<p>Could anyone suggest a safe, easy and inexpensive way to get from Manhattan to JFK? We are going in April. Since it is pretty clear that D. will be making trips without us in the near future we also want a route that she can take when she is alone or with companions.</p>
<p>Carmel car service is very reliable. They will pick you up from your hotel at a predetermined time and drop you at the airport. I think its about $45.</p>
<p>Well, this won't meet your inexpensive criteria, but for my peace of mind and for the ease of it with luggage and timing, my D uses Carmel Car Service to get to JFK in the infrequent times she flies home. I line it up from here for her in fact. I used them myself recently when in NYC on my own to fly home. Very reliable, very safe. If she had a friend, she could split the cost.</p>
<p>(oops, cross posted with MTDog!) :D</p>
<p>chelle, (FYI's)
I don't know where you're from and perhaps you've already made travel arrangements, but possibly for the future Laguardia is much more convenient, closer, and about a $30 cab to NY (20-25mins.). (JFK used to advertise "take the train to the plane" years ago so maybe still?)
We sometimes fly to Newark ( she can take a train for $15 from/to Penn Station).</p>
<p>We have taken the train from Newark to Penn Station several times also — what can be confusing is that there are two train lines making that route. The cheaper one is by NJ Transit, I think, called AirTrain. They have distinctively marked yellow signage; you take the airport train that goes between terminals to their station. Amtrak also has a run between Newark Liberty Airport and Penn, but it's a bit pricier at around 30 bucks a person.</p>
<p>I like the shuttles that take you to Grand Central, Times Square, and Port Authority. Any subway you need to get anywhere in Manhattan, only 12 bucks. I know they are at Laguardia, but I'd assume that they are at JFK too. Then, its just a 2 dollar subway ride anywhere...until the fee hike! Then its 2.25 a ride...not happy about that lol.</p>
<p>We took the subway from times squre to JFK a couple weeks ago. We wanted to try it just in case my D ended up in NYC. We love the NY subway system. Just stay in the cars towards the front of the train. We took the subway all the way to Jamaica (spelling?) and then took the airtrain to the airport. It was very easy. The airtrain is right there when you get off the subway. We are from California. No subways or trains in our area only buses and cars. If we can do it...anyone can.</p>
<p>Air Train is the way to go!! UNLESS your child has LOTS of luggage. (but even then - our daughter took the bus from Times Square) BUT - when we fly Jet Blue on the red-eye - arrive at JFK at 8am. It is the ONLY way to go to get into the city. Fast, cheap and EASY. There is an Air Train from Newark too.</p>
<p>I believe I have taken Super Shuttle.. but I cannot remember if it was to JFK or Laguardia... It was reasonable. I have also taken a cab and the train.,,, all worked we ll and were safe.</p>
<p>Thank you, for all your suggestions. We are so looking forward to this trip. No college auditions to stress us out. Just shopping and shows. I found a great price on many shows. Hitshow.com. Us a AAA card and it's even cheaper. You can register for free. We got tickets for 45.00 for a chorus line and we are thinking of getting 45.00 tickets for Frankenstein. Now if we can just get a better deal on a hotel it would be great.</p>
<p>My D, who visits her NYC friends several times a semester, uses the AirTrain -- Long Island Railroad connection. Airtrain is 13 minutes non-stop from JFK terminals to the Jamaica transit hub. There she walks thru a covered passageway to the Long Island Railroad platforms and gets on the first inbound train, all of which go to Penn Station, many of them non-stop. Total cost about $12 (AirTrain $5, LIRR $7). Outbound to JFK, just reverse the process. </p>
<p>AirTrain has its own website just for JFK with a map, diagram, etc. and also has a link to LIRR, where train schedule is published. Good luck!!</p>