I’m trying to figure out the best way to get my family from Laguardia to midtown (Koreatown) on a Friday afternoon. There will be four of us, including a couple of kids, and a few bags, but not too many, probably 2 or 3. What are the best options for getting around? We’re somewhat price sensitive, so cost effectiveness and simplicity will probably be the two biggest factors.
Suggestions?
Thanks,
Shibb
A taxi says it will run $20-24, plus $4.50 for the Midtown Tunnel plus tip. Expect to pay a little more in traffic because of your travel time. Even so, that might end up being the cheapest non-public transportation way to do it because NYC taxis don’t charge per passenger – the fare for one is the same as the fare for four.
The SuperShuttle says it runs from $13 to $22 per person, with discounts available for multiple people per party. Expect to pay on the low end for that, but it still might run more than a cab for four people. There are also express busses. The New York Airport Service Express Bus to Penn Station will put you about three blocks from Koreatown for $8-10 per person. Again, the size of your party is a handicap here. Offsetting that is that you won’t sit there staring at the meter clicking your life savings away if some bonehead breaks down in the tunnel.
Public transportation is cheaper, but it’s a pain in the ass with luggage and as many people as you have. It’s only $2/person with a metrocard (which I think you can get at the airport). Take the M60 to 125th and Lenox and transfer to the 2 or 3 train, which you’ll take to Penn, again just a few blocks from Koreatown. Alternatively, take the Q48 to the 7 train, the 7 to 42nd St, transfer again to the 2 or 3 and then down to Penn. Details here.
Finally, check with your hotel. Not many hotels have their own shuttles here, but some can work you a discount with SuperShuttle or a similar service.
I second manhattan’s taxi recommendation: whenever I go to NYC I take a taxi from LaGuardia to the Upper West Side. I pay approx. $30 each way, including tolls and tip. I typically fly in on Fridays, and land after 7pm (to avoid the worst of the rush-hour traffic), and I’ve never had to wait longer than 10-15 minutes for a ride. Generally, though, there are taxis waiting by the time I get to the stand (it always takes longer to hail a cab in the city when it’s time to go home!). If you go early enough on a Friday afternoon, you shouldn’t have much of a wait for a car.
Thanks. Our flight gets in about 1:30, so I’m thinking we’re Manhattan bound by 2-2:30, including if we check any bags (probably not), bathroom stops (probable) and normal delays. Hopefully that’s before afternoon rush hour. How’s the traffic that time of day heading into Manhattan. Of course public transport might be more of an adventure.
Traffic into Manhattan should be fine. The evening rush doesn’t begin until around 4:00, and then most people are trying to get out of Manhattan.
Yeah, that will be a great time to head into the city. I would definitely recommend the taxi, too. I’ve taken my family several times and I always go with a taxi. I did use Olympic Limos once and got a stretch for barely over $40.00, but that’s been awhile ago, so I would hesitate to give them my endorsement.
Good luck!
Jammer
I’m going to go against the flow and recommend the public transit route, although it depends somewhat on the ages of your kids and the size of your bags.
If you’re going to be in NYC for a few days, part of the adventure is to be able to get around like New Yorkers do, on the subway and buses. It’ll be one of the things that the kids will remember about the trip, and - depending on their ages and how much they will be participating in decisions - will be a great learning experience for them. [I’ve seen American teenagers visiting European cities who have apparently **never** taken any form of public transportation in their lives, and it takes a while for them to realize that *it’s a perfectly natural part of the lives of most urban dwellers on this planet*.]
If you’re not in too much of a hurry, the kids are of an age where it’s possible, and the bags are not too burdensome, I’d say take Manhattan’s suggestion of the M60 and the subway. Perhaps you could even make a game out of it by calculating the difference in cost between a cab and the MTA, and putting that money towards a particular treat for the kids if they go along with the plan (again, this depends upon their ages). Most kids I know can be real troupers, especially if they feel that they’re part of a common cause.
I wasn’t being sarcastic when I said it would be an adventure, and we’ll definitely consider it. My kids are nine and seven, so it’s kind of a close call. Old enough not to be much of a burden in and of themselves, but also not too much help in re carrying stuff. We used public transport a lot when we lived in Switzerland and Germany, and when my wife would take the kids down to southern Thailand (we lived in Bangkok) they took the overnight train. Sadly there’s not much public transport here that’s actually worth taking. We did use the old trolley cars a couple of weeks ago to get from Ybor City to the Channelside area, which was kind of fun but also expensive and slow for what it was.
If it were just me it would be a no brainer. Since we’re going for a wedding I’ll have to see how much luggage we end up with. Once in Manhattan we’ll use feet, cabs and subway as needed. The reception is near the Flatiron building, I’ve forgotten where the ceremony is. Might be at a temple, somewhere, but that doesn’t sound right.
Ah. My mental image was of them being younger by at least a couple of years each. If you’ve got the time and they’re not too cranky from the flight I say go for it.
One tip – if you catch a token clerk on a good day and give him or her a sufficiently pathetic look s/he might let you use the service entrance to the subway with your luggage. That would save one of the two biggest hassles, which is getting the luggage through the turnstile. The other is hauling the stuff up and down stairs, and there’s not much that can be done about that.
Take the cab from the airport. Spend a few bucks extra on the cab so you don’t have to lose your mind trying to juggle your luggage and keep an eye on your children on the M60 bus. What a nightmare that would be. LaGuardia Airport is not like SFO with BART, or O’Hare with the T - a cab is the best way to get into Manhattan. If your hotel has a shuttle, all the better.
Once you get to your destination, and you’ve gotten rid of your luggage, then go exploring by subway.
Both the cab and public transit definitely have their upsides.
The cab isn’t going to be terribly expensive (probably 25 - 30 bucks) and is far and away the least stressful of the options. If your kids are cranky, or you have a fair bit of luggage, I’d definitely suggest grabbing a cab.
On the other hand, the buses and subways are sort of an adventure. If your luggage is bulky though you’re going to have a bad time with them. The public transit will likely run you 2 - 4 bucks a head (for the non-express variety).
I might also suggest the M60 bus as far as 31st St/Hoyt Ave in Queens (before the bridge) and then getting off and taking the N train into Times Square or 34th Street - Penn Station. Mostly because in Queens, the N train is elevated so you can see bits of the city 
Not the most scenic bits, but still it’s a train with a view
Now when you go back to the airport you should look into taking a car service. It’s a nice treat - usually a Lincoln Town Car with a driver that actually helps you with your luggage - and not that much more expensive than a cab. Every one I’ve used has been rock solid in terms of being there when I need them to be. I haven’t used one lately so I wouldn’t know who to recommend, but the hotel you stay at should have some recommendations if someone here doesn’t.
Laguardia Airport screams cab. You can take one of the buses manhattan mentioned to Manhattan, but with children and bags, I would advise against it. It’s an adventure not worth taking, especially after a long flight. Subway isn’t too bad, going against the flow, but I’ve nothing nice to say about the bus. I avoid them whenever possible.
Antonius, this born and bred native NYer wouldn’t dream of using public transport to Laguardia. Kennedy, maybe, if I must. But never Laguardia. I do use it for my daily commute (no bus, though, if avoidable).
One last thing - cab drivers work for tips. As long as he doesn’t run down any pedestrians, you should tip 12-18% of the fare.
FWIW the ceremony seems to be at Conservation Garden in Central Park. I know they’re doing a Water Ceremony, but don’t know if they’re doing anything else.
FYI, the Conservatory Garden. They won’t be doing too much else there – weddings are limited to one hour and I imagine it’s an assembly line during the spring and summer.
From Koreatown (and I’ve been assuming you mean around 30th St. between Broadway and 5th), walk over to Park and catch the 6 train at 28th or 33rd and take it to 103rd and walk over or go to Penn Station and catch a 2 train to 110th and Central Park North. The second of those two will be the prettier walk from the subway station to the garden, but I think it puts you on the wrong side and you’ll have to go out to 5th to get to the Vanderbilt Gate anyways.
When I took a taxi from JFK to Midtown last year the fare was a fixed price, as long as your destination was within a certain area. Is there not a similar system in place for taxis from La Guardia?
For my return trip to the airport I used public transport.
No, there is no flat fare from LaGuardia.
(FWIW, the flat fare at JFK recently went from $30 to $45!)
Our hotel is at 43 W 32nd St. Reception is at Komegashi, which is near 22nd and Fifth Ave. I know that area fairly well, since my wife’s cousin lives there. Thanks for all of the tips and directions.