Maybe a little off topic...

[Maggy]

Our trip to STJ will unfortunately include a night stop in New York. We will arrive in EWR but depart from JFK early the day after. So our thoughts, is to go over to the JFK area direct after landing, and then find a decent, safe, affordable, close airport hotel in JFK.

Do any of you have knowledge about such a hotel?

I find many hotels online, but it's hard to know which to avoid and which are OK.

Any experiences?

I promise I help you guys out when you come to Sweden

[susan & herb]

We live in NJ but stay overnite at JFK to avoid the drive in traffic to NY airport. We have stayed at the hotels near the airport many times. Most of them are good. Stick with the big chains. The flight crews stay at these hotels and some are really nice. I believe most of them have shuttle service to JFK for your flight to STT.
Check and see if their is any service (bus) to take you to JFK when you land at Newark airport. If not you will have to take a taxi.

[Jerseyboy]

We have stayed at the hotels near the airport many times. Most of them are good. Stick with the big chains. The flight crews stay at these hotels and some are really nice.

Agree with Susan and Herb. I can't recommend a specific hotel but the big chains they're talking about are Marriott (including Fairfield Inn and Courtyard), Hilton, and Crowne Plaza/Holiday Inn hotels. You made a good choice to go immediately to JFK from EWR.

BTW - Sweden is beautiful. I've visited Gothenburg and Stockholm.

[sailorgirl]

I'll add my two cents since this is my "hood". The Ramada is right on the airport property. Very convienent, and I think many of the flight crews use it. I put a client up at the Hampton Inn once. She was an out of towner but felt safe there. All of the major hotels have good security, but its not an area you'd want to wander around in. It's an economically depressed area of the City. My advice is to check in have a drink at the bar or order room service and call it a night.
Have a great trip

[Maggy]

Thanks for your replies.

Then I just go for one of the chain hotels. I have been leaning a bit towards Faifield Inn, as it gets good reviews. On the other hand, it's one night, so I guess we will be fine in any of them.

I'm a bit embaressed to say this, but we did the same thing last year when visting Turks and Caicos, and I can't really remember which of the hotels we stayed at then. I will have to check old cc receipts.

Jerseyboy - I'm glad you liked Sweden. I live about 30 miles north of Stockholm.

[Maggy]

Sailorgirl, thanks. That's exactly what we had in mind. With European time in your body and a 8,5 hours flight behind you, it's bedtime when you arrive at the hotel anyway. No walks in Jamaica - I'll save them for STJ.

Last year we took a delivery order from a nearby restaurant, and then fell asleep. I guess this year will be as exciting

[Mango]

Back in October, stayed at the Ramada Plaza JFK for one night. It was fine, & has a shuttle to the airport.

[Jerseyboy]

Jerseyboy - I'm glad you liked Sweden. I live about 30 miles north of Stockholm.

Hey, Maggy, thanks for Henrik Lundqvist! He's known as "King Henrik" to us New York Ranger fans.

[steveo2916]

We did this last year for our trip to Europe. If you do end up taking a cab (which we did), the fare is a flat rate of $80-100 each way.

[Maggy]

Jerseyboy - there must be something very special with Henrik Lundquist. You are not the first that mentioned him, when saying you are from Sweden.

steveo2916 - I really hope we can take the shuttle bus between EWR and JFK. We did that last year, and I think it costed about 20-25 pp.