How to get from NYC JFK Airport - to Jolly Madison Towers...

We are visiting NYC in Late November, and amongst so many other things I need to plan, what is THE best way to travel from JFK to Manhattan mid town...We arrive 26th November, I have looked at booking a limo - have tried several web sites, but friends back in the UK suggest just hail a cab outside the airport....is there a better way? I am also told that you can pre-book a cab on line?? Anyone got any info on this?

Thanks- in advance!

p.s anyone with any RECENT reviews of the Jolly Madison Towers - please shout....there are many mixed reviews - I have pre booked a Superior Room....anyone stayed in this type of room in this hotel - is all ok??

How to get from NYC JFK Airport - to Jolly Madison Towers...

The flat rate for a yellow cab from jfk to manhattan is $45. You%26#39;re lookimg at about $60 total including tip and toll. Line up in the taxi ranks which are easily found, the queue moves quickly even if it looks long.

To reserve on-line go to Carmel Limo, about $55 also including tip and toll:

www.carmellimo.com

How to get from NYC JFK Airport - to Jolly Madison Towers...

Your hotel location gives you several good options depending on your budget, how many of you there are and how much luggage you have. The easiest and the most expensive is taxi or car service. If you%26#39;ve got a lot of luggage or don%26#39;t want to be bothered with public transport, this is your best bet. Since it%26#39;s a holiday weekend (Thanksgiving) you might want to book a car service in case there%26#39;s a shortage of cabs. Carmel and Tel Aviv are more or less the same price as a cab.

carmellimo.com

telavivlimo.com

If you%26#39;re alone or looking to save some money, the bus to Grand Central Station (42 st %26amp; Park ave.) would also be a good option. It%26#39;s only about 5 blocks from your hotel. If your luggage has wheels, it%26#39;s a short walk. I think the fare is ~ $15/person. (Don%26#39;t take supershuttle. It takes forever).

The cheapest option would be the AirTrain to the subway. Take the AirTrain at the airport to the E train subway. Get out at Lexington Ave. ( 51 st). From there you can either go out to the street (there%26#39;s an escalator at that stop) and take a cab the rest of the way OR transfer to the #6 train downtown for one stop to Grand Central and walk the 5 blocks to your hotel. The AirTrain subway combo costs $7/person. The cab from 51 st %26amp; Lexington another $6 but it may be hard to find a cab on that Sat.

Many thanks RYnyusa and NYWhiz...I am going to go for booking the car, even though I reallised it was Thanksgiving time of year, hadn%26#39;t given thought to the holiday rolling on into the weekend, and Taxi%26#39;s becoming an issue.

Any tips on what we need to avoid over the holiday weekend - touristy restauarants charging the earth, sights and attractions that may be closed?

Again - thanks for the help....I%26#39;m very new to this forum, but it has been unbelievably helpful, and I am really enjoying being a part of all the exciting information!!

That weekend is one of the busiest (if not THE busiest) shopping weekends of the year. I%26#39;d avoid all shopping until Monday. The major tourist sites will also be jammed with people who have come for the holiday weekend. Luckily your hotel is in a part of town (called Murray Hill) that%26#39;s not so crazy. There%26#39;s a rest. called Salute that%26#39;s right nearby (Italian) that I like. Good individual pizzas too and you can sit in the front bar area and have a light bite. The nearby Shelburne Murray Hill hotel has a bar/rest. at the top with good burgers.

Lord %26amp; Taylor is the closest dept store to you. Very nice and not so crazy as Macy%26#39;s.

Thanks Whiz....as we are not arriving until the Saturday, shopping was to wait till either Monday or Tuesday anyhow but thanks for the Tip - and have agreed to dedicate just one day to shopping really the whole trip....though that pains a girl like me to say so! Salute%26#39;s sounds fab, we just love Italian Food especially when washed down with a good glass of red wine - or 2!