6-7 hours at Newark (food, ferry, best)

[Obrero]

Originally Posted by KathyA11

I think the guidelines call for 2 hours for international flights now.

The OP is going to FL.

[njkate]

Originally Posted by colleeng47

That's exactly what I was going to say. I wouldn't take the chance. I think the idea of dinner at one of the great restaurants in the Ironbound section of Newark is a winner.

Yeah I agree..I know I would be exhausted after an international flight....get a cab and go have dinner in the Ironbound

[icibiu]

Originally Posted by ansky

I would not bother trying to get into NYC in that short amount of time. NJ Transit trains are notorious for delays and you could end up not getting back in time and missing your flight.

I have to agree, if you head into NYC you will probably miss your flight.

The poster who suggested taking a cab is out of thier mind no way is a cab going to take 20 minutes maybe at 4 in the morning but not during the day.

I personally would just grab dinner at the airport, missing your connection is so costly these days...

[Lusitan]

Originally Posted by KathyA11

I think the guidelines call for 2 hours for international flights now.

You're right, but I think in this case, he will be returning from an international trip and just reconnecting to another U.S. destination. Also, I think in this case he will have re-checked his bags for his connecting flight already, and therefore once that's done there really isn't a need to get to the airport 2 hours ahead of time. I think planning to be back at the airport 1.5 hours ahead of time is enough in this case.

Let me also say that a nice meal at a Portuguese restaurant in Newark's Ironbound neighborhood would be a great diversion as well, however, it probably won't eat up nearly as much time as a trip to NYC would, and for many people who have never been to NYC, it's more fun to get into Manhattan and walk around and see some of the sights.

I think that a little research on the NJ Transit or Amtrak train schedules so he'd know which trains to catch into and out of Manhattan, and he'd be OK.

[ansky]

Let's also not forget the fact that the OP is flying into Newark, which means his incoming flight will most likely be delayed, thus his layover will probably be shorter than expected. We had friends fly in from London a few weeks ago and their plane circled EWR for almost an hour before landing.

[KathyA11]

Originally Posted by tjtv

You could also get a taxi. With a taxi, you walk out of the terminal, and you're in Manhattan in ~20 minutes.

At that hour of the day, maybe it might take that long to get into the City -- but getting back? Peak rush hour traffic.

[KathyA11]

Originally Posted by Obrero

The OP is going to FL.

Duh -- I read it backwards.

[KathyA11]

Originally Posted by ansky

Let's also not forget the fact that the OP is flying into Newark, which means his incoming flight will most likely be delayed, thus his layover will probably be shorter than expected. We had friends fly in from London a few weeks ago and their plane circled EWR for almost an hour before landing.

Yeah -- bigtime congestion midafternoon at EWR.

[Davachka]

Thanks for the suggestions...never been to Newark never heard of Ironbound. Hate layovers, usually make my husband book only direct flights but thats impossible from tampa to florence & rome! Leaving for a few hours for dinner and (another) glass of wine sounds ideal. Portugese sounds interesting, hopefully its heavy on the fish/seafood.

[Lusitan]

Originally Posted by Davachka

Portugese sounds interesting, hopefully its heavy on the fish/seafood.

Oh yeah, big time.