<p>He could actually take a subway for 2.25 each way. The green line runs that route every 10 minutes or so. That’s probably what I’d do… but then again, I’m cheap!! :)</p>
<p>The green line? What is this, Boston?</p>
<p>He could take the Lexington Avenue local (the 6 train) from Grand Central up to 96th Street, and then walk west for two blocks to Madison and up 5 blocks to 101st Street. It probably wouldn’t take more than 20 minutes or so. But if you’re not used to subways, it’s easy to get a little bit lost, especially at a central junction like Grand Central with 20 different places you could go. A taxi, at that hour, is probably a lot simpler.</p>
<p>As for a taxi from 101st and Madison, yes, that’s right near Mt. Sinai (as I know all too well!), and there are always taxis out in front of the hospital on Madison Avenue. They’re heading north, of course, but they do have steering wheels and can make the next left or right to go west or east for one block and then go down Fifth or Park.</p>
<p>Sorry, I’m not a New Yorker… and I’ve never been to Boston so I have no clue how they do their subway system. I wasn’t sure which number off the top of my head it was… but I do know that he can find it on the subway map along the green line. </p>
<p>But, If I remember right (and I could be wrong, I haven’t been up that far in awhile), the #6 train stops at 103rd street which would require maybe three or four blocks of walking. I missed the part where the OP said he wasn’t used to subways… in that case I agree a cab is probably simpler.</p>
<p>DC subway lines are also referred to by color. Real old time New Yorkers refer to the various lines by IRT and other abbreviations. There are still some vestiges to the old system, as I believe subway cars are not interchangeable on all lines.</p>
<p>Thanks to everybody here who offers me advices. It is very helpful.</p>
<p>DS needs to go north from Roosevelt Hotel early in the morning, and then go south from the area near Mt Sinai to GCT to catch a train around 3-4 pm. We will recommend him to take a cab, unless he becomes “adventurous” to explore the subway option for his return trip to GCT in the afternoon. A hassle is to carry his sizable luggage. It may not be convenient for him to take the subway with that luggage.</p>
<p>Thanks again!</p>
<p>nj2011mom, you’re right, I almost called the 6 the Lexington Avenue IRT, but nobody under 50 would know what I’m talking about.</p>
<p>Why doesn’t he leave his luggage at the hotel, then go back to pick it up when he is finished with his errands. He could then take the subway or even the bus (less than $5 round trip).</p>
<p>It is a good idea. But I am not sure whether he is comfortable about taking the subway as he has never done it before (and he needs to arrive at Mt. Sinai by a predetermined time.)</p>
<p>One of DS’s friends has been in NYC for a month or two. The last time I heard about it, he had not been very familiar with NYC’s subway system (e.g., neither purchased the ticket nor took the subway yet), even though he lives and breathes in Manhattan for many weeks! – Maybe he does not bother to learn that yet.</p>
<p>Are you sure he’s coming into Grand Central, as that only services Metro North commuter trains? Amtrak trains come into Penn Station which is on 32nd St between 7th & 8th Ave (west side). </p>
<p>Also second leaving the luggage with the hotel. I would take the cab in the morning and the subway back in the afternoon.</p>
<p>mcat2, if he needs to arrive by a certain time and is taking a cab, make sure he leaves plenty of time. I’ve taken my fair share of cabs in new york, and i personally never know how long traffic will take… especially at that time of the day.</p>
<p>NYC’s subway is very easy to follow actually. I’ve taken the Metro in DC and Septa in Philly and by far prefer NYC. And, if he isn’t sure where to get off he can ask someone. They’ll point him in the right direction. The first time I rode the Subway by myself I had no clue what the heck I was doing. (I had been on the subway before, just had never done it by myself) I took a bus to penn station and was given instructions to follow the signs from penn station to times square for any yellow circle (that’s how it was described to me) and take any train downtown to union square. I remember walking through the tunnel, following the signs, buying a metro card , and getting on my N train downtown. I had no clue where to get off, so I had to ask someone how many stops to Union square. They told me and showed me which it was when I got there. :)</p>
<p>I’ve got a couple friends who live up there, so I have been going up a couple times a year for the past 10 years. It was a bit of a learning curve at first but as long as you can follow the colored lines on the subway map and distinguish between local and express trains/stops, he’ll be fine. You can actually put the address in google and it will tell you which train to take, what times they come, and which direction to walk after you get off the train. If he decides to be adventurous and try the subway, i would suggest printing that out ahead of time. I’ve taken luggage on a train before. Just keep it close to you and it won’t take up that much extra room.</p>
<p>nj2011mom, He is coming from New Haven to NYC. I think he is going to take Metro North commuter train, not Amtrak.</p>
<p>I would suggest DS to do that (that is, “take the cab in the morning and the subway back in the afternoon.”) A trip to NYC is not complete without trying out its subway 
Where to purchase the ticket for the subway, if you are there for just one ride? </p>
<p>Unfortunately, he will be there in the middle of a week, otherwise he will definitely crash at his friend’s apartment and enjoy NYC more fully during the weekend. Last time DS was in NYC, his friend went to GCT to pick him up and went to some concert together, and DS stayed at his friend’s apartment that night. I heard he walked more than an hour from his friend’s apartment, to Time Square and then to GCT, in order to see more of NYC. (He did not dare to try subway by himself at that time though.) He has been trained very well to walk a long distance in college. In one semester, he said he often walked many many miles every day, even during the bitter winter. This may be a benefit of going to a college without a car :)</p>
<p>[MTA</a> NYC Transit - Trip Planner](<a href=“http://travel.mtanyct.info/_start.aspx]MTA”>http://travel.mtanyct.info/_start.aspx)</p>
<p>He could buy a metro card at a machine or booth at a subway station.</p>
<p>He can just buy a single ride metro card. It will cost him $2.25.</p>
<p>If he has a suitcase, don’t take the subway. Too many stairs.</p>
<p>The suitcase is going to be a nuisance during his interview or whatever he is doing that day even if he takes a cab uptown. I think he can ask the Roosevelt Hotel to keep it for him during the day and then pick it up before he catches the train back to New Haven. Holding luggage for a while after checkout is pretty routine in most hotels and the Roosevelt has been around a long time and should certainly have the capacity to do that.</p>
<p>As far as the subway goes, the # 6 train is a local, pretty foolproof, and the Lexington Avenue line is not as complicated as some of the West Side lines in terms of what stops where. It Goes straight up the East Side and does not get complicated until the Bronx, when the 4, 5, and 6 branch off in somewhat different directions. I think taking a cab uptown in the morning if he nervous about the day makes sense and no harm in taking one back afterward, even without a suitcase. As far as getting back downtown, however, if he is in the mood and has time, he can walk down Fifth Avenue to 96th Street so that he gets a view of Central Park, then cut over to Madison Avenue, walk another couple of blocks downtown through a lovely neighborhood called Carnegie Hill, look down some attractive residential side streets in the 90s, go east another block to Park Avenue, follow the same pattern, and then go one more block east and find his way to the express stop at 86th and Lexington for a five-minute ride down to GCT on any train that comes into the station and the Roosevelt Hotel to pick up his luggage. (96th is a local stop on the east side.)</p>
<p>I don’t necessarily recommend the 103rd Street Lex stop for a total subway novice, and I would never say the subways are fun or attractive but I do think in Manhattan at mainstream hours of the day, just about everyone takes them.</p>
<p>
What do you mean when you said a train is a local? I know a local one runs not “very far.” But it appears the number 6 also runs quite a long distance.</p>
<p>Also, is Harlem a “bad” area, relatively speaking? Somebody told me that the area above 100st St is in general not as good, on the east side of Manhattan at least. I do not know the same is applicable to the west side of Manhattan. If yes, the area near Columbia should be not good because its location is definitely north of 100st St.</p>
<p>Two of DS’s friends share an apartment on the south-west side of Manhattan (I do not know how south.) He once walked from there to Time Squares and then to GCT. It is generally safe in that area during the day time, right?</p>
<p>He mentioned that when he stayed there, he felt everything is very expensive. In the evening, the apartment dwellers, most of them being young professionals, would go up to the top floor of the apartment building, socializing with each other in a bar or restaurant. A very “moneyed” scene – most are dressed well, eat well, and drink well. This experience convinced DS (a poor student as compared to those apartment dwellers) that working in Manhattan is not for him. (This does not mean he could have a chance to work there at all. It just means he will never try to explore that career path.) I heard several of them are planning to get together in that apartment in a month or so. </p>
<p>It is somewhat strange to me one of his friends who actually lives there has not learned how to take the subway, even after having been there for a couple of months. (maybe he lives close to where he works so he does not have to learn it? Just my guess here.)</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>As a non new yorker I can try to explain it in my terms… this may not be official… but… There are “local” trains and “express” trains. There are different subway stops - ones where all trains stop (express and local), and other stops where only “local” trains stop. So, a #6 local train will stop at every stop (local and express) on it’s map… as as opposed to just the big main stops where the “express” trains stop. An express train gets to big distances faster because it’s not stopping at every single local stop on the way, but they only let you off at certain places. A local train can be a longer ride because it stops at every little individual stop… but it will get you closer to where you want to be, ie, in the local area.</p>
<p>From my travels to NYC… things in NY are generally more expensive then elsewhere… but generally speaking I believe they make more money as the cost of living is much higher.</p>
<p>Local rains stop at every station; it has nothing to do with the distance they travel. Express trains stop at designated stops. GCT is an express stop on the Lexington Ave line; so is 86th. Both 96th and 103 are local stops on that line and are served only by the # 6 train. </p>
<p>Guidebooks to NYC such as the very basic Fodor and Frommer are a really good source of this kind of info for those contemplating a first visit to the city–just as they are for cities abroad.</p>
<p>I am surprised that young people living in NYC haven’t been on the subway but can’t speak to their reasons. And neighborhoods vary tremendously block by block, with parts of Harlem having become quite gentrified.
I would not want to generalize about any place or neighborhood.</p>
<p>^ Thanks! Your explanation is clear and I now understand that “local” means the train stops at more stations, not so much related to the distance the train travels.</p>
<p>We are indeed very ignorant about NYC. DS said to us at one time that, when we have a chance to visit him, he will take us there because we have never been there before. Isn’t it sweet for him to say this to his parents?</p>
<p>
Now I understand why it is easier to take a local train like #6. If I go to the 96th stop (I heard it is an underground one, unlike the 106 stop which is above ground – I was told it is more confusing if a stop is above ground but I do not know why though), I have only two choices: going north on #6 or going south on #6. It is very easy to pick up which train to take.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>On the way back from uptown, he should sit in the rear cars of the #6, as those steps will bring him to the best place in GC. As always, just ask anyone directions.</p>