I did not expect to be making a trip to France at this time. It happened by chance, things were happening in Paris, friends invited me to things, and so I ended up on an adventure. It may not have been April in Paris but the temperatures were so gentle it really felt like springtime. Leaving the cold of New England for what I thought would be a warmer but still cold clime felt really good.

Day 1—Departure Hartford, Connecticut

Getting to JFK from Hartford is never an easy task. I have done the CT Limo (which from what I could see does not exist anymore). We have done the rental car thing which is actually a good money saving option if there are two or more people traveling. This time around I went with Amtrak to Penn Station to the LIRR to the AirTrain. That sounds like a lot and it is but if you keep luggage to a minimum you can do it. Just remember—elevators and escalators may not always work so be prepared to haul whatever you are carrying up and down the stairs.

Amtrak leaving out of Hartford at 6:30 in the morning is not so bad. The prices for Amtrak to NYC have come down—they used to be ridiculous. I brought some breakfast with me and I arrived at the new Moynihan Train Hall (MTH) at Penn Station three hours later. The MTH is pretty nice and there are lots of options for dining. I bought a ticket on the LIRR to Jamaica.

At Jamaica it is an easy escalator ride up to the AirTrain platform. AirTrain fare ($8.00) can be added to a Metrocard. 

Although I booked on Delta my flight was a codeshare with AirFrance which meant I couldn’t use the Amex lounge at Delta. I was able to use the AirFrance lounge with Priority Pass. The food and wine at the AirFrance lounge was more than fair and it was nice to enjoy a meal so I wouldn’t be subjected to an airline meal I might not like.

Lesson #1: If you are going to be using AirTrain when returning make sure to buy your return fare at the same time because there can be lines when you leave. Also to exit the AirTrain at Jamaica you have to pay. It is the only time I have seen where you have to pay to leave a station.