Travelling around New York City

[omgitchiness]

I have tried to find the answer to this without success.
We need to get from JFK airport to Times Square, the nearest station to our hotel is "49th St and 47–50 Sts – Rockefeller Center lines".
When I put it into google maps it tells me in symbols and acronyms i don't understand!
Can anyone explain please, in simple English to a 60 year old who has never been to NYC, how to get there?

And how to pay? Do we need some sort of card? OMNY? We go on Sunday and I'm beginning to panic.

TIA

Take the airtrain to Jamaica.
(Buy a MetroCard or you can tap your card)

Take the Long island railroad (LIRR) to Grand Central Station
(You can pay by card on the train or purchase at station)

Take the S or the 7 ( subway) to Times square 42 street.
(MetroCard or tap)

Or get a taxi. (Credit card) Will cost about 80 -90 USD for a yellow cab.

Thank you so much, @Notalktillcoffee . It sounds so easy yet everything I read on travel websites made it sounds very complicated.

No worries, it's easy when you know what you're doing. Compared to other cities - not straightforward!

I recommend downloading the Citymapper app - it’s great in NY, we found it better than Google maps for navigating.

The earlier post covers it - only thing I would add is, when I got the LIRR two weeks ago the conductor said they don’t sell tickets onboard and I was able to download the MTA TrainTime app to purchase my ticket ($5) without a penalty fare.

The Subway and train etc. was actually quicker than a cab in peak time, and super easy if you’re using Citymapper

Personally, we budget for a taxi. It’s a fixed fare. A lot of the hotels have shuttle buses.

You can use a contactless debit or credit on the metro and buses. I created a dollar travel wallet with my debit card (Barclays but I think Revolut do similar). Travelling around NYC I found buses more convenient and could easily work out which one to use just by using Google directions. Signage leads a lot to be desired on the metro.
If your first time and you have a heavy bag, not many stations have step free access so I would opt for a cab - fares are heavily regulated. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time on the return journey as the traffic can be horrendous.

That's exactly what we did. It wasn't expensive and dead easy as there is a person at the front of the taxi rank flagging down the taxi for you. Took us straight to hotel by Times Square.

Would suggest you get a taxi from the airport, particularly if you have suitcases. Many of NYCs metro stations do not have escalators or lifts to arrive at ground level.

Use city mapper to navigate the subway. It's cheap, reliable and extensive but fairly complex. I am a Londoner of 24 years and have used public transport in many cities across the world - New York is the only metro system that has nearly defeated me!

The train/subway is really easy but if there's more than 2 of you it may just be easier to get an Uber. If it's a weekend be careful of closures, have had trouble in Brooklyn a couple of times with line closures.

Thank you. There are just the 2 of us and we both now have citymapper and MTA Traintime.
Looking forward to it :-)

Could someone knowledgeable explain the subway fares to me please? I see you tap in (not out) then does it then charge you per trip and is there a day cap?
Can we use Apple Pay on our phones to tap through with?
Just saw using phones will be expensive so should we plan to use our debit cards instead?
If we want to travel on the Roosevelt cable car or use the air train do we have to buy a MetroCard each or do we all have to download the MTA app or can we just use debit cards on the day?

I think I’m probably over complicating things but it just helps save time faffing once we are there if I have a plan! Thanks

NYC Transit Fares and Tolls: What to know

This tells you what you need to know

Roosevelt Island tram fare information

• MTA MetroCards and OMNY are accepted.
• Same fare structure as the MTA.
• Up to three children 44-inches tall and under ride for free on the Tram when accompanied by a fare-paying adult.
• Children more than 44 inches tall require full fare.
• While MetroCards are available for purchase at the Tram Station, there are no MTA booths at the station, vending machines are the only option available.

The Roosevelt Island Tramway provides the most modern aerial tramway in the world, running every 10.5-21 minutes from 59th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan to Tramway Plaza on Roosevelt Island.

Please note that the passengers must exit the tram at each stop (either Manhattan bound or Roosevelt Island bound) and pay again to return to the other side.

Can you use the same contactless card to tap in more than one person does anyone know? Will need to tap in my teens as well as me.

Another option would be to take the airtrain to Jamaica. Then get the E train, getting off at 7 Av (though no lift there so assume you would need to carry your case up the stairs at the station).

https://new.mta.info/map/5256

One fewer change and it would probably bring you closer to your hotel as the S runs under 42nd street whereas the E runs under 50th St.

Can I suggest you print the map if you can in colour? It can help you get your bearings.

Taxi can be a good option too if you are tired on arrival.

We did that journey going to JFK and it was good and cheap. Only warning though, there are a few annoying guys who hang around at the interchange at Jamaica trying to "show you" where the air train is. Ignore them as they are scammers.

Hi,
UPDATE we arrived 4/5 hours later than scheduled so we got a taxi.
During our stay we walked, walked and walked. We only used the subway 3 times.
We also got a taxi back to the airport as DH wasn't too well.
All worked well.
Thank you for all the advice

Oh goodness, get a taxi!

Great example of not reading the thread 😂

@omgitchiness Did you tip in cash or through the card machine?
Did you buy metro tickets or just tap into the metro using debit cards? Thanks

Hope you had a good holiday

omgitchiness to be fair there's 3 minutes between the OP's update and my post - i'm using the app and overseas so i think we cross posted!

and as i suggested, she got a taxi :)

i've been to new york upwards of 20 times, business and pleasure, and i cannot imagine not once wanting to make the journey into manhattan on public transport.

Something we were confused with in the subway was the self service ticket machine. We thought we had to actually buy a ticket first but you only need to tap your credit card on the reader at the turnstile for each journey.

We always tipped in cash.
We didn't buy metro tickets just tapped in with our debit cards.

Yes, no ticket is needed. Just tap in 👌