Let’s Talk Getting Around in New York

There are a lot of different ways to get around New York City. What follows is what we used on our trip. But know that these are not the only ways. It really comes down to what you’re comfortable using. New York City is a very large city. It’s intimidating and in some places dangerous. Be sure to use caution no matter what method of travel you use. Be alert. Use reputable companies.

After arriving at the airport, there are a few ways to get to your final destination – bus/train, taxi, ride share, car service. The least expensive is definitely public transit, costing only a few dollars per person. But the trade off is that it’s sometimes not the fastest mode of transportation, you will be amongst the masses trying to get places too and safety. We opted to use a car service. We have used this method a couple times and it has gone well each time. I like this method because we can pre-arrange our rides. There are no surprises in fees because we pay ahead of time. The company is given our flight information so they will know when our flights arrive and pick up is typically quick because they are already aware we are coming. On our most recent trip we booked with CARmel (see link below).

After we retrieved our luggage, we made our way to the designated waiting area as instructed by CARmel and notified them through the app that we had arrived and were waiting. We were given a description of the car, including identifying signs to look for plus the name of our driver. Our driver arrived shortly after curbside and helped us load our luggage. He drove us directly to the front door our hotel. Although I pre-paid gratuities, I opted to tip additional money at drop off – usually a couple bucks per suitcase. This is optional but a nice thing to do. Plus these guys were giving us a ride back to the airport at the end of our trip. I wanted to establish a good relationship – also the driver was courteous and helpful.

Our primary mode of transportation (other than walking) for the remainder of our trip was the New York City Subway which consists of a labyrinth of tracks that run beneath Manhattan and the outlining areas of New York City. This system is amazing and affordable. But it, too is very intimidating and sometimes scary. Sorry. It just is. Stations are located under ground. They are dark. Sometimes they are smelly and dirty and sometimes you encounter people that could make you uncomfortable. These are the cons of using such a system.

My advice:

• BE ALERT. Do not keep your nose stuck in your phone.
• Stand close to the wall with your back towards it, keeping no space for anyone to pass behind you. This allows you to watch from both sides. There really is no need to stand right next to the tracks for any reason. You will have plenty of time to board the train without having to risk any falls on to the tracks as a train approaches.
• Pre-purchase your passes so you are not fumbling for your wallet each time. Keep your valuables safe by keeping them close to your person. Rides on the subway are $2.75 each per person. If you are using this during your whole trip, getting a 7 day ride pass for $33 is the best way to go. These can be purchased at one of the machines at any station. And you would only have to do this once for a 7 day trip.

The pros of using such a system is COST & EFFICIENCY. $33 per person for the duration of our visit is a bargain  – EASILY the cost of ONE ride in an Uber by comparison. We were on the train going everywhere and at $2.75 a ride, if we were paying separately adds up. These trains move on a schedule that is pretty darn accurate and they are fast. You can get from one end of Manhattan to the other in minutes compared to sitting in traffic in a taxi which charges not only by the distance but time you’re in the car or ride share. Ride share is definitely a safer option but it will cost you. Make use of Google Maps to get you to the correct station. There are sometimes stations on every corner and they are named similarly and it can be very easy to go to the wrong one. I was very happy to have Michaela with me helping me navigate. I am still amazed that we didn’t get lost!

TIP: The Staten Island Ferry is FREE! If you want to see the Statue of Liberty but don’t necessarily want to get off the boat and stand next to it, you can float on by, take your photos, get off the ferry in Staten Island, then get right back on and take it back to Manhattan. Easy peasy and CHEAP!

HELPFUL APPS

• MYmta app for iOS or Android
• NYC Ferry App
• CARmel Car & Limo Service