I have two options to get there.

1. Fly to LGA and back from LGA, arrive there at 10:45PM on Saturday and leave at 4:30PM on Tuesday. For this option, it will cost me 14000 points which I have, so basically no airfare.

2. Fly to LGA using 7000 points arriving there at 10:45Pm Saturday and leave at 7:30PM on Tuesday from EWR using 12,500 points and $75 service fee. So airfare cost of this option is $75 more than the first.

I want to meet a couple of people that live close to EWR, they can drive and meet me at a common location but of course it would be convenient to them if I meet somewhere closer to EWR but they can still meet at a common point in New York, though LGA would be inconvenient. Keeping this in view,
can the experts guide as to 1) what area I should book the hotel and 2) if I should rent a car or would it be cheaper to use public transportation. I do want to visit Empire State Building, 911 Memorial, and Central Park while I am there. If renting a car makes it sufficiently convenient in this situation then I am willing to do that. Thanks.