Need New Jersey advice

[yoopermom]

Yes, the Yoopers are coming to the East Coast, be forewarned! DS has a huge karate get together in Newark, which we're flying into. The local group is supposed to arrange shuttle transportation from the airport to the hotel (Sheraton, but not the one at the airport, Woodbridge, I think, about 20 min. away). I'm a little nervous about being reliant on others, and was debating the price/convenience of taking a taxi vs. renting a car. We wouldn't have much time to use the car, but might be nice if we get tired of the hotel's restaurants or the few within walking distance. Any advice would be appreciated. TIA!
Terri da (karate)Yoopermom
(Who really wishes we could have these big meets in a warm climate in March, rather than NJ!)

 

[luvwinnie]

Newark? Why there of all places in NJ??? lol...I can laugh about it since I live in NJ and went to college in Newark. Have you been to Newark?

 

[buzzlady]

There are many places to eat close by. Within walking distance is the Woodbridge Center Mall - dinning choices http://www.woodbridgecenter.com/html/mallattractions.asp , across another corner there is a TGI Friday's. There was a Chi Chi's that I know is closed but I'm sure something else must be in there by now. If you did have a car, there are so many places to eat along Rt. 1. If you did have a car, I personally would use it to cross over to get to the Mall instead of trying to walk across the highway - but thats just me and knowing how people drive around here.

 

[yoopermom]

Believe me, Newark is not MY choice! The only world chief instructor for our type of karate who is in the U.S. has his dojo there, so that's where it's always held! I would be more nervous, but since I'll be surrounded by hundreds of black belts, I feel a little safer!

So about how much would a 20-25 minute/10 mile taxi ride cost there?

(I keep hoping that if DS opens his own dojo someday he does so somewhere WARM!!!!)

Thanks for all advice so far.
Terri

 

[FormrCastMbr]

If you are going to Newark, I won't say anything negative, you should try and go to a Portugeuse restaurant...maybe Iberia...can you get to NYC? I would say without traffic from Newark...it's probably 20 minutes...from Woodbridge maybe 40.

ETA: OK...can you tell I didn't read your whole post that you won't have a car!!! I am having a bad day!

 

[Mulan'sMom]

Check out the website http://www.panynj.gov - they have a list of taxi fares from Newark Airport to various municipalities. Woodbridge has plenty of places to eat, and a large mall - but you'll really need a car to get around. Most of the eateries are on Rt. 1, which is a very busy highway. I've lived a few towns over for the past 15 years, and driving on Rt. 1 still scares me! If you're staying at the Sheraton in Woodbridge, it's right on Rt. 1 and you can grab a taxi right at the front door and be at any number of restaurants in 5 minutes.

 

[yoopermom]

Thanks everyone, I think that if we end up needing a taxi each way, it would be almost as cost effective to just rent a car. Now to start pricing!

We are going to NYC on Friday, I haven't heard details, but taking a train in, I presume?

If y'all ever come to the U.P. I promise to give you taxi prices (none), subway prices (none), bus prices (none). Dodging deer with your car....priceless!

Thanks again!
Terri

 

[Kimberly]

Rent a car in Newark, I'm a 2nd year med student at UMDNJ - Newark campus, while it has gotten better in the past few years...

Do not take a taxi in Newark if you don't know the area
Do not walk in Newark if you do not know the area

 

[Mulan'sMom]

Thanks everyone, I think that if we end up needing a taxi each way, it would be almost as cost effective to just rent a car. Now to start pricing!

We are going to NYC on Friday, I haven't heard details, but taking a train in, I presume?

If y'all ever come to the U.P. I promise to give you taxi prices (none), subway prices (none), bus prices (none). Dodging deer with your car....priceless!

Thanks again!
Terri

You don't want to try to drive into NYC -the traffic is insane, the drivers are crazy, and it costs for parking are astronomical. If you're in Woodbridge take your car or a taxi to the Metro Park train station in Edison, get on the NE Corridor line to NYC (it runs all day from 4:30 am to 2:00 am) and pick up a taxi in the city to get around town. The train drops you in mid-town, so you can walk to Broadway, or hop in a taxi or subway to get to the museums, etc.

 

[Kimberly]

Believe me, Newark is not MY choice! The only world chief instructor for our type of karate who is in the U.S. has his dojo there, so that's where it's always held! I would be more nervous, but since I'll be surrounded by hundreds of black belts, I feel a little safer!

So about how much would a 20-25 minute/10 mile taxi ride cost there?

(I keep hoping that if DS opens his own dojo someday he does so somewhere WARM!!!!)

Thanks for all advice so far.
Terri

You'd be better off hiring a limo for a 10 mile trip...

 

[deelam]

If it were me, I would not rent a car to drive in Newark. I would be to scared of making a wrong turn and ending up somewhere that you don't want to be, not to mention the fear of getting car jacked.

 

[java]

Black belts don't protect you from bullets. No way no how would I go to Newark. They just held a town meeting because of several recent murders in Newark and the people are trying to take back the city. Good luck with that. I am glad to see you are thinking of renting a car- it will make your time here much easier. Cabs are not the way you think of NYC cabs in NJ. You might be able to get a car service to take you but I would think that would be at least $50 to Woodbridge. Have fun and stay safe- I am the mom of a black belt in Tae Kwon Do!

 

[yoopermom]

Sigh. It's hard to live in an area where everyone is *good* with a gun for good reasons (shoot deer, feed family for winter; no carjacking here)! I was being silly about feeling safe with blackbelts around, really I promise. I'm still hoping that the group will arrange shuttles, so I don't have to deal with any of this. We're definately NOT driving in NYC, no worries there (we do get tv/movies out here in the wilderness, so I know what NYC traffic looks like). I'm the only one coming in at an odd time (10:30 at night, IF the flight's on time), so I may have to taxi/limo it. I REALLY don't want to drive in a strange and potentially dangerous place. Off to research limo companies....

Thanks again everyone!
Terri

 

[Kimberly]

I really wish to tell you that Newark is not as bad as people say it is, but it truely is. The only reason why I drive and park there is that I get a parking lot in a student parking lot fairly close to the University Hospital. There is heavy security around the lot so usually I won't have to worry, but last year someone did break into my car there and steal my cd player and ipod.

Don't be worried though, if you are staying in Woodbridge, you'll be fine. Just Newark is not the place you want to hang around in. Most people who go to and from the airport in Newark who aren't familiar with it take a limo due to the possibility of being in a potentially dangerous area.

 

[LisaNJ25]

Newark? Why there of all places in NJ??? lol...I can laugh about it since I live in NJ and went to college in Newark. Have you been to Newark?[/QUOTE

lol sounds like me..... when i go to Newark its usually to go to the airport and turn right around and come back.

In HS though we skipped school a few times and took the train to newark to go shopping

 

[crazyme5kids]

Is the hotel in Newark or Woodbridge? Is the karate thing going to be at the hotel (conference room etc...) or in Newark itself? If it's being held at a studio in Newark, where is it located? If that's the case how will all of you get there?

 

[NewJersey]

Cheesecake factory is just down the highway from Sheraton. It's at the menlo park mall. Always a good choice to eat!

FYI..the traffic on the weekends there is ridiculous. I was there this past weekend at the toys r us to get a wii and I sat in 30 minutes of menlo park mall/woodbridge center mall traffic!

 

[NewJersey]

You can also take the train from Woodbridge or edison...although the sheraton isn't really close to that but you can park at the train station.

www.njtransit.com

Woodbridge is on the north jersey coast line and edison is on the northeast corridor line. Both stop at newark penn station.

 

[charlie,nj]

Yo yo yo word up don’t be giving “The Brick” a bad rap …Newark is like any big city ..there is crime in the burbs too …(hey Jersey people lets not forget the coppers just broke up a large “Bloods” gang/network in northern NJ…I think in Chatham and the surrounding area)

I go to Newark with my boys often especially during baseball season in the warm weather and at night to boot! I NEVER had a problem. (Ok so this is coming from a 6 foot 7 inch, 250 pound man.) I will admit I stay on the main roads at night. One wrong turn and your car winds up like the Griswalls station wagon..or worse.

The NJPAC and the Newark Museum are also big on my list. They are building the new New Jersey Devils hockey arena in the area too.

Someone already mentioned the Portuguese restaurants..yummy!

Newark main website: http://www.ci.newark.nj.us/

NJPAC _ http://www.njpac.org/

Museum - http://www.newarkmuseum.org/pages/toc2.html

Newark Bears - http://www.newarkbears.com/

The trip from the Newark area to the Woodbridge area is probably a half of an hour with NO traffic. Its about 30 miles. (I have been doing it every day for the last 25 years)

The Sheraton (if it the same one I did some computer training in) is right across the street/highway from the big Woodbridge Mall and as mentioned the Menlo Park Mall is near by.

Kimberly my older brother went to NCE (Newark College of Engineering) in the 70’s talk about an adventure. He went to UMDNJ (a late in life career change for him)



.

 

[deelam]

These are the words my Mom gave me the first time I drove through Newark, "For gods sakes, whatever you do, don't get off the main highway!"

Honestly, I would rather drive in NYC. I would feel safer in NYC. Woodridge is a good town. I can tell you a little something about the Cabs. My Brother in law has a drug problem. He hangs out with some cabbies. When he needs a ride to buy drugs, he calls a cab and shares his drugs with the cabbie. Now I'm in South Jersey. But BIL lived in Newark & right out side of Camden. He made friends with the cabbies in both areas. I'm sure there are good people who drive cabs, but after knowing what I know, I avoide taking a taxi unless I'm in a big city, suburb, or resort area. I'll never take a cab near Newark or Camden.