Originally Posted by magiciansampras

This has come up before. I believe the consensus is Amtrak fits the bill: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/new-y...yc-albany.html

Originally Posted by guv1976

With several travelers, driving (your own car or a rental) will certainly be cheaper, and probably faster overall, since you won't be bound to Amtrak's schedule, and can leave Albany as soon as your meeting at the ESP is over -- unless you want to stop for lunch or dinner at Lombardo's.
But I would only do a same-day roundtrip by car if someone in my party were available to share the driving.

In terms of comfort, being on the train is usually a little more comfortable than being in a car, and is more conducive to getting work done if you are so inclined.

If you drive, you can go directly to the ESP, and park directly in its underground parking lot, or in one of the private lots/garages nearby. With Amtrak, you have to get from and to the train station in Rensselaer by taxi or CDTA bus. It's only a ten-minute drive each way, but it's not nothing, and it adds to the cost.

Yet another possibility is to train up, and drive back. I've done that as well. The Avis office at the Colonie Center Mall (Avis location A23) will pick you up from either the train station or the ESP, and frequently has decent one-way rates to Manhattan.

As you can guess, I've made this trip many times by many methods. Feel free to send me a PM if I can give you any other advice.