Originally Posted by
Efrem
If your destination is near the shore and no further than New Haven, perhaps the airport bus to Grand Central Terminal and a MetroNorth train from there. Amtrak, which provides the only train service past New Haven, is a lot more expensive. (Amtrak is also fancier, 4 across seating rather than 5 because it's basically a long-distance train rather than commuter rail, but IMHO not worth the price difference for a short ride.) Perhaps your family can pick you up at the nearest station.
Minor correction but there's commuter rail service beyond New Haven as well — Shore Line East goes as far as New London while the Springfield Line goes to Hartford and Springfield MA.
Also don't be too quick to dismiss Amtrak — if you book early enough it's actually a reasonable option — saver coach NYP-NHV is $35 one-way and a more pleasant experience than Metro-North. And getting to Penn Station from JFK (Airtrain to Jamaica and LIRR) is easier than getting to GCT IMO.
(Lived in New Haven for ~4 years and flew out of JFK/EWR pretty regularly, abhor CT Limo and thus too familiar with public transportation options, including the Airtrain to Jamaica - E Train to 53/Lex - 4 Train to GCT - Metro-North to New Haven option after coming off 22 hours in Y from SIN — probably the cheapest way to get to CT but would not recommend)