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Getting
There
Air
International Flights arrive at John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport in Queens
or at Newark in New Jersey. There 's a flat fare from JFK into Manhattan
(Plus bridge and tunnel tolls and a tip). Uniformed dispatchers will
guide you towards the lisened taxi stand; avoid the 'gypsy cabs' which
tout for custom at the airport. About half the price of cab, private
minibus services operated by New York Airport Sirvice and Gray Line
depart regularly for various points in Midtown Manhattan, include Grand
Central Terminal for connecions to the subway. The cheapest way of all
is to take the free shuttle bus to Howard Beach subway station, where
single subway token will get you any where in the city. This will take
at least an hour and could be awkward with heavy luggage.
Taxis from Newark start at around $40, or you can take the transit bus
to Port Authority Bus Terminal or Grand Central Terminal.
Most US domestic flights arrive at La Guardia in Queens, the closet
airport to Manhattan. Again, a minibus into Manhattan (about $10) is
about half the cost of a taxi, but the cheapest way into town is on
the M60 bus, with links to the various subway lines along 125th St.
Rail/Bus
Amtrak long-distance train services from the USA and Canada arrive at
Penn Station, close to Midtown Manhattan and with connections to the
subway network. Greyhound buses arrive at the Port Authority Bus Terminal
on West 40th St, a short walk from Times Square - though a taxi would
be advisable if you are arrving late at night.
Road
I - 95 runs up through Newjersey and crosses briefly into Manhattan
on its City to enter Lower Manhattan through the Holland Tunnel; the
I - 495 at Union City for Midtown Manhattan via the Lincoln Tunnel;
or cross the Geogrge Washington Bridge into Manhattan and take the Henry
Hudson Parkway down the west side of the island. Once you are settled
in MAnhattan, park your car securely in a garage and get around by public
transport. Driving in New York is a nightmare and it is simply not worth
the hassle
Getting Around
New York is a great city for walking, and Manhattan's grid system makes
it easy to get about. The only real exception to Manhattan 's grid system
is Broadway, an ancient Indian trail. Allow one to minutes per block
if heading up or down, five minutes across town between avenues, and
you won't go far wrong
For longer distances, the quickest way of getting about is by subway.
The subway system runs 24 hrs a day and is both easy and safe to use
once you have masterd the map. Remember that 'express' trains only stop
at certain stations and if you want one of the stations in between you
need to catch a 'local'. A better bet than single-ride tokens is to
buy a magnetic Metrocard which can be 'loaded' in advance with multiple
rides; if you plan to use the subway a lot, a seven - day unlimited
Metrocard, also valid on buses, is even better value.
Buses tend to be slow but they can be a good way of seeing the city.
A singlr flat fare takes you anywhere in Manhattan, so if you need to
change buses ask your driver for 'Tranfer'
Open-top bus tours are operated by a number of companies, tickets are
available from the visitor centre at 8th Ave and 47th St or on the Bus.
Taxis are fine if you are in hurry, but an unneccessarily expensive
way of getting about. Always use a licensed yellow cab - you can hail
them on the street - and make sure that the driver switches on the meter.
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