Travel Note
Since activities are in Midtown, the easiest one to fly into would be LaGuardia (LGA). But if you don’t mind a longer commute the others are fine too.
Travel Note
Unless you’re used to driving in Manhattan and have a plan for parking (which can be very challenging and expensive) we wouldn’t recommend it. If you’re trying to save on costs and looking for a road trip, you can also stay somewhere on the outskirts of Manhattan by a commuter train — like New Jersey Transit, Long Island Railroad, or the MetroNorth — and take the train into Manhattan for the day.
Travel Note
These days, getting an Uber or Lyft can actually cost just as much (or often more!) then getting a standard yellow cab. If you plan to take a cab anywhere, we recommend taking one of the classic yellow ones (unless it's super late at night or you're in a more remote area). If you plan to take cabs frequently while you're here, consider downloading the Curb and Arrow apps on your phone, as they allow you to easily "pair to pay" once you're in the cab. You can link your credit card in advance. If you need a cab from the airport to your hotel, just look for signs that say "taxi" and get in line outside the airport. Trust us, the ride share thing really isn't worth it! You often have to take an awkward walk to a designated area, wait longer, and it costs just as much or more. If someone in the airport baggage area approaches you and says "need a taxi?" say "no" and head for the standard yellow taxi line outside instead. Pro tip for hailing a cab: the cab is only available if the number of the cab at the top is lit up! When you get in the cab, don’t tell the cab driver the address of your destination. Tell him the cross streets (e.g., “55th and 5th Avenue please”).
Travel Note
We recommend using Google Maps (*not* Apple Maps) to get around and find where you need to go. For public transit, just put your destination in Maps and click the little button that looks like a subway train in the menu bar. Google Maps updates the subway train times in real time and is very good at suggesting the best route. Think about throwing a portable charger in your bag. New Yorkers are nice and helpful, but it’s never fun to get stuck somewhere random in Manhattan with a dead phone. Good news is, the city is on a grid!
Travel Note
We can't emphasize how important it is to have comfortable shoes for the amount of walking you might be doing! If you want to wear heels at any point, "do as the New Yorkers do" and put them in your purse or backpack until you arrive at your destination. Make sure your bag stays zipped up at all times, not because you might get robbed, but because New Yorkers are very aggressive about taking care of each other. Someone might yell at you for being so careless!
Travel Note
If you need a MetroCard, you can get one from a kiosk in any station. Kyle still uses a yellow MetroCard because he’s lived here since 2009 and suffers from NYC nostalgia. Laura is a transit pragmatist (progressive?) and enjoys using Apple Pay or tapping her credit card at the turnstile. If you want to become a pro at navigating the Subway in advance, we recommend watching a YouTube tutorial like this one! It’s not hard once you get the hang of it and you’ll save tons of $. https://youtu.be/9fL5etTRZzU
Travel Note
If you’re wanting to stay in Manhattan, we *don’t* recommend trying to find an Airbnb. They are overpriced and booked way in advance so whatever is leftover would be slim pickings. If you looking for lodging for a family or group and want to save on costs, you might consider finding an Airbnb outside of the city and taking a commuter train into the city for the day (Long Island Railroad or MetroNorth). These trains are fast, cushy, and reliable.
Hotel
This hotel is just a few blocks away from the church! Some of Laura’s family will be staying here.
Hotel
Some of Laura’s family will be staying here.