1 week Boston & Quebec City
 

I am planning a trip to Boston in early Aug 2012. I plan on flying into Logan on a Sunday and heading north to Quebec city for 3 nights. Then driving back to the Boston area for 4 nights. I'll fly out of Boston on the following Sunday.

My focus will be history. Any suggestions as to where to stay in either area and "must see" sites?

I am thinking;
Quebec City = the old citadel, old town, ??
Boston = Freedom Trail, USS Constitution, Minuteman Park at Concord & Lexington, ??

Your thoughts?

The places you want to see are all worthwhile, as are many others, particularly in Boston.

BUT: it is a 7 hour drive from Boston to Quebec, NOT including the time necessary to cross the border in both directions and stopping for food, fuel, and toilets along the way. So three nights in Quebec means one day on the ground sightseeing. You can see the sites in that time, but Quebec City is by far and away the most European city in North America, and it would be a shame to rush in and out and not have any time to absorb the atmosphere. It is in fact a pretty gorgeous trip, as least as far as the Canadian border, so you may not mind, but you need to think about it.

Now, the second thing is that you can't drive a rental car into Canada without the proper documentation from the rental company. Be sure that they know you will be doing this and that you know about and pay any additional fees. Of course, you will need your own documentation which may or may not be your passport.

Gasoline, cigarettes, and alcohol are a lot more expensive in Canada, so if any of theese matter to you on such a short trip, fill up before you cross the border.

Compared the cost of flying into Boston, using public transportation there (a car is not a positive there) then flying to Quebec City and flying home from there. The costs of car rental, parking, etc. plus the extra time in the cities might make it worth it. You could also do the trip in the opposite direction.

What about flying into Montreal and taking the much shorter drive to Quebec City? Then to Boston -- this will save you one of two long days in the car.

I haven't been to Quebec City, but I'm planning a trip this summer, so have some book-knowledge: other recommended historical sites include the Place-Royale (a square with 17th and 18th century houses), and the Musee de la Civilisation. Also visit-ible are the walls of the old fort that surrounded the city (Park l'Esplanad), and the Basilique Notre-Dame.

I know Boston hotels pretty well, one of my kids was at Boston Univ. and we have family there, so spend a lot of time there.

What price range/quality are you looking for on the hotel?

capxxx raises an interesting possibility, but the last time I looked, one-way rentals between Canada and the US were either impossible or impossibly expensive.

Flights from Boston to QC are awfully expensive ($624 RT mid-May), or we would go at least once a year.

OK, well if you decide to give us a price range on the hotels as asked, we could help.

emd3,

We are looking to keep hotel costs to less than $150 / nt. A freind recommended a place called the Wayside Inn, a historic B&B.

Any suggestions you have are appreciated. Trying ot stay outside of Boston proper to avoid the traffic and crowds, but will venture into the city for sightseeing.

HOw are you planning to get into Boston, by car or on the T?

I know you will have a car, but do you want to use the T to get into Boston, or are you willing to drive into the city and pay to park?

The Wayside Inn is in Suwdbury, IIRC, and is the subject of a poem by Longfellow, also IIRC. That is a major area for upscale commuters, so there is masses of traffic into and out of the city morning and afternoon. I think the nearest commuter rail is Framingham, but Waltham might be more convenient. Or just drive and pay to park at the Pru or Boston Common.

The Wayside Inn is pleasantly historic (at least from the outside, I've never stayed there). But it's not near public transportation, if memory serves, and the food at their restaurant is lousy.

$150 a night, in August, is a very tight budget for the Boston area.


We stayed at the Sheraton Needham, right off 95,two weeks ago, as I just could not find anything under $200 in the city. We drove into Boston from there via Comm. Ave (a pretty drive, you go right by Boston College), about 20 min. to get to the western part of the city (around BU). We paid $129 a night at that hotel, and it was very nice, more like Westin quality. I am seeing rates on the Starwood site at that hotel of $142 a night for the 2nd wk. of August, a very good deal. It is near lots of restaurants.

I checked the good budget hotels I know of in the city and none are $150 or less for early August. The Boston Park Plaza (a very nice hotel, have stayed there) is showing $186 on Orbitz, but that is as low as it gets in the city. That is an excellent deal.

I've gotten the Boston Park Plaza twice on Priceline for $99 or maybe slightly higher, once in May and once in November. I got the Sheraton at Pru Center once too for $129.