New York Airports
If you are thinking of traveling to New York City, you should take into account some details that will make your trip a pleasant experience. The first thing you should know is that to enter the US territory it is mandatory to have all the documentation that the authorities require at the airports, such as a visa and passport. People with Spanish nationality do not need a visa if the purpose of the trip is tourism, however, they must fill out the ESTA form (at least) 72 hours before the flight.
The second most important thing is to hire a good travel insurance, although this is not mandatory, it is recommended, since in the United States the health service is private and medical expenses have very high prices , if an unforeseen health event occurs, your health budget vacations and total finances can be severely affected.
Another detail that you must take into account before traveling to The Big Apple, is which of the airports you will arrive at, since in this city there are several and depending on where the plane in which you travel lands, you will have to travel a longer or shorter journey to your accommodation.
New York airports
In New York there are 3 airports that you can arrive at: John Fitzgerald Kennedy Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport and Newark Airport. The first 2 airports are in the district of Queens, while the last airport is in the state of New Jersey.
Generally, people who travel to New York go to Manhattan , the center of the city and also the district in which the most important financial, cultural and commercial centers of the world are located. In order to know which of the airports is the most convenient to arrive at, it is important to take into account, in addition to the location of your accommodation, the number of people who will travel with you and the budget available for transfers or transportation to Manhattan or other districts.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy Airport (JFK)
This airport is one of the best known and most important in the world, also the largest of the 3 found in the city and the one with the highest passenger traffic in the entire country. Its name commemorates the former president of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. It is located to the east of the city, 25 kilometers from Manhattan, exactly in Jamaica Bay, in the district of Queens. It has 9 terminals and is the main destination for most of the flights that come from Europe. The terminals have a ‘U’ shape and communicate with each other thanks to the AirTrain metro system. Getting from one terminal to another is a quick and easy process. At JFK you will find a large number of shops, restaurants and businesses where you can buy souvenirs , taste delicious food or have a drink.
How to get from JFK airport to downtown New York?
The best thing to do is that you always plan how you will move from the airports to your destination in advance, that is, before traveling, book with a transfer company and in this way, you will avoid having problems at the airports.
To get to the city center from John Fitzgerald Kennedy airport, you will find a wide variety of options, you can go by train, taxi, shuttle bus, etc. Choose the one that best suits your needs, budget and number of companions.
Cab
The taxis that go to Manhattan can be found at the exit of the terminals, they are yellow, they only allow 3 passengers and generally, there is a long line of people waiting their turn to get into one of them. Trips to the center of the city usually cost approximately $52, to this you have to add about $10 for tolls, eighty cents for taxes and if you go to 96th Street in Manhattan you will have to pay an additional $3 for traffic. If you take the taxi between 4 in the afternoon and 10 at night, you will have to pay a surcharge of $5 because it is rush hour. And finally, don’t forget to tip the taxi driver, which is usually up to $10. To travel by taxi you must have at least $80.
NYC Express Bus
The NYC Express Bus service has buses that transport passengers from John Fitzgerald Kennedy airports to Manhattan between 11 in the morning and 7 at night. Buses leave every half hour from the terminals and stop at Grand Central, as well as Times Square and the Port Authority. Children under 5 years of age do not pay for the transfer and all buses have WIFI so that passengers can easily communicate with whoever they want and report their arrival in the city.
Subway
Getting around by subway is cheap, it only costs about $11, however, this option is only recommended for those who already know the city and travel with little luggage, since the journey lasts approximately an hour and a half. From JFK you can get on the AirTrain and go to the Howard Beach or Jamaica station, once you arrive at the selected station you must change to the A or E line that goes downtown.
Shared Minibus
Another option to get to the center are the shared minibuses. This type of transportation only goes as far as 125th Street in Manhattan, where most of the hotels and private residences where people traveling to The Big Apple stay. The price of the transfer in these minibuses is cheap, only 20 dollars per person. However, the route is long because they make several stops to leave each passenger at their accommodation. When you book the transfer in a shared minibus in advance of the trip, the company sends you a coupon by email that you must print and take with you when you travel. In this way, you only have to present it at the airport terminal and you can get on the transport.
Private Driver
If you want a more comfortable transfer, you can hire the services of a private transport. These are usually cars with a driver and are offered in the modality of economic private transfer and premium private transfer. The difference between both modalities is that in the economic private transfer you must call the driver when you have collected your bags so that he can go to the airport terminal to pick you up, while with the premium service the driver will wait for you in the terminal with a sign with your name and you won’t have to call him.
Laguardia Airport (LGA)
This airport was private and it was not until the beginning of the 20th century that it became public, since its management was left to the New York City Council. Currently, LaGuardia is the airport that receives the most domestic flights. It is located in Queens, less than 13 km from Manhattan, the center of the city. Its size is less than JFK, it has 4 terminals and a wide variety of shops and restaurants. The main advantage of arriving at this airport is that, thanks to the fact that it is close to the center, the transfers are faster and cheaper.
How to get from LaGuardia Airport to New York City?
The means of transportation available at this airport to get to the center of New York are private cars, taxis, shared minibuses, limousines, and buses.
By Bus
Buses are the cheapest option. You can opt for public buses or those of the NYC Express Bus. By public transportation you must take the Q70 bus that goes to Roosevelt Avenue. Once you arrive you must transfer to the subway, to the lines that are identified with E, M, F, R and 7 (this only if your destination is Midtown or Downtown). If your accommodation is located on the Upper West Side or on the Upper East Side, you just have to take the M60 bus that goes to 125th Street. If you decide to take the NYC Express Bus, which is also cheap, you should know that they only offer their services from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
By taxi from the airport to the center
Going by taxi to your accommodation will cost you approximately $70, since the price of the service must be added to the tip, taxes and tolls.
By minibus from the airport to the center of New York
Shared minibuses are also a cheap option, although the journey is longer. The price is approximately $15. It is always advisable to reserve a seat in a shared minibus before traveling. This is done over the Internet, and to speed up the service at the terminal, the company sends you a coupon by email that you must print and show before getting into the minibus.
Private Cars
Private cars with drivers are a slightly more expensive option, but the transfer takes less time. You can choose if you want the driver to wait for you in the terminal with a sign that has your name on it. Or if it is you who calls the driver to notify him of your arrival and wait for him to arrive, this second option is the cheapest.
In all luxury to New York
Moving in a limousine means a higher expense, but also a comfortable and luxurious journey. The limo would wait for you outside the terminal. These vehicles usually have capacity for 8 passengers.
Newark Liberty Airport (EWR)
Actually, this airport is not located in New York City, but in Newark, in the state of New Jersey. However, it is the destination where a large number of international flights arrive from all over the world. The Newark-Liberty airport, although it is one of the oldest in the country, currently has modern facilities. It offers the Airtrain service that connects the 3 terminals and is very well connected with New York and other eastern cities.
Newark Airport is located 25 km from the city center. Many flights from the main European capitals arrive at this airport daily, so it is quite likely that you will land here.
How to get from Newark airport to New York City?
If your flight has landed at this airport and your destination is the center of New York, you can travel by taxi, shuttle bus, private transport, train, shared minibus or private transport.
Airtram
With the internal transport of the airport, the Airtrain, you can reach the Newark Liberty train station. There you must take a train to Penn Station, located in the center of Manhattan. In total you would not spend more than $16.
Newark Airport Bus Express
If you have heavy luggage and don’t want to use the train, but want a cheap transfer, you can opt for the Newark Airport Bus Express. Its price is 18 dollars per person and children under 5 years travel free. This bus goes to Manhattan and makes 3 stops.
By taxi from the airport to New York
To go to the center of New York by taxi from the Newark airport you will spend $120, which is the cost of a legal taxi service.
By minibus from the airport to the center of New York
Getting to downtown New York in a shared minibus will cost you about $20. However, you must bear in mind that the final destination of these minibuses is 125th Street in Manhattan and that your reservation must be made in advance.
Private Car
If your English is not very good, you can opt for the transfer by private car. The driver will wait for you at the airport terminal with a sign with your name written on it. In this way, you can easily identify him and give him a piece of paper with the written address of the place where he should take you.
What is the Closest Airport To New York City?
Of the 3 airports where you can land when traveling to New York, the closest to your destination is the one in Queens, LaGuardia Airport. However, this airport mainly receives domestic flights. If you are traveling from Europe to New York, it is unlikely that your flight will land at this airport.