Transfer to La Guardia Airport
Arriving at LaGuardia Airport. Transfer options to Manhattan
Flying into New York for the first time is pretty exciting. Once your plane approaches the city, you get petrified by its legendary skyline.The view will simply leave you stunned! New York is a melting pot of cultures with people speaking over 800 languages. Being a symbol of cultural diversity and freedom, the city offers you endless opportunities. You will most certainly have the time of your life when visiting the Big Apple.
But before getting to know the city in person, let’s have a look at its airport system, which by the way, is the busiest in the U.S. and the second busiest in the world after London.
To start with, there are three major airports that serve the city:
- LaGuardia Airport
- John F. Kennedy International Airport
- Newark Liberty International Airport
Which airport suits you the best depends on the part of the city you are about to stay in.
We’ll start our journey at New York’s second largest airport — LaGuardia Airport, which is also known for being the closest one to Midtown Manhattan. The airport primarily deals with domestic destinations and also offers flights to several Canadian and Caribbean destinations.
For those who travel domestically, LaGuardia is the first choice. It is located in northern Queens, just about 8 miles from Midtown Manhattan. Flying into LaGuardia Airport might be especially convenient for those who are staying in northern Brooklyn or in Upper and Midtown Manhattan. American airlines such as JetBLue, Delta, Southwest, United etc. operate flights from there.
The airport is going through major renovation and reconstruction works at the moment. This made navigating around the site a bit harder. Despite being the closest airport to the city center, LaGuardia has poor access to public transport. In particular, it’s not connected to the NYC subway system, which leaves you with a few options basically:
Take a bus
Unfortunately, buses are the only public transport available at LaGuardia, as the airport does not have a direct rail link. It’s also the cheapest way to Midtown. In case you’re short on money, it’s your go-to option. Though it can be somewhat stressful and inconvenient lugging your heavy bags here and there. But if you’re traveling light, the bus will do. Your final destination is near the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Ave Subway Station, where you can hop on the subway train or take a taxi to your accommodation. The bus ticket will cost you only $2.75. Be ready for a bus trip of up to two hours.
Take a taxi
Finding yellow cabs from the airport is easy: exit the terminal on the arrivals level and look for the taxi kiosk. You will find metered taxi service at all terminal buildings at LGA. When your ride is on meter, this means the cost depends on your destination in Manhattan and the time spent in traffic. Usually the price for the ride varies from $35 to $60. Keep in mind that tips, tolls, and possible surcharges are not included.
Rent a car
There is an option of renting a car and becoming a driver on your own journey.
Yet, if you’re for the first time in New York, it's generally ill-advised to drive in the unknown city. You might get into trouble, and you don’t want that on your very first day in NYC. Besides, parking can be challenging and extremely expensive. But if you feel confident enough, you can find several rental car companies at the airport.
Book a transfer
You can arrange your transfer from the airport in advance. It saves you from potentially waiting in a long yellow taxi line outside of your arrival terminal. Booking a transfer will take away the stress of watching a metered cab tick up in price, while you’re barely moving in a traffic jam.
Choose wisely the company that will get you from the airport to your destination.
We recommend GetTransfer, as it offers the best prices in the area. In case you don’t agree with the company’s pricing, you can offer yours, which is pretty convenient.
Approximate journey time is 30-45 minutes, depending on the traffic, but GetTransfer’s high level of comfort is a good start for your enjoyable pastime in New York.
Booking the most suitable vehicle with GetTransfer is as easy as pie. All you need is to either download GetTransfer app on your phone, or visit GetTransfer.com and fill in all the required information on the homepage, and then click “Get Offers”. The rest is up to the system. In a moment, you will be offered several options to choose from. If there are any extra requirements for the driver ― you can leave a message in the comment section.
What you get when you book GetTransfer
- A wide variety of vehicle types: you can pick from passenger cars to shuttle buses. It all depends on how big your company is and how much baggage you’re carrying.
- You can book a transfer in advance and schedule a pickup time.
- No additional costs: taxes, road fees, and tips are included.
- Your safety comes first. You know in advance who is picking you up, and you can choose your driver based on the ratings and the car photos.
- You can choose from several types of private traveling, from the most affordable to the VIP status.
- Every vehicle comes with individual additional services, be it free Wi-Fi access, cool drinks, safety shield or wheelchair accessible transfer. You can see what a vehicle has onboard when you choose your transfer.
- Vehicles are family friendly: if you travel with kids, you can find a required child seat type.
Among other perks, with GetTransfer, you can also plan your way back to the airport when it is time to go home.
The driver you choose will wait for you at the arranged time and pre-agreed location. If you can’t keep up, no worries! There is a free waiting time: 60 minutes at airports and 15 minutes at all other locations.