Visa Tips for International Attendees
International conference participants should apply for visas at least three months ahead of their departure date. For the official word and the most up-to-date information, visit the Department of State website, www.unitedstatesvisas.gov.
Air Travel
CAA 2007 Annual Conference attendees may receive savings on their air travel by purchasing tickets through our travel partners. American Airlines is offering special rates to those traveling to CAA’s Annual Conference in New York from the continental United States, Hawai‘i, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and other selected points in North America. Conference attendees may receive a 5% discount off American’s published round-trip fares, subject to applicable restrictions. Continental Airlines is offering special rates to those traveling to CAA’s Annual Conference in New York from the continental United States, Hawai‘i, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and other selected points in North America. Conference attendees may receive a discount of 2% to 15% off Continental’s published round-trip fares, subject to applicable restrictions.
For savings on midweek travel to the conference, special roundtrip Zone Fares are also available to all cities served by both airlines in the continental United States, Hawai‘i, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and other selected points in North America. Two-day minimum stay; no Saturday night stay required.
To take advantage of discounts from American, or to get complete information about schedules and fares, log on to www.aa.com or call the American Airlines reservations number, 800-433-1790, Monday through Sunday, 5:00 AM–midnight, Central time. Or have your travel agent call American’s toll-free number to obtain these same advantages for you. Refer to File Number A2227AF.
To take advantage of discounts from Continental Airlines, or to get complete information about schedules and fares, log on to www.continental.com or call the Continental Airlines reservations number, 800-468-7022, Monday through Sunday, 7:00 AM–10:00 PM, Central time. Or have your travel agent call the Continental Airlines toll-free number to obtain these same advantages for you. Refer to Z-Code ZU6N and Agreement Code AMJC7G.
Rail Travel
Conference attendees can take advantage of a 10% discount on the lowest available Amtrak train fare for travel to and from New York between February 2 and February 23. (This offer is not valid on Auto Train and does not apply to accommodation charges.) To book your trip, call Amtrak at 800-USA-RAIL (800-872-7245) or visit www.amtrak.com online. Refer to Convention Fare Number X10L-965 when making your reservations.
Car Rental
Avis is a CAA Business Partner and the Official Rent-a-Car provider for CAA’s conference. Special rates are available to attendees at the conference for rentals made between February 5 and February 28. Renters must meet Avis’s age, driver, and credit requirements, and other restrictions may apply.
For more information or to make a rental-car reservation, visit www.avis.com. Be sure to enter CAA’s Avis Meeting Discount Number D002166 when making reservations online. Reservations may also be made by calling Avis’s toll-free number: 800-331-1600.
Getting Around New York
By Bus
New York’s 3,700 buses operate throughout the five boroughs on more than 200 routes. You are usually within a few blocks of a bus stop.
The cost is $2.00 per ride, no matter the distance. You can pay your fare with a MetroCard or exact change in coins. The driver does not give change and fare boxes do not accept dollar bills or pennies. A MetroCard can save you money on multiple rides. Options include the $7 one-day Fun Pass, the 7-day ($24) and 30-day ($76) unlimited ride cards, and a pay-per-ride card ($10 for 6 rides, $20 for 12 rides, but you may put any amount onto a MetroCard). Credit and ATM cards are accepted for payment at MTA vending machines at subway stations. MetroCards may be purchased at many hotels and from MetroCard merchants.
If you pay your fare with a MetroCard, you may transfer for free from bus to subway, subway to bus, or bus-to-bus within two hours of the time you paid your fare. Unlimited Ride MetroCard includes all transfers at no charge.
By Subway
Subways are a fast, easy, and inexpensive way to get around the city. Trains run 24 hours a day, throughout all five boroughs. Directions usually will be to take either an uptown or downtown train; there are also several crosstown shuttles.
The cost is $2.00 per ride, no matter how far or how many times you transfer (as long as you do not pass through the turnstile gate). Purchase a MetroCard (tokens are no longer sold). The same MetroCard options are available for the subway and the bus.
By Taxi
Taxi service in and around New York City is plentiful. Be sure to use only Yellow cabs, which are licensed by the City of New York. An available cab has its call light lit.
Taxis have meters; the total cost depends on the distance traveled and time spent in the cab. Taxi fares are $2.50 for the first 1/3 mile, then 40¢ each 1/5 of a mile thereafter, and 40¢ per 120 seconds when the cab is not moving. A 50¢ night surcharge is in effect between 8:00 PM and 6:00 AM. A $1.00 surcharge is in effect during rush hours, 4:00–8:00 PM weekdays. Any bridge or tunnel tolls will be added to the total charge. Taxi drivers are usually given a 15% gratuity on top of the final metered fare.
To and From Airports
By Taxi
Taxis from Kennedy International Airport charge a flat rate of $45 plus $4.50 toll for a bridge or tunnel crossing. The cost from LaGuardia Airport, and from all other area airports and transportation destinations, is the price recorded on the taximeter, plus $4.50 toll for a bridge or tunnel crossing. Metered fare from Newark Airport to any Manhattan location is approximately $40–55 plus tolls, depending on time of arrival. Taxis are available outside of every terminal and there is typically a taxi stand and dispatcher where you will be directed to a taxi. A typical gratuity is 15% or 20% of the meter amount.
By Subway or Bus
At Kennedy airport, a light-rail service, AirTrain, links the nine airline terminals in the Central Terminal Area and stops at airport car-rental facilities, longterm parking lots, and the Howard Beach subway (12 minutes) for the A subway line. The subway ride from there to midtown Manhattan takes 60–75 minutes. The AirTrain costs $5.00; the subway ride to midtown is an additional $2.00; the stop nearest to the New York Hilton Hotel on the A line is 59th Street.
Gray Line/Express Shuttle USA provides service from the airports to all major hotels between 23rd and 63rd Streets. From the airports, no previous reservations are required. Travel time varies. The cost is $13–19 one way to midtown. To the airports, hourly pick-up service is available from major hotels between 23rd and 63rd Streets; reservations must be made 24 hours in advance, either by phone or via the Internet.
Note: The above rates and information are current at the time of this publication. For up-to-date information, see www.nycvisit.com. For New York City subway and bus maps see the MTA website.