Sircharles75

New planning, all by plane:

20 sept: Arrive at NY at 15.15, then fly to Boston (2 options: 17.20 or 19.34).

21, 22 sept: Boston.

23 sept: Boston - Buffalo. Arrive at 11.00. Rent a car for Niagara Falls (We would like to see it even I understand what some of you says)

24 sept: Buffalo - DC. Arrive at DC at 13.20. Afternoon in DC

25 sept: DC

26 sept: DC - NY. Arrive at NY at 11.20

27, 28, 29, 30 (leaving at 18.00): NY

Around 300€ (400$). No more than car ... With this planning we win 1 day in Boston (mabye we could see Salem?), one afternoon in DC and some hours in NY.

Better?

zootsi

There are many, many beautiful places just an hour or so from Boston, especially in late September when the leaves are bursting with reds and gold. The drive to Niagara is very long, and not scenic. Your time would be much better spent exploring New Hampshire and Vermont - two of the most scenic states in the USA!

nytraveler

I have one major question for you. Which airports are the flights into and out of New York to Buffalo?

You will be arriving at either JFK or EWR. Is the flight to Boston out of the same airport?

Even if it is you have little chance of making the 17:20 flight. (In later afternoon the international airports get very busy, planes are often late landing, Immigration lines are long and wait for luggage can be from 30 minutes to an hour. Given that - and for a flight to Buffalo you will have to switch terminals, check in, deposit luggage, get through security (15 minutes to an hour) and get to the plane by the time doors close 30 minutes before take off - it won't happen.

If it's the same airport you should make the 19:34 flight.

If it's not - you have a decent chance of making it from JFK to LGA. If either flight is in or out of Newark you will not make this flight either - since you will have to cross the entire NYC metro area in heavy traffic - as well as everything else.

nytraveler

Sorry - flight to Boston of course.

Lookin_Glass

sounds like a plan! If you're staying on the US side it might be nice to walk over to Canada to take in the evening falls. You must visit both sides! See it from all angles. I'd consider a later flight to DC if possible.

I haven't done the DC - NYC amtrak. Does anyone thinks it is a worthy option? Is it scenic at all or just a waste of time? Compared to time spent getting from city to airport to airport to city? I have no experience but it's an option that others might have an educated opinion about.

panecott

Your revised plan is much, much better.

Good advice from NYTrav re the flights. Take the later flight to Boston and make sure you are okay with the airports.

Since you are going to Niagara Falls, make sure you see some of the attractions. The Cave of the Winds is great fun (my favorite) and is on the NY Side.

Since you'll have a car you should stop and see the NY side before crossing the bridge. As mentioned above, you get right near the Bridal Veil Falls and can walk along the rapids leading to the Horseshoe Falls. It's a nice experience and since you want to see the falls, you might as well see all of them, up close and personal!

The Cave of the Winds is a boardwalk and platforms that goes practically under the Bridal Veil Falls. You will get wet and have a great time.

Then head over the bridge to the Canadian side and check into your hotel.

You will have plenty of time to see the falls and take the Maid of the Mist boat ride that goes near the Horseshoe Falls. It and the Cave of the Winds are the two best attractions at Niagara. (I think you may also be able to do the Maid of the Mist from the NY side).

The Marriott has nice rooms overlooking the falls, which are lit up at night. The casino has a very good, reasonably priced buffet for dinner.

tomfuller

Lookin_Glass, my very first Amtrak trip in October 2001 was from WAS to NYP. It started at 3AM and was on time. After about an hour in Penn Station, I got on the Maple Leaf to Toronto.
We were late into Toronto because of the two packages of drugs that the Canadians found after the US dog didn't find any explosives.
We sat at Niagara Falls Ontario for at least a half hour.
I was at my lodging in Toronto before the sun set.

Lookin_Glass

Nice story, but I was asking if the train from DC to NYC was scenic enough and time efficient enough to warrent the consideration as an alternative way of traveling.

I understand that you have a new found passion for train travel, but that doesn't help the original poster.

tchoiniere

There are a couple of scenic views from that train (mainly thru Delaware). Its an easy ride and generally cheaper than flying

sf7307

It's definitely time efficient (at the very least it's simpler to go by train, at best, it saves time, too). You go city center to city center, there's no long security lines, boarding takes no time, etc.

Lookin_Glass

Thanks sf

I would again suggest a later flight out of Buffalo and training from DC to NYC

Lookin_Glass

and tch

nytraveler

Train and plane are the same amount of time - since you are city center to city center - and there are no long lines/waits for check in and security. If you buy train tickets in advance they can be cheaper and it is definitely much more comfortable.

We either drive (if visiting other areas) or train. would never fly this route.

Sircharles75

Thank you all! Yes, I also prefer train, good point!. I have just check the prices, 98$ both, good fare I think, and as you says, from center to center. I have also checked the bus, 48$ both, it's more time but the station in DC is in Dupont Circle where we have the apartment. It's worthy?


The fly NY-Boston I checked is also from Newark, where we arrive from Spain. Ok 19.34 flight then! Thank you NYTraveler.

Looking Glass, do you think it's better to spend more time in Niagara instead of the afternoon in DC. Maybe for seeing Niagara on the Lake? Other places?

Pannecot, I write down your ideas for Niagara!

gail

You are on the right track now (train track or plane - that is just fine tuning the itinerary). I hope you have a wonderful trip. I don't know if you have your hotels finalized, but for Boston if you can afford to do so, try to stay right in the tourist area of Boston (Back Bay, Downtown, Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, Copley - will all be words associated with a hotel in this area). Even hotels that are a short distance from city center can take way too long to get into Boston. And for the short time you are here want you to be able to see as much of my adopted city as you can.

Lookin_Glass

I only suggest a later flight from Buffalo since unless I misread you are spending less then 24 hours there. By the time you get out of the airport, drive to the falls, check into your accommodations - on either side, it is already mid/late afternoon. And to catch a flight, you will be leaving the falls rather early to drop off the car, check in and catch your flight.

I do think you should consider the DC to NYC train. The bus may be cheaper, but will put you on highways and possible traffic, while the train would be comfortable and keep you out of airport commutes and security lines.

Excellent ideas from Panecott.

Lookin_Glass

I'd also consider a later departure from DC arriving early evening. Still plenty of time to explore the Big Apple! Take time in Niagra and DC for a nice cappuccino and an early morning stroll before starting the next commute.

Sircharles75

Thank you very much Gail. In your first post you said that we could do the triangle Boston-Buffalo-DC for 150-180$ (I guess each of us). Could you please tell me where should I search for that flights? I have just tried to book them in Rumbo.es but in the last step they charge me 70$ for each person, 140$ for both, with the concept "maganemente cost". I have to book 3 flights, so it would be 420$ in adition. I guess that there you have more companies and more web pages for buying tickets.

Regarding the hotels, I think that in this point I did a good job! In Boston we'll be in the Hi-Boston (in private room) which is located on the border of Boston’s Theater District and Chinatown, very close to Boston Common. In DC we'll be in an apartament 5 minutes walking from Dupont Circle. In NY in the Belvedere, 5 minutes walking from Times Square. The only one I didn't book yet is in Niagara, I have to check what Lookin_Glass told me about Marriot. By the way, I think I got good fares but the hotels in this 3 cities are really expensives...

Lookin_Glass, I think I'm going to follow your advice and we'll take the fly from Buffalo to DC in the afternoon, to be a bit more relaxed in Niagara and maybe go to Niagara on the Lake in the morning.

Lookin_Glass

I think your plans are really coming together and you will have a wonderful holiday!!! Bring your walking shoes!

nytraveler

definitely do the train versus the bus from dc to nyc. the train is almost always on time. the bus will hit traffic and is very often late. how late will vary by day and condition - weather, traffic and construction - but delay may be 30 minutes or a couple of hours.