Can't decide where to stay! Can't believe the prices for the hotels! And you don't even stay in your room when you are touring.
Need public transportation. Coming off of cruise 10/1 and flying out 10/5. Will do usual tourist stuff. Would love to see some leaf colors (if there are any at that time). Any suggestions on a day bus tour away from Boston?
Thanks for any and all help!

It would help if you posted your budget. But yes, Boston is very expensive!

What are you looking for in a day tour? Just leaves or general sightseeing? I really enjoyed Salem.

Boston is in top 5 most expensive US hotel cities. If you can possibly afford it, stay right in Boston tourist area - called things like Downtown, Copley, Faneuil Hall, etc. Do not pick a hotel that calls itself Boston/Waltham or something like that. Check out Park Plaza. Usually a little less expensive than other hotels - great location, smallish rooms, especially o
In older section

Viator website has several bus day trip options - I would consider Cape Ann or Lexington/Concord one. A little early for foliage, but we have had severe drought all summer, so may be early as trees are stressed.

Or take MBTA commuter rail to Salem and go to Peabody Essex Museum. Since it is October, there will be all sorts of silly witch stuff around as well. I think there is also a high speed ferry to Salem, but never taken it.

I know you were just on a cruise (Bermuda?) but Boston Harbor Cruise website has assorted length trips - from a couple of hours on the Harbor to day whale watch. Dress warm - in Oct you can freeze your butt off out there

Boston is small and easily walkable. Use the T, the MBTA, to travel longer distances such as out to Museum of Fine Arts and Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum( worth a trip to see the building, a Venetian Palazzo). You can buy tickets from machines in each station, 1 way, Round Trip, etc. Tickets to use buses are also sold in T(subway) stations. When choosing a hotel, look at it's location for T stations nearby.
Boston has so much to see but if you want to leave for a day, look at Lexington and Concord. I saw the ferry to Salem come into a few days ago. It uses socks near Quincy Market. Friends in Marblehead warned us to stay away feom Salem in October due to crowds and "witches."
As me tioned by other poster, too early for fall colors.

taketours has an 8 hr foliage tour into New Hampshire, there should be color at that time.

Friendly Inn at Harvard is under $200 per night. Boston Park Plaza has a special @ $265 per night plus TAXES.

https://bostonparkplaza.reztrip.com/...s?currency=USD

On hotels.com both the Sheraton Back Bay and the Charlesmark are under $300 per night. The Boston Common Hotel (well-located) is a bit over $200.

October is one of the most expensive months for Boston hotels.

You are up against Leaf Peepers, Columbus Day, and college football.

There will be plenty of leaves in New Hampshire and Vermont, all other things being equal, and a bus tour is a reasonable way to see them.

Have you used Priceline?