Advice please! what to do during 10hr stopover JFK New York

[juddles]

Hello all,

Just wanting any ideas for a coughpy stopover I have - an afternoon and evening this Friday in JFK

I arrive MS985 at 15:15 hrs and leave on AV245 at 01:10hrs Sat morning. So essentially 10hrs on the ground, but after clearing immigration and needing to get back in again, I figure I have around 7hrs to kill.

I think both flights use Terminal 4. So first question does anyone know if there is some sort of baggage storage area - the tickets are obviously separate ones, (no interlining) and I am certain I won't be able to check in with Avianca till late in the evening, so want to ditch my bag for the duration.

I do not know New York at all. I am totally flex on what to do - see some sight, eat a meal, shop, etc. Mainly want to treat this time of the stopover as an opportunity, not just boring dead time.

Anyone?

 

[docjames]

7hrs should be just enough time to deplane, collect bags and re-enter security at JFK.

Edit: ok, more seriously, it depends, you could literally just bus/car/train into manhattan and do some basic sightseeing (having never been to NYC before, literally just wander around or cab around manhattan and visit trade centre site, times square, look across river to Liberty etc etc.

 

[earlyriser]

I would get a super shuttle into the closest hotel to the WTC, head up the top (hopefully lines are not too long), then see Ground Zero, get the subway up to Times Square, walk around a bit, find the Empire State Building and get a meal.

EDIT: Could add in a quick look at Grand Central if time.

 

[dmitri]

So much to do in NYC, hard to know where to start, food is always the top of my list but the below may help you out.

The Official Guide to New York City | nycgo.com

 

[jb747]

Last time I was there as a passenger, that would just about cover the time the immigration queue took.

 

[harvyk]

10 hours (well more like 7) is a sucky amount of time to have to kill, especially turning up during peak hour.
If it was me I'd look at catching the subway into Manhattan, finding somewhere for dinner, and then catch a taxi back to JFK. You probably won't have much time for anything else. Whilst I've certainly eaten from the food carts, I would probably suggest finding an actual restaurant. Last thing you want is to eat something that doesn't agree with you before getting onto a flight.

Taxi's have a flat rate of $52 + tolls ( + tip no doubt) to / from JFK. So coming back you may want to consider a taxi, because getting back to JFK on the subway is likely to involve switching between several trains.

I'll let someone with more NYC experience than myself add more.

 

[Denali]

If I had to suggest one thing. Top of the Rock, you can see the Empire State Building lit up and Central Park from there.

Im a stress head with layovers and leaving the airport. One thing only would be all that I would be brave enough to do and not stress too much about missing my flight.

Let us know what you end up doing.

 

[get me outta here]

Another option:

I'd go to Bowling Green and look at the Charging Bull. Get off at Bowling Green Station of the 4 and 5 trains, and Rector Street of the R and W trains.

The 9/11 Memorial is 3 blocks north of the Charging Bull. And, the new Occulus Building is unmissable nearby. You can eat there. That would be a quick tour of downtown and a few major attractions. I wouldn’t stay away from JFK for 7 hours.

IF you have time, you could go up the ONE WORLD OBSERVATORY (aka OWO), as part of the One World Trade Center building located at the corner of West St and Vesey St.
The main observation deck is on the 100th floor.
This is the newest of the three observation decks, opened in May 2015.
Official website: https://oneworldobservatory.com/

 

[get me outta here]

PS: Luggage storage at T4: Luggage Storage | JFK Airport
[h=3]Terminals 4 Arrivals - First floor[/h][FONT=&quot]Hours of Operation: 24 Hours[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Approximate Cost (depending on size): $4 - $16 per day[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Telephone: (718) 751-4020[/FONT]

 

[get me outta here]

From JFK, take the AirTrain to Jamaica station, and then the Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station. While the LLRR costs a little more than the subway, it's a bit easier (because you are already in the LIRR station when you arrive at Jamaica, and don't need to go downstairs to the subway), the trains are more comfortable, the trip takes place largely above ground and so you can see the city skyline. At Penn Station, take a quick cab downtown.

I suggest the train as at the time of day you are arriving, you do not want to sit in a cab in rush hour and pay $100 and take much longer.

 

[dajop]

From JFK, take the AirTrain to Jamaica station, and then the Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station. While the LLRR costs a little more than the subway, it's a bit easier (because you are already in the LIRR station when you arrive at Jamaica, and don't need to go downstairs to the subway), the trains are more comfortable, the trip takes place largely above ground and so you can see the city skyline. At Penn Station, take a quick cab downtown.

Definitely agree with this plan. Although depending on traffic, if headed downtown from Penn station, taking the express ( A, 2 or 3) trains maybe just as quick - if not quicker - way of getting there compared to taxi (avoiding the local C,E and 1 trains).

Arriving in Penn station, I'd recommend a walk around midtown, up to Times Square, across to Bryant Park and Grand Central, and also +1 to a visit to the Top of the Rock - great views to the south (Empire State and beyond) and north (Central Park). There may even be time for a trip downtown, FWIW. As far as eating goes, unless making eating the point of the excursion and carefully selecting where to eat, there are plenty of casual eateries around - I like Hell's Kitchen for this, but there are many other parts of town- Chelsea, West Village, Murray's Hill etc where there are loads of options. Not a fan of eating in/around Times Square though, the words "tourist trap" come to mind.

In short though, 7 hrs in NYC is enough time to do whatever you fancy, and it really does depend on personal interest. I just like walking around the city, but there are plenty of other options. If it wasn't for the jetlag aspect and the potential for falling asleep in a dark theatre - the timing even lends itself to seeing a (shorter) show for the so inclined, taking a taxi back to JFK at 10:30-11pm.

 

[RooFlyer]

This Friday? You mean Good Friday? Its not observed as a national holiday in the USA and many Federal services (eg Post Offices) will be open, but I think it is a state observed holiday so many state/city services (subway) may be on reduced schedules.

Personally, I'd just make a beeline for Lower Manhattan, and just walk around and take in the atmosphere and sights walking NE - Battery Park, Wall Street, WTC memorial, World observatory, Broadway, Times Square.. you might make it to Central Park. Nice and open-ended ... keep walking until you've had enough and then head back to JFK.

 

[juddles]

.... the timing even lends itself to seeing a (shorter) show for the so inclined, taking a taxi back to JFK at 10:30-11pm...

That is another question I have for thos eexperienced with New York - what time to head back to the airport?

My flight leaves at 01:10am, I am travelling in business with Avianca so check-in time itself should be swift. But I am not one to risk things by arriving late. If I found myself somewhere like Manhattan could I expect a cab leaving at 9pm to make it to the airport in an hour?

 

[Denali]

Battery Park. Is that where you catch the Liberty ferry? Love the sculptures for the merchant marines along the water, how the sculpture goes into the water.

 

[juddles]

I am not an engineer but have always admired the Brooklyn Bridge - will have to go past there

 

[Hvr]

Battery Park. Is that where you catch the Liberty ferry? Love the sculptures for the merchant marines along the water, how the sculpture goes into the water.

Yes that's Battery Park where the ferries head out to Liberty and Ellis Islands.

You're not too far from Wall St where the Charging Bull and Fearless Girl statues are located.

And not too far from the Brooklyn Bridge either which is a good walk to do.

 

[amaroo]

If I found myself somewhere like Manhattan could I expect a cab leaving at 9pm to make it to the airport in an hour?

Easy.......

 

[amaroo]

Might be useful in working out what you want to do https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/usa/new-york

Look first.... drink and eat second

 

[juddles]

Battery Park. Is that where you catch the Liberty ferry? Love the sculptures for the merchant marines along the water, how the sculpture goes into the water.

Thanks all - have decided to get transport to Battery Park and just start wandering from there I love water and anything marine, and feel I should gaze out to the Statue of Lib, etc. Then just wander.

 

[moa999]

Possibly even take the Staten Island ferry round trip (free) - 55min round trip