New York City
 

I plan to visit NYC and the Statue of Liberty with an 8-yr old
- I want to utilize public transportation , don't plan to drive, and don't use taxi if I don't have too.
- I am planning to stay in a hotel in Lower Manhattan (near Fulton and Water St).

1) which airport is most convenient and cheap transportation to the hotel?
2) can I get to the statue of Liberty by public transportation
3) your suggestions where my 8-yr would enjoy to go

Thanks

When ar eyou planning on coming to NYC?

The Statue of Liberty is closed and will not reopen until some time this fall. You would need to check the web site to find out when. If you are waiting until then you need to get ferry tickets in advance from the web site of the /National Park Service or risk waiting hours to get on. Also, the ferry has airport-type security - no backpacks or large bags and everything will be searched - and allow 40 minutes ot so from arrival to boarding the ferry.

If you are going sooner, you can get a farily decent view from the free Staten Island ferry or a closer one from the Circle Line 20hour harbor cruise, Only NPS boats actually stop at Liberty Island to even see the outside. (And NO there is no public transit to the SoL - it's not part of NYC - it;s a National Park and run by the Park Service.)

Forairport - you shuold see which one has the dest price and schedule (of the big 3 only - JFK, EWR or LAG - not the distant ones that take hours to get to). EWR may have the easiest public transit - AirTrain to NJ Transit to NYC Penn Station where you pick up a cab or subway to your hotel. JFK is 2nd - with Airtrain to eithr subway to LIRR to the subway nearest the hotel.

Is the 8 year old a boy or girl and what ar his/her interests.

All would like:

Cnetral Park - with zoo, carousel, etc
Museum of Natural History
Top of the Rock
Just riding the subway
Ride on Staten Island Ferry

What else depends on interests and how long you would be there.

Frankly, with a child I wouldn;t stay downtown - but onthe upper west side. A family - rather than a business - neighborhood - with good access to the Park and a pack of child-friendly restaurants and all the sights midtown and uptown.

My opinion: Haven't been to NYC in years. Newark (EWR) to NYP (Penn Station) 10 trains per day at 25 minutes. Fare $32.
How about the Circle Line? http://circleline42.com/new-york-cruises/home.aspx

JFK has the cheapest/easiest public transportation for a hotel at your location in lower Manhattan. From JFK, take the AirTrain to the Howard Beach Station. At Howard Beach, take the A train to Manhattan and get off at the Fulton Street stop, which is located a short walk from your hotel--total cost about $7.50 per person, takes 60-70 minutes.

You must weigh which is more important: cheap public transportation or cheaper flight.

From Fulton Street and Water Street, you can take a subway or bus (M15) to reach Battery Park where you would board the Statue of Liberty ferry (or the Staten Island Ferry). The M15 bus would be more efficient since the bus stop is next to you location and the subway station is further away. You might choose to walk to Battery Park, about .75-1 mile, since you could pass famous sights like Wall Street and such.

The correct EWR to NY Penn Station AirTrain/NJTransit fare is $12.50 one-way for adults; children under 11 ride free. (bit.ly/cmz9ww)

AirTrains run every three minutes from 5 a.m. to midnight every day but Sunday, and every 15 minutes (and requiring a change of AirTrains) at other hours. On Sunday, the off-peak period lasts until 7 a.m.

NJTransit runs at least six trains per hour from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; four trains per hour otherwise. Travel time is 30 minutes.

While Ellenen is right the cheapest means of transportation is from JFK, the fastest to the Lower Manhattan on the eastside is LGA. The trip from Newark will be convoluted with luggage and an 8 year old.

You are staying one block from the East River, but many trains stop at the Fulton Street subway station. N.B. although the various trains are connected, the walk within the station, until the rennovation construction is completed, is often up and down stairs and down and around.

The area around the hotel is basically desserted after 7 PM but there will be people visiting the useless South Street Seaport on weekends.

Aduchamp1,The trip from LGA to lower Manhattan is faster--by taxi--but the OP is unwilling to take a taxi . . .