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Originally Posted by hinsopa
So, going from April 9-13. Is this my best option while there? I'm getting confused about whether this will cover the Airtrain, which I will take from JFK. Staying at the Waldorf and doing the typical sight seeing. My husband just got laid off and I have trouble walking more than a 1/2 mile. We're on a tight budget. (The hotel was a wonderful gift to us). Also, I read it covers more than 1 person per trip (we have 4 adults). Their (MTA) websites are very confusing. I'd appreciate any suggestions. The sticky on shows was very helpful. My 2 adult "kids" will certainly enjoy the $20 shows. I'm looking so forward to this trip!
If the four of you plan to take the AirTrain both from and back to JFK, then you should purchase the special 10-trip AirTrain Metrocard, which costs $25.00. That is the cheapest way to get four roundtrips on the AirTrain.
You would take the AirTrain to Jamaica station, where you can purchase the 10-trip card (you don't pay to board AirTrain at the airport; you only pay when you pass through the fare gates at either Jamaica or Howard Beach stations). Then, you will purchase one or more regular Metrocards and take a Manhattan-bound E train for the 30-minute ride to Lexington Avenue/53rd Street, which is only three blocks from the Waldorf. Unless you plan to do a lot of traveling on the subways and busses during your visit (i.e., more than four rides/person/day), you can just purchase one pay-per-ride Metrocard for all your bus/subway travel. Each time the four of you start a bus or subway trip, you will swipe (on the subway) or dip (on the bus) the Metrocard four times (once for each passenger), and $8.00 will be deducted from the card. If you transfer from subway to bus, bus to subway, or from bus to bus within two hours of starting a trip, you will then swipe or dip your Metrocard only
once, and the turnstile or farebox will recognize your four free transfers, and the four of you will be able to enter the subway or board the bus for no additional charge. (If you swipe or dip your Metrocard more than once when transferring, more money will be deducted from your card.)
If you find it too confusing to use one Metrocard for all four of you, just buy four separate cards, one for each of you.