Transportation Laguardia to Midtown

We will be flying into Laguardia Airport and are looking for budget transportation to our hotel, the Hilton New York (1335 Avenue of the Americas). We%26#39;ll be travelling very light and are accustomed to public transportation. We are also planning on using the subways extensively during our 4 day visit so any sort of city pass would be ideal. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much,

Jennifer

Transportation Laguardia to Midtown

Jennifer, LGA airport is really close to Manhattan (30-40 mins). A taxi is only about $30-35. A car service is about the same but you%26#39;ll get a fixed price so won%26#39;t be affected by amount of traffic.

carmellimo.com (don%26#39;t forget to get their coupon for $4 off airport pickup)

An express bus will cost $12/person so for 2 it doesn%26#39;t much pay vs. a taxi or car service. There is an option to take a city bus and then transfer to the subway, but it really doesn%26#39;t make much sense imo. Here are all the options

panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/airports/html/lg_鈥?/a>

If you do want to do the bus/subway thing, buy a metrocard at the newsstand as you exit the terminal. Your options are a pay per ride metrocard that you can both use and put as much or as little money as you want on it ($10-??) OR a weekly unlimited metrocard for $24, but you%26#39;d need 2 or $48. Not a good option imo for your needs. You may be surprised that a lot of the places you want to go are within a walk of your hotel. ;)

Transportation Laguardia to Midtown

If you like mass transit take the Q33 bus to Jackson Heights/Roosavelt avenue stop and transfer to the F train to Manhattan. Exit at Rock Center -47-50 street (the hilton is at 6th ave and 54th street)

Thanks so much for the info. We%26#39;re on a budget big time and are only staying in Midtown because we got a great rate at the Hilton. We%26#39;ve used the NYC subways before but not the bus. Will it be awkward on the bus if we%26#39;re travelling with a small (carry-on sized) case and a backpackers%26#39; pack? Thanks!

Jennifer

No, you should be able to manage it. I rarely recommend taking the bus from LaGuardia because the trip is just so long and inconvenient that way, but it is entirely doable, and when you take the Q-33 (as you should) you pass through a perfectly nice neighborhood. If you take the bus all the way to 74th Street, and if you like Indian food and goods, the South Asian shopping district for the entire metropolitan area is centered on 74th Street north of Roosevelt Avenue, and may be worth a quick look before you go down into the subway (not up onto the elevated) and take the E Fifth Avenue, or the F to 57th Street -- whatever express train comes first..

Remember that if you get a MetroCard before you get on the bus, and get on the subway within two hours of boarding the bus, the transfer from the bus to the subway will be free -- even though you swipe the card again at the subway turnstile, no fare will be deducted.