Airport
John F Kennedy International Airport
IATA Code: JFKLocation: The airport is located 15 miles (24km) southeast of central Manhattan.
Time: GMT -5 (GMT -4 from March to November).
Contacts: Tel: +1 718 244 4444.
Transfer between terminals: Passengers can travel between JFK's nine terminals on the free AirTrain. Terminals 2 and 3 are connected by a walkway, and terminals 8 and 9 are connected by an interior concourse. The entire loop takes eight minutes.
Transfer to the city: Ground Transportation Information is available in the baggage claim/arrival areas of all terminals and provides information on buses, shared-ride vans and limousines. The AirTrain links the airport to the subway, train and bus system, which go to the city centre. 'SuperShuttle Manhattan' is a 24-hour, shared, door-to-door service to anywhere between Battery Park and 227th including all hotels, and the service also operates to Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx and Staten Island. The New York Airport Service provides a regular bus transportation service to and from Manhattan (New York City), LGA Airport, and Midtown Hotels.
Taxis: Taxis are available in front of all nine terminals, and the journey time to Manhattan is between 40 and 60 minutes. There is a generally a $45 fare to Manhattan (excluding tolls). Tipping of 15 percent is customary for good service. Only use taxis from the taxi dispatch booth and refuse offers from others.
Car rental: Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, Enterprise and National are represented at all terminals by either a courtesy phone or rental car counter. The AirTrain shuttles passengers between the terminals and the car rental offices.
Facilities: All terminals have ATMs, bureaux de change, bars, restaurants and a wide selection of shops. There is a cellular phone rental facility in the arrivals area of Terminal 3. Travellers will be able to find most services in the terminals, including wireless Internet access, medical facilities, information counters, shoe-shiners and conference facilities. Disabled facilities are good; those with special needs should contact their airline or travel agent in advance.
Parking: There are two kinds of public parking at JFK. The long-term parking is four miles (6km) from the terminals and is served by a free shuttle bus. Passengers are advised to allow 30 minutes to reach their terminal. The Central Terminal Area (CTA) parking is adjacent to the terminals and provides for daily parking needs. Signs to the parking facilities are colour-coded to indicate their proximity to the terminals. A Cell Phone Lot waiting area is located near the airport's entrance for drivers to wait for disembarking passengers.
Departure tax: Passenger Facility Charge US$4.50
Website: www.kennedyairport.com
New York La Guardia Airport
IATA Code: LGALocation: The airport is located eight miles (13km) east of central Manhattan, in the borough of Queens.
Time: GMT -5 (GMT -4 from March to November).
Contacts: Tel: +1 718 533 3400.
Transfer between terminals: There are two bus routes connecting the five La Guardia Terminals. The Route A Bus is a free service running every 15 minutes stopping at all terminals in the central terminal area as well as the Marine Air Terminal (15 minutes travel time). The free Route B bus runs every 10-15 minutes between all five terminals except the Marine Air Terminal/Delta Shuttle. The journey time is 5-10 minutes.
Transfer to the city: Ground Transportation Information is available in the baggage claim/arrival areas of all terminals. All service arrangements can be made at these counters. Public buses service the city and connect with the New York subway; the Q33 and Q47 service Manhattan and Queens. The New York Airport Service Express Bus leaves regularly for all areas in Manhattan. The SuperShuttle Manhattan is a 24-hour, shared door-to-door service that goes to all areas of the city.
Taxis: The Welcome Center/Ground Transportation Counter is near the baggage claim area, offering information on authorized transportation services. There are taxis available outside each terminal and the fare to Manhattan is about US$25 (excluding tolls).
Car rental: Car hire companies include Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz and National. The Arrivals level of each terminal has either car rental courtesy phones or counters. Free shuttles transport customers between the terminals and the car rental offices.
Facilities: All terminals have ATMs and currency exchange can be found at the Central and US Airways Terminals, as well as a wide selection of bars, shops and restaurants, but the best choice is at the US Airways, Delta and Central Terminals. There are business facilities at Laptop Lane in the Central Terminal including meeting rooms, dataports, Internet access, fax, phones, printers and photocopiers. Disabled facilities are good; those with special needs should ideally contact their airline or travel agent in advance.
Parking: Short-term parking is available next to the terminals. Long-term parking is available in Lot 3, although there are limited spaces. Additional long-term car parking is located very close to the airport and can be accessed by following the 'P' to the airport exit. For further parking information call 718 533 3850. Signs to the parking facilities in the terminal buildings are colour coded to indicate their proximity to the terminals. Free shuttle buses transport passengers to the terminal buildings.
Departure tax: Passenger Facility Charge US$4.50
Website: www.laguardiaairport.com
Newark Liberty International Airport
IATA Code: EWRLocation: The airport is located two miles (3km) south of Newark, 16 miles (26km) southwest of New York.
Time: GMT -5 (GMT -4 from March to November).
Contacts: Tel: +1 973 961 6000.
Transfer between terminals: The AirTrain is a free service that ferries passengers between the three terminals.
Transfer to the city: Newark Liberty International Airport offers travellers a wide range of Ground Transportation services. There are taxis, buses, shuttles, and limousines available in front of and beside all three terminals. Ground Transportation Information counters, located on the lower baggage claim level of all terminals provide information and reservations for buses, shared-ride vans and limousines. The AirTrain connects to regional and commuter trains. New Jersey Transit buses have various routes to destinations in New Jersey and Penn Station in Newark; bus 107 has a direct service to New York City. The Newark Liberty Airport Express provides a bus service approximately every 30 minutes to Manhattan and SuperShuttle Manhattan is a shared minibus service, which goes to all areas of Manhattan, including hotels.
Taxis: Ground Transportation Information is available in the baggage claim/arrival areas of each terminal. A taxi can be requested from a uniformed taxi dispatcher and should cost between US$50 and US$75 to destinations in Manhattan.
Car rental: Car rental companies include Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National and Enterprise. The AirTrain links the terminals to the airport car rental offices; Enterprise is linked by a further courtesy vehicle to its office adjacent to the airport.
Facilities: All terminals have ATMs and bureaux de change, a wide selection of bars, shops and restaurants and business facilities including fax, photocopying and courier services. Data ports can be found next to most public telephones in all terminals. Wireless Internet is also available at all terminals. Disabled facilities are good; those with special needs should ideally contact their airline or travel agent in advance.
Parking: There is short-term parking next to the terminals. Daily parking is a few minutes away on the free AirTrain and Economy parking is 20 minutes from the terminals via a free shuttle bus. In addition to the on-airport parking lots listed above, there are a number of privately operated parking lots located near the airport; see the airport website for details. Valet Parking is also available. Signs to the parking facilities are colour coded to indicate their proximity to the terminals.
Departure tax: Passenger Facility Charge US$4.50
Website: www.newarkairport.com
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New York City
The problem with visiting New York is knowing where to begin, but even if you don't immediately rush off to view the world-famous sights and icons of this most dynamic of cities, just being there is enough: the wonder of New York is in the energy and the diversity that emanates from its densely packed, multi-cultural population. The city vibrates with colliding cultures, languages and nuances; here high-life and low-life rub shoulders, and whoever you are and whatever your taste, there will be something to amuse and stimulate you 24-hours a day.
Whether lolling on a bench in leafy Central Park, watching the world go by from a French bistro in Soho, or gazing up at 'Lady Liberty' from the deck of the Staten Island Ferry, most visitors will feel they've done it all before, simply because New York is so familiar to anyone who has ever seen a movie or watched television. There is something special however in actually seeing the familiar landmarks and experiencing the pulse of the clichéd, but true, 'city that never sleeps'.
New York City is made up of five boroughs: Staten Island, The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan, but many visitors never leave Manhattan. There is a lot packed into this tiny area: the 24-hour pasta restaurants of Little Italy and the bustling sidewalks of Chinatown, the jazz clubs of Greenwich Village and the theatres of Broadway; and of course the iconic sights of the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and Times Square.
New York has been described as the best three-day city in the world, and that's about right. After a frenzy of museums, galleries, bars and clubs, many visitors are ready for a break. Fortunately there's a lot of choice in excursions, from the National Parks of Upstate New York, to the beaches of Long Island or simply the leafy oasis of Central Park. Whatever you're after, New York is ready and waiting to bewitch, bother and bewilder.
