service is the best answer.

cherrybomb

It will take an hour and a half if they are on the A train the entire time, assuming they are staying near Penn Station, if not and transfers are involved it could take 2+ hours on a holiday. I stand by my statement of "hours'--take a car/cab.

sf7307

I've done it. It didn't take that long.