Most of the time we hope that our layovers are relatively short, with just enough time to get to your gate and perhaps grab a bite of food. Sometimes, the best deals on flights include long layovers. One of the most popular long layover areas is in NYC. Recently, I had an 8 hour layover in New York and decided to see just what could be done, between getting from the Newark airport to the city and making it back in time, to catch an international flight, without a huge budget.
TRANSPORTATION
From the Newark airport, you’ll need to take a train ride that last around 45 minutes to NYC. While the train ticket isn’t exactly cheap, it is still much more affordable than taking an Uber or taxi to the city. While the trains themselves are on the older side, they are efficient and comfortable enough to get you to and from the city. Depending on the time of your flight, be sure to check the train schedule. If it is a late flight, there may not be as many trains going to the airport, so plan accordingly.
Once you are in the city, walking and taking the subway are your best options. You can likely save money by purchasing a metro card as opposed to paying a car service to get you around the city. Besides, taking the subway allows you to see some of the most famous NYC subway stops. If you are running short on time and need to get across the city, you can generally get an Uber or taxi for a decent price.
WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR LUGGAGE
If you are flying, you’ll definitely have some type of luggage with you. I didn’t feel like dragging my luggage around the city all day long, so I did some research into some storage options.
The best solution I found was Luggage Hero. There are multiple places around the city where you can store your luggage for a minimal expense. One of the best things about this option is the fact that there are so many locations and they also include insurance! After seeing how simple this process was, I will most definitely be utilizing this service again.
PLACES TO SEE DURING YOUR NYC LAYOVER
If you are looking to save money during your layover, you are in luck! NYC is one of the best places to sight-see, with so many amazing free views. These things include Central Park, the New York Public Library, Grand Central Station, 30 Rock, the Flatiron Building and more! Many of these locations, such as Central Park, has many great things to see within it. You could easily spend a couple of hours walking around the park without getting bored.
FOOD
There’s a lot of planning that can go into what food to eat in New York. We like to take a chance and happen upon most of the restaurants that we try. The pizza place we stumbled upon was delicious and very fairly priced. This quick and cheap meal gave us the energy we needed to speed around the city. One of the great things about NYC is that good pizza isn’t hard to find!
Grand Central Station also has quite a large food court with several options to choose from. Some are restaurants while others sell mostly treats or pastries.
TIPS / PREPARATION
If you are going to be spending several hours walking around the city, good walking shoes are an absolute must. You don’t want to be stuck on your flight with blisters on your feet! Another tip is to always bring an umbrella. The weather can change quite quickly, and you don’t want to be stuck in the middle of Central Park with no umbrella or rain jacket. (Long haul flights are even longer when your clothes are damp.)
Overall, a layover can be a great way to spend a few hours exploring NYC. If you plan correctly and have a positive attitude, this can be a fantastic beginning (or end) to your next trip!
It has been a long while. It is nice to hear from you again.