New Jersey -- Getting From Point A to Point B

Drafting our trip itinerary this evening for the NYC Marathon trip. First step — getting from Newark Liberty International Airport to the Holland Motor Lodge in Jersey City.

Holland Motor Lodge attendant Quentin told me the way to get to the lodge using public transportation was to take the #62 New Jersey Transit bus from EWR to Newark Penn Station ($1.25/ea), then take the PATH red-line train to Grove Street ($1.50/ea), then either 1) a cab to the lodge for $5, or 2) the PATH yellow-line train to Pavonia/Newport and hoof it the last half-mile. Total cost: $5.50-$11.50 (latter includes $1 tip). The confusion on our part is that the New Jersey Transit Bus #62 schedule prohibits luggage greater than 22"x16"x8". x_x Not sure if driver's enforce this restriction since the bus routinely stops at Newark Liberty Airport.

Taking a train to Newark Penn Station represents a way around the luggage restriction. Newark Liberty Airport's terminal-to-terminal AirTrain ends at the Newark Liberty Airport Train Station. From there the New Jersey Transit Train's blue-line or red-line ($9.50/ea) represents a six-minute trip to Newark Penn Station. Total cost: $22-$28 (latter includes $1 tip).

After some thought we've tentatively chosen an airport taxi. The $42 fare (includes 20% tip of $7) from airport to hotel is fixed-rate and sounds to us like money well-spent. Especially considering our 04:00 PST start time, 7.5 hours on a plane, and the prospect of lugging baggage through unfamiliar public transportation systems at night.

Other ground transportation options exist but the taxi comes out on top financially.

I'm curious to test New Jersey public transportation. Perhaps on the return trip from the lodge to the airport we might try it out.