New York City - LGA to Lower Manhattan safe & cheap!

I'm 23 female looking to get from LGA to Lower Manhattan at apprx 7:45 on a Friday night. I need a safe/cheap way to do it. I can afford a taxi, but would rather spend the money elsewhere. I would like to take the M60 to the 1,2 or A,C metro. My concern is being alone, w/ luggage in the dark and unfamiliar with my surroundings. Is this a safe transfer to make? Is there a better route to go?

I'm 23 female looking to get from LGA to Lower Manhattan at apprx 7:45 on a Friday night. I need a safe/cheap way to do it. I can afford a taxi, but would rather spend the money elsewhere. I would like to take the M60 to the 1,2 or A,C metro. My concern is being alone, w/ luggage in the dark and unfamiliar with my surroundings. Is this a safe transfer to make? Is there a better route to go?

Take a cab or m60 to Astoria / Ditmars BLVD and hop on subway there. Cab will be under 10. Hope on the n q line and take that in. You will have to transfer at Lexington ave more then likely.

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What part of lower Manhattan?

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What part of lower Manhattan?

+1

My recommendation would depend on where you're going.

Taking public transportation, particularly at that hour, is totally fine - the buses and subways will be filled with people. NYC is America's safest large city by far - don't stress it.

I'd recommend taking the M60 to the subway - there's a Metrocard vending machine in the bowels of the main terminal, pretty close to the bus stop. It can be kind of a pain to find, though, so it may be easier to just pay the bus fare in coins ($2.50 now, I believe) and then get a Metrocard when you reach the subway.

Depending on where you're going, you can either get off the bus at the N station at Astoria Blvd (you can't miss it - it's a giant elevated train track looming above you) and take that downtown. Or you can continue on the M60 into Harlem. The bus will go down 125th St and give you transfer options to the 4/5/6, 2/3, A/C, etc.

[QUOTE=Danielle7182;18254289]
. My concern is being alone, w/ luggage in the dark and unfamiliar with my surroundings. QUOTE]

To me, it's the amount of luggage which makes the difference.....will your baggage fit in a regular city bus (the M60).....how do you feel about dragging your luggage up about 30 steps (to Astoria/Ditmars Stn N-subway line)....or down 10-20 steps to other subway stops?

Perhaps consider the express private coach bus that stops at each LGA terminal, then goes non-stop to Grand Central Station, where you can easily catch a taxi or subway downtown. This private coach bus has luggage compartment in bottom of bus so accomodates larger-than-carryon size bags

New Yorkers on here can tell you the info on the express bus service.....it usually costs $10 when you pay cash at its bus stop outside the terminal.

Oh...bus service is:
http://www.nyairportservice.com/

Taking public transportation, particularly at that hour, is totally fine - the buses and subways will be filled with people. NYC is America's safest large city by far - don't stress it.Agree completely. Stick to public transportation; you'll be fine. If you tell us exactly where you're headed, we can provide precise directions.

If you don't feel comfortable with public transportation, a car service--especially with a discount code or coupon--can be cheaper than a taxi and you don't have to worry that a traffic jam will send the fare skyrocketing. Just be careful to take an official vehicle and definitely not a jitney cab which IMO is much riskier than public transportation. I would not transfer from bus to subway in Harlem, especially if you are not a native New Yorker.

If you don't feel comfortable with public transportation, a car service--especially with a discount code or coupon--can be cheaper than a taxi and you don't have to worry that a traffic jam will send the fare skyrocketing. Just be careful to take an official vehicle and definitely not a jitney cab which IMO is much riskier than public transportation. I would not transfer from bus to subway in Harlem, especially if you are not a native New Yorker.
You're not a New Yorker, are you?

I'm 23 female looking to get from LGA to Lower Manhattan at apprx 7:45 on a Friday night. I need a safe/cheap way to do it. I can afford a taxi, but would rather spend the money elsewhere. I would like to take the M60 to the 1,2 or A,C metro. My concern is being alone, w/ luggage in the dark and unfamiliar with my surroundings. Is this a safe transfer to make? Is there a better route to go?Welcome to Flyertalk!

If you want a better route, you need to return to this thread and tell us where you are going. Not a fan of the M60 as it is often a long ride and can be crowded. Where to put your luggage on a potentially crowded bus would be a concern. But advising you what to do would be more beneficial for you; to do that, we need more info from you.

I am going to Church Street between Chambers and Barclay Street.

My luggage will be carry-on size so no problems hefting up and down stairs.

No, I am not from New York.

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I am going to Church Street between Chambers and Barclay Street.

My luggage will be carry-on size so no problems hefting up and down stairs.

No, I am not from New York.

You've just made things very easy: Q33 bus from LGA to the final stop (Roosevelt Avenue/Jackson Heights subway station). Take a Manhattan-bound E train (normally found on the express track) to its last stop (Chambers Street/WTC). Voila!

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You've just made things very easy: Q33 bus from LGA to the final stop (Roosevelt Avenue/Jackson Heights subway station). Take a Manhattan-bound E train (normally found on the express track) to its last stop (Chambers Street/WTC). Voila!

I also recommend this as the bus stop will be the last and the subway stop will be the last (less confusion about what stop to get off). The Q33 will let you off at a ugly green building, go inside and through the turnstiles. Walk down the stairs and then down another flight to the actual subway platform (make sure you are on the downtown train platform). Then take the E to the very last stop. I suggest walking all the way to the front of the platform as the first couple of cars are usually are not crowded and you will be able to get a seat.

The ride from LGA to Jackson Heights (E train) should be about 30 minutes (the bus can be slow) and then another 30 maybe 35 minutes to the World Trade Center stop.

Sounds like I'll got that Jackson Heights route. Thank you for all the help and quick responses!

Sounds like I'll got that Jackson Heights route. Thank you for all the help and quick responses!

You will see lots of people on both the Q33 and E train plus when you get downtown to Church St/WTC stop. Don't fear and don't get antsy on the bus as it is only a 20 minute ride but the last 5-10 minutes seem to take forever. The bus will turn under and elevated train but you don't care about that train as the LAST stop is your destination. You can't get lost!

BTW - If you don't understand how the MEtroCard works to board the bus & subway - please ask the question as it may save you money to buy one in the newsstand at the airport or have someone in NYC send one to you before your arrival. It is a BIG deal as NYC bus doesn't accept paper currency.

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You've just made things very easy: Q33 bus from LGA to the final stop (Roosevelt Avenue/Jackson Heights subway station). Take a Manhattan-bound E train (normally found on the express track) to its last stop (Chambers Street/WTC). Voila!Perfect advice. Easy to do with lots of people. Danielle, just make sure when the train pulls up to the platform, look to make sure it's an E train. The F train also shares that platform. So just look up before you get in to verify you will be boarding the E.

Have a great time on your first trip to the city.

You're not a New Yorker, are you?

And I'm not a New Yorker either so I feel uncomfortable transfering on the east side at 125th st with baggage. No problem on the west side area around Columbia, where the bus terminates.

I even know a few New Yorkers who would feel uncomfortable, but in that case they're probably not REAL New Yorkers. Or is it just barely possible that some folks have different comfort levels than you regardless of where they live?

I just went to the New York Air Service website mentioned above and they do not appear to offer scheduled bus service from LGA to GCT -- when I go to that page, it asks me to advance book a shuttle service. It's curious, because in the other direction (GCT->LGA) they DO publish a bus schedule that takes a full hour to get to LGA. I wonder if the busses return empty from LGA, that doesn't make a lot of sense.

No, they run the bus. Their website leave a lot to be desired.

However, even though it runs regularly, they can get full. I was one of the last on the last time I flew in and a few people had to wait for the next shuttle.

And I'm not a New Yorker either so I feel uncomfortable transfering on the east side at 125th st with baggage. No problem on the west side area around Columbia, where the bus terminates.

I even know a few New Yorkers who would feel uncomfortable, but in that case they're probably not REAL New Yorkers. Or is it just barely possible that some folks have different comfort levels than you regardless of where they live?

I just went to the New York Air Service website mentioned above and they do not appear to offer scheduled bus service from LGA to GCT -- when I go to that page, it asks me to advance book a shuttle service. It's curious, because in the other direction (GCT->LGA) they DO publish a bus schedule that takes a full hour to get to LGA. I wonder if the busses return empty from LGA, that doesn't make a lot of sense.

That's because the website above is the old service. They lost the contract to run the service to these guys here.

http://www.nycairporter.com/

And I'm not a New Yorker either so I feel uncomfortable transfering on the east side at 125th st with baggage. No problem on the west side area around Columbia, where the bus terminates.

I even know a few New Yorkers who would feel uncomfortable, but in that case they're probably not REAL New Yorkers. Or is it just barely possible that some folks have different comfort levels than you regardless of where they live?

I just went to the New York Air Service website mentioned above and they do not appear to offer scheduled bus service from LGA to GCT -- when I go to that page, it asks me to advance book a shuttle service. It's curious, because in the other direction (GCT->LGA) they DO publish a bus schedule that takes a full hour to get to LGA. I wonder if the busses return empty from LGA, that doesn't make a lot of sense.Of course you don't have to be a New Yorker in order to have a view on this topic. (Some here might even question my New Yorker bona fides, given that I didn't grow up in the city and even now commute between NY and Boston.) But I did find it humorous when our friend from Minneapolis offered his/her view that included that "jitney cabs" should be avoided. I also believe (and please don't take this personally) that a lot of people get nervous transferring in Harlem not because of any real danger, but because of perceived danger when they see more African American faces than they're used to. And this is in no way limited to out-of-towners; plenty of New Yorkers react the same way.

I also believe (and please don't take this personally) that a lot of people get nervous transferring in Harlem not because of any real danger, but because of perceived danger when they see more African American faces than they're used to. And this is in no way limited to out-of-towners; plenty of New Yorkers react the same way.

I agree 100%. Same thing in the Bronx.

That's because the website above is the old service. They lost the contract to run the service to these guys here.

http://www.nycairporter.com/

Thanks, that helps. Looks like a fairly decent deal.

I also believe (and please don't take this personally) that a lot of people get nervous transferring in Harlem not because of any real danger, but because of perceived danger when they see more African American faces than they're used to.Easy fix to that is to time your transfer so you're at 125th just after the Metro-North trains from Stamford and Greenwich arrive in the evening. Plenty of HP 12C types transferring to the 4/5/6 to make one feel more comfortable!

HP 12C

LOL

Easy fix to that is to time your transfer so you're at 125th just after the Metro-North trains from Stamford and Greenwich arrive in the evening. Plenty of HP 12C types transferring to the 4/5/6 to make one feel more comfortable!
Now that is scary!

Thanks, that helps. Looks like a fairly decent deal.

I fly into LGA a couple times a month and always take NYCAirporter into Manhattan. Awesome service, $12.50 each way and I think there's a discount if you go ahead and buy RT.

Not sure about their hours (check the website) but they run every 30 mins or so during the day. Just walk outside baggage claim and look for signs that say something like "Manhattan Shuttle" or something. There will be people in NYCAirporter uniforms standing around sandwich boards selling tickets with those handheld things. Cash or credit card is fine, and buses go LGA-GCT-PortAuth-PennStn - same cost no matter where you get off. Drivers are friendly and stick your bags in a separate luggage area for the ride. Also, free wifi.

BONUS: If you get off at GCT, you can transfer to another NYCAirporter bus at no charge that will take you directly to any hotel within a certain range. Not sure if it'll go all the way to WTC area (I'm always in midtown), but worth looking.

I swear I don't work for these guys, I was just really excited when I found them as they really are the easiest way I've found to get to the parts of Manhattan I need to get to.

Oh, and don't forget to tip the drivers. ;)