Maybe we should sleep in the car

May 26, 2009 3:36 PM

NY Metro area (really Long Island)/JFK filter: where to stay?

Red eye into JFK on a Saturday morning, flying out on Sunday at 5pm. In between, we're driving straight to a wedding on Saturday afternoon around Wading River/Wildwood State Park. After the wedding, do we:

Option #1) Stay near the state park

Option #2) Stay somewhere on Long Island, in between JFK and the state park

Option #3) Stay in the city (I have a hunch this is a bad idea)

Option #4) Revisit the hourly paradise and mirrored ceilings of the JFK Inn (I KNOW this is a terrible idea, but past desperate times (in the form of a red eye from the West Coast followed by another red eye to Europe) called for desperate measures)

Added degrees of difficulty: due to the tight itinerary, we have to rent a car, and we're traveling w/a toddler and his car seat. Also, we'll probably spend some time Sunday visiting w/a friend coming over from Jersey, so while we're not dumb enough to stay in or drive to Jersey, making our friend drive halfway across Long Island doesn't sound like much fun, either.

10 years ago, I would have thought nothing of staying in and hanging around Manhattan, but now we've got a kid and the priority is to minimize hassle for both him and us.

posted by NoRelationToLea to travel & transportation (3 comments total)

The Long Island Expressway has hotels visible from almost every exit. That way you can jump on and off without alot of extra navigating, and it'll be easy for your Jersey friend to get to you. For example, this one is in Plainview which is about halfway between JFK and Wading River.
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/nycpv

I'm guessing you already asked the hosts if they have any recommendations?
posted by amethysts at 4:51 PM on May 26

For a recent wedding, we stayed overnight at the Marriott Residence Inn in Plainview, LI.

It would be nice for a family and for entertaining a guest on short time because it's an all-suite extended stay type of hotel, yet it's cheaper than staying in Manhattan.

Alternatively, to save your friend the drive, look for a hotel in Brooklyn.
posted by cmgonzalez at 6:26 PM on May 26

I live on long island and waiding river is basically at the other end of long island from JFK. Thats probably about an hour to an hour and a half drive right there.

Hmm have you thought about taking the lirr instead of renting a car . Going to the river head stop and having somebody pick you up and dropping you off their. Then take the train to brooklyn or manhattan and staying in a hotel in the city?

The problem is the drive to wading river from jfk is about an hour or more. Anyway your best bet would be to stay inm a hotel near jfk.

You can always take a the airtrain to jamaca station. You can meet your friend in manhattan or anywhere in the city and take the train back to jfk.

Thats your best bet.
posted by majortom1981 at 7:04 AM on May 27