Travelling to NY for the first time in MANY years. What is the best way for a family of 4 to get from LGA to central Manhattan?

I would think with 4 a cab would be plenty economical if you can all fit. I noticed on my recent trip that some cabs are minivans, which would be even better, but I don't know how the cab stands at LGA would handle a special request like that. Possibly someone else is more familiar. Another possibility might be a private car service. I know they exist, but I don't know who to recommend at all.

I took the NY Airport Service bus this time, which works great, but that's not going to be economical for 4 people. $17 round-trip x4 = $68. A cab ride in each direction should undercut that (or maybe be about the same with tip) and be more convenient about where they drop you in Manhattan as well as be there on demand.

Blend in with the real New Yorkers right off the bat, and take the bus! http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ftairports_forum/smile.gif (not the NY Airport bus, the NYCTA bus, M60 or Q33)

If you have a lot of luggage, don't take the bus. Not only is it a pain to get it on and off the bus, but you block the path of everyone else trying to get on and off.

Of course, packing light has many other advantages! When my family and I travel, we take one backpack per person and nothing else.

For $1.50 per person, you can take the M60 to 125th St (exact change in coins), and then transfer to the subway at various stops. I still enjoy the view of Manhattan from the Triboro Bridge going to/from LGA.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by victnsdp:
Travelling to NY for the first time in MANY years. What is the best way for a family of 4 to get from LGA to central Manhattan?</font>

Stand in the TAXI line, the dispatcher will
tae care of it ;-). You can order a car service -Carmel 666-6666 TelAviv 777-7777

There is also their website http://www.carmelcarservice.com

We always take the bus/subway to/from LGA to midtown for dirt cheap.

Cheap, simple, safe. Without a doubt. These days you can even buy a day or week pass. And my kids like the tokens as souveniers, too.

NYC transit has a web site too, I think.

Yes, the MTA web site is http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/index.html

Also of use is the Port Authority site http://www.panynj.com/

Now that you mention it, I've used the TelAviv car service before. Friend of mine set it up for me when I was leaving on a Monday morning, was afraid I wouldn't get cab (and I didn't know anything about these other options then). They were on time and ride was uneventful. I think it was 33 bucks to JFK a couple years ago, probably the same as the flat-rate cab. It's really too bad I didn't know about the other options, hardly needed to pay $33 of my own money for a private car ride, but oh, well. http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ftairports_forum/smile.gif

If you want to go with a car service, I can recommend: All State Car Service 212-741-7440 (local) or 800-453-4099 (out of state). Their rates are comparable to most car services in the area and my experience has been that they're very reliable.