Where do I go?

[honey lamb]

Last January or thereabouts I booked flights in the UC sale to BOS and out of JFK. To be honest it is a TP run and I booked it at the last moment and without thinking too much about it. Boston was chosen because I'd never been there and JFK was chosen because I really didn't like the sound of the flights out of BOS to LHR from the trip reports - too short! I'm flying out on Thursday August 30 and returning on Monday September 3 on VS10. I've probably sold myself short but as I am not sure when (or indeed, if) Aer John will be starting college I wanted to make sure I was going to be around for that momentous occasion.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to advise me what to do and where to stay in Boston and whether I should go to New York on the Saturday or the Sunday. jetBlue have fares of $49 plus taxes to JFK. I might even be persuaded to stay till Monday if you think it's worth it but I did say I would take one of Aer John's pals who is spending the summer in NYC out to dinner and I am reluctant to go back on my promise.

So there you have it. Basically what to do and where to stay in Boston and any advice with regard to what day to travel to NYC

Thanks in advance [y]

[Scrooge]

Go to NYC, check in to a hotel..pamper yourself, go watch a yankees game or even an NFL game is there is a pre season game that weekend..and relax.

[Pete]

In my former life as an employed person, head office was just outside of Boston, so I've been in and out of there many, many times.

My favourite (reasonably priced at weekends) hotel is the Wyndham on Broad St - if you're a member of Wyndham ByRequest, I found I always got upgraded to a suite, and it was very pleasant.

In Boston you have to check off the following on your list:

- Various historical stuff to do with the independance thang - follow the 'Freedom Trail' (red route) walking tour and you'll see most of it.
- Faneuil Hall / Quincy Market - on the Freedom Trail, a twee shopping and eating experience in a historic location. Also a decent comedy club in there.
- Bull & Finch Pub / Cheers Bar - ok for a brief visit if you remember the show, but it won't hold your attention for more than a swift half.
- Boston Tea Party Ship - you'll be able to catch this on the Freedom Trail. Like the Cheers Bar it's more of a quick visit, although nice to see an important piece of history.
- Fenway Park - not sure you'd want to watch a game, but from memory there's a really nice bar/restaurant just outside the stadium
- North End - If you like Italian, just wander around here. Some fantastic choices (gets real busy at weekends, so you may need to book)
- Copley Square - a pretty good mall in central Boston
- Museum of Science - almost built specially for a geek like me
- Salem - if you can get out of central Boston, it's worth a visit for the kitch witch shoppes

That should keep you busy for a day or two...

P.

[honey lamb]

Thanks for that Pete. I see the Wyndham has been re-branded as a Hilton - which means miles!!

Just a suggestion as an alternative to flying between the two cities ... last time I did that trip I took a train !! ... booked a first class seat ... had a nice meal and a few G&T's ..... the cost was very little different and it took me from the centre of Boston to New York with no journeys to/from airports ..... and it makes a change from flying !!

Cheers

Mark

[Scrooge]

Oh and that way you get to see two of the US's best train stations..well at least from a building point of view.

Originally posted by mas66
Just a suggestion as an alternative to flying between the two cities ... last time I did that trip I took a train !! ... booked a first class seat ... had a nice meal and a few G&T's ..... the cost was very little different and it took me from the centre of Boston to New York with no journeys to/from airports ..... and it makes a change from flying !!

Cheers

Mark

Taking the train - is just what I'll be doing in about 10 days' time!

[Neil]

HL, we are doing the exact same trip in a few weeks time, and are flying between BOS-NYC with AA, got tickets for us both for £45 inc taxes:D. We are staying at Jury's in Boston, which is no1 rated hotel in TA, we booked through VH and got a good price and with the 10% FC discount also it worked out a bargain, which is good as a big part of our trip will be shopping[:I]

I would personally go to NYC on the Sat, but I am a bit NYC biased. I love weekends there, relaxing around Central Park, lunch at the Boat House, plenty of time to have a few drinkies in a nice cafe bar - just the whole atmosphere changes on a weekend I feel.

Neil

[honey lamb]

Thanks, everyone, for all your help

mas66

I had thought originally about the train but then dropped the idea when I saw the $49 fare on jetBlue (which I love). However your post gave me food for thought and I realised when you factored in taxis to and from the airport there probably isn't that much difference - I don't know the cost of taxis to and from Logan. Also if you factor in airport check-in times and travel times in and out of the airport it probably equates to the 3 hours 35 minutes on the Acela Express so I'm not ruling it out.

Aer John has been invited on this trip but at the moment he can't see beyond June 6 which is when his exams begin. I would imagine that if he decides to join me then jetBlue will win [ii] Still we have plenty of time to decide.

Attitude23

Silly me! Here I am in Ireland and I forget all about Jury's Hotel. My only problem with it is that it will be full of Irish people, in which case I might as well have stayed at home! However I'll look into it because generally speaking Jury's hotels are fine. I must look into it on the VH website as I've never used VH before. Thanks for the tip

Two UC trips within a few weeks of each other; HL I applaud you;)

I'd go to NY on the Saturday. We went to BOS for two days a couple of years ago and went up to Maine which was great, but it would have been nice to see a bit more of the city. If you decide to extend your stay in BOS, I'd definitely recommend it.

45.

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by VS045
Two UC trips within a few weeks of each other; HL I applaud you;)

45.

Oh, the first one is a delayed trip in that if Aer John was not in an exam year I would have been gone long ago! I'm getting very itchy feet right now as we didn't go anywhere for Easter and now that I have retired I haven't had any travel up to Dublin even. I suppose I just need a fix of the smell of aviation fuel! [:0]

Attitude23

Thanks for the heads up about Jury's. [y] I've now booked it albeit through the website as VH wouldn't let me book anything less than 3 nights (or if it did I didn't find out how [?] ) I am now perfectly placed whether I decide to go to NYC by air or rail

[Neil]

Originally posted by honey lamb

Originally posted by VS045
Two UC trips within a few weeks of each other; HL I applaud you;)

45.

Oh, the first one is a delayed trip in that if Aer John was not in an exam year I would have been gone long ago! I'm getting very itchy feet right now as we didn't go anywhere for Easter and now that I have retired I haven't had any travel up to Dublin even. I suppose I just need a fix of the smell of aviation fuel! [:0]

Attitude23

Thanks for the heads up about Jury's. [y] I've now booked it albeit through the website as VH wouldn't let me book anything less than 3 nights (or if it did I didn't find out how [?] ) I am now perfectly placed whether I decide to go to NYC by air or rail

Excellent - will give you the lowdown after our stay in a few weeks. We are only staying 2 nights, but I booked through the CC and not via the VH website!

Neil