Pooja Ji,
I don’t get holiday that often as our employer follow NYSE holiday schedule. And, whenever I get Thursday off (like Thanksgiving) I try to visit family in Chicago/SF. We missed this opportunity to meet but let’s hope many more trips are down the road and will again try in future.
Question: What are you planning to do with luggage while moving around in NYC? Can you arrange with airline to hold your luggage or get early check-in with Airline?
Provided issue can be resolved with luggage, following can be used as a sample itinerary for attraction in NYC. You are arriving at 8:20 AM, and let’s take another 30 minutes out for taxing plane after landing, off boarding from plane etc. I think earliest you can start is 9 AM.
1) First stop Downtown NYC:a) How to reach down town Manhattan (expected arrival time: 90 Minutes)
Public Transport:
i) Take Air-Train and go to “Sutphin Blvd-Archer Ave” stop. Before boarding Air-Train you need buy Metro card for Air-Train (I think it is $5 one way). Travel time from JFK to “Sutphin Blvd-Archer Ave” stop is approx. 10 minutes (plus 10 minute max wait time for Air-Train).
ii) Once you are at “Sutphin Blvd-Archer Ave” stop, look for sign for “Sutphin Blvd-Archer Ave” subway station. Please note that you need to catch “E” Manhattan bound train. I would suggest buying unlimited subway day pass ($7). Pass will be valid throughout day and will be valid in all subway/buses operated by MTA.
iii) Once you have isolated/identified Manhattan Bound “E” train track, board the train on arrival and get off at last stop (i.e. World Trade Center)
Following links can provide you details on Air Train and Subway system:
http://www.panynj.gov/airtrain/index.htmlhttp://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/maps/submap.htmTaxi:
JFK airport is well server by local taxi and limousine service. Taxi normally operates on flat rate from JFK to Manhattan. I think it is $45 + toll (if you prefer) + tip (depends upon attitude of cabby and luggage you have).
Please note that it can take up to 90 minutes (depends on traffic) from JFK to Downtown Manhattan.
b) Attraction in/near Downtown:
1) Battery Park
2) Ferry for Status of Liberty (Time constraint, you can skip this)
3) Charging Bull (on Broadway)
4) Brooklyn Bridge
5) World Trade Center (911) Memorial
6) # of Museums (Time constraint, you can skip this)
As you are arriving for only for few hours, I would suggest skipping Statue of Liberty all together. It can take up to 4 hours to go to Liberty using ferry and come back. I normally take Yellow boat (also called yellow taxi, and lines are separate for this from Ferry for statue of Liberty) as they are normally faster to board and faster than regular ferry to reach Liberty. Drawback is that they don’t let you board off at Liberty. Basically they will stay in water allowing you to take snaps and enjoy Liberty/Downtown view from water.
If you are taking cab, then you finish item (1) and (2) first and as quickly as you can. Then, start walking on Broadway (north), you will see (3). You cannot miss this landmark as this place is always full of tourist. Continue north on Broadway and you will reach sign for (4) i.e. Brooklyn Bridge (actually it is on right hand side) and (5) World trade center is on left (2-3 block west of entrance of Brooklyn Bridge). There are also many building (Supreme Court, DA office, consulate) near Brooklyn bridge, and are picture perfect if you like photography.
If you are arriving using “E” train then follow reverse order i.e. (5), (4), (3) and if you prefer (1)/(2).
Note: If you rush and avoid Statue of Liberty trip, I think you can cover downtown in approximately 2-3 hours. I think you should be done with downtown by 1 PM. There are many street food vendors in downtown/midtown and many choices too. I am not going to focus on food as that is never a problem in NYC. It really doesn’t matter what/when do you eat, or want you eat. Majority of places are open till 11 PM and there are number of places that are open 24 hours.
2) If time permits, second stop Midtown NYC:a) How to reach (expected arrival time: 20 Minutes)
Take a taxi (yellow cab) and expected fair near to $20). If you are comfortable with Subway, you can also take 1, A, C, E trains to Midtown (42nd Street).
b) Attraction in/near Midtown:
1) Time Square
2) Radio City Musical Hall
3) Rockefeller Center
4) Madame Tussauds (Highly overrated, you can skip this)
5) Many excellent restaurant and shopping places
6) Empire State Building (Time constraint, you can skip this)
7) Central park (Time constraint, you can skip this)
Basically everything in/around 5th / 6th Ave.
Get off at 42 street 7 Avenue and start walking towards north (street number will increase). Area near Time Square basically light’s up at night but even late afternoon/evening is a lot of fun with all big boards (nowhere in world has more lighting then Time Square). I would suggest to keep walking (and enjoying the look) and just covering everything on foot. It is very easy to find way around in Manhattan (if you know street/avenue) but still I would suggest to have a map handy.
3) Reaching JFK from Manhattan:a) Public Transport:
You can take “E” train Queens bound (going towards Jamaica Central), and get off at “Sutphin Blvd-Archer Ave” subway station. Look for sign for Air-Train and go to terminal where you are expected to check-in or board. It should take approx. 60 minutes from Midtown and 90 minutes from downtown.
b) Taxi:
It should take approx. 60 minutes from Midtown and 90 minutes from downtown, fare will be on meter (approx $45 + toll + tip)
Note: Trust me eight hours are not enough for nYc and please be ready pull out from tourist mode as soon as you realize you are running out of time. In any event leave Manhattan at-least 4 hours before your check-in time or 3 hours if you have already completed checked-in and only need to board.
on eTI community..
