Boston and New England

usm_2

I am off to Boston and New England for 2 weeks in May. We intend to hire a car for at least one week and travel down to Cape Cod and possibly up into Vermont, where I believe there are some quaint little towns. Will probably spend about 4 or 5 days in Boston itself. Have been doing some initial research and am unsure about best area to stay in. Some of the hotels seem expensive compared to my previous experience on the West Coast.

Would appreciate some tips or suggestions from anyone who has been there already.

paulie558

usm wrote:

I am off to Boston and New England for 2 weeks in May. We intend to hire a car for at least one week and travel down to Cape Cod and possibly up into Vermont, where I believe there are some quaint little towns. Will probably spend about 4 or 5 days in Boston itself. Have been doing some initial research and am unsure about best area to stay in. Some of the hotels seem expensive compared to my previous experience on the West Coast.

Would appreciate some tips or suggestions from anyone who has been there already.

We stayed the year before last at the 4 points Sheridon Woburn.Woburn is a good area to stay in.Boston can be a bit noisy in places due to the big dig project.
We had never driven in the USA before,so it was a baptism of fire picking up the car from logan airport,then getting on the Interstate.
The next day we travelled up I 95/then route one all the way up the east coast,over the border into Canada,then ferry to Nova scotia,and stayed for a week with friends.
The following week,we took the alternate fast ferry back down to Maine and back to our starting point,then explored Vermount via I 93.A beautiful state.Even took in a trip to New York,but caught the train for this.
Around 2000 miles in a fortnight,but the trip of a lifetime.

skdotcom

Great choice of holiday! We went in "the fall" about 18 months ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I opted for a Virgin package that included car (convertible of course), flights and all the hotels pre-booked, it made life alot easier.

If you want more info on what hotels were in the package, send me a PM and I'll dig out the info, or alternatively have look in the current Virgin brochure.

karenjeanadams

Hi there,

I'm originally from Massachusetts, so maybe can help a little! Getting from Logan onto the Mass turnpike is much easier now than it ever used to be, so you shouldn't have too many problems there. I wouldn't attempt to drive around Boston much at all, it is on a one way system, and even people that live in the States loathe driving there. If you can find a place to stay and then get public transport to the places you would like to visit, that would be much less hassle for you. Afraid I've never stayed overnight in Boston, so can't help much there. Cambride is a lovely part of Boston.

As for going to Vermont, you must visit Woodstock. It is THE most favourite place in the world to me. There are many B&B's, but they are not cheap so keep that in mind. I have stayed at The Canterbury House http://www.thecanterburyhouse.com/ and the Quality Inn http://www.cnghotels.com/bookingengine/info.asp?cid=58316&hotelid=713255 and The Kedron Valley Inn (favourite) http://www.kedronvalleyinn.com/

There is a little resteraunt right on the main street, can't think of the name of it, but you must eat lunch there, try a Gobbler sandwich!

Oh gosh, can I fit in your suitcase?

dondo

Great post- as am planning Boston & Cape Cod for my honeymoon next year so will read with interest

Nile

My Boston Tips.

Wildlife

There is a superb site for watching birds in nearby Rockport. We catch the train from Boston and make a day of it. Halibut Point nature reserve is just outside Rockport. Rockport is beside the sea and has lots of interesting arty shops and nice restaurants too.

You could do a 1/2 day whale watching trip from Boston harbour. My favourite operator is the Millenium catamaran of Boston Harbour Cruises not Mass Bay Lines. The catamaran gets you quickly and smoothly to the Stellwagen Bank. It is a spectacular feeding place for Minke, Humpback and Fin whales. You can see their blows for miles. Very exciting.

Shopping

You must visit Filene's Basement in Boston. It's a bit of a scrummage for goods but the prices are amazing. Everything is reduced in price and the longer it stays on sale, the greater the reductions. Every ticket is dated, compare the date on the ticket with the shop posters for the best (up to 75%) discounts.

The Cambridge Galleria is a good shopping mall. A short ride by the subway (the T) from Boston. Call at the mall Information Desk for a book of discount tickets and free gift, you may need to show your passport........but when they hear your 'English accent' they probably won't ask to see it! Nearby is the Harvard University complex, for a spot of sightseeing.

If your room doesn't have a fridge (and they want to charge $20 per day hire!) but they do have an ice machine........you could make your own fridge. Call at the Shaws Supermarket behind the Prudential Centre in Boston. They sell large polystyrene (picnic) cool boxes. Fill the box with ice at your hotel and keep your stuff chilled on the cheap.

Marshalls (near City Sports) have cheap clothing prices, there's also a TJ Maxx near the Filene's Basement store.

Sport

If you fancy watching a Boston Red Sox game while you're there, book in advance to be sure of tickets.

Ring them on 001 617 267 8661 to find out if they're playing/at home in Fenway Park during your stay. They'll charge a small handling fee but will post your tickets so you're sorted in advance.

Enjoy your holiday in Boston.

chelle86uk

I went to Boston for a week in february and had a fantastic time! Its such a great place to visit. Stayed with family in Cambridge (which is across the river, and got around everywhere on the underpass (the 'T')). It costs just $1.25 for any journey no matter the distance and is a good way of getting from place to place.

A great way of discovering boston's history at the same time of seeing the city is by doing the freedom trail, the trail takes you to 16 historical sites in the course of two or three hours and covers two and a half centuries of America's most significant past. You can either do this on an organised tour or buy a map for yourself and follow a red path.

We also did a trolley tour which cost us $24 each (varies depending on the company you go with), but is well worth it. The pass lasts for the day (but try 2barter with them to get a 2nd day free) and there are loads of stops all over the city which you can get on and off at, buses come to each stop every 20 mins and whilst on the bus you get a great talk from the driver!

As mentioned before if your into shopping, filenes basment is the only place to be! You can get some unbelievavle bargains there, i only wish i had discovered it sooner, spend nearly the whole of my last day there!!!

If you've got kids, the science museum and the aquariam are great fun, there are tons of things to see in particular at the science museum, could easily spend a whole day there!! adults wont get bored either, i had a great time there!

Don't forget to visit Harvard square and Harvard yard! Just a short 'T' trip away and has such fantastic atmosphere!

Best places to eat..... for the yummiest pizza in whole entire world go to Emma's Pizza in cambridge, for best value go to VinnyT's (huge dishes where you can share between everyone) and for the biggest variety of food and not surprisingly cheesecakes... go to the cheesecake factory!!

Hope i've been of some help, there is lots you can do in 5days as boston's quite a small city comparitivly! u just gotta plan your time well, and make use of the tours available to see areas you wouldnt normally venture to!!

paulie558

Yes,enjoyed a trolly bus tour while there,well worth it.Finlay's basement is dirt cheap.Parking is not however,while we were there we parked at a huge park and ride just off the interstate,near Woburn and caught the "T"into town.The area around the north rail station is a bit rough,so just take care.

chelle86uk wrote:

I went to Boston for a week in february and had a fantastic time! Its such a great place to visit. Stayed with family in Cambridge (which is across the river, and got around everywhere on the underpass (the 'T')). It costs just $1.25 for any journey no matter the distance and is a good way of getting from place to place.

A great way of discovering boston's history at the same time of seeing the city is by doing the freedom trail, the trail takes you to 16 historical sites in the course of two or three hours and covers two and a half centuries of America's most significant past. You can either do this on an organised tour or buy a map for yourself and follow a red path.

We also did a trolley tour which cost us $24 each (varies depending on the company you go with), but is well worth it. The pass lasts for the day (but try 2barter with them to get a 2nd day free) and there are loads of stops all over the city which you can get on and off at, buses come to each stop every 20 mins and whilst on the bus you get a great talk from the driver!

As mentioned before if your into shopping, filenes basment is the only place to be! You can get some unbelievavle bargains there, i only wish i had discovered it sooner, spend nearly the whole of my last day there!!!

If you've got kids, the science museum and the aquariam are great fun, there are tons of things to see in particular at the science museum, could easily spend a whole day there!! adults wont get bored either, i had a great time there!

Don't forget to visit Harvard square and Harvard yard! Just a short 'T' trip away and has such fantastic atmosphere!

Best places to eat..... for the yummiest pizza in whole entire world go to Emma's Pizza in cambridge, for best value go to VinnyT's (huge dishes where you can share between everyone) and for the biggest variety of food and not surprisingly cheesecakes... go to the cheesecake factory!!

Hope i've been of some help, there is lots you can do in 5days as boston's quite a small city comparitivly! u just gotta plan your time well, and make use of the tours available to see areas you wouldnt normally venture to!!

tonys_3

I haven't stayed in Boston before,but looking at either http://www.hotwire.com or
http://www.hotellocator.com brought up any number of hotels from $50 per night ,
with many including free airport pickup.Find a couple you fancy and come back here
and ask which is the better hotel/value for money/best area etc
There are also car hire quotes-and airport rates are usually pricier.Plus if you come in on the courtesy coach,you have the chance to find your way around the city
which saves possible aggro.if trying to locate your hotel/way in a strange car/city.

usm_2

Thanks for all the tips. Some there that I shall definitely be making use of.

rcman

on this subject - we are planning to do a twin city break for eight days in September - 4 days New York & 3 or 4 in Boston. But it seems a shame to do Boston without getting out into the New England countryside a bit. Is there somewhere day-trippable by car from Boston that we could go to which would really give us a tsaste of new England? Or would the whole thing be too much to cram into 8 days?