I am planning on going to Boston towards the end of September, for a weekend trip, and I need your help, along, with some tips. I am trying to avoid of using a
rental car, is there a train service from the airport, to various points of Boston? just like the Bart system, in San Francisco? I have never been to Boston
before. Looking at Priceline for hotels, there are a bunch of zones, to bid for. I think I am most interested in either Downtown, Waterfront, or Revere (?)
near the airport? Something that is easily accessible, from the airport, via train, bus, or taxi. I just don't know. Where is a good place to stay at,
while in Boston? I did pick up a map of Boston, from my local AAA office, but I am not sure where are the "good" areas, or the "bad" areas
are. Is that restaurant from that T.V. show back from the 80's 'Cheers" worth going to? Or is Fenway Park, for a ball game, do-able? These are
just a couple of ideas, I had on the top of my head at the moment. I plan on using my free award ticket, from Southwest, to get from Ontario, to Boston.
Thanks for your help.
Boston Help
| Author | Comment | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 Flyboymlc |
Boston Help |
Lead | |
|
Posts: 1422 (07/08/09 19:03:48) |
|
||
|
JohnJ |
|||
|
Posts: 3315 (07/08/09 19:26:28) |
Probably the easiest way to get from the airport to downtown Boston is on the Silver Line busway, which will drop you at South Station where you can make a
free connection to the rest of the T subway system. It's quick and easy, and will set you back $2. If you plan on staying in the core part of Boston I
would absolutely recommend not getting a rental car.
Plenty of good places to stay in Boston, and for whatever reason the rates have been reasonable recently. Lately I've been staying at the downtown Doubletree for around $150 a night, but I've also had good luck at the Renaissance Waterfront. The Waterfront area is a bit removed from the main tourist areas, but by virtue of the same Silver Line, getting to where you need to go is easy from there. This is the part of town that's experienced an incredible renaissance due to the Big Dig project. Downtown would be a good bet, and the Back Bay/Copley Plaza area is also a nice place to stay. Try to stay away from areas a few miles south from downtown Boston (anything much south of I-90 except for Copley/Back Bay is suspect). If you want to get the true flavor of the city, though, try to stay either in the Waterfront area or downtown. I'd probably avoid Revere, not so much because it's a bad area but because it's far from the tourist areas. You might have some trouble out there without a car. As far as attractions, you could kill the better part of a day doing the Freedom Trail, which I highly recommend. It's in my opinion the best attraction the city has to offer. A baseball game is out of the question unless you want to pay ridiculous prices, but if you're into that kind of thing a trip over to Fenway to see the "Green Monster" and even take a tour (they offer them) might be worthwhile. The "Cheers" bar looks just like you'd expect from the outside, but the inside is nothing like on the television show. It's very touristy, but that said, it's not a bad place to grab a beer. Plenty of good eats in Boston at all price points. Let me know when you firm up your plans and I can perhaps give you some tips. My company's main U.S. office is in dowtown Boston and I get up there 2-3 times a month. My colleagues are "locals" and have taken me to some interesting places off the beaten path. |
||
|
K Man |
|||
|
Posts: 5205 (07/09/09 03:30:55) HT User |
I knew that JohnJ would be the best advisor in this situation.
It has been a while since I was in Boston, but one of the places I always enjoy is Faneuil Hall - http://www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com. Great shops and the middle building is a gastronimical experience. They even have a "Cheers" bar in there. Go tot he website and click on "Specials". This will give you a coupon that you can redeem for $200 in savings -not sure what they are, but it is worth taking,even if you save a few dollars. Also, here is a link to MBTA - Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority - http://www.mbta.com/- giving you bus, rail, boat, and subway information. Have a good trip.
"Life's a box of chocolates, Forrest. You never know what you're gonna get."
Last Edited By: Globaliser
07/09/09 06:34:23.
Edited 1 times.
|
||
|
JohnJ |
|||
|
Posts: 3317 (07/09/09 07:00:02) |
I take back what I said about Red Sox tickets - the folks in my office have told me it's impossible to get tix without paying scalper's prices, but on checking the Red Sox official site, it appears single-game tickets can be had for reasonable amounts of money. I guess you'd have to figure out your dates and see who's playing, or even if the team is in town during your stay. Here's the Red Sox ticketing page: Fenway Park is reasonably close to downtown, and even closer to Back Back and Copley Plaza. You can get there on the T Green Line easily.
Last Edited By: JohnJ
07/09/09 07:02:04.
Edited 1 times.
|
||
|
Flyboymlc |
|||
|
Posts: 1423 (07/09/09 11:16:11) |
Hey guys, thanks for the quick response, as well as all of the great ideas. From reading hotel web sites, they sure charge a lot, for parking. One hotel, I saw rates were $32 per night, another, was at a whopping $44 per night, Yikes!!!! That's high. I am convinced, that the bus/subway, is the only way to go. Thanks for the link to the MBTA, I think I have it figured it out. I think I will shoot for a hotel near one of the subway stations, either in downtown, or the waterfront. That will make it easier to walk to/from the hotel and subway station. My travel dates are Sept. 19-22, I awaiting for my manager approval, for that time frame off, then, I will book the award ticket. I checked out to see if there is a Ballgame during that time. Nope, the Red Sox, are out of town. Oh well. I am sure, there is plenty to do, in Boston. That Faneuil Hall place, looks cook to check out. Again, thanks for your help. I'll let you know, when I finalize my plans. |
||
|
BOAG |
|||
|
Posts: 8407 (07/13/09 15:09:30) HT User |
Looking at the Pline map, I would not select waterfront/convention -- it's a pretty barren area. Same for revere/airport. (Though as JJ says
transportation is good, so if you don't mind schlepping in the evening it could be alright).
I would look at harborfront, Copley, or Quincy Market. Do not drive in Boston. Don't, don't, don't. Street pattern is ridiculous, traffic is awful, and there's no parking. The T is good. From airport, there's also a shuttle to the Blue line, as well as the silver. The Bar from Cheers is on the edge of Beacon Hill. It's strictly tourists only. Delta's killing my airline! |
||
|
Flyboymlc |
|||
|
Posts: 1439 (08/19/09 17:28:41) |
It's a firm deal now, I'm going to Boston next month. Flight is booked, hotel is booked. Mr. Chop Chop man, could not negotiate anything under $100
bucks, for all of the zones that were recommended. I tried for weeks, no takers. Well, the person formally known as Capt. Kirk, and me lowering my standards,
for a 2 1/2 * hotel, we agreed, the Four Points Sheraton Airport, for around $55 bucks, is a winning bid. It's not the ideal location, but they can shuttle
me to the nearest Subway station, so I can hit all of the stops in Boston for a couple of days. Thanks again, for you tips and help.
|
||
|
JohnJ |
|||
|
Posts: 3341 (08/19/09 17:54:05) |
Should be fine with this one. You're a bit of a haul from downtown, but shuttles run every half hour to the Wonderland station on the Blue Line (last stop
on that line), which will take you right to the center of action. For $55 you can't go wrong it seems.
|
||
