Two of us will be arriving at LGA at 10:30 a.m. on a Friday. Unless I find a better option in the meantime, we will be staying at Park Savoy near Central Park. Based on my reading of previous posts, seems like the best transportation options are to take a cab or a car service. Given the day and time, which would be best (i.e. will there be long lines / traffic with a cab such that we should consider a car service)?

There may or may not be a long line, but a cab is almost always a better deal from LGA than a car service, which tends to cost at least $10 more. The real problem is traffic, which can be pretty bad in Midtown on a Friday. If there is traffic (and there very well may be, especially once you cross the bridge into Manhattan), then you might do better with a car service, but it takes a lot of traffic to make up that money.

"Better" is in the eyes of the beholder. Some would say a $2.25 ride on mass transit is always better than a $30 ride in a taxi. But obviously, the mass-transit (city bus to subway) takes far longer.

The long cab lines at LGA move quickly.

On the dial7.com website, I was quoted a rate of $29 plus tip, tolls and wait time. How would this compare with cab fare during Friday traffic?

On a related note, how long should we plan for it to take to get to our hotel on Friday? If we arrive at 10:30 am, is it reasonable to think we could get to our hotel and then back out to Pier 78, W. 38th St. @ Hudson River Park for a NY Waterways tour by 1:00? Or should I opt for a later tour?

Thanks.

grab a cab
the line moves quickly

I take a car service (Carmel) TO the airport heading home.

Taxi is far easier - you just get in the queue and hop in the next available cab. With a car service you need to find the exact car somewhere in the sea of identical black Lincolns. Finding the right car at LGA can be like finding a needle in a haystack during busy times.

If you have the car wait for you it can get VERY expensive. If you want a car service you do NOT have them wait for you. You make arrangements in advance and then call for a pickup once you land. If your plane is late waiting time can easily be $30 or more.

IMHO I always take a cab into town - since I hate having to go look for the (often) clueless drivers of the car services. They are better TO the airport - so you don;t have to go into the street with your luggage and look for cab.

When I take a taxi from LaGuardia, I generally pay $30 including toll and a very generous tip direct to my apartment door. Now I live near the Midtown Tunnel exit, so you have to figure that you could pay a few dollars more to go across town to Columbus Circle. I'd still estimate it's $6 or $7 cheaper to take a regular taxi, and it will be cheaper still if the driver takes the Queensboro Bridge, which has no toll and feeds right into 57th Street going across town to your hotel.

Just take a taxi -- it's very easy and not that expensive!