New York City Travel Forum

i want to know the cheapest and easiest way to travel from JFK to near central park we are on 57th st staying at the wellington hotel we land about 8pm ..and also the easiest way to travel when we are there ...and with the dollar being so low we are on a budget .......or should we just get a shuttle from the airport?

airtrain from Kennedy Airport into Manhattan, pleaes read carefully because the airtrain does not go directly into Manhattan, you have to change/transfer to the tube/undergound/metro/subway whichever one you understand.

Here's their website: http://www.panynj.gov/airtrain/

also check out this site: www.gonyc.com

Have a great time in New York

depends on how many people are in your group.. because remember, if you take public transport or shuttle service, you will be paying fares on a per person basis..
If there are 3 or more of you, I'd say it's worth it to just take a taxi.
Otherwise, the truly cheapest way is by bus to subway..$2 / person total.
Q10 to Kew Gardens (the E or F trains to your hotel area).. or the Q6 to Jamaica (E train).
The shuttle is good for a couple of people... but it often leaves you at a central location where you have to take a subway or taxi to your hotel from anyway.. (+$ again)
The airtrain is a very convenient way of getting to the subway as well.. but add your costs and compare.
Then again, if you're talking convenience, there is only one real option, taxi.. especially at 9pm with luggage

The easiest way is to take a taxi, but this is the most expensive ($45 flat fare). If you want the cheapest, you should take the Airtrain from JFK. This takes you to two locations, but you want the Sutphin Blvd/Archer Ave stop. From there, take the E train all the way into Manhattan and it runs along 53rd St. It will run you $2 for the E train and I think I remember it being $5 for the Airtrain. Once you are there, it's going to be easiest (other than taxies) and cheapest to use the subways and buses, which all use the MTA cards.

Airtrain to jamaica ( not howard beach ) to the end, Sutphin Boulevard, and take the E train for many stops into Manhattan. Exit the station at 7th Avenue and and walk north four blocks to 57th Street. Nice location.

The other posters are not wrong. As a lifelong New Yorker, I can tell you that this area of southeast Queens, where JFK is located, is a slum. Yes, you Could pay $2 to take the 6, 7, or 10 bus to LIberty Ave (ugh!), stopping every 2 blocks to pick up slow-moving little old ladies or noisy teenagers, or Jamaica Station at 9pm, loaded with baggage, to negotiate stairs for your free transfer to the subway. IMHO, take the $5 Airtrain to Jamaica Station for the E or F. If you're in a group of 4 or more, it makes sense to take a cab straight out of JFK.

forget the 6, 7, or 10 -- how about the B15 to Utica and Fulton for the A train. an unforgettable introduction to new york city, for sure.

s.ball, Nicolaitan is being sarcastic, of course! lol

s. ball - the point of all this is that taking a bus from jfk is a bad thing. it appears that your hotel actually has an entrance on 7th Avenue so it is less than a four block walk from the e train subway stop.

My recommendation is to use public transportation once you arrive there.You can go to mta trip planner.org. To look up ways to travel from JFK to 57th & central park. For further information, about the NYC area, go to my blog. Philly-nuyork.com