Another travel question!

[J. Huber]

For you US east coasters... my 8th grade daughter and I are signed up for an educational "field trip" in June for her school that takes us to DC for two nights and then NYC for two nights. That part is all squared away as far as the itinerary, etc. However, we are hoping to extend it for a few more days on our own.

My question is: from Manhattan (where we will be staying), I am thinking we could board a train (Penn Station maybe?) and get out of the city just far enough to then rent a car and see some sights. I am thinking we will venture either west to Pennsylvania (Amish country, Hershey) or up a bit to New England (NH, Boston, Salem, etc)... That part we will more or less wing.  I've been through a lot of these parts -- just want her to see a bit more since we are there. Ok -- so here is the actual question: Anyone recommend a train stop or town we could get to fairly easily and get a rental car? We would likely make a loop as our departure flight is JFK...Thanks...

[Mike]

Hi James.  I recommend Princeton Junction, NJ.  It is a pleasant stop, and town, and should be convenient for you to get to a car rental place.  If you make it to Amish country give me a call.  I live in central PA about 30 miles away.  I can recommend some worthwhile stops.

[J. Huber]

Thanks Mike. Great suggestion! Next question on this: NJ Transit or Amtrak? NJT seems a whole lot less expensive. Any reason why we would not use it?

BTW, I tried to explain to a bunch of the parents that a more educational trip than DC/NY would be DC/Blacklick -- but they just stared at me... 

[hauser]

I was in DC last year for my son's fifth grade patrol trip.  I haven't done this type of trip since I was in the eighth grade.  It was great to share it with my son and a trip we'll never forget.

[dtuttle123]

James -

If you haven't done the trip and had the time, I would swing through Newport, RI - great rocky coast scenery, historal mansions of the rich and famous, shopping, and yachts!

[J. Huber]

Great idea Doug. I think in the several times I have traveled back east, RI may have eluded me. (It looks like I always took the 91 or the 84/90? to New England...) Anyway, time permitting, we will check it out! The neat thing for us West Coast folks is how many states and unique areas we can see back east. In California, we drive 8-12 hours and are still here! (OK I admit there is some nice variety within CA...)

[Kayvan]

Take Metro North to North White Plains stop (after Scarsdale).

There is Hertz accross the street, and rates appear to be 50% less than NYC.

From there you can investigate the Hudson Valley and see 4-6 estates of Rockefeller, Gould, Sleepy Hollow; or shoot up Merritt Pkwy or I-95 and see CT, MA, NH, etc.

http://www.hudsonvalley.org/

Similarly you can take LIRR from Penn Station out to Long Island and rent a car to see Hamptons, Montauk, Block Island, Glen Cove [even ferry to CT] Wineries, antiques, estates....and be right near JFK when you are done.
,

NYC has alot to offer, and going thru Central Park on bikes, or Cloisters, Botanical Gardens is a day trip in itself.

[twistedtree]

In my experience it's rare to find a train station that's anywhere near a reasonable car rental facility.  I'd map where the rental place is relative to the train station.  I typically go to the airport

I grew up in Princeton.  Keep in mind that Princeton Junction is about 3 miles away from down town Princeton.  The "Dinkey" train shuttles between Princeton Junction and Princeton and is fun but doesn't meet every train, so check the schedule carefully.

I'd take NJ transit, not amtrack.  It's less expensive, but try to get on an express train.  The trains between NYC and Philly are probably the only trains in the US to be proud of, and approach the service of trains in europe, though the cars are more run down.  They run regularly, run on time, and haul ass.

Personally I'd encourage you to head to New England.  Newport is a good suggestion, as is Boston and the North Shore.  Vermont and New Hampshire are beautiful too.  If you head this way and want, drop suggestions, drop a line with your interests and I'd be happy to make recommendations.

[mdsalemi]

I think you all missed Jim Huber's topic; it wasn't where to go, it was how to get a rent a car!

Why on earth leave Manhattan by train or taxi or bus or whatever, simply to RENT A CAR??  Do you think that one of the largest cities on earth doesn't have adequate rent a cars in town?

Jim--plan and enjoy your time in Manhattan.  Make a plan to rent a car IN MANHATTAN to take you away.  I have done this several times myself.  The only issue is juggling rate/location/brand of car rental (they change all the time).

Last time I was there to do this was about 1 year ago, last February school break.   I spent 3 days in Manhattan with my daughter; had made a reservation for a Dollar car at their location at E 22nd Street.  At the end our busy 3 days, we cabbed it down there; picked up a car and went.  Because the car was from NYC, it could be returned to the airport at no drop charge.  While that location on E 22nd seemed off the beaten path and was a $10 cab ride from 48th Street/8th Avenue where we were, it proved to be just a couple of blocks from an unfettered entrance to the FDR drive and we high-tailed it out of town to go to Massachusetts to visit my father.  Nothing could have been more convenient.  When we were done visiting Grandpa/Dad, we went right to LaGuardia and dropped the car there.  Simple and easy.  No trains involved.

You do not need to go throught the hassle and inconvenience of boarding a train to "get out of town" to get a rental car!

The only peculiar thing abour renting a car in the NYC area, airports included, does not affect you.  That is, they don't rent to locals (better have your California driver's license handy) or if they do, the rate is about double or worse!

[J. Huber]

Actually Mike, you are right on, that was the angle I was going for (although I more than welcome any travel ideas...)

Your idea makes sense -- I guess I was a little fearful for maybe the wrong reasons. You see, the only time I visited Manhattan, I had a rent-a-car. Not only was parking a nightmare and the traffic a little unsettling -- but frankly, the fear of the car being harmed in some way had me really nervous. Too many movies about Harlem I suppose. And of course, if ever there was a place where you did not need a car -- its NYC.

The difference though is I had a rental from the outside going in. This would one from the inside getting out. So if I can make it to the Holland Tunnel or the FDR drive I guess I'd be good to go. And a drop-off at La Guardia (not JFK as I thought) seems reasonable. Thanks for the tip -- I could save enough trainfare to offset the rental cost. The biggest issue right now is whether the educational tour company will let us alter the return flight a few days...

[mdsalemi]

Well, Jim, I've done it both ways.

I've stayed IN Manhattan with a rental car--and parked it near the hotel in a lot west of Times Square at W 45th & 8th.  Was not nearly outrageous as I thought it could be (considering breakfast for two at a local restaurant was about $45).  But you are right the car is nearly useless itself in NY.  We cabbed it everywhere or walked.

Plan your exit from Manhattan accordingly.  Leaving at 4:30PM for example, will tie you up in traffic to New England. (I won't do THAT again...).  Going through tunnels and over most bridges can result in extensive delays if not timed properly...

Have fun!

[Benz Dr.]

Uh...... why won't they rent to locals? Seems odd but maybe there's a good reason.

[Richard Madison]

OK...I've watched this thread grow with comments that imply native NY'ers may be a little weird.

Well, I may be weird but I like to think it's nice weird.

Manhattanites can get a car from any rental place in the city...it's just that we don't need a car so we rarely rent.

As far as high rates, may be bit more than elsewhere but many of the natives have business or organizational ID cards for hefty discounts that bring rental rates back down to earth...and we know when and how to get out of town while by-passing some of the major bridge and tunnel bottlenecks. (Manhattan is an island, so a water crossing must be made). Not sure about renting out of town as I've never done it.

As far as the direction to go for some nice sights away from NYC, you can just about throw a dart at the map...the previous comments give some great suggestions. New England: Newport is very nice, also Mystic Connecticut with its fabulous ship harbor...New Haven with the PT Barnum museum...and Boston is only a few hours away with it's historic walk passing some of the places that gave birth to America. (Choked up a bit here).

North along the smaller roads up the Hudson to mansions and scenery right out of the Hudson River Art School of the 1800's.

East to Long Island to see the fabled houses along the Hampton beaches (the playground of the Great Gatsby) and Montauk Point...or go West to Pennsylvania with all it has to offer. South to the Jersey shore, Princeton, Trenton, and more.

Can't go wrong,...the difficult part is to pick from all that is around the Big Apple.

Richard M, NYC
 

[Garry]

I'm with you Dan, Its even hard to get them to sell you spare parts cos your from out of town 

[J. Huber]

Hey Richard. Thanks for the tips -- I'll get out a dart. As for the implication of the weirdness of  NYers -- remember I come from California -- where we have more varieties of nuts than anywhere on earth....Anyway, the only fear I had of getting a rental car there was -- driving & parking. You have surely seen a guy in a purple Geo Prism, wearing a Hawaiian shirt, putzing along whilst looking down at a AAA map? Well, that would be me...

[66andBlue]

Hello James,
how was the trip? Or are you still planning?

[J. Huber]

Hey Alfred, thanks for asking! Back home again as of Sat evening late -- had a fantastic visit to DC and the NYC. This was an educational tour for 8th graders at our local school, one of which was my eldest daughter Jena. Anyway, parents were welcome and I couldn't pass it up as I love to travel. So she, I and about 30 classmates made the journey. It turns out that my plan to extend the trip (hence this thread) was overrode, so we stuck to the itinerary and I never needed a rental car. The tour was really well done -- a lot packed into 6 days. Both DC and NYC are really wonderful destinations and I encourage everyone here to go see America's two most important cities.

[mdsalemi]

Glad to hear you had a great time.  Been there and done that, but have yet to really explore your neck of the woods James!

We too loved DC.  Daughter's favorite was the International Spy Museum.  Love to tell you about it, but as they say, I was never there...