I'm traveling back to ole' Connecticut for the holidays and need some advice. I can fly into CT directly, or go thru one of the NY airports and drive to CT. How much does ground trans. to CT from NY cost? The difference in fares I'm seeing might warrant a trip to CT instead (where a friend can pick me up).

Any help would be appreciated!

If you do fly into LaGuardia, don't forget Amtrak as a possible transportation source to CT. Amtrak has a bus that picks up passengers at the airport and takes them to Penn Station to board the train. Trains run quite frequently from NYC to CT and are reasonable, quick and comfortable.

Also, you could take the M60 bus from LGA to 125th St, then take Metro-North to New Rochelle, Stamford or New Haven (depending on what Amtrak train you're headed for).

It's probably faster than going to Penn Station and back out again (Amtrak goes through Queens on the way from Manhattan to the Bronx headed for CT, RI, MA).

It depends on where you're going in CT.
BDL is easiest for north central CT. The NY airports for the western shoreline. Don't forget about Providence though (PVD). It offers easy access to eastern CT and the Southwest effect has hit there as well. Amtrak and Bonanza buses (bonanzabus.com) offer service from the airport via downtown into CT. Try Peter Pan bus too. Peterpan-bus.com

Etna.

It *really* depends where you are going in CT, or where your friend can pick you up. People who live in the southern areas of CT tend to fly to LaGuardia, and from central/northern CT to BDL. If you are considering Amtrak, check the schedule on their website--if you are going to New Haven the trains run every hour or 2 (not so often later at night). If you are trying to keep costs down, you could also consider taking Metro-North (http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/mnr/) from Grand Central. There are buses that run directly from the airports (http://www.nyairportservice.com) to Grand Central for $10 and then you could hop on Metro North (approx $13 to New Haven). I highly recommend you look at the Port Authority website (http://www.panynj.gov/)--there are lists of suggested ways to travel to/from the NYC airports to CT, and all over the NYC regions.

One thing to keep in mind since you mentioned the holidays... Delays!

BDL is a small airport. On one hand, this means that things don't back up so fast. But on the other, it means there are MUCH FEWER options for rebooking should something go wrong.

That being said, I love BDL. Easy-in, easy-out.

PVD is also a terrific option too if you are in eastern CT.

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"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."

Thanks everyone for all the options. My friend lives in New Haven and I am going to Darien. I think I will opt for the NY route.
Thanks again!

One more thing - there is an airport in New Haven (Tweed), albeit with limited service (USAirways).

BIM,
Thanks for the heads up on Tweed. I normally try to avoid USAir, but in this case I might have to try it out. And I thought the only thing in New Haven was Yale

try HPN (White Plains). This sits on the border of New York and Connecticut.

LGA is probably your best bet.
If you're arriving at a time that'll put you on the highway at rush hour, I'd recommend the trains .... Metro North has two stations in Darien, though not all trains make the smaller Norton Heights stop.
If you're arriving off-peak, the LGA to Darien drive can be as little as an hour - or even less, if DOT isn't tearing up I-95.

The major Airport bus service that runs from CT to JFK, LGA, EWR, and BDL is Connecticut Limosine (it is really a bus service). Check out the web site at:
http://www.ctlimo.com/airport.htm

I grew up in Wilton, CT (right next to Darien). I definately recommend the LGA route. You can catch the M60 to 125th. Then catch a Metro-North train right into Darien.

You might also consider Connecticut Limosine which has service into Norwalk (and Stamford?) cost is about $25

Have a good trip.

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I wish I were 1,000 miles away

HPN is definitely worth looking at. It's very convenient to CT and an easy airport to pick up or drop off someone, although I don't think CT Limo runs there (not positive). I think it's no more than 15-20 miles from Darien. One small caveat about HPN: fares can be higher and you'll need to make a connection from most other cities (direct flights from ORD and IAD on UA). I'd also say that the airport can be a little backed up during the holidays and traffic can be congested around Stamford during rush hour, but probably still better than LGA.

Again, the big upside in my mind is that it's really easy to get in and out of. (Similar to Tweed in that respect.)