NYC Parking help!

[happily single]

I'm taking the kids to NYC for a daytrip tomorrow!@!

I have two choices: 1. Drive into NYC and pay about $30 with a AAA coupon to park on 6th Avenue (I beleive) or 2. Drive to New Rochelle and take the train into the city

I'm thinking that New Rochelle is a better idea for several reasons, including I wouldn't have to drive in the city, I wouldn't have to pay any tolls, and I wouldn't have to worry about damage to my car while in the city.

however, the downside is being on a train schedule and the cost (about $56 round trip).

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!!!

 

[NYCDiane]

You can find parking garages where you'll pay about $15 for 12 hours. Look at Icon Parking (many locations). There are also many that are either on the west side (west of B'way) that are inexpensive or east side (east of 5th Ave).

Keep in mind, the closer to midtown/Broadway/5th Avenue you are, the more expensive it's going to be.

On the up side, you'll be in your car with your stuff in the trunk at the end of the day and the kiddies can relax and sleep and you can drive home

On the down side, NYC traffic is a pain and, after a long Manhattan day, you probably won't be in the mood to deal with it.

The train is good because you get in/out of Manhattan with no problems. The downside to the train is lugging all your stuff and having kids in tow. Not sure how old your kids are, but does the Metro North have discounted fares for kids under 12? Or free for kids under 5?

Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

I'd go with the train.

 

[happily single]

You can find parking garages where you'll pay about $15 for 12 hours. Look at Icon Parking (many locations). There are also many that are either on the west side (west of B'way) that are inexpensive or east side (east of 5th Ave).

Keep in mind, the closer to midtown/Broadway/5th Avenue you are, the more expensive it's going to be.

On the up side, you'll be in your car with your stuff in the trunk at the end of the day and the kiddies can relax and sleep and you can drive home

On the down side, NYC traffic is a pain and, after a long Manhattan day, you probably won't be in the mood to deal with it.

The train is good because you get in/out of Manhattan with no problems. The downside to the train is lugging all your stuff and having kids in tow. Not sure how old your kids are, but does the Metro North have discounted fares for kids under 12? Or free for kids under 5?

Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the quick reply. Really stupid question....is the Metro North the train or are you referring to Amtrak?

My kids are 14, 13 and 7. I also belong to AAA and am a college student

 

[NYCDiane]

Thanks for the quick reply. Really stupid question....is the Metro North the train or are you referring to Amtrak?

My kids are 14, 13 and 7. I also belong to AAA and am a college student

Metro North is the commuter train that goes to/from Manhattan (Grand Central Station) to Westchester and Rockland Counties (there are many different lines) and CT. I'm not all familiar with it but here's a link to the MTA site for Metro North (MNR) http://mta.info/mnr/

I'm not sure about the Metro North discounts, but I'm sure you can get a discount for the 7 year old and if the 13 year old looks younger, you may be able to get one for her, too.

 

[NYCDiane]

Here are the fares to/from New Rochelle to Grand Central Terminal.

http://as0.mta.info/mnr/fares/get_fares.cfm

Look into the ages for "child" or "family fare" tickets..... 75 cents is great and I know on the LIRR (also MTA), the ages are from 5 to 12 for the 75 cents ticket. Over 12, it's full fare

 

[happily single]

Thanks so much. Now let's just hope I don't chicken out. I'll take the kids on a roadtrip to Orlando without second thoughts, but ask me to travel 3 hours from home....

 

[NYCDiane]

LOL!!! You'll be fine!!! Manhattan is a great place and there is a ton of stuff to do! Have fun!!!

 

[disneymom06]

I would drive into Manhattan. It really is not that bad and cheaper than the $56 roundtrip for the train. Just make sure that you have directions and know where you are going. It is not holiday season and it is a Saturday so I think that you will be fine. It is also nice, once everyone is tired to hop in the car, instead of getting on the train and still not being finished with your trip.

I have done this many times with 4 kids. Don't be afraid to drive into Manhattan if you have a reasonable place to park the car.

 

[cornflake]

Buy your Metro North tickets IN ADVANCE - either at the self-serve kiosk on the train platform (it's pretty clear and user-friendly, all touch screen with options and takes cc) or at a ticket window if one is open. There's a conductor on the train who will sell you tickets but there's a ludicrous upcharge for buying on the train.

You can also buy Metrocards (different from Metro North, Metro North is the commuter train, Metrocards are for the subway and buses inside the city) at the train station, there's a kiosk for that, just saves time.

You can get those parking deals but you have to arrive VERY early, especially considering where you are, they're usually enter the garage between 6-9am or whatever and leave by 6pm or they'll charge you the regular $50+ parking fee for the day.

Easier to grab the train. The kids will have fun on it, see the conductor, see Grand Central (which is beautiful), it's a subway hub so you can go wherever right from there and on your way back there are a ton of shops and stuff to grab snacks for the drive home.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Cornflake, I know this has been debated before, but I don't understand why you keep saying parking will be $50.00 a day. That isn't true. Maybe certain garages, but not all. My husband Never goes into the office before 9am, and he Never leaves by 6pm. He does not have a monthly parking agreement, this is just the per day cost.

He only pays $27, the price just went up from $25.00. When his office was on 42nd St., he would get in before 9am, but Never, ever left before 6pm. In fact, most days he would leave between 8 and 10pm. He only paid $30.00 for parking. The garage was on either 41st or 43rd St. basically behind where the Mary Poppins theater is.

 

[bamor]

You are driving from RI...don't drive to New Rochelle.
Take the MetroNorth out of Westport, CT. It is the weekend, parking will not be an issue. I believe it is around $23.00 for an adult roundtrip and you are allowed up to 4 children under 14 at around $1.50 each roundtrip. This will bring you into Grand Central Station in about an hour, hour and a half.
From North Kingstown on a weekend morning, figure about an hour and a half to 2hours to Westport. We usually catch the 10:35 if we leave Warwick at 8 and stop once for a bathroom break with plenty of time to spare. Buy your tickets on the platform before you board.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Cornflake, I know this has been debated before, but I don't understand why you keep saying parking will be $50.00 a day. That isn't true. Maybe certain garages, but not all. My husband Never goes into the office before 9am, and he Never leaves by 6pm. He does not have a monthly parking agreement, this is just the per day cost.

He only pays $27, the price just went up from $25.00. When his office was on 42nd St., he would get in before 9am, but Never, ever left before 6pm. In fact, most days he would leave between 8 and 10pm. He only paid $30.00 for parking. The garage was on either 41st or 43rd St. basically behind where the Mary Poppins theater is.

Sorry for the double post! One of my Mac quirks with the back button.

 

[cornflake]

Because that's what parking costs. I actually live here. Unless it's a garage way, way uptown or like, on the river, and most people are talking about parking in the middle of the City, that's what parking costs.

Unless he's getting an early bird deal, which he may if he's getting there before 9 but I dunno many let you stay until 10pm, it will cost you that much or more. His work maybe gets a deal with the garage or they have a very late early bird allowance or he generally leaves within it or whatever, because that's what parking costs. This place has a cheap monthly rate but an average daily/hourly rate.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Nope, you are wrong. Not the case on any of those levels.

Your advice to people who travel into the city, or I should say, planning trips into the city, is always excellent, and I agree with you on almost of it, (skipping stores and our favorite bakery!), but I think parking is the one place you are off the mark on. You may live there, but you are wrong about the parking.

Again, maybe some garages have the $50.00 plus a day, with restrictions that you post about, but not all.

 

[cornflake]

Nope, you are wrong. Not the case on any of those levels.

Your advice to people who travel into the city, or I should say, planning trips into the city, is always excellent, and I agree with you on almost of it, (skipping stores and our favorite bakery!), but I think parking is the one place you are off the mark on. You may live there, but you are wrong about the parking.

Again, maybe some garages have the $50.00 plus a day, with restrictions that you post about, but not all.

Ok, despite the fact that I actually live here, and you actually don't, I'm wrong and there are plenty of garages - in midtown no less - offering parking for $30 for a whole day whenever you enter or leave, no restrictions, that's not an early bird special or a deal, sure.

Please, find any one of those garages not located on 103rd and Lex or wherever that's offering the magical $25-30 a day pricing with no restrictions that's NOT an early bird special where you have to enter by a certain time and etc., and post it for everyone because I'm pretty sure many, many people would be interested.

 

[crazyme5kids]

LOL! All garages advertise lowest rates. Well we will have to agree to disagree on this one. As far as actually living there goes, that is true, but I (and my husband) actually drive and park there. Other posters have posted about parking rates too, and they have posted parking rates less than $50.00 a day. Yes the rates you post exist, but so do other rates. It's NYC, you can always find a better deal!

By the way, I'm not an once in a blue moon tourist. I go in on a regular basis to see family and friends. I've spent a huge portion of my almost 52 years in the city, starting when I was a brand spanking new infant. My kids get to spend a lot of time there too doing non-touristy things. In fact, my daughter is going in tomorrow to attend a birthday party for a friend.

 

[cornflake]

Ok, you're a regular tourist.

Other posters have posted about taking advantage of Early Bird specials. I haven't seen anyone else claiming you can just regularly park in midtown for $25 or $30 a day whenever you like, with no restrictions. Possibly because you kind of can't.

As for a better deal, sure, park on the street. That's what a friend of mine lived out in B&T land did, against everyone's advice - then got a couple tickets and started taking the train.

 

[crazyme5kids]

For god sake cornflake, what are you 2 years old. I'm not going to get into a pissing contest over this. It's parking, my experience is different from yours. As with anything in life, no one person is an expert, no one person knows all.

Everyone, follow cornflakes advice. She knows it all when it comes to the city. She lives there. My experience with parking is fabricated, I made it up, I was dreaming. I am tourist. I don't live there, so I know nothing. No one else knows anything either.

Feel better now cornflake ?

 

[shoney]

I've posted this information before...

http://www.panynj.gov/bus-terminals/pabt-services.html#parking

From the port authority bus terminal:


Parking

Parking at the Port Authority Bus Terminal is managed by LAZ Parking. Open 24 hours seven days a week.

Day Rate
Daily Rates (weekday and weekend):
Up to 1 hour $18.00
Up to 2 hours $20.00
Up to 12 hours $28.00
Up to 24 hours $33.00
Early Bird $22.50 (before 6:30 AM)


We've parked here numerous times. It is a self park lot.