Chelsea Pines Inn ~ New York City

Penn Station:
1. Taxi: Exit the station at 7th Avenue. Tell cab driver you want to go to 14th street between 8th and 9th Avenues.  Distance just over one mile, cost: $6 to $10.
2. Subway: Take the A, C, or E train "downtown" to 14th Street.  At 14th Street walk down the platform in the same direction the train was going and go up the stairs.  Continue walking forward to station exit.  Exit through the turnstiles and turn right.  Go up the stairs and walk 1/2 block to the Inn.  Cost: $2 per person.
Grand Central Terminal:
1. Taxi: Exit the terminal at 42nd Street.  Tell cab driver you want to go to 14th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues.  Distance about 2 miles, cost: $10 to $15.
2. Subway: Take the 4, 5, or 6 train "downtown" to Union Square - 14th Street.  At 14th Street transfer to the L train to 8th Avenue. Use the elevator, or stairs near the elevator, thru the 14th street turnstiles, turn right and up stairs or elevator.
Port Authority Bus Station:
1. Taxi: Exit the station at 7th Avenue. Tell cab driver you want to go to 14th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues.  Distance 1.5 miles, cost: $7 to $12.
2. Subway: Take the A, C, or E train "downtown" to 14th Street.  At 14th Street walk down the platform in the same direction the train was going and go up the stairs.  Continue walking forward to station exit.  Exit through the turnstiles and turn right.  Go up the stairs and walk 1/2 block to the Inn.  Cost: $2 per person.

John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK):
1. TAXI - Flat $45 charge + toll + tip. Follow signs to Taxi Stand. Estimated time about 45-90 minutes, depending or traffic. 
NOTE: If you share a cab with someone else going to a different hotel the flat rate is to the first drop off in Manhattan, then the metered fare from there to the second stop.
2. CAR SERVICE - after getting your luggage (and going thru customs if coming in from outside the USA) call 1-212-666-6666 for the Carmel Car Service dispatcher.  They will tell you where to meet them and the price.  Prices range from $46 to $70 + toll and tip.
TIP: Taxi cabs and car services prices are for the car, other prices are per person, so taking the bus may not be the cheapest way to go.
3. BUS - Follow ground transportation signs.  Look for "BUSES TO MANHATTAN".  Take a bus going to either "Port Authority" or "Penn Station".  From either place take Taxi to inn.  Cost: about $15 per person + taxi fare from bus terminal (about $5-$7).  Average time about 90 minutes. 
TIP:  The bus is quicker than a shared van and costs about the same for one person, it is cheaper than a shared van for 2 or more.
4. SUBWAY: Follow signs to "AIRTRAIN".  Take AIRTRAIN to the Jamaica Station.  At Jamaica Station take the Manhattan bound "E" train to 14th Street  Get off at 14th Street station in Manhattan. At 14th Street exit at the front of the station, turn right when you exit the thru the turnstiles,  Chelsea Pines Inn is 1/2 block from the subway exit.  Cost: $7 per person.  Average time about 90 minutes, a bit longer late nights, weekends and during rush hours.  
TIP: there are elevators at this station, follow the handicap access / elevator signs.  On the platform the elevator is at the center of the platform, if you use this elevator there is a short ramp at the top, go up the ramp and turn around and head back toward the elevator, thru the 14th street turnstile, turn right.  The elevator to the street is to the left of the stairs.  If you use the elevator, Chelsea Pines is on the same block.  Exit the elevator and turn around 180 degrees and walk west on 14th Street. 
5.  SHARED VAN:  We do not recommend shared van services.  If you use them there are signs at the airport, tell the driver that Chelsea Pines in on 14th street between 8th and 9th Avenues.  Cost about $20 per person.  Average time to Chelsea Pines Inn is 90 minutes to three hours. 
TIP: The airport bus is quicker and costs about the same.
La Guardia Airport (LGA):
1. TAXI - Metered rate.  $25 to $35 + toll + tip. Estimated time about 30 - 45 minutes.
2. CAR SERVICE - after getting your luggage call 1-800-922-7635 for the car service dispatcher.  They will tell you where to meet them and the price Prices range from $27 to $50 + toll and tip.
3. Bus Follow ground transportation signs.  Look for "BUSES TO MANHATTAN".  Take bus to "Port Authority" or Penn Station".  Take Taxi to inn.  Cost: about $15 per person + taxi fare from terminal (about $5-$7). Estimated time 45 - 60 minutes.
4.  Subway - Q33 bus to 74th Street / Broadway (in Queens) Then E train Manhattan bound to 14th Street / 8th Avenue in Manhattan, Cost: $2 for the bus + $2 for the subway if paying cash for the bus (bus takes exact change only, no pennies, no bills), or $2 total if paying with a MetroCard. Estimated time   45 - 90 minutes.  TIP: there is are newsstand in the airport near the exits that sell MetroCards
5.  Shared Van Service:  We do not recommend shared van services.  If you use them there are signs at the airport, tell the driver that Chelsea Pines in on 14th street between 8th and 9th Avenues.  Cost about $20 per person.  Average time to Chelsea Pines Inn is 90 minutes to three hours. 
Newark - Liberty International Airport (EWR):
1. TAXI - Flat rate $45 to $55 + round trip tolls+ tip). Follow sighs to Taxi Stand.  The dispatcher will ask you where you are going and will give you a printed slip with the BASE cost is, tolls and tip are extra.   Estimated time T45 - 60 minutes
2. CAR SERVICE - after getting your luggage (and going thru customs if coming in from outside the USA) call 1-800-922-7635 for the car service dispatcher.  They will tell you where to meet them and the price.  Prices range from $45 to $75 + toll and tip.
3. Bus Follow ground transportation signs.  Look for "BUSES TO NEW YORK ".  Take bus to "Port Authority bus terminal" or bus to "Penn Station -- MANHATTAN".  Price $12-15 per person + taxi from Port Authority.  Estimated time about 1 hour.
4. Train - Airport Monorail to Newark Airport station, then New Jersey transit to Penn Station New York, then NYC subway here (A, C, or E train downtown to 14th street), Cost $11.55 for the train + $2 for the subway or about $6.00 for a taxi from Penn station to here. 
TIP: There is a Penn Station in Newark, New Jersey as well as one in New York, New York. The New York City station is the last stop on New Jersey Transit trains.  The one in Newark NJ is the first stop after you get on the train - do not get off there!  Amtrak trains also stop at both stations, but the cost is higher.
TIP 2, don't loose your ticket, you will need it to exit the monorail and again on the train to Manhattan.
5.  Shared Van Service:  We do not recommend shared van services.  If you use them there are signs at the airport, tell the driver that Chelsea Pines in on 14th street between 8th and 9th Avenues.  Cost about $20 per person.  Average time to Chelsea Pines Inn is 90 minutes to three hours. 

A note about shared van services.  Our experience with the various shared van services has been a less than good. Because of the nature of the service you can spend up to 3 hours getting to your hotel.  For 2 people the saving is minimal, for three there is no saving.  A better way is the bus to Penn Station and then a taxi to Chelsea Pines.  Cost is about the same (or less) and the time will be about 1 hour.

MacArthur airport (Islip - ISP)
Taxi to the Ronkonkoma Railroad Station (Long Island Railroad). Then train to Penn Station in Manhattan, then taxi here.  Ronkonkoma is about 50 miles from Manhattan. You can find Long Island Railroad information and schedules on the web at  www.mta.nyc.ny.us/lirr

Driving:
Driving in the City is not as bad as reported, but there are a number of important things to remember:
1) EVERY intersection with a traffic light is "NO TURN ON RED" - but there are no signs at the intersections, just one as you cross the city line - easy to miss - and if you make a turn on red you may get an expensive ticket.
2) Pedestrians tend to ignore lights, don't walk signs, etc. 
3) If you are making a turn pedestrians have the right of way. 
4) Watch out for bicycles!
5) Meter rules often apply 6 days a week - 8AM to 10PM.  Special plates are usually NOT exempt from this. 
6) Parking laws are STRICTLY enforced.  Parking lots are expensive, about $30-40 a day.  Check with Icon Parking for discounts and reservations.
TIP: You won't need a car to get around Manhattan, in fact it is a detriment.  Park you car in a lot and forget about it until you leave.

From Connecticut and north:
Take I-95 south to last exit in New York. 
As you approach the George Washington Bridge I-95 divides.  Stay to the right.
Follow signs to Route 9A south (Henry Hudson Parkway / West Side Highway)
Take 9A south to 16th Street. 
Turn left on 16th Street to 7th Avenue.
Turn right on 7th Ave to 14th Street
Turn right on 14th Street 1 1/2 blocks to the inn.
From Upstate New York:
Take I-87 to I-95 south.
As you approach the George Washington Bridge I-95 divides.  Stay to the right.
Follow signs to Route 9A south (Henry Hudson Parkway / West Side Highway)
Take 9A south to 16th Street. 
Turn left on 16th Street to 7th Avenue.
Turn right on 7th Ave to 14th Street
Turn right on 14th Street 1 1/2 blocks to the inn.
--OR--
Palisades Interstate Parkway to George Washington Bridge
Cross the bridge and follow signs to 9A south
Take 9A south and follow the directions above.
From points west:
Take I-80 to the George Washington Bridge
Follow signs to 9A south
Take 9A south and follow the directions above.
From New Jersey and south:
Take the N. J. Turnpike to Lincoln Tunnel.
As you exit the tunnel follow signs to West Side Highway (Route 9A) South
Take 9A south to 16th Street. 
Left on 16th Street to 7th Avenue.
Right on 7th Ave to 14th Street
Right on 14th Street 1 1/2 blocks to the inn.
From Long Island:
If entering Manhattan south of 14th Street (Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Williamsburg Bridge, or Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel - take 6th Avenue Uptown to 14th Street, turn left onto 14th street 2½ blocks to the inn.
If entering north of 14th Street (59th Street Bridge (also called the Queensborough Bridge), Triborough Bridge, or Midtown Tunnel - take 7th Avenue downtown to 14th Street, turn right onto 14th street 1½ blocks to the inn.