JFK to Brooklyn/Broadway

[SJane48S]

We're going to New York in October for my DH's 50th and staying in Brooklyn. It's going to be an expensive trip so just looking to keep the cost of unexciting things like airport transfers down. Is Uber the way to go?.To be honest, we live in the sticks in the UK and I've absolutely no idea how it works and I assume it's not pre-bookable? I
On another note, my DD who is very into performance art & musicals is very keen on going to see a show or two on Broadway. I've got the Todaytix app which I regularly use for shows in London & it has a NY option so was planning to book a show or two in advance (we have 5 days) and possibly take her to Ellen's diner (it sounds completely awful but she loves Glee & a few of the characters in the show work in a musical diner on Broadway & she would love it). Does anyone have any tips on good places to go on Broadway that she'd likely to like & are less schlocky than Ellens? And has anyone got any recommendations for shows currently on Broadway that they enjoyed that are 11 year old friendly but not likely to appal my DH (for example, he hated every single minute he had to sit through Waitress). We'd prefer to see something not on in the West End (as it's likely we'll already have seen it).

We used Carmel taxis for transfers but it was quite pricey $65 one way. We got a nice Yellow Cab through our hotel for the return for only $48 but bear in mind Brooklyn is closer than Manhattan so you’d pay less anyway. We didn’t want to take a risk with an Uber driver after the one we got was quite frightening on our previous trip and we could smell alcohol from him quite strongly. We always stay in Manhattan but I’m sure there would be an option to get the Air Train and the Subway (A train off top of head) to Brooklyn.

For your 11 year old, how about Mean Girls? It’s brilliant. Your husband would probably hate it so you could do what I did and grab a matinee whilst he does something else? Beetlejuice is also on out there, though I didn’t fancy it, but might that be something he’d like?

Does your daughter dance and perform herself? How about a drop in class at Broadway Dance Centre - it’s a bit like our Pineapple Dance Studios.

www.broadwaydancecenter.com/children-teens/about-children-teens

The Radio City Musical Hall Backstage Tour is good too for all ages and you get to meet and have your picture taken with a Rockette.

Have fun, it’s a brilliant city.

A drunk Uber driver sounds like a less than great experience -i guess as they aren't regulated (I think) you are taking your chances a bit! I'd like to avoid public transport (though a good suggestion) - from experience, travel does bring out my DH's inner Sergeant Major & being frog marched with a tired child & suitcases on trains and tubes with my DH marching ahead barking instructions over his shoulder doesn't do a huge amount for family harmony!
Beetlejuice is a great suggestion & yes something I think both would enjoy! The Broadway drop in class (and yes, she does dance/sing/act) & backstage tour of Radio City also great ideas - thank you! It is a brilliant city - I've been as a backpacker (rubbish hostel & zero money!) nearly 25 years ago & on an alcohol filled work jolly 15 years ago so very much looking forward to going back and seeing a different side of the city.

Broadway is very expensive and the top shows are sold out far in advance. Two shows will blow your budget if you cannot afford airport transfers. The Radio City Music Hall tour is wonderful. We just think the Broadway shows are overpriced unless you can get discounted tickets but then it’s often to shows you don’t really want to see and neither does anyone else!

As above, I'm looking for a cost effective driver rather than public transport as we're going to have an expensive trip that will involve Broadway shows. I am aware of what they cost, they are in budget - we're not completely down at heel (:-) ) but I will buy at discounted cost through Todaytix, the way I usually buy West End tickets.

Yellow cabs from the regulated stand at JFK are reasonably priced and charge a set fee. When I’ve been it was $45 to Manhattan, no matter which part.
I’ve just googled and the JFK website states that the Manhattan flat fee is $52 and that Brooklyn is $59-$64. I’ve also googled private airport transport and a pre-booked car was quoted as $91. So the official airport taxi service might be best.
The website is jfkairport.com

Thank you - that's helpful! Yellow cabs seem the way to go

Thank you - that's helpful! Yellow cabs seem the way to go

You’re welcome!

Just be sure to go to the official yellow cab stand at the terminals. Unregulated cabs solicit business at the airports and can cost a lot more.
Have a great trip!

There’s a Facebook group nyc the place to be- full of info about broadway. Lots of people suggest queueing at the theatre early in the morning to get the cheapest tickets for that night. There’s a new singing diner like Ellen’s called Gayles something or other, might be worth a look.

Great - will check out Gayles & the Facebook group - thank you! I know you can get good on the day deals from theatres but I am compulsorily organised, like to know for sure what we are doing, book shows at least a month in advance and use seatplan to make sure the seats aren't duff!

Just back from similar trip and also stayed in Brooklyn
Some stuff to consider-
Don’t use today tix
We went th theatre box office in person (this was Book of Mormon so high demand show) to buy next day tickets and asked what the best options they could offer were. We got the $220 seats each for $150 each and paid no fees on top. So basically we got better seats for our budget and saved on fees. Also so theatres the cheapest seats are still great others are awful- do resrearch before you go.

Brooklyn- where are you- dumbo/Williamsburg?
We used tube a lot but had most fun at a slightly slower pace using the public transport ferry’s (like the clipper in London)
Super efficient and a free sightsee along the way.

We uber on arrival (JFK) and booked hotel taxi recommendation on way back. Uber was significantly easier and better...

We LOVED Brooklyn (I’ve been to USA before for work a lot so didn’t feel we needed to do too much sightseeing anyway)
Would recommend a day around soho/flatiron - do Chelsea market wander up the high line from start to finish, there is a curvy cool building at the top which name escapes me- book in advance of get tickets for late in day and return

Amazing food markets in Brooklyn on Saturdays and Sundays- location varies in w’burg And dumbo

Sunset from Brooklyn over to island is fab from some of the hotels roof bars you can just buy a drink at

Dumbo has some nice hidden garden roof terrace parks worth just chilling at

We ate seriously well I w’burg- can give you loads of suggestions- and tbh trip advisor served us well too
If your child is 21 and wants to drink they will need ID everywhere always

With poor dollar rate everything seems expensive now, but Brooklyn was a much better vibe than I’ve ever had on island and they were less tops obsessive too (ie obv you tip but weren’t hounded before you’d even paid)

Wear comfy trainers cos you’ll walk miles!

Oh also- if you can pay for fast track, credit card pass or business class tickets for return to get the q jump pass for security at JFK do- we had one of those and it still took 45 min. Without probably 3 hours. Allow ALOT of time. Also check terminal for facilities- that was delta virgin terminal- it’s fab. The BA one is hardly anything so bear that in mind for food!!
Enjoy!

Nice to hear you loved Brooklyn! I've only been to Manhattan so it's whole new territory for me! We're close to Carroll Park if you know where that is? Looked good on a neighbourhood search i did for potential dodginess but if anyone knows different still cancellable. Yes please to any Brooklyn suggestions! Our 11 most certainly won't be drinking any alcohol obviously! Any reason why you say don't use Todaytix though? I find them extremely useful for the West End, have good discounts & it gives you the time as you say to do research on better seats rather than make a last minute purchase at a theatre which is rather pot luck (and if I'm honest, my middle aged self bloody hates a queue!)

Our 11 year old that was meant to read!

School of Rock is great fir an 11 year old but I loved it too.

Ellen's is yucky but fine. If you're doing the Highline then Sugar. Factory in your Meatpacking District is fine (pre=book as the queues are huge).

I also highly recommend www.experiencetheride.com. It gets sold out months in advance so don't wait to book. Statue of Liberty also needs pre-booking.

I’m from London, currently living in NYC (been seconded for 8 months with work).

Here’s a few insider tips:

There’s a flat rate for yellow cabs from JFK into Manhattan but with tolls and the expected tips it will cost circa $75 (and fit 3 of you).

I’d recommend getting the Golden Touch coach from JFK into Manhattan (get the app it gives a discount). Takes 45 mins (the sane time as a cab). It’s $17 each into the City (to Grand Central). From Grand Central you can catch the subway (for $2.75) to Brooklyn.

My recommendation would be to stay away from Times Square (the locals know it as the fourth circle of hell for a reason). It’s foul - full of tourists.

If you want a traditional diner go to The Comfort Diner on 45th Between 2nd & 3rd (full of locals not tourists). Food is fab and it’s a real tradition diner (not a fake one like the ones in Times Sq).

Here’s a link on how to get cheap broadway tickets: www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/last-minute-broadway-tickets

Have a fab trip!

Thanks both! Totally agree, School of Rock was a laugh for adults as well as kids and is my DD's favourite show! Do want to see something we've not seen already though & that isn't on in the West End. Thanks for the links - so much to see! Didn't much like Times Square but I guess NorthernSpirit we ought to at least walk the DD (quickly!) through it?! As it's his birthday trip I did suggest to the DH he looks at where he wants to go & we prioritise that - his one trip to NY seems to have revolved around having at least one drink with mates in each one of the seven borough's so there's lots on the cultural front he's probably missed!

Why not get the airtrain from JFK to Jamaica/Sutphin Boulevard and then get the subway? So much easier than getting an Uber or taxi

Thanks - something we might consider going back to JFK but will look for a driven option arriving for the reasons given above. Appreciate your info though!