The Courtyard by Mariott on East 40th street?? My mother, sister and I will be in NY this weekend, and plan to do the Staten Island ferry to the Statue of Liberty. We are supposed to be there at 8 am, so I'm wondering what time we should leave the hotel by? Any advice/suggestions are welcome, thanks friends!! Dana

www.hopstop.com might help if you plan to take public transportation. If you plan to take a cab, you should ask the concierge what time would be good.

Do NOT take a cab in rush hour traffic it will take forever to get there.

Take the subway down to Wall St the #4 train at Grand Central Station, just 2 blocks north of you. The #4 downtown is an express train which will get you there faster. The Lexington AVe line is the 4,5,6 (6 train is local and the last stop is City Hall).

So if you want to walk a bit take the 6 to City Hall and walk down Broadway, it will take about 20 minutes from City Hall to the ferry.

Or take the #4 to Wall St and walk down broadway and it will take just a few minutes.

If you are supposed to be there by 8am, I'd suggest leaving the hotel around 7 or 7:15, it will take about 30 to 45 minutes to get there.

Have a GREAT time.

First, you can't take the Staten Island ferry to the Statue of Liberty. You are taking a different ferry, and it leaves from a different place, near Castle Clinton in Battery Park. The closest subway stop is Bowling Green on the 4 line (which you will pick up at Grand Central). I would recommend leaving your hotel by 7:15, but leave at 7 to be safe.

If for some reason you want to take the Staten Island ferry, which goes by but not to the Statue of Liberty, then you can arrive anytime. I leaves every 15 minutes in the morning.

If you want to, you can try to get a cab so you don't have to mess with the subway. But leave at the same time, and then use the extra time to walk around and get some coffee before you get on the ferry. The fare should be about $15 to $20 from your hotel. Traffic doesn't usually get bad until after 7:30.

Finally, I strongly urge you to buy your tickets in advance for the Statue of Liberty; it makes things go much smoother.

Ok, now I'm really confused. I've ordered tickets for the Circle Line cruise, is that the one that leaves from Battery Park to the Statue?? I know there is a free Ferry, that one doesn't take you to the Statue? Ooooh, I need some help before this weekend, ha ha. I was actually hoping to avoid the subway any way we can, I'd rather walk there, or go by cab.......thanks for all your help!! Dana

Why are you trying to avoid the subway? It's cheaper, faster, and safer than the cabs as a general rule.

The Staten Island Ferry is the free ferry that does NOT stop at the Statue. I'm assuming since you said you booked the Circle Line, that you went with the Statue of Liberty Ferry. Riiight...? If so, as Doug said, that leaves from Battery Park. Same basic vicinity as the Staten Island Ferry, but much different service, obviously. The subway from GCS to Battery Park will take you about 20 minutes (plus a few minutes waiting on the platform). It really is the most convenient way.

It's also easy to get a cab near your hotel on a Saturday morning early(I have done this at this hotel many times for business). You can ask the hotel to help you to get a cab, or, you can look out to the street to see if any are parked there waiting(sometimes there are at an early hour), or you can take a left out of the hotel and hail a cab at the next major intersection (40 and Broadway)since they will be heading in the correct direction.To go to downtown at that hour will be around $12-15, less if the traffic is very light, which it should be. The cab will take about 15-20 minutes that early on a Sat AM

The Staten Island Ferry - which is free - is a ferry for commuters from Staten Island to Manhattan and back. It give you a view of the Statue of Liberty from a distance but doesn't go near Liberty Island.

The Circle Line has a service (for which you pay and for which you need tickets in advance to avoid humungous lines) that takes you first to Liberty Island, then to Ellis Island and then back to Manhattan. To do all of this will take you the best part of the day - since there are also long security lines (think airport) to get on the ferry - and again on Liberty Island to wait to get inside the exhibit. You cannot ascend the statue for safety (structural, not terrorism) reasons.

Both ferries leave from the southern end of Manhattan - but not from the same piers. They are clearly different and each is clearly marked.

If you have 8am tickets for the Liberty Island ferry you should leave your hotel by 7:30 at the latest - to get there either by cab or subway.

But - the Circle Line also has several other cruises (New York harbor, around Manhattan Island etc) - so be sure you have bought tickets for the one for Liberty Island.

Dana: Honestly, don't stress. Just take a cab and you'll make it in plenty of time. Every cab driver in NYC will know where to take you to the Statue of Liberty ferry. The costs are accurate and might even be a little lower if there's not much traffic. So just enjoy.

Thanks Doug! I'll try not to stress too much, ha ha ha. I just want things to go smooth---my mom is a tad intimidated (I think) by NY. I can't wait to go, I think it's an amazing city!! Anyway, thanks again for all your help, 3 more days!!!!!!