Seeking help with JFK to EWR transport ideas and hotel near JFK

[SbbquilterUT]

The title pretty much sums it up -  flying in to JFK arriving at 8 pm.  Do we take the train (2 changes) to Newark Penn Station and then cab to hotel.  Or stay near JFK and the next morning train to Newark.  Or just suck it up and pay for taxi/uber/driver?  Any hotel suggestion would be appreciated.  Thanks

[Langoustine]

Do NOT take a taxi (very expensive since you will be crossing state lines). If you  can. fly into Newark (EWR) instead.

[njhorseman]

2 hours ago, SbbquilterUT said:

The title pretty much sums it up -  flying in to JFK arriving at 8 pm.  Do we take the train (2 changes) to Newark Penn Station and then cab to hotel.  Or stay near JFK and the next morning train to Newark.  Or just suck it up and pay for taxi/uber/driver?  Any hotel suggestion would be appreciated.  Thanks

Coming in that late I'd consider staying at the TWA Hotel right on the airport grounds at Terminal 5.

 

The next morning are you going to NJ to take a cruise from Cape Liberty, or for some other reason? If you're taking a cruise my inclination would be to take an Uber, or possibly a car service such as Carmel Limo or Dial 7 directly from the TWA Hotel to the cruise port because if you're taking multiple the trains needed to get from JFK to Newark Penn Station you're going to need to take an Uber from there to the cruise terminal anyway. Do you really want to do three trains...AirTrain, Long island Railroad and New Jersey Transit to get from JFK to Newark Penn Station, and then still need to take an Uber?

 

Also, in the thread title you say "JFK to EWR" but in the body of your post you say "Newark Penn Station". Where were you intending to go? They're not the same. EWR has its own railroad station, which is one stop past Newark Penn Station when coming from New York. Again, are you taking a cruise or do you need to go to EWR to catch a flight? More accurate information will lead to better answers.

[SbbquilterUT]

14 hours ago, njhorseman said:

Coming in that late I'd consider staying at the TWA Hotel right on the airport grounds at Terminal 5.

 

The next morning are you going to NJ to take a cruise from Cape Liberty, or for some other reason? If you're taking a cruise my inclination would be to take an Uber, or possibly a car service such as Carmel Limo or Dial 7 directly from the TWA Hotel to the cruise port because if you're taking multiple the trains needed to get from JFK to Newark Penn Station you're going to need to take an Uber from there to the cruise terminal anyway. Do you really want to do three trains...AirTrain, Long island Railroad and New Jersey Transit to get from JFK to Newark Penn Station, and then still need to take an Uber?

 

Also, in the thread title you say "JFK to EWR" but in the body of your post you say "Newark Penn Station". Where were you intending to go? They're not the same. EWR has its own railroad station, which is one stop past Newark Penn Station when coming from New York. Again, are you taking a cruise or do you need to go to EWR to catch a flight? More accurate information will lead to better answers.

Thanks for the info.  We are flying into JFK and sailing from Bayonne the next day - just assumed we could train to Newark Penn Station to get to our hotel in Elizabeth.  On our return to the Manhattan cruise terminal we will stay one night before flying home from JFK.  All this planning is for August and just trying to decide transport and hotels.

[SbbquilterUT]

15 hours ago, Langoustine said:

Do NOT take a taxi (very expensive since you will be crossing state lines). If you  can. fly into Newark (EWR) instead.

Thanks - unfortunately using a Companion ticket and JFK was all we could choose.  I know the ground travel will be pricey so looking for ease of using the train.  

[princeton123211]

16 hours ago, njhorseman said:

Coming in that late I'd consider staying at the TWA Hotel right on the airport grounds at Terminal 5.

 

The next morning are you going to NJ to take a cruise from Cape Liberty, or for some other reason? If you're taking a cruise my inclination would be to take an Uber, or possibly a car service such as Carmel Limo or Dial 7 directly from the TWA Hotel to the cruise port

Whole heartedly agree with this. TWA Hotel is part of Terminal 5 right on airport ground and you'll be at the hotel quickly with still a little time for dinner or to enjoy it. If you were to take ground transport or worse, several trains, you wouldn't be getting to Elizabeth until at least 11 and possibly after midnight. 

 

16 hours ago, njhorseman said:

Do you really want to do three trains...AirTrain, Long island Railroad and New Jersey Transit to get from JFK to Newark Penn Station, and then still need to take an Uber?

Uber/Lyft/Dial7/Carmel will be about $130-145 one way. As others have said do not take a NYC yellow taxi. 

 

1 hour ago, SbbquilterUT said:

We are flying into JFK and sailing from Bayonne the next day - just assumed we could train to Newark Penn Station to get to our hotel in Elizabeth.

Taking the train will literally more than double the amount of time it will take you and you will be changing trains over different services (so will need to buy different tickets). You are looking at over 2 hours to take trains from JFK to Elizabeth and then still need an Uber vs taking an Uber and it taking a little under an hour door to door at that hour. 

[Got2Cruise]

Hi. I’m going to give slightly different advice. Agreed the only hotel near JFK to stay is TWA. but that is not cheap. You have to get to Bayonne the next morning anyway. 
8:00 pm is not THAT late. You need to crunch the numbers. It might be the same $$$$ to Uber or Lyft directly to a Holiday Inn Express or similar in Jersey City. Then you’ll wake up close to port and a short Uber ride to the Cruise Terminal. 
 

 

 

[GTJ]

2 hours ago, SbbquilterUT said:

We are flying into JFK and sailing from Bayonne the next day - just assumed we could train to Newark Penn Station to get to our hotel in Elizabeth. On our return to the Manhattan cruise terminal we will stay one night before flying home from JFK. All this planning is for August and just trying to decide transport and hotels.

This information is useful to know in providing relevant advice. I am going to make an assumption that the "hotel in Elizabeth" is one of the hotels across the street from The Mills at Jersey Gardens outlet mall and not in downtown Elizabeth.

 

The hotels in Elizabeth are not particularly convenient for travel using public transportation from JFK, particularly at night. You can readily travel by train from JFK to Newark Pennsylvania Station (JFK AirTrain from JFK to Jamaica, then LIRR to New York Pennsylvania Station, then NJT to Newark Pennsylvania Station), but then it is a bit clumsy getting to the hotel. There is bus, New Jersey Transit route 40, that goes from Newark Pennsylvania Station to The Mills at Jersey Gardens, but the outlet mall bus stop is on the other side of the mall from the hotels. As well, the last departure from Newark Pennsylvania Station is at 10:20 p.m. weekdays, 10:25 p.m. Saturdays, and 5:27 p.m. Sundays. While there is a bus from downtown Newark direct to the Elizabeth hotels, that operates until late at night, New Jersey Transit routes 24H and 24J, it stops on Broad Street in downtown Newark, not at Pennsylvania Station. (There is also a bus direct from midtown Manhattan to the Elizabeth hotels, New Jersey Transit route 111, but it, too, does not operate at night.) A taxi would likely be necessary, a ride of seven or eight miles. You probably would not get to the Elizabeth hotels until 11:00 p.m.

 

A hotel in Jersey City might be a bit more expensive than one of the Elizabeth hotels, but the transportation would be much easier. Then, from New York Pennsylvania Station go one block to Herald Square (or use the "F" subway train from Jamaica direct to Herald Square), and then the PATH service to Jersey City. Stay the night in Jersey City, then in the morning use taxi to Bayonne (or optionally, New Jersey Transit light rail train from Jersey City to Bayonne, then taxi locally within Bayonne to port).

 

Accordingly, it might be best to spend the night at JFK. A possibility for doing so is staying at a JFK airport hotel in downtown Jamaica, such as the Fairfield Inn & Suites. This will probably be one of the least expensive airport hotel at JFK that is convenient to AirTrain. After arriving at JFK, use the AirTrain to the Jamaica station, and it is a short and quick walk to the hotel. The next morning, use the LIRR or subway into midtown Manhattan, then the PATH train to Exchange Place in Jersey City. Use a taxi from Jersey City (or optionally ride the New Jersey Transit light rail train from Jersey City to Bayonne, and a taxi within Bayonne to the port). In any case, no need to go to Newark in the morning: it is out of the way.

 

You will have more options on the return into the Manhattan Cruise Terminal. You could stay in midtown Manhattan, and the next day use LIRR or subway to Jamaica, plus AirTrain to JFK. Or you on the day of return you could use the subway to Jamaica, stay the night there, and AirTrain to JFK the next morning.

 

From an economic perspective, the main objective is avoiding the hiring of a car to cross the state line, for that is where things can get very expensive quickly, so using a train to go from New York to someplace in New Jersey can bring significant value.

Edited December 20, 2023 by GTJ

[SbbquilterUT]

2 minutes ago, GTJ said:

This information is useful to know in providing relevant advice. I am going to make an assumption that the "hotel in Elizabeth" is one of the hotels across the street from The Mills at Jersey Gardens outlet mall and not in downtown Elizabeth.

 

The hotels in Elizabeth are not particularly convenient for travel using public transportation from JFK, particularly at night. You can readily travel by train from JFK to Newark Pennsylvania Station (JFK AirTrain from JFK to Jamaica, then LIRR to New York Pennsylvania Station, then NJT to Newark Pennsylvania Station), but then it is a bit clumsy getting to the hotel. There is bus, New Jersey Transit route 40, that goes from Newark Pennsylvania Station to The Mills at Jersey Gardens, but the outlet mall bus stop is on the other side of the mall from the hotels. As well, the last departure from Newark Pennsylvania Station is at 10:20 p.m. weekdays, 10:25 p.m. Saturdays, and 5:27 p.m. Sundays. While there is a bus from downtown Newark direct to the Elizabeth hotels, that operates until late at night, New Jersey Transit routes 24H and 24J, it stops on Broad Street in downtown Newark, not at Pennsylvania Station. (There is also a bus direct from midtown Manhattan to the Elizabeth hotels, New Jersey Transit route 111, but it, too, does not operate at night.) A taxi would likely be necessary, a ride of seven or eight miles.

 

Accordingly, it might be best to spend the night at JFK. A possibility for doing so is staying at a JFK airport hotel in downtown Jamaica, such as the Fairfield Inn & Suites. After arriving at JFK, use the AirTrain to the Jamaica station, and it is a short and quick walk to the hotel. The next morning, use the LIRR or subway into midtown Manhattan, then the PATH train to Exchange Place in Jersey City. Use a taxi from Jersey City (or optionally ride the New Jersey Transit light rail train from Jersey City to Bayonne, and a taxi within Bayonne to the port). In any case, no need to go to Newark in the morning: it is out of the way.

 

You will have more options on the return into the Manhattan Cruise Terminal. You could stay in midtown Manhattan, and the next day use LIRR or subway to Jamaica, plus AirTrain to JFK. Or you on the day of return you could use the subway to Jamaica, stay the night there, and AirTrain to JFK the next morning.

 

From an economic perspective, the main objective is avoiding the hiring of a car to cross the state line, for that is where things can get very expensive quickly, so using a train to go from New York to someplace in New Jersey can bring significant value.

Thanks - this gives us lots to consider.  We travel with carry on bags and can manage them easily as long as there are not lots of steps.

[njhorseman]

3 hours ago, SbbquilterUT said:

Thanks for the info.  We are flying into JFK and sailing from Bayonne the next day - just assumed we could train to Newark Penn Station to get to our hotel in Elizabeth.  On our return to the Manhattan cruise terminal we will stay one night before flying home from JFK.  All this planning is for August and just trying to decide transport and hotels.

I'm still not following a couple of things here. First, as I said earlier you seem to be using EWR in the title of the thread) and Newark Penn Station (in the body of your first post) interchangeably...so EWR is not in the picture at all?

 

Then, am I correct in interpreting that you're saying your cruise is not a round trip from Bayonne but rather one cruise departing Bayonne and then a second cruise that returns to Manhattan? If so, for your one night upon your return you have all of Manhattan to choose from with regard to hotels, and there some guidance from you as far as what your plans are when in Manhattan for the day, what your budget is, etc.

[SbbquilterUT]

Agree that the title was not clear - EWR was just a point of reference in my mind since I thought we were staying in that area.  We are sailing from Bayonne to Iceland.  Then heading to London to board a return cruise porting at Manhattan.  At this point we likely will stay in Jamaica that night we arrive.  Then travel by train the next morning (Sunday) - we have traveled to Bayonne from the Penn Station area in the past so that part will be fine during the day.  So really EWR has no part of the conversation since you all have helped me better understand local travel (have not used JFK for anything but transit in the past).  I will be back to look at plans for Manhattan - have barely scratched the surface of options on previous trips .  Thanks for the help.

[meadowlander]

Which cruise line are you on that departs from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, NJ and returns to MCT in Manhattan? I am not aware of any that do.

[meadowlander]

Since you are going to use public transit to Cape Liberty, PATH trains (not part of the NYC subway) will take you from 33rd Street in Manhattan to Hoboken or Jersey City (closer to CL) stations. 

 

You can switch from PATH to the Hudson Bergen light rail (going in the direction of 8th Street Bayonne) at either Hoboken or Jersey City. Validate your ticket after purchase. Exit light rail at 34th Street in Bayonne. CL is 2 miles away, some people walk that distance. I advise uber or Archie's cab in Bayonne, estimate $12-16.

[princeton123211]

13 hours ago, meadowlander said:

Which cruise line are you on that departs from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, NJ and returns to MCT in Manhattan? I am not aware of any that do.

Appears to be two separate cruises. Once from Bayonne to Iceland and another from the UK to Manhattan. 

[GTJ]

On 12/21/2023 at 12:10 PM, princeton123211 said:

Appears to be two separate cruises. Once from Bayonne to Iceland and another from the UK to Manhattan. 

That was my assumption. I suppose some people mistakenly believe that all cruises are round-trip excursions, and overlook the fact that many voyages are simply one-way transportation that can be pieced together in many ways. One who travels by sea to Europe and return might well want to travel one-way on an inexpensive repositioning trans-Atlantic cruise, the other way on a QM2 trans-Atlantic crossing, and use two different cruise terminals in New York Harbor in doing so (a variation of that may be what is going on here). Using different terminals is not much of a concern . . . at least if you don't plan on leaving a vehicle parked in one port and returning to another.

[navybankerteacher]

2 hours ago, GTJ said:

…. Using different terminals is not much of a concern . . . at least if you don't plan on leaving a vehicle parked in one port and returning to another.

Anyone planning to leave a car parked at a New York cruise terminal while he does two trans-Atlantic crossings (only one a 7 day QM2) really should consider other ground  travel options.