JFK Layover
Nov 23, 2009, 7:52 pm
#1
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JFK Layover
Hello,
I have a trip in December that involves a layover in JFK. We (me, wife and 3 yr old) in JFK at 3:00 PM and depart at 10:00 PM.
Any ideas as to what we could spend the 7 hours doing in JFK?
Thanks
I have a trip in December that involves a layover in JFK. We (me, wife and 3 yr old) in JFK at 3:00 PM and depart at 10:00 PM.
Any ideas as to what we could spend the 7 hours doing in JFK?
Thanks
Nov 23, 2009, 8:12 pm
#3
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That timeframe is a little critical... It's too long to (usually) stay at the airport and too short to go into town for some real purpose.
However, 7 hours are getting cut apart if you consider transport away from the airport to whatever destination (be it town or hotel), transport back to JFK and the fact even if you are checked in you should be there roughly 90 minutes before departure.
So let's say your 7 hours layover would leave you about 4-4.5 hours at a hotel.
Do you have lounge access ?
Cheers,
However, 7 hours are getting cut apart if you consider transport away from the airport to whatever destination (be it town or hotel), transport back to JFK and the fact even if you are checked in you should be there roughly 90 minutes before departure.
So let's say your 7 hours layover would leave you about 4-4.5 hours at a hotel.
Do you have lounge access ?
Cheers,
Nov 23, 2009, 8:18 pm
#4
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Plenty of time to get over to Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas Tree and ice skaters, and probably get in some decorated windows along Fifth Avenue. This year's lighting is scheduled for December 2 (I'll be there a week later). From a prior visit:
Nov 23, 2009, 8:47 pm
#6
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I would go into the city, and see the tree. Tell them it came from a house up the street from a flyertalker 
Go ice skating there (even if they can't skate, let them flounder on the ice for a bit, it's a great photo op) or Go over to Bryant Park and do some skating there. Bryant Park will at some point take reservations www.thepondatbryantpark.com but is currently not taking them.
They have a 100 shop holiday village too. You may even have some time to catch some windows too.
Grab a cab back to the airport, or if you are taking the airtrain head back on that.
If you can't check your luggage through, there are storage places at Kennedy that will be able to hold it.
Go ice skating there (even if they can't skate, let them flounder on the ice for a bit, it's a great photo op) or Go over to Bryant Park and do some skating there. Bryant Park will at some point take reservations www.thepondatbryantpark.com but is currently not taking them.
They have a 100 shop holiday village too. You may even have some time to catch some windows too.
Grab a cab back to the airport, or if you are taking the airtrain head back on that.
If you can't check your luggage through, there are storage places at Kennedy that will be able to hold it.
Nov 24, 2009, 3:49 am
#7
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Thanks for the advice.
I'm worried that w/o a stroller, this could turn into a difficult trek to the city.
We're more likely to do a hotel. I'll check out the Hilton.
I'm worried that w/o a stroller, this could turn into a difficult trek to the city.
We're more likely to do a hotel. I'll check out the Hilton.
Nov 24, 2009, 5:29 am
#8
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JFK to Manhattan on a good day can take an hour. Are you connecting to an international flight? Then you would have to be back at the airport at least 90 minutes before your departure. I wouldn't risk going to the city during the holidays because it is nuts near Rockerfeller Center. You can hardly move an inch. It is a cool sight to see if you never have seen it during the holidays but if your income flight is delayed slightly you would be cutting it on the close side in my opinion.
Nov 24, 2009, 5:52 am
#9
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A hotel from 3-10pm??? Doesn't make a lot of sense to me.
Are you traveling without a stroller on purpose? That is going to make everything in the airport more difficult with the kid, right? Why do that to yourselves?
There is plenty of time to get into Manhattan, see some sights and then head back to the airport, all for ~12 on mass transit. It just depends on what you want to see in terms of which stop to get off the train at.
I'll disagree with Cordelli's ice skating recommendations and suggest the largest and least crowded (though that is relative) rink in that general vicinity and that's Wolman rink in Central Park. Or let the kid run around an chase pigeons or something if they can't skate.
Are you traveling without a stroller on purpose? That is going to make everything in the airport more difficult with the kid, right? Why do that to yourselves?
There is plenty of time to get into Manhattan, see some sights and then head back to the airport, all for ~12 on mass transit. It just depends on what you want to see in terms of which stop to get off the train at.
I'll disagree with Cordelli's ice skating recommendations and suggest the largest and least crowded (though that is relative) rink in that general vicinity and that's Wolman rink in Central Park. Or let the kid run around an chase pigeons or something if they can't skate.
Nov 24, 2009, 6:14 am
#10
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It is interesting in that I consider the crowds part of the New York City hoolicay experience. The hustle and bustle and all that. I always recommend people visit the busy places they see on TV during the holidays, the tree, the windows on 5th, etc.
Then again I think everybody should be part of the New Years Eve celebration on the street once in their lives, go to the Parade with the millions of others, and see the fireworks with the crowds too.
Then again I think everybody should be part of the New Years Eve celebration on the street once in their lives, go to the Parade with the millions of others, and see the fireworks with the crowds too.
Nov 24, 2009, 11:09 am
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Dec 6, 2009, 7:10 pm
#12
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A hotel from 3-10pm??? Doesn't make a lot of sense to me.
Are you traveling without a stroller on purpose? That is going to make everything in the airport more difficult with the kid, right? Why do that to yourselves?
There is plenty of time to get into Manhattan, see some sights and then head back to the airport, all for ~12 on mass transit. It just depends on what you want to see in terms of which stop to get off the train at.
I'll disagree with Cordelli's ice skating recommendations and suggest the largest and least crowded (though that is relative) rink in that general vicinity and that's Wolman rink in Central Park. Or let the kid run around an chase pigeons or something if they can't skate.
Are you traveling without a stroller on purpose? That is going to make everything in the airport more difficult with the kid, right? Why do that to yourselves?
There is plenty of time to get into Manhattan, see some sights and then head back to the airport, all for ~12 on mass transit. It just depends on what you want to see in terms of which stop to get off the train at.
I'll disagree with Cordelli's ice skating recommendations and suggest the largest and least crowded (though that is relative) rink in that general vicinity and that's Wolman rink in Central Park. Or let the kid run around an chase pigeons or something if they can't skate.
The weather forecast shows a high of 34 degrees and windy. At the same time, 7 hours is too long to spend at JFK.
Maybe we could get on the train and visit a museum and have an early dinner in the city.... does that make sense?
Not looking forward to checking in into a hilton by the airport, but I was looking for a better place than JFK to spend the day. I don't have lounge access.
Dec 7, 2009, 8:32 am
#13
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I think your best bet is to take the AirTrain to the LIRR to Penn Station, and then find some indoor space -- Rockefeller Center, Time Warner, Grand Central Station -- where you can hang around and let your 3-year-old run around a bit, and then have dinner before heading back to the airport.
Last edited by Blumie; Dec 7, 2009 at 9:05 am
Dec 7, 2009, 8:46 am
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The problem with this plan is that with a 300p arrival into JFK, you're not going to make it to a museum before they close (unless, for example, you are coming on a Friday and think that the Museum of Modern Art, which stays open until 800p on Fridays, will hold the interest of your 3-year-old).
I think your best bet is to take the AirTrain to the LIRR to Penn Station, and then find some indoor space -- Rockerfeller Center, Time Warner, Grand Central Station -- where you can hang around and let your 3-year-old run around a bit, and then have dinner before heading back to the airport.
I think your best bet is to take the AirTrain to the LIRR to Penn Station, and then find some indoor space -- Rockerfeller Center, Time Warner, Grand Central Station -- where you can hang around and let your 3-year-old run around a bit, and then have dinner before heading back to the airport.
I think we'll go to the city on the airtrain and find something to do indoors. Thanks
Dec 7, 2009, 9:06 am
#15
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Peter and the Wolf at the Guggenheim sounds promising! (Note that if you're going to the Upper East Side, you might be better off taking the AirTrain to the E subway line rather than the AirTrain to the LIRR when coming from JFK.)
