best way to get from JFK to manhattan

[Fibonacci]

Travelling to New York with dc age 8 and 11 on Friday. Please can someone give me some advice about how to get to our hotel in mid-town Manhattan from the airport? Do we need to take a taxi - and if so, how much should I expect to pay - or can we take the subway (we will have luggage, although we'll be trying to pack light).

many thanks

When we did it (about 2002) there was a very well-organised, official, yellow-cab system whereby you joined the queue which was run by an airport official and got shooed into a yellow-cab within 5 minutes with a set fare to anywhere in Manhatten.

Very good. Had read about it in Rough Guide (or equivilent) so had counted on it still existing. It was flawless and would say don't worry about the journey if that system still exists which I'm sure it does.

I can't remember the fare, but it was very reasonable and as I say set in advance.

Enjoy your holiday!

Get a taxi, it's around $45 plus tips and toll, so expect to pay around $60, I think that's how much I paid last month from JFK to a hotel on the Upper East Side. A cab is MUCH less hassle than the subway, with tired kids and luggage. NY taxi drivers are LUNATICS though, be prepared for some hairy driving and near death experiences as they weave through the hellish traffic jams. I made it in one piece though and the benefit of getting from the airport to the hotel in less than an hour is worth it.

wiki says it's flat fare $45 from jfk to manhatten. Plus tip remember!

Can I take the oppurtunity to recommend a Big Apple Greeter ?

We did this back then. It was fab.

Thanks all - I'll take a taxi.

12 years since I was in NY so couldn't remember the form.

Big Apple Greeter looks like a great service, but we're hooking up with friends so should be fine.

I love the taxi ride into the city, watching the skyline, etc. The last time I got the subway you had to get a bus transfer to the nearest subway station...

We pre-booked a transfer on a minibus which was much cheaper than a yellow cab, fine service, & you got to see the sights as you drove into the city, and a few more hotels as your fellow travellers got dropped off..

(cue huge sighs of either relief or disappointment when you see where other folk are going to be staying, from the rest of the people on the minibus!)

instead you could get a super shuttle. its a shared taxi like a little mini bus thats cheaper than a taxi but is door to door the same looky

super shuttle.. that's the name of the one I was talking about, just couldn't remember what it was called! Thanks sungirltan x

Taxi

And go for one ont he ranks. Loads of people will try and persuade you to go in theirs as you leave the airport but we were firmly recommended not to accept.

:-)