We're planning our first ever trip to NYC for October. For planning purposes, and to make sure we get to the right place at the right time, I have some questions regarding travel time. We will be staying at the Sofitel (W 44th St,5th-6th Aves.) or another nearby hotel. How much travel time should we allow for the following:
1. Taxi from the hotel to Circleline Cruises (W 42nd St & 12th Ave) on Saturday morning - or is this walkable?
2. Taxi from the hotel to Tavern on the Green on Sunday morning.
3. Taxi from the hotel to LaGuardia on Monday morning.

Thanks -

"Walkable" varies from one person to another. In general, in NYC the east-west streets are about 20 per mile, the north/south avenues about 5 per mile. so from 44th/6th to 42nd/12th would be over a mile.

On weekend mornings, traffic in midtown is very light so traveling a mile or two would take just a few minutes.

1. Saturday morning, should not be a bad traffic times so that ride would be maybe 10 minutes. You can walk but they are long blocks, maybe 15-20 min depending on how you walk.
2. same is true for Sunday morning, that should take also about 10 minutes.
3. Monday morning is another story, even though you are going against the rush hour flow, it still is very congested. If you plan on traveling between 7 and 10 am allow at least 1 1/2 hour. Traffic can be horrible that time of day. Very early in the morning, probably 1 hour is more than enough.

To answer your questions about taxi times: The first two destinations shouldn't take more than 10-15 minutes each. You won't encounter much traffic either time. As for getting to Laguardia, that depends on what time you are talking about on Monday morning.
To clarify some information posted above:
It's 20 north to south blocks that equal one mile; east to west blocks are about 8-10 to a mile.
As for walking times, it'll take at least 15-20 minutes to walk from your hotel to Circle Line or Tavern on the Green.

FRom Sofitel to Circleline - just abouit one mile - 25 minutes at a leisurely pace. Taxi - less than 10 minutes. Cost less than $4 not including tip.
Tavern on the Green - about 1 1/4 miles - 10 minutes by taxi. Cost less than $5.
To LGA by taxi - time leaving a factor but under normal condition 30 to 40 minutes. Cost would be less than $30 tip and toll included

The only way it will take an hour or more to get from the Sofitel to LGA is if the President is in town and there are frozen zones.