<p>I am planning on visiting columbia next week.. and it's my first time to travel alone to new york. well, the problem is i will arrive at jfk pretty late like around 10:30pm, and have to get to my friend's dorm by myself(!) I don't know which is the safest/fastest way to get to the school.. by shuttle or by taxi or something else?</p>
<p>I"m thinking of taking the shuttle since it's cheap(yep), but how long does it take to get to the school? is it real easy to find the shuttle at the airport? i am really excited but worried about this trip.. guys, HELP!!</p>
<p>I suggest taking the cab to Manhattan (passing Brooklyn) and then when you're in Manhattan, just take the metro. </p>
<p>And Columbia's stop is on the 1 line (which is red)...so you go all the wau uptown...and get off at 116th Station, right after Cathedral Parkway. But be careful, not to get off at the station AFTER Columbia (if you make a mistake) because its 125th st. and Harlem...which can get kind of sketchy...</p>
<p>Go with a taxi. Just get in the taxi and tell them "Columbia University" or "1130 Amsterdam Avenue" or something like that. I don't suggest public transport from JFK to Columbia at 11pm. It'll take around an hour via shuttle, 30 minutes via taxi.</p>
<p>Here' the directions: (Yahoo! Maps)
It estimates 35 minutes, but it should be shorter, and the cab fare will come out to be around ~$35.
Start going toward the AIRPORT EXIT on I-678 NORTH - go 5.4 mi
2. Take exit #10/GRAND CENTRAL PKWY onto GRAND CENTRAL PKY WEST toward LA GUARDIA AIRPORT/TRIBORO BR - go 6.9 mi
3. Merge onto I-278 EAST - go 2.4 mi
4. Take the MANHATTAN/RANDALLS-WARDS IS/DOWNING STADIUM exit onto TRIBOROUGH BRG - go 1.0 mi
5. Take ramp onto 125TH ST toward 2 AVE/125 ST - go 1.7 mi
6. Turn on AMSTERDAM AVE - go 0.5 mi
7. Arrive at 1130 AMSTERDAM AVE, NEW YORK</p>
<p>But in NYC at 11pm, ESPECIALLY in Columbia's neighborhood, it's worth EVERY PENNY. I mean, how much is safety worth?</p>
<p>
[quote]
I suggest taking the cab to Manhattan (passing Brooklyn) and then when you're in Manhattan, just take the metro.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This is someone who has absolutely no clue what she's talking about. Anyone who has any experience w/ NYC would know that the cab charges a flat rate to go anywhere in NYC from JFK. You're really on top of things between this and your Barnard antics!</p>
<p>I don't get what prompts people to opine and mislead others.</p>
<p>oh, thank you so much everybody! i will stick with the cab then(ah).. is it really ok to ask someone you don't know to share a cab? i mean, it's risky..no?</p>
<p>Sharing is fairly common at the airports. Plenty of people would rather not waste $60 to sit in a cab alone.</p>
<p>Find someone who "looks" safe. Make sure they're going somewhat in the same direction as you are. There's risk in anything. I'd be more afraid of the cabbie's crazy driving than the person sitting next to you in the back seat.</p>
<p>take a cab. it is ok to ask someone waiting for a cab to share one, but to be safe make sure you have what you need to pay for the ride yourself. Don't even think about shuttle/subway at that hour when you don't know where you're going. I lived most of my life in NYC so I know where of I speak.</p>
<p>Yes, you should take a cab to the dorm. (If it's a dorm off campus, you can get the exact address, but they're all within a few blocks). Once you're in the immediate vicinity of Columbia, there will be a lot of people on the street and you'll be fine, but you don't want to be attempting to figure out subway line and stops for the first time by yourself that late at night. You could probably get a shuttle or some other form of transportation back.</p>