Mir From United States, joined Jan 2004, 12974 posts, RR: 65 Reply 5, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1723 times:
If you're heading to Lower Manhattan, take NJ Transit to Newark Penn Station and change to the PATH train to World Trade Center. Otherwise, take NJ Transit all the way to New York Penn Station (yes, the fact that both New York and Newark have Penn Stations is confusing).
STT757 From United States, joined Mar 2000, 12009 posts, RR: 54 Reply 6, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1723 times:
The best way to Mid-Town Manhattan is use the Airtrain Newark Airport, it's a monorail/people mover that goes between the Terminals, Parking lots, rental cars and the Newark Airport Rail link station.
The Newark Airport Rail link station is located on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, you can take Amtrak ($22 Dollars) or NJ Transit ($11 Dollars) to NY Penn Station. Please note there are two "Penn Stations". Newark Penn Station and New York Penn station.
If your going to Lower Manhattan some NJ Transit trains from Newark Airport go to Hoboken where you can catch a ferry or PATH, the PATH can also be accessed from Newark Penn Station for trips to the World Trade Center, Greenwich Village, Chelsea etc..
"'Brown Sugar' could save the world..." Eddie Vedder 10/14/97 Oakland, California
Star_world From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2001, 1117 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 1673 times:
Quoting STT757 (Reply 6): If your going to Lower Manhattan some NJ Transit trains from Newark Airport go to Hoboken where you can catch a ferry or PATH
This isn't a realistic option - there's a grand total of 1 train per day that goes via Hoboken But if you happen to be at EWR station at 3:57 in the afternoon it could be useful!
Other advice is correct though - NJ Transit to NY Penn Station for midtown Manhattan, or NJ Transit or taxi to Newark Penn Station and then take the PATH to the WTC station for lower Manhattan.
Amirs From Israel, joined Dec 2003, 1325 posts, RR: 5 Reply 9, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 1651 times:
I say the best way is take a cab!
Its really not so fun waiting for the train to Penn station. The train is not bulit to carry pax who just arrived on a flight (no place to put the luggage ) and not in the best over all condition. Penn Station is also a dump. Still after all that you need to catch a cab in Penn Station to wherever you are going. - All this in NY winter weather.
Wjcandee From United States, joined Jun 2000, 3744 posts, RR: 19 Reply 10, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 1607 times:
Quoting Amirs (Reply 9): I say the best way is take a cab!
The cabs certainly do offer door-to-door service, but they come with a host of disadvantages. Depending upon which terminal you go into, believe it or not, you will either get a Newark-licensed cab or an Elizabeth-licensed cab. One is a little better than the other, but neither are anything as nice as the official New York City yellow taxis that you get at JFK or LGA. Indeed, I think that the cabs at EWR are an embarassment; it seems like half have exhaust leakage into the cabin (a common symptom of them having screwed with the emission controls to save gas), smell, have drivers who don't really know Manhattan like the City cabs, etc. The Port Authority has, however, really improved the system for getting a cab -- it's efficient, computerized, and they'll tell you right there at the airport, with a ticket that the dispatcher gives you, how much it should cost. Even when lines seem long, they move very, very quickly. So that's the advantage: you'll get off the plane, walk out the appropriate door, and very quickly and efficiently be deposited into a dirty, smelly, expensive cab with bald tires. Â The bus is an excellent option as it is a one-seat ride into Manhattan, and does have mediocre connections to the local hotels; most people get off the bus in Manhattan and flag a cab to where they are going. But be careful because sometimes the cabbies try to take advantage of folks getting off the bus; I usually walk up to a busy corner and flag a cab rather than taking the "help" of anyone standing on the sidewalk who offers me assistance where the bus drops me off in Manhattan.
My best experience with getting to Manhattan is Carmel Car Service, which does a very brisk and efficient business with Lincoln Town Cars to and from the Manhattan airports. Be sure to tell them that you want a later-model vehicle, and they'll happily oblige, because some of their cars are nicer than others. This won't be a white-glove-perfect $100 shiny-black supple-leather car service like your hotel could get for you, but it is more than satisfactory. The rate from Newark Airport is something like $43. www.carmelcarservice.com You make a reservation at 212-666-6666 and then you call them again when you have your bags at the airport, and they tell you the number of the car that's circling; he pulls up and you get in and go. They're even better when going to the airport, because -- and I have never found this from any of the other services, some of which frankly have slightly nicer cars -- they are always, always, always significantly early for your appointment going to the airport; out of maybe 50 experiences with them in the past few years going to the airport, they've always been at least 5 and often 15 minutes early to my building, which is important if you are a little nervous about getting to your flight on time.
The other service that's pretty well-known is Dial7 car service (which used to have a more ethnic name that I forget) -- www.dial7.com -- 212-777-7777. They're a little less efficient about reservations and dispatch, but in my experience have cars that are a little nicer, and they're like $5 more. I personally prefer to trade the slightly-nicer car for the painless reservation and reliably dispatch of Carmel, but others I know think the other way.
If you want totally top-of-the-line, white-glove, graceful, as-good-as-it-gets, for a buttload of money, there is Farrell's Limousine in Manhattan, which at least used to be the only limo service used by the old-money Carlisle Hotel. Your driver will be as-polished-as-it-gets, the car will be totally meticulous, etc. If you're booking for a boss who wants his butt kissed and to feel transported, these are the guys. Old-money, upper-crust. You get the idea.
The only other one to mention is a nationwide company that is used by everyone that I know in the music business. Dunno why, but they all seem to, maybe because the secretary booking them in LA for a New York pickup can just call an LA number and know that it'll be taken care of. That's BLS limousine, and at least as of a few years ago, anything that I did with music business folks we ended up riding with them, often on short notice, which is another nice thing. They'd just tell someone, "Call BLS and have them pick us up in 30 minutes to go to the [whatever]" and the car would be there and get charged to the company.
Keep away from the car services that the Wall Street banking and law firms use to send their staffs home at night. The secretaries think that they're fine, but they tend to be uneven, and they don't specialize in airport work.
If you're looking for a relatively-inexpensive way to get to the City, and you're not lugging a ton of baggage, the train is an easy, reliable way to go, and in rush-hour the trip will likely be faster than by car. If you know Manhattan like I do, and you have the time, and you're knowledgeable about the subway and city busses in Manhattan (or don't mind walking a bit), you can get to the airport door-to-door for a total price of like $16, which is swell. The airport bus has the advantage of a one-seat ride to Manhattan, but you will have the same issue of getting to your destination once you're in the City, and it will suffer the same traffic issues in rush hour as does a cab.
One other little aside is what happens in weather. I remember several years ago, there was a significant snowstorm in the City, and yet I had to get to EWR to meet my girlfriend, who was flying in. I couldn't get a cab, I couldn't get a car service; the cabs had fled to avoid the snow and the car services were accordingly quoting like 4 hours for a car. I friggin walked in this blizzard like 25 blocks to Grand Central, not knowing if the airport bus was running. It was. The bus moved easily in the snow; the driver got us to Newark no less quickly than if it would have been a clear, sunny day. It was AWESOME, and I always remember that when inclement weather starts to mess with transportation in the City.
LY7E7 From Israel, joined Jun 2004, 2181 posts, RR: 25 Reply 11, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 1588 times:
Quoting Wjcandee (Reply 10): you will either get a Newark-licensed cab or an Elizabeth-licensed cab. One is a little better than the other, but neither are anything as nice as the official New York City yellow taxis that you get at JFK or LGA
Sorry, but I've taken both types out of EWR dozens of times and never felt any difference between them and the NYC TLC cabs. The major difference is that Newark drivers always spoke English
Wjcandee From United States, joined Jun 2000, 3744 posts, RR: 19 Reply 12, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 1572 times:
Quoting LY7E7 (Reply 11): I've taken both types out of EWR dozens of times and never felt any difference between them and the NYC TLC cabs.
If that's how you perceive them, that's great. (And I mean that.) Maybe I shouldn't be as concerned about it for my visiting friends and business associates.
However, for myself, I could fill a book with stories from the Elizabeth and Newark cabs. They often take insane routes to the City, and even more insane routes once in the City. I'll stick by my experiences as to the cab quality, although some may have upgraded at the Port Authority's urging. And expect a totally-blank stare if you want them to go anywhere in an outer borough. They often want to chat. They are piloted by guys who are no less ethnic than New York City drivers, so you can leave out the "don't speak English" thing. There's a difference between not speaking English and speaking acceptable English with a thick accent, which many admittedly do in New York City. I just speak up, speak clearly, and never worry about having to correct them in a nice way, as in "Uh...seventy-SECOND street, not seventy-SEVENTH." "Oh, so sorry, Sir."
Since Guiliani's buddy was TLC commissioner and set brutal rules for Medallion cabs, the NYC Taxis are all by law only a couple of years old, have tough mechanical requirements, have only a limited number of car models that are deemed comfortable enough for them to use, have seat belts that work, and have drivers who obey you if you tell them what route you want them to follow, or that you expect them to use their EZ Pass at the toll or that they need to get off the cell phone or turn down the radio. They know they're in for a citation and a day off waiting for it to be adjudicated at TLC if they tell you to f-off like they used to do. And they know that I know that since the day years ago that the NYPD was given primary responsibility for cab enforcement, all you have to do is grab the nearest cop if the driver screws with you; cops seem typically to dislike cabs and treat their drivers like skels, and in my personal experience it seems like you've made their day when they can whip out the summons book and start writing a blizzard of tickets on the guy. (But I must say that I haven't had that particular experience in a long time.) I don't know any big city in the States where the cabs are as good or as uniform as in New York. Or maybe I'm just comfortable with the way they are in my hometown, and I notice the differences when I am elsewhere, like how many times I passed the same landmark in downtown Atlanta.
LY7E7 From Israel, joined Jun 2004, 2181 posts, RR: 25 Reply 13, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 1538 times:
Wjcandee,
I am familiar with the stuff you are describing from non-TLC cabs in outer boroughs - and I know how annoying that can be. It's just that I really never encountered that in EWR...
DC3CV3407AC727 From United States, joined Dec 2003, 314 posts, RR: 2 Reply 14, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 1503 times:
Take a New York Airways Boeing-Vertol 107, from the North terminal to the top of the Pan Am building, about 8 minutes, and $20, no wait this is 2006 ,not 1966 ,surely they have something faster.
the rumble of round engines is like music to me,likewise the thunder of thr JT8D
Rampart From United States, joined Aug 2005, 1665 posts, RR: 11 Reply 15, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day ago) and read 1487 times:
Quoting Amirs (Reply 9): Penn Station is also a dump.
Take that with a grain of salt. I think Penn Station is quite nice, actually: safe, clean, easy to figure out, reasonably friendly help, plenty of services and stores. And the NJ Transit wing is a brand new expansion, maybe 3 ys old now. Likewise, the trains are in good condition, too. Some older than others, but rolling stock replacement has been timely.
I've used all three methods to get to NYC (before I moved here from out west). Cab or limo ride is most "scenic" -- the Pulaski Skyway into Jersey City is spectacular, sort if a shock for nature lovers, but what an urban landscape! Bus is probably cheapest, and used to be my standard MO, tends not to use the Skyway for some reason. Both car and bus are subject to traffic jams, particularly at the tunnels, certainly at rush hours. Train is convenient and cheap, too, but consider your baggage. I've managed with a backpack or rollaway, but anything bigger is a burden.
Rdwootty From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2005, 876 posts, RR: 2 Reply 16, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 1412 times:
As a UK user of Newark I find two ways that are best.A. Take the shuttle van service direct to your hotel. NO asking the driver to go a certain way . B. Take the BUS it is cheap, they help with bags and they have taxis waiting when you get to Manhatten.
Just anote on the train. Frankly the possibility of having to pay two different prices dependin on what train you catch seems a problem for visitors and also I do not think the environment is suitable after a long transatlantic flight.
BUS IS BEST
Boeingguy1 From Ireland, joined Jan 2006, 415 posts, RR: 1 Reply 17, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 1397 times:
Trains from Newark Airport Station (NOT PENN) can be accessed by taking the monorail to the outer parking lot. There is a sign towards the platform of the train. Trains heading north to NYC are local, and with NJ Transit's new cars (about 60-70% are in place) there are luggage racks above the seats. A one way fare from EWR Train-NYC is about $11. I found this way is much more economical (and quicker) than hiring a taxi (or private car) or taking a bus... the train is the way to go! (Oh and by the way... NYC Penn Station is the farthest thing from a dump... shops, cafes and lunchonettes line the terminals... dont forget to get a slice of NYC pizza when you are there!)
Wjcandee From United States, joined Jun 2000, 3744 posts, RR: 19 Reply 18, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 1301 times:
Quoting Boeingguy1 (Reply 17): dont forget to get a slice of NYC pizza when you are there
See, it takes a foreign visitor to make us jaded New Yorkers appreciate what we have. I agree about New York Penn Station; the Long Island Rail Road portion and the NJ Transit portion were both redone within the past few years and are pretty nice, considering the people volume they see every day.
Rosa's Pizza in the LIRR concourse has probably the most typical NY pizza (and New Yawk attitude). It's very good. Last Friday night, late, I was walking by and heard one of the counter guys say to 3 young, cute girls who had beers on their trays, "Slide on down [to the cash register] and get out your fake ID's." Gotta love it.
My vote is definitely for this service if you're going to Midtown. It's a coach bus and I've used it several times with absolutely zero hassle. Cheaper than a cab from Midtown (by far) and no train connection or other hassle.
When I use LGA it's a cab, but from EWR I don't think you can beat this bus.
Sllevin From United States, joined Jan 2002, 3376 posts, RR: 9 Reply 20, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 1243 times:
If you're not familiar, I also can second Carmel car service, having used them dozens of times over the years. If not, the train is pretty decent, but it can be a pain if you've got much luggage at all.
STT757 From United States, joined Mar 2000, 12009 posts, RR: 54 Reply 21, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 1153 times:
Speaking of Penn Station, the New Jersey Transit East End Concourse is by far the nicest of the three tenant railroads at Penn. It's only going to get better though as NJ Transit has signed on to be the sole tenant of the new Moynihan Station.
Quote: Rail Station Looks West to Find Tenant
By PATRICK McGEEHAN
Published: November 22, 2005
The long-running project to make an expanded Pennsylvania Station into a majestic transit hub in Midtown has finally secured its first and most important tenant: New Jersey's state-operated commuter railroad.
New Jersey Transit said yesterday that it had reached an agreement with the State of New York to be the anchor tenant of Moynihan Station, on the west side of Eighth Avenue at 33rd Street. The deal, which is expected to lead to a 99-year lease by summer that will cost the railroad about $4.8 million a year, would make New Jersey commuters the prime beneficiaries of the $818 million redevelopment of the city's main post office into a palatial train station.
The station, across the avenue from Penn Station, was originally intended to serve as a new home for Amtrak. But Amtrak backed out of plans to move there and the Long Island Rail Road also chose to stay put at Penn Station.
That left Moynihan Station, the pet project of Senator Daniel P. Moynihan, who died in 2003, without a railroad and in jeopardy of becoming Moynihan Mall. New Jersey Transit jumped into the void, grabbing the chance to move its Manhattan operations one block west and gain operational control over a home of its own.
"'Brown Sugar' could save the world..." Eddie Vedder 10/14/97 Oakland, California
Dartland From United States, joined Apr 2005, 516 posts, RR: 2 Reply 23, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 1124 times:
Quoting Wjcandee (Reply 10): The other service that's pretty well-known is Dial7 car service (which used to have a more ethnic name that I forget) -- www.dial7.com -- 212-777-7777.
The seven sevens of Tel-Aviv Car Service!
In other news -- I second the bus or train. Both are relatively easy and convenient. Train preferrable during rush hour (no traffic, and they run more often). Don't take a cab unless you don't care about $$ -- bus and train are 1/4 of cab and really not that much of a hassle.
HZ747300 From Hong Kong SAR, PRC, joined Mar 2004, 1442 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 1113 times:
Quoting Rampart (Reply 15): Take that with a grain of salt. I think Penn Station is quite nice, actually: safe, clean, easy to figure out, reasonably friendly help, plenty of services and stores.
No, it's a dump. Really, it and the neighborhood around it, are pretty ugly. If you are in it, it is very utilitarian--you are there to catch a train with none of the ambiance of Grand Central Terminal. The stores are okay, but the only friendly people are the national guard troops, but they don't know much.
The train from EWR to Penn Station is about 30 minutes, and once in Penn it's easier to catch a cab on 8th Avenue than 7th. Also, if you have no luggage, it is even easier to walk a few blocks south and snag one right off the street as opposed to waiting in the queues. If you go down to about 30th street it's best.
Wjcandee From United States, joined Jun 2000, 3744 posts, RR: 19 Reply 25, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 1093 times:
Quoting Dartland (Reply 23): The seven sevens of Tel-Aviv Car Service
That's it! You got it exactly right. There was nothing about the service that seemed to be associated with that name, so the name change was probably a good marketing move. Much more memorable. But you got the slogan exactly right. They run the same cable TV commercials in NYC that they used to run, just with the different name. Thanks for remembering.
26 Wjcandee: Well, that side of 34th street really has improved, and the neighborhood will continue to improve as residential development pushes out the crap shop
27 CODC10: Penn Station is functional, that's about it. I don't suggest trekking through there with a lot of luggage, since most of the escalators are rather nar
28 HZ747300: For about five years, my job had me scurrying about Manhattan and I think my least favorite stretch was 8th Ave from Penn to the Bus Terminal. I had n
29 Spacecadet: You've obviously never tried Club Acela I actually think the NJ Transit concourse is the second worst of the three, though (the LIRR is the worst). I
30 AKelley728: New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and Baltimore were all major stations on the old Pennsylvania RR; therefore all are 'Penn' stations. The Pennsylvania
31 Spacecadet: New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and Baltimore were all major stations on the old Pennsylvania RR; therefore all are 'Penn' stations. And related to th
32 Abefroman329: I believe "Union Station"s were named as such because they served several railroads.
33 STT757: The late great Pennsylvania Station made Grand Central Terminal look like a Amshack.
34 Aukahkay: When I arrived at EWR in December 2003 from BOS, I booked at Lincoln Continental car at the baggage claim area. There were two of us and the cost was
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From United States, joined Aug 2005, 498 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2001, 1117 posts, 
But if you happen to be at EWR station at 3:57 in the afternoon it could be useful!
From Israel, joined Dec 2003, 1325 posts, 
The bus is an excellent option as it is a one-seat ride into Manhattan, and does have mediocre connections to the local hotels; most people get off the bus in Manhattan and flag a cab to where they are going. But be careful because sometimes the cabbies try to take advantage of folks getting off the bus; I usually walk up to a busy corner and flag a cab rather than taking the "help" of anyone standing on the sidewalk who offers me assistance where the bus drops me off in Manhattan.
From Ireland, joined Jan 2006, 415 posts, 
From Hong Kong SAR, PRC, joined Mar 2004, 1442 posts, 
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