New York - Pensilvania

JFK to Malvern, PA is about a 2.5 hour drive by car. Getting there by public transport will likely take 4 hours+ and may end up costing nearly as much. You'd have to get to New York's Penn Station (taxi $45 or train $15), take Amtrak to Philadelphia ($60 one way), then Septa train to Malvern.

I don't know much about Malvern itself, but it is a relatively short train ride (about $5 each way) into Philadelphia - plenty to do and see there for a few days.

Malvern is just a fairly expensive suburb of Philly. There's a little main street with one pub and a couple of shops, but everyone goes to the big malls out on the big roads. You will want to take the train into Philly, which has quite a lot to see and do. The info above on getting to Malvern is correct. Can you get a connecting flight to Philly?

I think you can save a bit on getting from JFK to Malvern by public transport, but perhaps it isn't worth the hassle. With two of you, I agree with the others that you should either rent a car at JFK, or fly to Philadelphia. Flying to Newark Airport and renting a car there would make sense too, if that's possible.

US Airways flys London - Phila., perhaps others do as well. (Assuming your in England)

Get to Philly airport and get your mate to come and fetch you.

US and BA fly LON-PHL.

Ed

Prices to NYC are much cheaper than PHL, even considering public transit costs.

I spend about 10 hrs a day in Malvern. It's nothing special.

You can take NJ transit to trenton and SEPTA from Trenton to Philadelphia 30th st station (sorta like the city's main train station). It'll save some $$. Have your friend pick you up at 30th or even Trenton if she can.