Taxi or private car?

[4THELOVEOFBOO]

Hey everyone! We are sailing on the Breakaway on the March 26 sailing out of NYC. We fly into JFK the day before and I was just wondering what was the best way to get from the airport to our hotel in Manhattan taxi or shuttle?? Thanks!

 

 

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[Nola26]

Call the concierge at your hotel. They'll be able to give you typical prices and likely make a reservation for you if you select the private or "black" cars as they're known in NYC.

[BirdTravels]

Share ride shuttle cheaper

 

Taxi is still flat rate, you pay flat rate fare plus tolls plus time of day surcharges.

[mking8288]

First, definition of "best way" is what, meant different things to different people. Cheap, fast, frugal, easy, etc. Anyway ...

 

NYC's yellow taxi are usually metered fare, with some exceptions - all trips between JFK and Manhattan (anywhere) are flat-rates (not to/from LGA) of about $53 including a small surcharge, plus a toll (depending on route) of $5.54 based on EZ-Pass discount rates (likely via Queens Midtown Tunnel if staying in tourist-popular Times Square area - plus tips, about $70 in total (no extras for luggage or minivan/suv, if you can get one - dispatcher usually on duty at JFK)

 

Otherwise, we generally at the East Coast Departure sub-forum recommend using Dial7 or Carmel, 2 of the largest licensed car services in the metro NY region - fares are competitve and usually match/same as those being charged by yellow taxi ... for competitive reasons.

 

An upscale, black car/"luxury" limo with inside terminal personalized wait/pickup can easily be doubled the above prices, plus extra charges for if your flight is delayed. Feel free to spend that extra money.

 

Then, there are options for Xber & Lyft, prices vary & surge/congestion pricing do apply ... sometimes. Both also offering "shared" rides along the way, at lower prices, etc. etc. - do your own math.

 

Shared shuttles, meaning ... airporter bus with (usually both LGA & JFK, with "side" detours) stops; or, shuttle vans with (multiple) stops (like, i.e. Super Shuttles a/k/a blue vans ... avoid them; or GoAirLink, partner of NCL) can be slow or very slow if you are last on the route's stop/dropoff - or if driver has to wait for others or for the trip to fill up with minimum # of pax before leaving. Cheaper, usually, good if you are solo and don't mind a 3 hour trip from JFK to your hotel, eventually on a "shuttle" - and don't need to "go" & can "hold it" ;) & saving money is important but traveling with a mini kitchen sink alike in luggage ... otherwise, take the AirTrain & LIRR or E subway train into "town", fast & "usually" reliable in as little as 1 hour.

 

One cheap way to get into midtown by air traveler (on FlyerTalk) on business is the JFK AirTrain & E subway line via Jamaica for $7.75 (or via A subway @ Howard Beach) You can do that round-trip for the price of a single one-way "shuttle" big bus ride with as many as 40+ "strangers" going the same direction.

 

But, I won't get into NYC's traffic & airport related road congestions ... and, how that might affect your (not so) smooth ride to Manhattan; or, those fake Uber "dispatcher" with a vest "on duty"

 

Complicated, huh - checkout the details & tips on East Coast subforum here on CC. Search button is easy - link is here (it also covers "Walking to Manhattan Cruise Terminal, a popular question ...) that is, from the hotel - not from the airport.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=415