LaGuardia to Midtown

BKM wrote:
>
> I'll be visiting NYC in a couple months. I usually go through Newark, but
> this is my first time going through LGA. What inexpensive options are there
> to get into the city? I travel alone, so a taxi is probably out. I travel
> light (just a backpack) so public transit is an option.
>
> I know there are several bus/subway combinations. Is one significantly
> better than the others? Getting into the city isn't much of a concern. Once
> I get off the bus and enter the subway I can find may way around with no
> problem. My main concern is when I return to the airport.

Take the M60 to Astoria for the N-W or to Lexington for the 4-5-6, or
the Q33 (I think it is) to Jackson Heights for the E-F-7. (The signage
at the bus stops is pretty good.) The buses probably take about the same
amount of time, since the Queens route is a regular local bus, but the
M60 doesn't make many stops before it crosses the bridge.

> Is there a bus shelter or other cover in the case of bad weather or do I

Yes.

> have to stand in the open?
> Any place to get a quick bite to eat if I'm running early?

If you're wealthy -- by the gates, not out by baggage claim. Better to
go to an Indian lunch buffet on 74th St. or 37th Ave.

> How frequent is the service around 10AM?

"Midday" service. Maybe 4 per hour.

> What about Express buses? What do they cost? Where do you catch them? Are
> there round-trip tickets that can save you money or do you just pay a fare
> each way?
>
> Also, is there any place to buy a Metrocard in the airport?

Theoretically. They can get sold out.
--
Peter T. Daniels grammatim@att.net

"Peter T. Daniels" <grammatim@worldnet.att.net> writes:

> David J. Greenberger wrote:
>>
>> "Peter T. Daniels" <grammatim@worldnet.att.net> writes:
>>
>> > Take the M60 to Astoria for the N-W or to Lexington for the 4-5-6, or
>> > the Q33 (I think it is) to Jackson Heights for the E-F-7. (The signage
>> > at the bus stops is pretty good.) The buses probably take about the same
>> > amount of time, since the Queens route is a regular local bus, but the
>> > M60 doesn't make many stops before it crosses the bridge.
>>
>> The M60 makes limited stops along Astoria Boulevard. Depending on the
>> time of day, this can take up a lot of time. On my first M60 ride,
>> many of the passengers boarding along that stretch boarded through the
>> rear door and then complained that my suitcases were taking up too
>> much space for their taste. I was thrilled when we finally reached
>> the bridge.
>
> So now you claim it's slow in Queens as well as fast in Manhattan??
>
> It's Bizarro Dave!

No. Sometimes it's fast in one and slow in the other. Sometimes it's
fast in both. Sometimes it's slow in both. I've ridden the route
from start to finish in both directions at various times of day, and
I've seen all permutations.
--
David J. Greenberger
New York, NY