Lovesatq

Staying with family in Connecticut the first week of October and would love to spend a couple of days visiting Boston but I'm trying to avoid actually driving into the City. Any suggestions on towns close by that have good transportation into town or hotels on the outskirts that provide shuttle transportation. I drove in Boston a couple of years ago and do not want to repeat the experience. Driving in Ireland was less stressful. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Anonymous

If I were you, I'd park at the MBTA garage on Route 128, take the train into town, and stay in town. IMOH, it's a waste to visit a city but stay in its suburbs; you don't really get a feel for the place.

You can get schedules and station details at www.mbta.com; the station you want is called Route 128; they have long-term parking for $10 per day. Take a train to Back Bay station and get a hotel in the Back Bay/Copley area from Priceline. Read up on Priceline strategies first at www.biddingfortravel.com. You need to know that the road that Bostonians refer to as route 128 is officially known as Route 95 in its northern half and Route 93 in the southern half; the MBTA directions say the stop is at Exit 13 on Route 128, but your map will probably say Exit 13 on Route 95.

gail

Imagine - you do not want to drive in our fine city where at one point south of Boston the same road is known as Rte 128N, Rte 95 and Rte 93S.

I was not aware of long-term MBTA parking at location indicated by previous poster. But that sounds like a great idea. I confirm that to commute into Boston to sightsee on a daily basis would ruin the trip. Beware of some hotels on the outskirts that promise shuttle service into Boston - have heard all sorts of stories from visitors about unreliability of shuttle ("our driver did not show up today, sorry").

Another possibility, depending on where in CT and how you are getting home, is to take bus or train from CT to Boston and then reverse process to get car when you leave.

Anonymous

It might technically be called Amtrak parking. Just follow the signs. You can see the garage from the highway, it has a big promotional sign on it about its 2000 spaces.

jayseadee

I also think the Riverside Greenline stop (off 128 just before the Pike) has overnight parking.

another option would be to take Amtrak from CT right into Backbay or South station.

As for the suburbs, you could stay South of the city in Quincy/braintree and take the Red Line into the city. Or, somewhere in Attleboro and take the commuter rail.

Lots of options without having to drive into the city.

enjoy

Jon_Eric

LOL Lovesatq ME TOO! After my last "adventure" ending up on going through the Sumner Tunnel the WRONG way and saying hello to Endicot Street about 3 times I agree! Driving in South Africa was less stressful

I took the train from Salem/Marblehead and I think that same commuter train now goes all the way up to Newburyport or close to it? That was very convenient. I dont know... DC might actually be worse overall than Boston; driving from Concord I was in an absolute panic of getting stuck because 4:00 had found me and rental car caught unawares because stupid here still had his watch on New Orleans time, but happy to report I didnt encounter any horrific traffic situations speeding back to the city Had that been DC, well... Unless I'd been starting on 95N from the Maryland side I MIGHT...MIGHT have had a chance!

cigalechanta

I live in Central Square, a ten minute ride to downtown by the T. Visiting friends, park at Alewife in Cambridge, an easy t ride into town.Charles Hotel in Harvard Square has a garage.

cali1

The Quincy Marriott is REALLY nice -- just opened last summer & I think the prices are good and definitely worth it for the quality of your stay (we put family there whenever they're in town.) The restaurants in the hotels are great too. Plus...you can drive right to the Quincy Adams T stop (like 1/2 mile away) park in the garage and take the T into the heart of Boston! If you get off at Park street (also on the red line) That'll put you right in the center of town (boston commons, fanueil hall, filene's basement, "little italy", chinatown, theater district all just a short walk away) and you wont have to change lines. Very convenient.

Anonymous

Before planning to park at any of the MBTA subway stops (Alewife, Braintree, Quincy, etc.) check with someone who knows fo rsure -- most of them fill up by 8 AM on weekdays. Also, the hotels that offer shuttles to the nearest T stops sometimes just don't offer them if the driver doesn't show up that day.