<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Factotum:
The neighborhood may be seedy but is also very busy and the area around the LIRR station entrance is safe during daylight hours. Also, if you arrive on the LIRR and transfer to AirTrain you don't even need to look at the street. If you have valuable things with you, take the same precautions you would in Manhattan - be on your guard and carry yourself with the confidence, poise, and velocity of a typical NY commuter who does this sort of thing every day.</font>
Thanks for all the useful information.
I am a bit surprised that all the discussion seems to be focussed on the LIRR. Is the subway a bad option? I am arriving at JFK tomorrow evening and was planning to use AirTrain+E to get to my hotel (Waldorf, near Grand Central). Is that a bad idea?