With the high value of the dollar, traveling to the city that never sleeps It's not that cheap anymore. Couple this with the fact that the Big Apple There are hotels with prices well above the average, and it's easy to understand why anyway Saving a few dollars during your visit is worthwhile.
I already showed it here on the blog some cheap accommodation options in the region e how to save in the United States, but today I want to give you another tip: how to leave or arrive at New York airports using public transport.
The region has a great bus and subway network, and for just over US$5 you can travel between one of the three main airports and the island of Manhattan.
On my last trip I used this method of travel both going to and from JFK and La Guardia. In both cases, all you needed was a MetroCard and following the signs or directions on Google Maps.
In the next paragraphs I will explain how you can use public transport to airports, and save money instead of paying for taxis or uber.
Do you have a lot of bags?
First of all, if you have a lot of bags, I warn you that the subway may not be the best option. Most stations are full of stairs, and it will be hard to juggle between suitcases and turnstiles.
If you want to save money without going through this trouble, my suggestion is to hire airport transportation with WePlann. The company offers a great van service that is cheaper than taxis, and drops you off at the door of your hotel. It works 24 hours a day and you still pay in reais, in installments and without an IOF fee!
New York Airports Using Public Transportation
JFK – John F. Kennedy
JFK is the best airport to use public transport, as it is integrated with the Manhattan subway lines. Here on the blog there is a very complete post on the subject, and I recommend reading it to understand the next steps. : )
When disembarking, you must first look for the AirTrain. That "train” passes through all the terminals and, depending on the line (yes, there are several), ends at Jamaica station, where you can access the Subway.
Follow signs for the AirTrain, wait for the Jamaica Train and board when the doors open. The cost is US$5, and you only pay when you arrive at Jamaica station.
To pay, you must use the subway machines, where you need to buy a MetroCard and load it with the US$5 needed to pass the AirTrain exit turnstile. If you are going to use the card in the system pay-per-ride take the opportunity to load it up with at least another US$2.50, enough to take the subway to Manhattan.
If your idea is to buy an unlimited pass, go straight to the machines, as this type of card is not accepted to pay for the AirTrain and is not even sold in the machines there.. Go straight to the magazine Metro News in the corner and buy a card already preloaded with US$5. You avoid the lines and don't have to pay the extra US$1 for the MetroCard.
When passing through the AirTrain turnstiles, follow the signs towards “NYC Transit Subway”. You will arrive at the entrance to line E, and if you have loaded your card with enough money, just swipe it and continue your journey. If you want to buy an unlimited MetroCard, the machines at the subway entrance sell this type of pass. Don't forget to keep the card you used to get off the AirTrain, so you can load it with US$5 on the way back and use it to pay for your ticket to the airport.
Head towards the World Trade Center to go to Manhattan.
On the way back, just go the opposite way, subway and then AirTrain. The only difference is that you will need to pay the entry fee for this second one. before to board. Remembering that the unlimited pass does not work in this case.
LGA – La Guardia
Among New York's airports, La Guardia is also one of the easiest to access by public transport. Instead of just using the metro, however, you will also need to take a bus.
When disembarking the plane, just follow the signs indicating “Public Buses”, that is, public buses. To get to a subway station, the easiest way is to take line Q70 and get off at Roosevelt Av – Jackson Heights station.
You must pay before to get on the bus using the machines at the bus stop, and the price is US$2.75. You need a MetroCard to make the payment, and you can buy them at the machines inside the airport (they don't sell them at the bus stop). The Q70 accepts both the unlimited pass and the pay-per-ride.
When you arrive at the metro station, just board the Subway using the same MetroCard, paying the US$2.50 fare.
To go to the airport, just go the other way, and when you arrive at Jackson Heights station, follow the signs towards “Q70 to LGA”.
The Q70 line is the best known to get to La Guardia, but depending on where you are staying in Manhattan, the M60 may be a better route. If so, it works more or less the same way: bus to a metro station and then metro to the island. Learn in this post how to use Google Maps to find the best route.
EWR–Newark
Newark Airport is actually not one of New York's airports, as it is in New Jersey! But it's so close that it's worth considering, lol. Being in another state, you will need to deal with two different public transport systems, but it is still very easy and without any major mysteries.
Briefly, at EWR there is also an AirTrain, a train that passes through all terminals and ends at Newark Liberty International Airport Station. From this station, you will board one of the NJ TRANSIT trains, which will take you to Manhattan.
After disembarking the plane and collecting your bags, just follow the signs to the AirTrain. You must pay before to board, and you must purchase the ticket on the machines at the AirTrain station. You will buy the ticket for NYC – which are the Northeast Corridor or North Jersey Coast Line – and the price of the AirTrain will be included in the same ticket, which costs US$13.
Arriving at the airport station, just board one of the trains on one of the lines that lead to Manhattan (Northeast Corridor or North Jersey Coast Line). They stop at Penn Station on 34th Street, and from there you can take a subway to your accommodation.
To go to the airport, just do the opposite way: go to Penn Station, take one of the NJ TRANSIT trains (those that go to the airport have EWR written on them or an airplane symbol) and get off at the airport station (which not is Newark Penn Station, but Newark Liberty International Airport Station). From there, just take the AirTrain to your terminal.
You can also take an Express Bus which costs US$16 one way or US$28 round trip. It stops at three points in Manhattan: Grand Station Terminal, Bryant Park and Port Authority Bus Terminal, and then follows the route to the airport. More information on the EWR website.
And there you have it, the easiest ways to access New York airports using public transportation! In all cases, the signage is excellent, with several signs indicating the way to the AirTrain, buses or metro lines. I found it very easy and I know I saved a lot, for La Guardia for example I didn't pay anything other than the unlimited MetroCard that I had already purchased. 🙂
Do you have any questions? Just leave it in the comments!
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