BootsnAll Travel Community

anything i should need to know before traveling a day and 6 hours on greyhound buses??Have to go to JFK airport.Which stop would people recommend the "Rochester" or "Hillside Ave Jamaica"?

One thing about Greyhound is that they charge $3 for an extra piece of checked luggage. (The first piece of checked lugggage-under 50 pounds--is free) Another thing--if you are travelling out of Port Authority--is that the customer service is oh, so bad. It's a crying shame. But on the bus, it really depends. Sometimes it is more pleasnt than flying. It all depends.

What are the "Rochester" and "Hillside Ave Jamaica" stops you're talking about? Are they Greyhound stops? I didn't know there were any in Queens.

To get to JFK from Port Authority Bus Terminal, your best bet is to take the E-train towards Jamaica to Sutphin Blvd and transfer to the AirTrain. Here's a link to the NYC subway map.

As far as the 30-hour trip on Greyhound -- take something -- valium, xanax, or whatever you can get ahold of that will relax you a bit.

If you want to survive with some resources left, bring foods you like with you. The stations they stop at have pretty awful foods. Cut back on the drinking of water. You won't want to use their bathrooms or depend on stops,

Fruits are always good. Oranges, apples, whatever. Bring a good book or two or three. Most importantly go with an open mind. The person sitting besides you might be as bored as you and his life story might be at least interesting.

If you´ve got a ipod, its a perfect place for it.

maybe i am wrong. i just thought that they had a stop in the places mentioned above..whats the best bet to check out stops?just at greyhound official website??

I didn't think Greyhound went east of Port Authority Bus Terminal, but now I know they do. I couldn't find the stops you mentioned on their website, though.

If they do go into Queens towards the airport, I'm sure you'll have to change at PABT, wait for the next bus, then sit in traffic to get there. See my previous post for subway/airtrain directions.

One great thing about the port authority is that though its absolutely huge, it's chock ful of places to wait, places to eat, and people to watch.

Waiting there can be a pleasure if one has money for some of the best bagels and butter in the world, or even Nathans hotdogs.

I agree about the people watching in Port Authority--better than any movie, book, ipod....I couldn't help eavesdropping . Oh, the stories I heard. What a cross-section of the USA, hell, the world. And the bagels are good, not as cheap as on the street, but good. I guess the point is to approach the whole Greyhound experience as part of the journey, part of the experience....but do try to travel light if you take the 'hound.

would it be best to just get a taxi out from the Port Authority to JFK.It would be less hassle then getting another bus etc?would a taxi cost much do ye know for that distance?Plus i ll have a small suitcase cause going for the week?That ok for the g'hound do you think?i look forward to the g'hound experience all right!!love the american bagels will try and cant wait.

The cost for a taxi would be practically prohbitive fora a person that's coming in on Greyhound for economy reasons.
in NYC, The first mile costs about 3 dollars, and its at least 30 miles away. You're looking at 50 bucks or more.
Still, some DO take the airport limosuine. There MIGHT be an airport shuttle from the port authority which leaves on the hour or something, but then you're still taking public transport and waiting.

Manhattan - JFK
Depart:
Penn Station Depart:
Port Authority Depart:
Grand Central Arrive: *
JFK Airport

- - - - - - - - - - 5:10am 6:10am
- - - - - 5:20am 5:40am 6:45am
- - - - - 5:50am 6:10am 7:15am
- - - - - 6:20am 6:40am 7:45am
- - - - - 6:50am 7:10am 8:15am
- - - - - 7:20am 7:40am 8:45am
7:40am 7:50am 8:10am 9:15am
8:10am 8:20am 8:40am 9:45am
8:40am 8:50am 9:10am 10:15am
9:10am 9:20am 9:40am 10:45am
9:40am 9:50am 10:10am 11:15am
10:10am 10:20am 10:40am 11:45am
10:40am 10:50am 11:10am 12:15pm
11:10am 11:20am 11:40am 12:45pm
- - - - - 11:40am 12:00pm 1:15pm
11:40am 12:00pm 12:20pm 1:35pm
12:10pm 12:20pm 12:40pm 1:55pm
- - - - - 12:40pm 1:00pm 2:15pm
12:40pm 1:00pm 1:20pm 2:35pm
1:10pm 1:20pm 1:40pm 2:55pm
- - - - - 1:40pm 2:00pm 3:15pm
1:40pm 2:00pm 2:20pm 3:40pm
2:10pm 2:20pm 2:40pm 3:45pm
- - - - - 2:40pm 3:00pm 4:15pm
2:40pm 3:00pm 3:20pm 4:35pm
3:10pm 3:20pm 3:40pm 4:55pm
- - - - - 3:40pm 4:00pm 5:15pm
3:40pm 4:00pm 4:20pm 5:35pm
4:10pm 4:20pm 4:40pm 5:55pm
- - - - - 4:40pm 5:00pm 6:15pm
4:40pm 5:00pm 5:20pm 6:35pm
5:10pm 5:20pm 5:40pm 6:55pm
- - - - - 5:40pm 6:00pm 7:15pm
5:40pm 6:00pm 6:20pm 7:35pm
6:10pm 6:20pm 6:40pm 7:55pm
- - - - - 6:40pm 7:00pm 8:15pm
6:40pm 7:00pm 7:20pm 8:35pm
7:10pm 7:20pm 7:40pm 8:55pm
7:40pm 7:40pm 8:00pm 9:00pm
8:10pm 8:10pm 8:30pm 9:30pm
8:40pm 9:00pm 10:00pm
- - - - - - - - - - 9:30pm 10:30pm
- - - - - - - - - - 10:00pm 11:00pm

http://www.nyairportservice.com/manhattan_jfk.html

Port Authority JFK Airport
LGA Airport $15.00
$12.00 $27.00
$21.00

Heres the answer for one shuttle company.

Its a fourty minute shuttle ride. That would be prohibitive in a cab that charges for time and distance.

When traveling to the airport, take MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) trains, MTA New York City Transit subways, and local buses through Jamaica and Howard Beach stations.

Take the following trains or subways:
• the LIRR to Jamaica Station
• the E, J/Z subways to Sutphin Blvd-Archer Ave, Jamaica Station
• the A subway to Howard Beach/JFK Airport Station

Or take the following buses:
• the NYC Transit Bus Lines Q6, Q8, Q9, Q20, Q24, Q30, Q31, Q40, Q41, Q43, Q44, Q54, Q56, Q60 at Jamaica Station
• the NYC Transit Bus Line Q11, one block from Howard Beach Station, at 102nd St and 160th Ave

Check with LIRR and NYC Transit for ticket cost and schedules—and to make sure the train, subway, or bus that you’ve chosen stops at your desired destination.

For detailed directions from popular area locations to your airline terminal, use Trip Planner now.

http://www.panynj.gov/airtrain/


Thats it. The air train coss five dollars plus subway to the required stops.

so, its $6.50 vs 15 dollars for the cheapest ways.

Enjoy.

PS, the nyc subway system can be confusing for a first or third timer, so ask a lot of questions when you get to the train you think you want to take.

quote:

Originally posted by Tortuga_traveller:
Thats it. The air train coss five dollars plus subway to the required stops.

so, its $6.50 vs 15 dollars for the cheapest ways.

Enjoy.

PS, the nyc subway system can be confusing for a first or third timer, so ask a lot of questions when you get to the train you think you want to take.

The subway's actually $2, so the total trip is $7. You should buy a MetroCard for $7, which you can get just before you get on the train, either from a vending machine or the agent in the booth. The agent only takes cash but the vending machine takes cash, debit cards or credit cards. If you use the machine, be sure to get a "regular metrocard" as opposed to an "unlimited ride" one as both cost $7, but the latter doesn't include the Air Train

It's actually quite an easy trip from Port Authority as the E-Train is right downstairs. The A-train is also downstairs at Port Authority, but it's a longer trip.

If you're feeling adventurous, have time (2.5 hours or so) and really want to do it on the cheap, take the E-train to Kew Gardens/Union Turnpike, then get the Q-10 bus. You get a free transfer this way and the whole trip will only cost you $2.

Whatever way you do it, do be afraid to ask for directions. New Yorkers are surprisingly helpful and in general, enjoy giving directions.