For visitors flying in or out of John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Jamaica, New York, is an inexpensive and nearby spot to extend a vacation.
Fly Cheap at Unpopular Hours
Selecting an early morning or late night flight is an excellent way to save money on airfare. However, booking a hotel in Manhattan will offset the savings and end up costing more. This is not the case in Jamaica, Queens. In Jamaica, it’s easy to find an affordable place to stay to extend your vacation and feel more refreshed.
Pay for a Room, Not for Parking
Not only will guests feel more refreshed if they stay the night before an early flight out or stay after a late night return, but they will also save money on airport transportation and parking. Many local hotels have complimentary shuttles that will pick guests up and drop them off at the JFK airport, negating the need to pay for parking – a sizeable chunk of money saved. The Garden Inn & Suites Hotel, The Sleep Inn JFK, and the Comfort Inn JFK Airport all offer complimentary shuttle service.
The Garden Inn & Suites Hotel offers cheap rooms in the form of newly remodeled suites, and free breakfast to get travelers on their way with full stomachs and wallets. Bring Fido along for the trip, as this hotel is pet-friendly, with some restrictions.
The Sleep Inn JFK Airport also offers a complimentary shuttle to the airport (with limited hours from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.), free newspapers in the lobby, and in-room WiFi.
The Comfort Inn JFK Airport’s complimentary shuttle service goes to the airport as well as nearby subway stations and Green Acres Mall. Guests also enjoy free hot breakfast at the hotel.
Find more cheap Jamaica hotels on Hipmunk.com.
Enjoy Cheap Things to Do
For budget-minded travelers, there are a few must-see, affordable things to do in Jamaica, Queens. For outdoor adventure Jamaica Bay is one of the best. With miles of bike paths, excellent bird watching, and tons of water fun like kayaking, canoeing, and boating, visitors can easily spend the day enjoying the weather.
King Manor Museum, a historic mansion set on 11-acres of beautiful grounds that often hosts outdoor events and concerts, is a site to see. It’s a quiet oasis in a busy area and has a dreamlike feel for that reason. Admission is $5 for adults and free for seniors.
Take the Subway
Not only is the subway an inexpensive way to get around, but a portion of the lines from Jamaica to Manhattan – the J Nassau Street Local and Z Nassau Street Express – are above ground while in Queens and Brooklyn. This allows travelers to see the grit and enjoy the flavor of these unique boroughs. Take the subway into Williamsburg and visit this trendy neighborhood or continue on to Manhattan.
For more information about the area, check out the full visitor’s guide to Jamaica on Hipmunk.
Christina R. Green is a freelance travel writer originally from the East Coast and now living in sunny Treasure Island, Florida. She loves kitschy tourist attractions and literary haunts. If she could figure out a way to drive something the size of an RV, she’d take off and write from the road. She’s currently working on the Hipmunk City Love Project.