I am looking to schedule a trip where we would be arriving via Amtrak to Penn Station but staying at a location in Queens. What is the easiest way to get ourselves and our luggage to and from the train station?
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Whenever I had luggage in the city I just took a cab. Well worth the cost to me. Lugging suitcases on a subway or bus is a pain.
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Oh dear. Definitely cab. Try not to arrive during rush hour.
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where in queens? easiest would definitely be a cab, but if you know which area you are in, you might be off one of the subway lines that you can catch at penn station (the E, for example or maybe the N, R)
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Cab. There is s taxi stand right out front of Penn/Madison Sq Garden so you while you may have to wait in line for 15 mins, you don't even have the hassle of trying to hail one.
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If you take a cab, call an uber. The taxi line from penn station is crazy. Go to hopstop.com to find the best subway route to your destination!
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@Pirouette: The place we are going says you can get there with just 2 trains (easy transfer from one to the other). We were trying to avoid the cost of a cab because we figure it will be pricey. Wasn't sure if you could even take luggage on the subway.
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Where are you going in Queens? A cab would be easiest, since most of the subways are actually on elevated tracks once you are in Queens. It can be a really big pain to drag your rolley suitcases up 2 flights of stairs.
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Definitely a cab! I would guess around $30 in a cab depending on when you arrive (basing that on how much it costs for me to get from my apt in Manhattan to Laguardia airport in queens. I've never been anywhere else in Queens!)
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@purrpletulips: you can, but depending what time you are getting in, the subway might be crowded and it may be tough to get around with your luggage. Also, most subway stations you'll need to navigate some stairs as well. it's definitely doable, but a cab is still infinitely easier. it kinda just depends what kind of people you are - my DH and i are stubborn and always end up walking a mile with luggage when we travel instead of taking a cab
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@SweetiePie: We'll be about 15 minutes from LaGuardia so knowing the cost of a cab is a big help. Thanks.
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@purrpletulips: ok cool. I used to live on 34th street on the East Side (so about 10 mins cab from Penn Station). On a good day with little traffic I could get to Laguardia for about $20. Fortunately the Queens-Midtown Tunnel entrance is on 34th Street, so I'm still confident that $30 is the right guesstimate for you!
You can always take the cab to queens (Penn Station can be overwhelming) and decide if you want to cab or train it back at the end of the trip.
Good luck! -
@SweetiePie: That is sort of the plan. The difficulty is that there will be about 10 people. I'm looking into possibly using a car service as well.
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How much luggage and how big? If you don't want to spend money on a cab/uber, without kids I think we could manage 1 carry on size each through the subways.
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@purrpletulips: a car service would probably be more like $40-50/car. With luggage you probably still need to take 3 cars. I haven't done that in a while so I can't speak to that as confidently.
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@purrpletulips: Does each person have a suitcase? You could possibly send two people in the car with all the luggage and then send everyone else on the subway.
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@looch: That was my thought. Part of the complication is that this is a school group so we need to figure out the requirements between students and chaperones. I think we can make it work with 3 cabs. Each person is allowed to bring 2 carryon bags so there will be enough luggage that we likely won't want to use the subway.
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Thanks everyone - your insight is very helpful. I won't be going on this trip but am planning it
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The train ride is 2.75 per person so if you have ten people that's almost $30 anyway. Might be worth it for some to take a cab with luggage. But of course taking the subway is an adventure and part of the NYC experience.
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how much luggage (small carryons?) and will there be kids involved? subway is doable if the luggage is small and the kids are...well..if the kids are old enough to be very helpful and quick. Odds are good you will have to lug the suitcases up and down the stairs at some point during the journey.
time of day is also important. if you arrive during rush hour(s) you could easily sit in traffic for an hour+ if you do a cab.
I'd probably do the option of send one car service with the luggage and two people and everyone else via subway. The nice thing about that is you can then make a decision if you'd have to do the same on the return trip or if the subway would in fact work out for everyone (including the luggage) and save some money on the way home -
@Littlebit7: High school students and we'll likely be arriving around noon.
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@purrpletulips: ahhh ok. I mean if you impress upon them the importance of packing light (backpacks/duffel, or at the most a rolling carryon) I think the subway is doable. And probably way more fun for highschoolers. Getting crosstown from penn in a cab can take a long time midday. I'd vote for the subway! An adventure!!
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@purrpletulips: depending on where you are staying in queens, you can take the LIRR straight from penn station. Price depends on peak or non-peak time so it's around $5 give or take. I have done this many times with a standard size suitcase. And then you could walk the remaining blocks, take a cab or transfer to bus/subway. Mexican/Korean/Chinese cabs charge flat rate and are cheaper than yellow cabs.
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I would call Uber and avoid the taxi stand line. If you do use a taxi, GET IN AND SHUT THE DOOR before you tell them you're going to Queens. I can't tell you how many cab drivers at Penn Station tried refusing to my fare to Brooklyn (which is illegal!).
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23 comments