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JFK Airport Transportation To and From New York City
JFK AirTrain
New York City is the most popular travel destination in the world. The city's tourism office estimated that 46 million people visited New York City in 2007. New Yorkers also like to travel, therefore 8 million New Yorkers and people working in New York City could be easily added to this obscene number of people who try to get to or from New York City's airports (JFK, La Guardia and Newark). JFK airport is the largest one. What is the best way to get to JFK Airport from New York City? Let's look at all possible ways to get to and from the airport and choose the best one.
$7 - Airtrain plus The New York City subways - Airtrain will cost you $5.00 and brings you from any terminal at JFK to Howard Beach or Jamaica station where you have to use subway A train ($2.00 more) and probably make a couple more transfers in order to reach your destination in New York City. If you travel light and don't mind to get around the city on a subway that would be a right way for you. But if you have a big luggage, you may find it difficult to manage this long exhausting trip. The trip is usually takes more than an hour.
$15 - New York Airport Service Express Buses goes to and from JFK and brings you to Grand Central Terminal (Park Ave. and 41 St.) or the Port Authority (8th Ave. and 42 St.), where again you have to switch to subway ($2 more) or taxi. The great way for people who stays around Times Square or Grand Central. The busses go every thirty minutes and all trip is about 45 minutes, but usually longer on a way from the airport (be prepared to spend 20-30 minutes to go from one JFK terminal to another to gather people from different terminals).
JFK Airport Transportation Related Links
$21 - SuperShuttle will pick you up from any location in Manhattan and bring you right to your terminal. That would be probably the most convenient and cost effective way to get to JFK, if you don't have to share the van with 10 other people who you have to pick up on a way from different Manhattan locations. Sometimes takes more than 40 minutes to gather all of them and just get out of the city. And absolutely inconvenient way from the airport, you have to wait more than 30 minutes to be picked up.
$45 - Taxis or Yellow Cabs will take you anywhere to or from the city. The rate is flat, however doesn't include tolls and tips. The trip will take 30-60 minutes depending on traffic and usually doesn't take too long to get the taxi at the airport. However, on a way to JFK, depending on a time of the day, please leave yourself a little time space to get a taxi, sometimes it could be hard.
$50 - $100 - Limousine and Car Service will cost you more than a taxi, but if you don't want to jump on streets of Manhattan in order to get a taxi, then this pricy but reliable service is perfect for you.
$105 plus - Helicopters from two Manhattan's locations (East 34th St. and Wall St. area) will bring you to and from JFK for less than 10 minutes. If you can afford, you definitely must experience it, the view of the city is breathtaking! And it gives you an opportunity to avoid most of the traffic. However, if you are not staying around these two heliports you would have to spend some time in order to get there. Plus, the helicopter arrives to the Terminal 3 at JFK, and if you are not flying from this terminal you have to take AirTrain to get to the terminal of your departure. Even though the trip is only 10 minutes, taking into account that you have to arrive to the heliport in advance and all the time getting to the heliport and your terminal, the trip is not really faster than the trip on a taxi and definitely less convenient.
Unfortunately there is no way to get to or from JFK airport for less than 40 - 60 minutes. Also, don't forget that New York City traffic is very unpredictable and for all of you who want to be on time at the airport for sure, you always can stay at the hotel near JFK airport. But if you decided to stay in New York City, you have six ways of JFK airport transportation to choose from, and among all of them a taxi is still fastest, cost effective, most convenient way and the best one. Have a great time in New York City, and for New Yorkers - have a safe trip!
