JFK International Airport

What airline are you flying from HKG to SFO? From SFO to JFK? Are both flights on a single ticket, or did you buy separate tickets for each flight? Are you checking bags, or only taking carry-ons?

You will have to clear U.S. Customs and Immigration upon arrival at SFO, and then have to clear security to get to your SFO-JFK flight. If you only have one hour between flights, there is a good chance that you will miss your connection. And if you have checked baggage, you will almost certainly miss your connection.

A one-way car rental probably makes the most sense. I would allow about 2 1/2 hours for the drive. Other possibilities include getting into Manhattan and taking one of the discount buses (Megabus or Bolt Bus) from the Penn Station area to downtown Philly. Amtrak is also available from Penn Station, but will be more costly than the buses.

Because there are frequent changes in subway service on the weekends due to construction and maintenance projects, you will need to check the posters in the subway for possible changes.

If service is operating normally, here's what I recommend:

1. AirTrain from your JFK terminal to "Jamaica" station. (Travel time is about 15 minutes; fare is $5.00, payable at Jamaica station with a Metrocard that you can purchase there.)

2. Manhattan-bound "E" train from Jamaica to "Queens Plaza" station. (Travel time is about 20 minutes; fare is $2.25, payable with Metrocard.)

3. Transfer at Queens Plaza to a Manhattan-bound "R" train on the local track. Take the "R" train to 28th Street/Broadway in Manhattan. (Travel time is about 15 minutes; no additional fare required.)

I recommend taking the "R" train rather than the "6" train because the transfer from the "E" to the "R" is much easier than the transfer from the "E" to the "6"; you will have a *slightly* longer walk when you exit the subway, but it is more than made up for by the much easier transfer from the "E" to the "R" train.

Because of waiting time for each train, I would allow about 75 minutes for the whole trip.

For about $60, the three of you can take a taxi to any destination in Manhattan. If you are looking to save money and go by public transportation, here's what I recommend:

1. AirTrain from your JFK terminal to "Howard Beach" station ($5.00 per person, payable with a Metrocard at Howard Beach). If you know that you will also return to JFK via AirTrain, you can purchase an AirTrain 10-trip Metrocard for $25.00, which will save you a few dollars.

2. At Howard Beach, board a Manhattan-bound "A" train ($2.25 per person, payable with Metrocard. If you will be in NYC for several days and plan to ride the subway and buses a lot, you could each purchase a 7-day unlimited Metrocard for $29 per person.) Take the "A" train to Columbus Circle/59th Street station in Manhattan.

3. At Columbus Circle station, you can either transfer to an uptown #1 train to Broadway/79th Street, or exit the subway at Columbus Circle, and board an uptown M-5 bus on Broadway. The M-5 will take you all the way to Riverside Drive and 79th Street.

When you do leave the subway in Manhattan, be sure to ask the subway booth attendant for a *free* subway map and a *free* Manhattan bus map. Both will come in handy during your visit.