New York travel: taxi v. Uber?

[MorrisZapp]

I'm going to New York soon but not Manhattan. It's a business trip and I will be going from JFK to my hotel in Garden City, Long Island. From there my meeting is in Queens so I'll go there and back.

Google suggests each of these trips will cost ca £160 in a taxi, and take twenty minutes to half an hour.

This seems steep, but might reflect reality of New York prices.

Is it safe to get an uber? In fact is it safe to grab a yellow taxi from the airport? I'm travelling alone and don't want to take any risks.

Any advice?

I'd go uber. Pre-pay, leave the car when you arrive.

The thing with NY and the US in general is the massive tipping that is expected.

So Uber all the way.

Yellow taxis from the airport are regulated in New York. It's a flat fare of $70 plus tolls and people generally leave a 15-20% tip.
You go to the taxi rank outside the terminal and there's a queue of taxis waiting to pick up passengers.
https://www.jfkairport.com/to-from-airport/taxi-car-and-van-service

EDIT - when you arrive at the airports you can get a regular taxi on a fixed fare as they often say $$ whatever to wherever you're going.

^^ what @ShrubRose said.

Interesting! Would a tip be expected on top of the flat fare? And can I use a credit card for both, and if I can will I get a receipt? Thanks so much.

That link to JFK is helpful, many thanks

Yes, you tip on the flat fare, and yes you can use a credit card. And you can (and should!) definitely get a receipt.

On your way back, you should be fine with an Uber.
One thing about Uber lately - they have been using yellow cabs at times. Yellow cabs are fine going from the airport because the fare is regulated and they are right there waiting. But in my experience they are not as clean or as well kept as Uber cars. Uber started a level called "Comfort" (as opposed to Uber X) which provides a higher standard of car and driver. I would personally recommend that even though it costs a bit more.

I'm very sorry @MorrisZapp - the $70 flat fare is to Manhattan (which is where I usually go).
Garden City is not within city limits, so the fare will NOT be regulated.
Uber would provide a better car and driver than a yellow cab, as I said upthread, but you would have to wait for them (at the rideshare pickup area).

Many people use a private car service to pick them up at the airport. You give them your flight number and they wait for you in the terminal. If that interests you, I'm happy for you to PM me and I can refer you to someone I have used.

I lived in Garden City until a couple of years ago!

The hotel is wonderful and there is a lovely coffee/cake place a short walk away at the end of 7th Street. There are some very good restaurants in close proximity so don't feel you have to eat in the hotel unless you want to.

Uber is super easy to use, quickly available and will be much cheaper.

And definitely get an Uber from jfk, not a yellow cab. In good traffic you'll be at the GC Hotel in 20 mins.

This is so helpful, thank you! I can't PM on the app but any private driver recommendations would be so gratefully received!

If I use Uber, do I just order when I get to the airport?

The city limits thing is weird, Manhattan is further away than GC but rules are rules! Getting excited now.

We are both out of luck @MorrisZapp - I messaged my guy and he has taken a permanent job as a chauffeur! 😓

You can order the Uber when you're ready to leave the airport or you can reserve it in advance.
Uber isn't allowed to pick up passengers inside the terminal, only at
designated rideshare pickup areas. It says the app tells you where the area is. https://www.uber.com/global/en/r/airports/jfk/pickup

I've never taken an Uber from JFK because, as I mentioned, I go to Manhattan with a yellow cab. But when I'm in Manhattan, I always use Ubers, never yellow cabs. Completely safe.

There are some moderately-priced car services with inside pick-up, like this one, which some people I know have used, but if you look on the review websites, the performance is very mixed. Would be about £75 + tip.
https://www.carmellimo.com/

There are also some high-end car services with inside pick-up which will probably perform better overall but will cost about £160 including the tip, as you found on Google. You said it's a business trip - not sure if you're paying personally or not. https://nycexecutivelimo.com/

So the choices are:
.Uber at the rideshare area for about £75 + tip
.Inside pick-up with a high-end service for £160 all in
.Yellow cab at the taxi rank for uncertain amount - could be about the same as Uber
.Inside pick-up with a moderately-priced car service £75 + tip

If I were in your shoes, it would depend on whether I was paying for it myself. If I were, I think I might just make do with a yellow cab - just make sure they turn the meter on, that's an old trick! If it were being paid for, I would go with a high-end inside pickup. We tried to hook up with an Uber at LHR a few years ago and it was an almighty hassle.

Over to you!