The letters have been pouring in to the Sky magazine editors, asking for travel tips and recommendations. It isn’t fair to keep all of the secrets to ourselves, so we thought we’d share one with you.
Here’s a question from a blogista in Des Moines, Iowa, who is planning a trip to the Big City and is somewhat transportation-ally challenged.
Q: I am headed to New York City, and I’d like to get around via the subway but have no idea how it all works.
A: Subway—and bus—fare is $2, so purchase a MetroCard at a subway kiosk or vending machine (you can use exact change on the bus). A one-day Fun Pass ($7.50) includes 24 hours of unlimited rides on the bus and subway, or buy a seven-day unlimited ride MetroCard for $25. But how to navigate the subway and bus system? It’s easy: Go online to hopstop.com, and plug in where you are and where you want to go. Hopstop will guide you from point A to B without running you around in circles.
For time-saving tips on navigating New York’s airports, check out the NYC airport services page at delta.com.
What is your favorite form of transportation in NYC? Do you toss a coin and go with the Subway, choose to walk, or leave your travel fate to the taxi system?
Jason Oliver Nixon
Sky Magazine
May 5th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Single trips will now cost $2.50
Daily passes will not cost $9.50
Weekly passes will now cost $31
AirTran fair to and from JFK airport is $5.00
May 6th, 2009 at 12:53 am
Stick to the subways for traveling up- and downtown (North and South) and busses when you’re traveling crosstown (East and West). That’s the best way to minimize your travel time and maximize your fun!
May 6th, 2009 at 1:22 am
The link DanBlizz has wrong information on it. Fares aren’t going as much as indicated on that page as that’s the dooms day scenario. Fares are only going up to 2.25.
However if Blogista wanted to use the subway from JFK he would need to get on the Air Train that’s a 5 dollar ride.
I would however recomend taking the Air Train in JFK which is free to Terminal 4, get on the B15 bus that stops right there in front of the terminal and take that to New Lots Ave, where he can get onto the number 3 Train.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Great info! Thanks, everyone
May 6th, 2009 at 10:31 am
The link DanBlizz posted is the same one the MTA has on there home page so the info should be correct unless someone at at the MTA messed up big time. Raised fares though will not effect travel to and from CT on Metro North Commuter Railroad (fairs to and from CT are set by the CT dept. of transportation).
May 6th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
I also suggest taking Airtrain over taxi, depending on the number of people you’re with. I used to take the Airtrain out to the Jamaica station and hop on the Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station to get to Manhattan, or Flatbush Ave for Brooklyn. At either of those stops, you can get on the subway. It takes about 45 minutes or so depending on the schedule.
May 6th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Just a note the link that DanBlizz posted now has a warning on the page that says the info is wrong.
May 6th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
I was also very nervous the first time I flew up to NYC by myself. If you’re flying into JFK, you should absolutely take the AirTrain. It is the easiest and most seamless way in and out of an airport that you could imagine. As Dan mentioned, if you take the AirTrain to Jamaica Station, you can hop on the Long Island Rail Road right into Penn Station, the heart of Manhattan (one-way AirTrain costs $5.00 and I believe a one-way to Penn Station during peak hours is around $7.25). Many of these trains go non-stop to Penn or have just one stop in between.
If you’re flying into LaGuardia (which the person mentioned in the blog post probably would since that’s the only NYC airport that is linked to Des Moines), transportation is also very easy. Immediately outside of Delta’s LGA terminal on the baggage claim level is a bus stop for the M60 bus that will take you into Manhattan. Bring change if you’re going to do this, though, because there are no MetroCard vending machines in the immediate LaGuardia vicinity.
And even Newark has easily accessible public transit from the airport to NYC; just hop on the Newark AirTrain to connect to NJ Transit, which also takes you straight into Penn Station.
I love the New York area airports (especially now that I live here), and at least for JFK and LGA, trust me, Delta has far and away the best terminals!
May 7th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
NYC has great airports (just to be clear, Newark is in New Jersey
), and the city itself is even better! Most of us refer to Manhattan as “the city”, even though all five boroughs are technically part of NYC.
The subway is fantastic. It can get you pretty much anywhere. If I were you, I’d just get an unlimited Metrocard. Get a 7-, 15-, or 30-day, depending on the length of your stay; if you’re here for less than 7 days, consider just getting a normal pay-per-ride card– or if you anticipate using public transportation more than 3 times a day, get a 1-day “Fun Pass” (a 1-day unltd. card) each day.
If you have any more questions, let us know (and be specific!); or feel free to send me an email. Have a great time!
May 18th, 2009 at 11:58 am
To #8 Re: Buying MetroCard at LGA — yes you can:
Two credit/debit only vending machines (MetroCard Express Machines) are located at LaGuardia’s Central Terminal Building. The machines are just inside the building from the bus stop and have been serving airport customers since March 25th of 2009. There is also a change machine (bills to quarters) provided by the PANYNJ (Port Authority) for customers who don’t have credit or debit cards.
Hudson News and other merchants also sell MetroCard within the airport terminals.
May 18th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
#10, wow, thanks. I did not know that. Of course, Delta is not located in the CTB but I guess you can still get them from a newsstand there. That’s very good to know; I have avoided LGA a couple times just because I didn’t have a MetroCard (I’m an LIRR commuter).