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Getting There By Air:

The three airports serving New York City (John F Kennedy International, La Guardia and Newark Liberty International Airport) are operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (tel: (212) 435 7000; website: www.panynj.gov). Passengers should arrive for international flights at least two-and-a-half hours before departure. Ground transportation information for these airports is available from the port authority (tel: 1 800 247 7433) daily 0800-1800.


John F Kennedy Airport (JFK)
Tel: (718) 244 4444.
Website: www.kennedyairport.com  

JFK is situated in Queens, 24km (15 miles) southeast of central Manhattan, and is New York’s busiest airport, with flights to destinations worldwide.

Airport facilities: Facilities include bureaux de change, ATMs, Wi-Fi access, bars, restaurants, post offices, shops, duty-free boutiques and major car hire companies, including Avis, Budget and Hertz. Hotel reservations are available in Terminals 1, 4 and 7 by Accommodations Plus, Inc. (tel: 1 800 733 7666; website: www.hotelexpress.com) and in Terminal 3 by Megan Services (tel: 1 800 441 1115). The Air Train runs frequently between terminals and connects JFK with the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) and New York City Transit (NYCT) local subways and buses.

Transport to the city: Air Ride (tel: 1 800 247 7433; website: www.panynj.gov) provides information on ground transportation to and from JFK and car park information. The Air Train (see above) also connects with Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to Jamaica station and with New York City Transit subways (NYCT) to Howard Beach subway station. From Jamaica station, the LIRR  (tel: (718) 217 5477; website: www.mta.info/lirr) takes approximately 20 minutes to Manhattan’s Penn Station. The MTA ‘A’ train (tel: (718) 330 1234; website: www.mta.info/nyct) takes approximately 90 minutes to central Manhattan, with many stops along the way. The New York Airport Service (tel: (718) 875 8200; website: www.nyairportservice.com) express bus runs non-stop to the Port Authority Bus Terminal or Grand Central Station. Buses depart JFK every 15 to 30 minutes, daily 0615-2310 (journey time - 45 to 90 minutes, depending on traffic). The Super Shuttle Manhattan (tel: (212) 258 3826; website: www.supershuttle.com), available 24 hours a day, is a shared door-to-door minibus service that travels anywhere in Manhattan. Taxis to Manhattan are a flat rate US$45, plus tolls and tips.


La Guardia Airport (LGA)
Tel: (718) 533 3400.
Website: www.laguardiaairport.com  

La Guardia is located in Queens, 13km (8 miles) east of central Manhattan. The airport handles mostly domestic flights.

Airport facilities: Facilities include ATMs, Wi-Fi access, money exchange, child care, bars, restaurants, shops, duty-free boutiques and car hire from Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz and National. A free shuttle service transports visitors between terminals.

Transport to the city: Air Ride (tel: 1 800 247 7433; website: www.panynj.gov) provides information on ground transportation and parking. Public transport is available on the MTA (tel: (718) 330 1234) bus M60, which intersects with many subway lines as it crosses to the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The bus operates daily 0450-0100 (journey time - approximately 1 hour). An express bus of the New York Airport Service (tel: (718) 875 8200; website: www.nyairportservice.com) travels every 30 minutes to the Port Authority Bus Terminal or Grand Central Station (journey time - 40 to 50 minutes). Super Shuttle Manhattan (tel: (212) 258 3826; website: www.supershuttle.com), available on demand 24 hours a day, is a shared door-to-door minibus service that travels anywhere in Manhattan. Metered taxis to Manhattan cost around US$25-35, plus tolls and tips.


Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Tel: (973) 961 6000 or 1 800 397 4636.
Website: www.newarkairport.com  

Newark Liberty is located in New Jersey, 27km (16 miles) southwest of central Manhattan.

Airport facilities: Facilities include ATMs, currency exchange facilities, Wi-Fi access, duty-free and other shops, restaurants, bars, a nursery and car hire from Avis, Budget and Hertz. Accommodations Plus, Inc. (tel: 1 800 733 7666; website: www.hotelexpress.com) has red phones within the facility for hotel reservations.

Transport to the city: Air Ride (tel: 1 800 247 7433, website: www.panynj.gov) is an information provider for ground transportation and parking. The NJ Transit Airtrain service (tel: 1 800 772 2222; website: www.njtransit.com) connects Newark Airport to Penn Station in Manhattan via New Jersey Transit. Trains run weekdays from 0500-0200 and weekends from 0600-0200 (journey time - 26 to 38 minutes). Coach USA (tel: (908) 354 3330 or 1 877 863 9275; website: www.coachusa.com/olympia) offers bus services to Penn Station, Port Authority Bus Terminal, Grand Central Station and several Midtown hotels. Buses run every 15-30 minutes daily 0400-0100 (journey time - 30-60 minutes). Taxis to Manhattan cost approximately US$45-US$75, plus tolls and tip.

Approximate flight times to New York: From London is 7 hours and 45 minutes; from Los Angeles is 6 hours; from Toronto is 1 hour and 40 minutes; and from Sydney is 22 hours.

Getting There By Water:

New York has two terminals used by visitors arriving by cruise ship. NY Cruise (tel: (212) 246 5450; website: www.nycruise.com) operates terminals on Manhattan’s west side, near 55th Street, and in Red Hook, Brooklyn (tel: (718) 246 2794). Many commuter ferry services operate locally in and around New York from terminals at Lincoln Harbor, Hoboken, Harborside, Liberty Harbor and Liberty Landing on the Hudson River, St George on Staten Island, Hunters Point in Queens and West 38th Street, Pier 11 and South Ferry on Manhattan. Most ferry terminals have restaurants or snack bars nearby, with passenger facilities limited to ticket sales counters, public telephones and the occasional vending machine.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (tel: (212) 435 7000; website: www.panynj.gov) provides online information.

Ferry services: The Staten Island Ferry (tel: (718) 727 2508; website: www.siferry.com) is free and operates from Whitehall terminal in Battery Park, in downtown New York, traveling out past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to its destination of Staten Island every half an hour (every 20 minutes during rush hour), daily 24 hours. There are a variety of ferry operators, including New York Waterway (tel: 1 800 533 3779/53 FERRY; website: www.nywaterway.com), which provides services between Manhattan and the other boroughs, as well as to New Jersey, and Seastreak America (tel: (732) 872 2628 or 1 800 262 8743/BOAT RIDE; website: www.seastreak.com). The bright yellow boats of New York Water Taxi (tel: (212) 742 1969; website: www.nywatertaxi.com) provide speedy service to piers in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.

Getting There By Road:

The general rule for numbering on US freeways and interstates is that the odd numbers go north-south and the even numbers go east-west over their whole length, although at any single, localized point this may seem different. Driving in America is on the right and the speed limit is 48kph (30mph) in the city unless otherwise posted, 80kph (50mph) outside the city limits and 105kph (65mph) on freeways. Speed limits are clearly indicated along highways and are strictly enforced, with heavy fines imposed.

Driving visitors should note that it is illegal to pass a school bus with flashing red lights. It has stopped to unload its passengers and all vehicles must stop until the bus has moved back into the traffic stream. Turning right on red is not permitted in New York City. Seat belts must be worn (both front and rear) and drivers must carry their driving license. Drink-driving laws are very strict and punishments severe. A blood alcohol level of 0.08% or above is illegal and drivers will be considered drunk and unable to drive.

The minimum driving age is 16 years. An International Driving Permit is recommended, although it is not legally required and a full national driving license is accepted. All travelers intending to drive in the USA are strongly advised to acquire supplementary insurance. A yellow ‘non-resident, interstate liability insurance card’, which acts as evidence of financial responsibility, is available through motor insurance agents.

The American Automobile Association - AAA (tel: (212) 468 2600) provides further information and roadside assistance to members.

Emergency breakdown service: AAA (tel: 1 800 222 4357).

Routes to the city: Travel to Manhattan from New Jersey, Philadelphia and Washington DC is across the George Washington Bridge or through the Lincoln or Holland Tunnels. The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge connects Brooklyn with Staten Island. Queensborough Bridge links Manhattan and Queens. The Triborough Bridge leads to upstate New York, while the New England Thruway and Bruckner Expressway lead to New England in Boston.

Approximate driving times to New York: From Philadelphia - 2 hours; Boston - 4 hours; Washington DC - 5 hours.

Coach services: The Port Authority Bus Terminal, 628 Eighth Avenue at 40th Street (tel: (212) 564 8484; website:  www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/bus/html/pa.html), handles long-distance and regional buses, as well as buses to the airports. Greyhound (tel: 1 800 231 2222; website: www.greyhound.com) operates bus services that link New York City to points throughout the USA and into Canada and Mexico. Direct services include Washington, DC, Chicago, New Orleans, Orlando and Montreal.

Getting There By Rail:

New York City’s rail services are primarily operated by Amtrak (tel: 1 800 872 7245; website: www.amtrak.com). High-speed services on the Eastern seaboard are a viable alternative to air travel on shorter routes, such as to Boston and Washington, DC. The city has two main stations. Grand Central Station, 42nd Street and Park Avenue, is the terminus for Metro-North Railroad (tel: (212) 340 3000; website: www.mta.nyc.ny.us/mnr), with services to upstate New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Pennsylvania Station, referred to locally as Penn Station, 34th Street and Sixth Avenue, serves both Amtrak and the Long Island Railroad (tel: (718) 217 5477; website: www.mta.nyc.ny.us/lirr).

Penn Station and Grand Central Station both have ATMs, bars, cafes, waiting rooms, shops and taxi ranks and are very well equipped. Grand Central Station, in aesthetic terms, is a model of station regeneration and undoubtedly the city’s most impressive transport hub. Penn Station, on the other hand, is a bit sketchy and institutional, without many comfortable waiting areas.
 
Rail travel tends to be expensive, although a number of rail passes are available to visitors from overseas. There is no central rail information number for national rail travel and all enquires should be directed to the relevant provider or Amtrak.

Rail services: Amtrak offers frequent shuttles to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (journey time - 1 hour 30 minutes); Washington, DC (journey time - 3 hours); and Boston, Massachusetts (journey time - 3 hours 40 minutes). There are services to Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Chicago, Illinois; New Orleans, Louisiana; Miami, Florida; and even Los Angeles, California. Trains also go to Toronto and Montreal in Canada.

Getting Around:

Public Transport
Public transport in New York is run by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), New York City Transit (tel: (718) 330 1234; website www.mta.nyc.ny.us). Services are cheaper and more efficient than the number of private companies also operating in the city.

New York’s subway is fast, air conditioned, cheap and much safer than it used to be, although it is still best avoided late at night (after 2400). The vast network of 24 routes, identified by letters or by numbers, serves over 400 stations throughout Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens. Staten Island is served by the small-scale MTA Staten Island Railway (tel: (718) 966 7478/SIRT; website: www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/sir/index.html), operating 24 hours a day. Although central Manhattan stations are typically passable, platforms are not always comfortable in terms of temperature or condition. You gain entrance using a MetroCard, available at subway station kiosks (cash and credit cards accepted) and newsagents. Services operate 24 hours; on average, subway trains run every two to five minutes during rush hour (every 10 to 15 minutes during off-peak times and every 20 minutes daily 0000-0500).

Bus services are extensive and bus stops are located on street corners approximately every two or three blocks. Bus fare are paid with a MetroCard or exact change (no bills accepted). If you buy the ticket on board the bus, you will get a transfer that cannot be used on the subway without paying an additional charge. Buses operate 24 hours daily.

There are three kinds of MetroCard passes. Unlimited Ride MetroCards are valid for seven or 30 days and expire at midnight on the final day of validity. The one-day unlimited-ride Fun Pass is valid until 0300 the following day. Pay-Per-Ride MetroCards are available in US$10 increments - free transfers to connecting bus or subway routes is included if used within two hours. Spending $7 or more on a Pay-Per-Ride Metrocard will earn you a 15% discount. All passes are available at subway stations and newsagents.

Taxis
A trip to New York is not complete without a ride in one of the city’s famous yellow cabs. Taxis are governed by the Taxi and Limousine Commission (tel: (212) 692 8294/NYC TAXI or 311; website: www.nyc.gov/taxi) and are hailed on the curb, preferably at intersections. Drivers are required to take passengers to any destination within the five boroughs of New York City or Nassau County, Westchester County and Newark Airport. Passengers should provide drivers with the street address and with the nearest cross streets of their destination (for example: ‘Fifth Avenue, between 22nd Street and 23rd Street’). A 10-15% tip is expected. There is a US$1 surcharge for weekday trips between 1600 and 2000 and a $0.50 surcharge for trips between 2000 and 0600. In the event that there is a problem with the ride, passengers should note the driver’s four-digit license number (located on the roof of the taxi, on the exterior of both passenger doors, on the dashboard and printed on the receipt) and report it to the Taxi and Limousine Commission.

Private car services, unlike taxis, can be called directly and offer point-to-point pre-arranged transport for a fixed rate throughout the five boroughs and beyond. The cost is comparable to that of a metered taxi trip and should be confirmed before pickup. Car services are particularly handy in the outer boroughs, where taxi service is unavailable for trips into Manhattan, or when pre-arranged transport is needed. There are numerous car service companies and hotel concierges can recommend a reliable one.

Driving in the City
Driving in Manhattan is not recommended to visitors. The traffic is horrendous and the quintessential New York City experience is to be stuck in traffic. Add to that the impatient drivers and exorbitant parking fees, and you get the picture. Street parking is elusive. The business and entertainment areas get particularly congested and the fast pace can prove intimidating for tourists. In the unfortunate event of having a car in New York, visitors might want to enquire with their hotel about reasonable local parking and plan to use public transport instead of driving. Drivers should avoid parking on the street, as there are restrictive rules, rampant ticketing and a danger of theft.

Car Hire
A valid national driving license is required for driving in New York, although an International Driving Permit is required by some car hire firms. Minimum third-party insurance is required and drivers must be at least 25 years old. Branches are located throughout the five boroughs.

Major providers include Alamo (tel: 1 800 462 5266; website: www.alamo.com), Avis (tel: 1 800 331 1212; website: www.avis.com), Budget (tel: 1 800 527 0700; website: www.budget.com), Dollar (tel: 1 800 800 3665; website: www.dollar.com), Enterprise (tel: 1 800 261 7331); website: www.enterprise.com), Hertz (tel: 1 800 654 3131; website: www.hertz.com) and National (tel: 1 800 227 7368; website: www.nationalcar.com).

Bicycle Hire
Many New Yorkers brave the traffic on bicycles, but this is not recommended to visitors. Nevertheless, there are 40km (25 miles) of bike paths around the city, where no motorized vehicles are allowed, plus an additional 145km (90 miles) of dedicated bike lanes on city streets. Cycling around one of New York’s parks is also a safe and pleasant option. Bite of the Apple Tours/Rentals, 203 West 58th Street (tel: (212) 541 8759; website: www.centralparkbiketour.com), offers individual bicycle hire for the day, as well as a leisurely two-hour guided bike tour of Central Park (summer only), including bicycle hire. Pedal Pusher Bike Shop, 1306 Second Avenue (tel: (212) 288 5592), rents bikes too.

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