Best way to get from Laguardia to Brooklyn?
June 25, 2018 4:21 PM Subscribe
My GF and I are flying in for our very first NY trip and will be staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Brooklyn. We're just wondering what's the best mode of transportation to get from LaGuardia to Brooklyn and vice versa.
My GF and I are flying in for our very first NY trip and will be staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Brooklyn. We're just wondering what's the best mode of transportation from LaGuardia to Brooklyn and vice versa. (Bus? Subway? Lyft? Cab? Airlink and hope there are enough passengers to keep us from paying $85 each?). I checked with the hotel and they don't have shuttle service to/from the airport, though they would arrange for a taxi to pick up if needed (though it'd be a $50 ride). We'd arrive in NY around 8 PM and leave around 3:30 PM (both on weekdays) if that helps.
My GF and I are flying in for our very first NY trip and will be staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Brooklyn. We're just wondering what's the best mode of transportation from LaGuardia to Brooklyn and vice versa. (Bus? Subway? Lyft? Cab? Airlink and hope there are enough passengers to keep us from paying $85 each?). I checked with the hotel and they don't have shuttle service to/from the airport, though they would arrange for a taxi to pick up if needed (though it'd be a $50 ride). We'd arrive in NY around 8 PM and leave around 3:30 PM (both on weekdays) if that helps.
JFK is much easier, unfortunately, but I once took the Q70 express bus from LaGuardia to the subway. Depending on your tolerance for transferring a couple of times, it's not bad (definitely the cheapest option, and could be faster than driving in rush hour when you leave). Where are you going in Brooklyn?
posted by pinochiette at 4:34 PM on June 25, 2018
posted by pinochiette at 4:34 PM on June 25, 2018
The Union Street R station is only a block from your hotel so I would go with that. You'd take the Q70 bus from LaGuardia (stops at each terminal and runs every 10 minutes at your flight times) to the Roosevelt Avenue-74th Street stop which is right by the subway station you need. Then take the R straight to Union Street. You should be able to pay your fare and get a metrocard at the terminal.
posted by oftheheights at 4:36 PM on June 25, 2018
posted by oftheheights at 4:36 PM on June 25, 2018
Oh, I also forgot to mention, if you want an easier journey and don't mind spending a little more time, you could take Lyft Line or Uber Pool, where you share the ride with other people going in the same direction. Probably cheaper than a cab.
posted by pinochiette at 4:37 PM on June 25, 2018
posted by pinochiette at 4:37 PM on June 25, 2018
I always take a cab to and from LGA even though I take public transportation for everything. I've never taken a cab to or from JFK for example. Technically it is possible to take a bus and subway but it seems pretty convoluted to me and would take a long time. As Liesl said, the cab from the airport will be clearly marked as you exit baggage.
If you are unfamiliar with buses and subways this is not the easiest intro.
On Preview: Lyft Line or Uber Pool sound like great ideas, I might try that in future!
posted by maggiemaggie at 4:38 PM on June 25, 2018 [12 favorites]
If you are unfamiliar with buses and subways this is not the easiest intro.
On Preview: Lyft Line or Uber Pool sound like great ideas, I might try that in future!
posted by maggiemaggie at 4:38 PM on June 25, 2018 [12 favorites]
The Q70 + F train combo from LaGuardia to Brooklyn takes (absurdly) well over an hour. Why there is no better transit between Queens and Brooklyn only god can tell us. So I'd take a cab/lyft unless money is very tight.
posted by dis_integration at 4:42 PM on June 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by dis_integration at 4:42 PM on June 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
The bus-to-subway is doable, and I've done it - but echoing all the others that it's not the most fun intro the the NYC subway. Taxi or Lyft, and explore later without your bags.
posted by rdn at 5:31 PM on June 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by rdn at 5:31 PM on June 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
I live in Brooklyn and frequently fly out of LGA, and unless I am absolutely flat broke, I ALWAYS take a cab or rideshare to and from LGA. Bus -> subway -> subway is just no fun, especially for a first trip to NYC. (And depending on where you're staying in Brooklyn, you might get a really nice introductory view of the skyline from a cab.)
If you want to take a yellow cab, you go to the ground transportation area and get in the cab line; if you want to take a Lyft or other rideshare, you go to the ground transportation area and then take a (very frequent) shuttle bus just a couple of minutes to the rideshare area. No need to arrange a ride ahead of time.
I have found Lyft to be cheaper than yellow cabs from LGA, and depending on the length of the cab line, it can also be faster, despite the need to get on a shuttle first. But it can be nice to just zone out in the cab line and then be assigned a cab by the dispatcher, rather than messing around with the shuttle and the app.
All that being said... yeah, it's expensive. The $50 your hotel quoted you is about on par with my experience.
posted by showbiz_liz at 5:45 PM on June 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
If you want to take a yellow cab, you go to the ground transportation area and get in the cab line; if you want to take a Lyft or other rideshare, you go to the ground transportation area and then take a (very frequent) shuttle bus just a couple of minutes to the rideshare area. No need to arrange a ride ahead of time.
I have found Lyft to be cheaper than yellow cabs from LGA, and depending on the length of the cab line, it can also be faster, despite the need to get on a shuttle first. But it can be nice to just zone out in the cab line and then be assigned a cab by the dispatcher, rather than messing around with the shuttle and the app.
All that being said... yeah, it's expensive. The $50 your hotel quoted you is about on par with my experience.
posted by showbiz_liz at 5:45 PM on June 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
Take the 50 buck cab rezzy or hail a cab. NYC is going to throw a lot of stimuli at you. Simplify this part so you can over think the food, art, people, and vibes.
posted by vrakatar at 6:26 PM on June 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by vrakatar at 6:26 PM on June 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
Cab. A Lyft may be a little cheaper but the last time I landed at LGA (a couple of months ago) they had moved rideshares to some incredibly out-of-the-way parking area that was a good 10-15 minute walk from the terminals. I live in that neighborhood and have never taken public transit to LGA. Fifty dollars sounds about right if it includes tip.
posted by breakin' the law at 6:33 PM on June 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by breakin' the law at 6:33 PM on June 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
Wait there's a shuttle to the rideshare area? OK disregard my comment about the walk...
posted by breakin' the law at 6:34 PM on June 25, 2018
posted by breakin' the law at 6:34 PM on June 25, 2018
For this trip (and any others in NYC where you need a car), I recommend Juno over Lyft and Uber. Not only is it generally cheaper, but the drivers get a higher cut than they do from other rideshare apps. (This apparently isn't just marketing b.s.: I asked a lot of drivers if this was true—they have all said yes.) The wait times are no different.
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 7:23 PM on June 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 7:23 PM on June 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
I live in Brooklyn, just had a business trip two weeks ago and my return flight landed in LaGuardia. I would go with a cab from the airport to the hotel. The advantage you have with LaGuardia is that it's right on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway - a big expressway that, well, runs between Brooklyn and Queens. I also live just off the BQE, and it cost me only about $40 for a yellow taxi to get home and took only about a half hour. The Holiday Inn Express is also fairly close to the BQE (about 4 exits past mine, then another 10 minutes on surface roads), so a cab for you would be about the same.
The only caveat about the BQE is that you run the risk of getting snarled up in traffic on the Kosciuszko Bridge (a bridge connecting Brooklyn and Queens) - it wouldn't affect you much monetarily, but may make your trip a little longer timewise. This is unfortunately an inescapable part of the trip, but once you're over the bridge traffic thins out a good deal.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:40 PM on June 25, 2018
The only caveat about the BQE is that you run the risk of getting snarled up in traffic on the Kosciuszko Bridge (a bridge connecting Brooklyn and Queens) - it wouldn't affect you much monetarily, but may make your trip a little longer timewise. This is unfortunately an inescapable part of the trip, but once you're over the bridge traffic thins out a good deal.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:40 PM on June 25, 2018
I always take a cab to and from LGA even though I take public transportation for everything.
Same, I take transit for everything but I fly into LaGuardia a lot and always get a cab. Trains are easy but a bus transfer in an unfamiliar city with baggage.... worth the cab fare especially for two people. $50 sounds right to me.
posted by bradbane at 9:08 PM on June 25, 2018
Same, I take transit for everything but I fly into LaGuardia a lot and always get a cab. Trains are easy but a bus transfer in an unfamiliar city with baggage.... worth the cab fare especially for two people. $50 sounds right to me.
posted by bradbane at 9:08 PM on June 25, 2018
Response by poster: Thanks for the tips so far! Starting to lean in the direction of Lyft Line (checked the site and apparently you can get your first ride for free, though I would have to see what else would then be involved), Juno, and/or cab. Though if anyone else has any other recommendations...
@ pinochiette we're mainly coming to Brooklyn for the David Bowie Is... exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum (already got the tix over a month ago), as well as hopefully a few other museums (such as the New Museum) and Central Park. Unfortunately we'll only be in town for four days (due to work), so we know we won't be able to cram in everything this time around. Still, as long as we get to see the Bowie exhibit (and maybe reconnoiter for Next Time)....
posted by gtrwolf at 10:57 PM on June 25, 2018
@ pinochiette we're mainly coming to Brooklyn for the David Bowie Is... exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum (already got the tix over a month ago), as well as hopefully a few other museums (such as the New Museum) and Central Park. Unfortunately we'll only be in town for four days (due to work), so we know we won't be able to cram in everything this time around. Still, as long as we get to see the Bowie exhibit (and maybe reconnoiter for Next Time)....
posted by gtrwolf at 10:57 PM on June 25, 2018
I live near that hotel. The bus/subway option isn't the worst, but it's depressing how long it takes, when driving is so fast (I give myself an hour by car, but I'm paranoid, and it only takes about 45 minutes or so, though I've even done it in less). Also, if you take one of the express public buses to/from the airport to get to the subway, the ticketing system can be confusing, especially if you're in a rush and/or you've never done it before.
Instead, I'd take a taxi from LGA (should cost around $50). Then, I'd take a car service back to LGA. By "car service", I mean one of the local ones based in the South-ish Brooklyn-ish area, like Arecibo or Eastern, which both have apps you can download like Lyft/Uber to request a car. The car service will charge you $30-35 (usually it's easiest to pay them in cash, even though they have an app). If you have a coupon for a free Lyft, that might be worth it? I've had trouble with overcharging when I've taken Lyft to LGA, plus they're always going to charge more than Eastern/Arecibo does.
posted by unknowncommand at 4:33 AM on June 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
Instead, I'd take a taxi from LGA (should cost around $50). Then, I'd take a car service back to LGA. By "car service", I mean one of the local ones based in the South-ish Brooklyn-ish area, like Arecibo or Eastern, which both have apps you can download like Lyft/Uber to request a car. The car service will charge you $30-35 (usually it's easiest to pay them in cash, even though they have an app). If you have a coupon for a free Lyft, that might be worth it? I've had trouble with overcharging when I've taken Lyft to LGA, plus they're always going to charge more than Eastern/Arecibo does.
posted by unknowncommand at 4:33 AM on June 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
Seconding car services. I personally recommend Jupiter, who can probably take you for $35+tip each way and always are fine with paying via card on Square (if that's your preference). No app, but you can schedule a LGA pick-up with them in advance. Call the day before and give them your flight number and arrival time, then call to let them know when you've landed, and they'll come get you, no waiting in line.
posted by halation at 5:04 AM on June 26, 2018
posted by halation at 5:04 AM on June 26, 2018
Arecibo is good, I've used them before. You can arrange for them to pick you up at the airport, as well, if you'd like. Lyft prices will vary, but the app shows you the price before you order the car.
Go to Runner & Stone on 3rd Ave. for a morning pastry and coffee.
posted by breakin' the law at 8:21 AM on June 26, 2018
Go to Runner & Stone on 3rd Ave. for a morning pastry and coffee.
posted by breakin' the law at 8:21 AM on June 26, 2018
Nthing Arecibo and also endorsing Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club, which is only a block or so away from the hotel, for a goofy evening entertainment option (whether you opt to play shuffleboard yourself or just indulge in hipster-watching).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:27 AM on June 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:27 AM on June 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
For future reference: at least at Terminal B you no longer have to take a shuttle to get a car service. It's a bit of a walk (5min?), but covered, from the terminal to a really well organized space in the garage. (Just did this on Friday night, cost with Juno was $30 before tip, it was much much much easier than the shuttle). (Edit: $30 was for a similar time but maybe 1.5 mi closer than the Park Slope Holiday Inn).
Juno is an Uber/Lyft competitor in the area and our driver told us they take much less of the drivers' earnings (~50% less iirc) than the other two do. Prices seem to be competitive for the private service though Pool/Line is still usually much cheaper.
So I would say do Lyft Line if you're not in a hurry, Juno if you are, and Uber Pool or regular only if it's much cheaper and it makes a real difference to you.
posted by Salamandrous at 2:21 PM on July 2, 2018
Juno is an Uber/Lyft competitor in the area and our driver told us they take much less of the drivers' earnings (~50% less iirc) than the other two do. Prices seem to be competitive for the private service though Pool/Line is still usually much cheaper.
So I would say do Lyft Line if you're not in a hurry, Juno if you are, and Uber Pool or regular only if it's much cheaper and it makes a real difference to you.
posted by Salamandrous at 2:21 PM on July 2, 2018
Response by poster: Belated follow-up: we decided to go with Juno, and we're glad we did. Turns out they were offering a 30% discount for downloading their app, so the combined cost of the trips from/back to the airport ended up being less than a single taxi ride. (Even without the discount it would still wouldn't have been that expensive).
posted by gtrwolf at 10:33 PM on August 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by gtrwolf at 10:33 PM on August 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
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posted by Liesl at 4:34 PM on June 25, 2018