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Travel - International
AIR: The three airports serving New York City are operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (website: www.panynj.gov). Public transport (buses and subway) in New York is run by Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) – New York City Transit (tel: (718) 330 1234; website: www.mta.nyc.ny.us) whose services are cheaper and more efficient than those of the private companies also operating.
International airports: John F Kennedy (JFK), La Guardia (LGA) and Newark (EWR). All airports handle domestic and international flights, but most international flights into New York arrive at JFK. Flights from or via London Heathrow to New York land at JFK, and flights from London Gatwick land at JFK and EWR. Some transfer connections via continental Europe land at LGA, but the airport’s primary function is to handle internal US flights. For further information on timetables, transport and details of travel to New York City, contact the New York Port Authority.
Travellers from Europe arriving at JFK will generally make their onward connection from there. Connections to smaller locations, and connections for travellers arriving at EWR, may have to be made by transferring to LGA.
John F Kennedy International (JFK): The airport (website: www.panynj.gov/aviation/jfkframe.HTM) is located in Queens, 24km (15 miles) southeast of midtown Manhattan (travel time – 50-60 minutes). For transport into the city, a free Airport Shuttle Bus labelled ‘Long Term Parking Lot’ (operating 24 hours a day at 15-minute intervals) takes travellers to Howard Beach Station; from there, a subway connection on the ‘A’ train (which runs every ten to 15 minutes) takes approximately 90 minutes to central Manhattan, stopping at a number of stations with further connections on the way. A 24-hour express bus service, the New York Airport Service Express Bus, is offered by New York Airport Service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal (Manhattan West Side) or Grand Central Station (Manhattan East Side). A single fare is US$13; buses operate every 15-30 minutes from 0600-0000 and every 30 minutes at other times (travel time 45-90 minutes depending on traffic). Gray Line Air Shuttle (tel: (212) 315 3006) operates a shared minibus service on demand between 0700-2300 which goes anywhere between Battery Park and 125th Street (travel time – 40-60 minutes, including stops at all major hotels). The Super Shuttle Manhattan (available on demand 24 hours a day) is a shared door-to-door service going anywhere between 23rd and 96th Streets. Taxis cost US$30 plus tolls and tips for all destinations on Manhattan island. Travellers are advised not to travel with a taxi driver who approaches them first. Always find out the standard rate as unscrupulous drivers may overcharge. Uniformed taxi dispatchers (recommended) are available during peak hours and provide information on fares.
Transport to other destinations: Limousine services are available to some cities in Connecticut, Long Island and upstate New York. Coach services are available to New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
La Guardia (LGA): The airport (website: www.panynj.gov/aviation/lgaframe.HTM) is located in Queens, 13km (8 miles) east of midtown Manhattan (travel time – 30-45 minutes). For transport into the city, the M-60 MTA bus goes over Triborough Bridge and intersects with all subway lines as it crosses to the Upper West Side of Manhattan; exact change (US$1.50) or a ‘MetroCard’ (an electronic fare card in use on all MTA buses and most subway stages) is required plus an additional US$1.50 if changing to the subway.
Frequent express bus services are provided by Grayline Bus Services, New York Airport Services and Supershuttle. There are also buses from Grand Central Station to La Guardia from 0600-0000 as well as from Port Authority Bus Terminal to La Guardia 0715-2315 and from the hotels 0545-2200. There is also a ferry service, the Delta Water Shuttle, which departs from the Marine Air Terminal to 34th Street on the East River or to Pier 11 on Wall Street in downtown Manhattan (travel time – 30-45 minutes). Yellow taxis are readily available from designated taxi stands.
Newark International Airport (EWR): The airport (website: www.newarkairport.com) is located across the river in New Jersey. For details, see the New Jersey section.
Inter-Airport transfers: Regular helicopter transfers are available on New York Helicopter (HD) between New York airports and to Newark Airport Terminal ‘C’. Coach transfers are available between all three New York airports, though it may be necessary to change at Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan. New York Airport Express Service offers links between JFK and LGA, as well as services between Manhattan and the airports. The Princeton Airporter offers a frequent service between JFK and EWR. Olympia Airport Express Service offers links between EWR and Manhattan. A limousine service is available to Newark Airport. Taxis are also available.
Approximate flight times: From New York to Anchorage is 8 hours 30 minutes, to Atlanta is 2 hours 40 minutes, to Baltimore is 1 hour 20 minutes, to Barbados is 4 hours 40 minutes, to Bermuda is 2 hours, to Boston is 1 hour 10 minutes, to Buenos Aires is 10 hours 15 minutes, to Buffalo is 1 hour 50 minutes, to Caracas is 4 hours 55 minutes, to Chicago is 2 hours 50 minutes, to Cincinnati is 2 hours 10 minutes, to Cleveland is 1 hour 45 minutes, to Dallas/Fort Worth is 4 hours, to Detroit is 2 hours, to Frankfurt is 7 hours 30 minutes, to Hartford is 1 hour, to Honolulu is 12 hours, to Houston is 4 hours, to London is 6 hours 50 minutes (3 hours 50 minutes by Concorde), to Los Angeles is 6 hours, to Mexico City is 5 hours 10 minutes, to Miami is 3 hours 10 minutes, to Minneapolis/St Paul is 3 hours 10 minutes, to Montréal is 1 hour 25 minutes, to Moscow is 8 hours 50 minutes, to Nassau is 3 hours, to New Orleans is 3 hours 25 minutes, to Norfolk is 1 hour 30 minutes, to Orlando is 2 hours 50 minutes, to Philadelphia is 50 minutes, to Pittsburgh is 1 hour 30 minutes, to Providence is 1 hour, to Rio de Janeiro is 9 hours 15 minutes, to Rome is 8 hours 10 minutes, to St Croix is 4 hours, to St Maarten is 3 hours 50 minutes, to St Thomas is 3 hours 50 minutes, to Santo Domingo is 3 hours 50 minutes, to San Francisco is 6 hours 10 minutes, to San Juan is 3 hours 50 minutes, to Shannon is 6 hours 5 minutes, to Singapore is 21 hours 55 minutes, to Sydney is 26 hours, to Tampa is 3 hours, to Tel Aviv is 12 hours 30 minutes, to Toronto is 1 hour 30 minutes and to Washington, DC is 1 hour 10 minutes.
SEA/LAKE: The Staten Island Ferry (departing from Whitehall Terminal) operates between Lower Manhattan and Staten Island. The Circle Line Statue of Liberty Ferry (departing from Battery Park) sails to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises provide guided tours around Manhattan Island and along the Hudson River (departing from Pier 83, West 42nd Street). Frequent ferry services also run from Manhattan to Brooklyn, Queens and New Jersey. Operators include NY Waterway (website: www.nywaterways.com) and Seastreak (website: www.seastreakusa.com). Lake Champlain Ferries provide several crossings on Lake Champlain, between New York State and Vermont. Routes include: Plattsburg NY–Grande Isle; Port Kent NY–Burlington and Essex NY–Charlotte. Wolfe Island, Ontario, is connected to Cape Vincent in New York by a ferry service which operates daily during the summer (website: www.wolfeisland.com). A service from Wolfe Island to Kingston, Ontario, operates daily throughout the year.
RAIL: Pennsylvania Station (34th Street/6th Avenue) serves both the Long Island Railroad (Long Island and New Jersey) and Amtrak (nationwide). Grand Central Station (42nd Street/Park Avenue) is the terminus for services to upstate New York (Metro North) and Connecticut. There are two daily trains to Montréal and one to Toronto.
Approximate rail travel times: From New York on the ‘Adirondack’ to Montréal is 14 hours 30 minutes; on the ‘Pennsylvanian’ to Philadelphia is 1 hour 30 minutes and to Harrisburg is 16 hours; on the ‘Maple Leaf’ to Buffalo is 8 hours, to Niagara Falls is 9 hours and to Toronto is 12 hours; on the ‘Silver Meteor’ to Baltimore is 3 hours, to Washington, DC is 3 hours 30 minutes, to Jacksonville is 18 hours, to Orlando (Disney World) is 21 hours, to Tampa is 23 hours and to Miami is 26 hours; and on the ‘Crescent’ to Charlotte is 10 hours, to Atlanta is 16 hours, to Birmingham is 19 hours and to New Orleans is 27 hours. There are frequent shuttles to Washington, DC and Boston, taking 3 hours 15 minutes and 4 hours 30 minutes respectively. The new ACELA Express takes two and half hours to Washington, DC and three hours to Boston.
ROAD: Travel from Manhattan to New Jersey is across 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. Take Triborough Bridge for upstate New York and the New England Thruway and Bruckner Expressway to New England. Bus: The Port Authority Bus Terminal (40th Street/8th Avenue) handles long-distance and regional buses.
Approximate driving times: New York to Philadelphia is 2 hours, to Hartford is 2 hours, to Albany is 3 hours, to Boston is 4 hours, to Baltimore is 4 hours, to Washington, DC is 5 hours, to Portland (Maine) is 6 hours, to Montréal is 7 hours, to Buffalo is 8 hours, to Pittsburgh is 8 hours, to Toronto is 9 hours, to Cleveland is 10 hours, to Indianapolis is 15 hours, to Chicago is 16 hours, to Miami is 27 hours, to Dallas is 33 hours, to Los Angeles is 58 hours, to San Francisco is 61 hours and to Seattle is 61 hours. All times are based on non-stop driving at or below the applicable speed limits.
Approximate bus travel times: New York (tel: (800) 231 2222; toll free) to Philadelphia is 2 hours 20 minutes, to Albany is 3 hours, to Washington, DC is 4 hours 40 minutes, to Boston is 4 hours 45 minutes, to Montréal is 8 hours 30 minutes, to Buffalo is 9 hours, to Pittsburgh is 9 hours and to Cleveland is 9 hours 30 minutes.
Urban: Subway: Despite its reputation, the New York City subway is fast, air-conditioned, cheap and runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Moreover, the latest statistics show that crime on the subway has declined considerably. Express trains run between major stops and local trains stop at every station. Subway maps are posted in each subway car and pocket maps are available from token booths. Prepaid Metrocards can be purchased from subway booths or newsagents and can be used on buses. There are reduced fares for senior citizens and the disabled. For further information, contact the Metropolitan Transportation Authority – New York City Transit (MTA) (tel: (718) 330 1234). Bus: Services are extensive and are run mostly by the New York City Transit Authority. Metrocards are valid, or one may pay the driver. The exact fare is required, change will not be given. Three-quarters of the city’s buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts at the rear door. Taxi: The standard yellow cab is metered and reasonably cheap. There is no charge for extra passengers, but there is a 50-cent surcharge between 2000 and 0600. Hansom cabs: Horse-drawn carriages line up at 59th Street and Fifth Avenue, just outside the Plaza Hotel. Car hire: All the major national car rental companies are represented in New York City and many have offices at the city’s airports.
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
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