Don't know if the appt you mention perhaps missing is the actual campus tour, if it is, whether it is at BC or BU, try and leave time to at least follow the map and do it on your own if you can't jump into another tour.

When looking with our kids, I found the tours much more important than the info sessions, the latter seemed to just repeat most of the info in the college brochure or web page - the tours however, gave them a better feel for the campus and surrounding area.

I think doing a 'tour' whether with a group or on your own, is esp important at a school like BU where the city is more of your campus than just school grounds - and it isn't all just the up and down on Comm Ave - but the 'other side' overlooking the Charles, the new Agannis Arena and sports complex, the streets leading up to Fenway and the quainter streets of Bay State Rd area -

One thing I learned after doing this with two kids was to have either room in my bag or an extra small tote and grab everything you can - school newspapers (the one that is the 'official' school newspaper as well as student run newspapers, - a good way to see what is going on and what is important to the students on campus - )

and to keep an eye on any bulletin boards you pass as to what is being offered in the way of activities, events, concerts, clubs, organizations, etc.

even though he will be playing sports, all those things go into making the college atmosphere what it is and helping him choose. I say this only because I have a cousin who chose a college/ was being recruited for hockey/ and unfortunately was injured and out of play for a year and was suddenly finding himself in a school he might not have chosen. So for the complete, well rounded picture, look at it all.

Amtrak, well I must have an angel on my shoulder, I've never had delays between Boston and NYC, on either the accela or the regional - both always fine - the Chinatown bus is a 'crap shoot' as far as times (my son used to take it once in awhile and never once did he not have an incident of a flat tire, or a bus breaking down - it isn't worht the difference in price to stay with a greyhound type transport instead.

there is also a Limoliner from bos to nyc
limoliner.com as an option for another time or a revisit.

If you don't get into the Commonwealth, post back, there are many other nice options also available, although that has become one of the hotels of choice for visiting BU parents.

If you are taking the T places, you might want to familiarize yourself beforehand with mbta.com

If you think wherever he may go, he may be using Amtrak in the future, it might be worth signing up as a Amtrak reward member - it doesn't cost anything and if you dont' use it again no loss, but if he does, he can accumulate points.

My daughter frequently amtraks between nyc and boston and accumulates her points for free rides and/or free upgrade ticket booklets. every trip counts, so he might as well start by getting points for this one too -

have fun ! I remember the college trips fondly.

I guess I've got the same angel as escargot--I've taken amtrak, Boston to NYC and Philadelphia, 4 times now. Its never been more than 5 minutes late.

I really like the Acela, as they have a quiet car- no loud talking, no cell phones!!!- and the seats are very nice with tables and electric outlets. It is a lot more $$ than the regular though, and doesn't offer discounts. Not really much faster than the Acela for the price difference either.

I have a daughter at BU, and I love the Hotel Commonwealth Hotel. Have slept there four times- 11 nights total. Excellent service, and directly on top of the green B line Kenmore Square T stop, which also takes you directly out to BC.

It is also a block from the admissions office and tour start. You can get a double queen room and the four of you will fit comfortably. I prefer the Fenway Park rooms.Much more fun than looking at Comm Ave., and a bit cheaper for some reason.

My daughter has taken chinatown Bus and Greyhound to NYC several times. Greyhound is nicer and only $10 more. DO NOT take the Fung Wah Chinatown Bus. There are others (White Starr??) that are the same price, but lots safer and nicer. I'd take the train though.

I do not reco the Chinatown bus - all it has going for it is the cost. they don;t have a great on-time record and there are safety issues (some drivers not fully qualified).

Have taken Amrak numerous times and it is sometimes late - but not often. And frankly, when it is (except for a blizzard) there is usually no telling why. Do not pay more for the Acela - that is usually slower - so almost the smae time as the regular Metroliner.

Agree to search for discounts - there is often something available.

You other choice - cheaper by far for 4 - is to drive - but traffic can definitely be an issue sometimes.

(If for vacation I always drive - and use train or plane for business.)

Wow, Just got home with Lil B and read all of the responses.escargot thanks for those tips, I have already copied and pasted it into my college file.The one place we were thinking we might miss the tour was in Georgetown, but we are going to try to make it work.lcuy I haven't figured out yet about the Commonwealth, I was hoping I would get some more comments just to compare with.NYtraveler I think we are going to stick with train and I am glad that other people didn't have delays. I guess you just never know, isn't that what traveling is all about?
But if our son does go to school in east coast he will probably do what everyone does and take the bus.Husband and son want the experience of the train and all of the stops in every city.
Any more thoughts on hotels in Boston?

nytraveler...I am not going to drive on this trip! Thats all I do in California, drive,drive, drive. I will welcome the tranquility of the train!!
(happyface)

Options galore in Boston for hotels -
if you want a suite look into the Eliot Hotel - overlooking Comm Ave, around the corner from Newbury Street which would be fun to walk at night

we stayed there w/ our kids last Easter - we had one br and bath; reat living room w/ tv, bar, etc and hallway to another br with two twin beds and second bath where our kids slept. Also convenient for you. Eliothotel.com

In Copley Place, you have Westin, Marriot, Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, etc - you can do a google hotel search and see if any of those appeal to you -

the Eliot suite hotel is nice b/c you have that living room to spread out in, look at your college stuff, watch tv if kids don't want to do that in their room (and ours did, and we couldn't hear tv once we closed our doors that connected to lr)

not a 'reat living room' - :)
meant a great living room !

escargot. I just looked at that two bedroom suite and it looks divine. Is it in a good location? Where is it in comparison to the Commonwealth?

escargot I meant to say is the location of the Eliot close or somewhat close to BU and BC?

The Eliot is just a few blocks farther away from BU to Boston Common.

For my purposes, I so love Hotel C and the fact that Daughter's dorm is only a block away makes it even more perfect.

But the Eliot looks really nice. If Hotel Commonwealth was ever sold old, I'd definitely stay at the Eliot!

lcuy, to many choices to make!

Well, I don't think you can go wrong with either of these Boston Hotels, so I'd just price them for the rooms you want, and take the best.

Don't forget to mention that you'll be touring BU and BC. They may give you an additional discount, as hotels often hope you'll become a loyal customer for the next four years if your child does get into that school.

This will be fun. It seems like you've got some of the hardest stuff figured out already- DC and NYC hotels. It is nice you can go as a family. Who knows, maybe this will give Lil B ideas too (if she is younger!).

Good luck! Matching your child to a college can reap big dividends over the next four years. The tours and interviews may not tell your child which is the "perfect" school (and of course, you don't totally get to choose, since the schools have to accept them first), but even if your son is able to eliminate schools that don't seem right, that also make the procsess easier.

lcuy,Thanks, That is a good idea. Lil B is the baby of the family(9) we also have a 21 yr old at USC but that was easy(visiting colleges) because they recruited him for volleyball. He did a tour with his high school but already knew where he was going. But with the 17 yr old his talents are not volleyball, they are football and basketball.
Lil b is in the middle of everything.You should look at her trip report, just click on my name and look for Lil B's trip report of Italy

Loved Lil B's Italy report and I'll look out for her take on the school visits.
Next year my son will be looking at schools and my daughter will be tagging along... she's 9, too!

anamaria - sorry I wasn't around today, but lcuy is right, Eliot is just down Commonwealth ave - further from BU,, but not by much - and you can still get to BU and BC by public transport easily enough -

The Eliot is a lovely hotel - yrs ago it was our 'haunt' during the Boston marathon - had a great bar..... still lovely, restaurant Clio is attached - nice staff, beautiful rooms.

escargot, I see that both hotels are great and I am going to book one of them. The two bedroom suite looks fabulous. We are only in Boston one night and 1 1/2 days. The only thing is at the Eliot check in is at 3 pm and check out is at 12. That doesn't give us much time.We will arrive into Boston Logan on Jet blue around 12:30 pm.We wanted to spend the following day all day either in an interview or seeing one or two sights.How far away is the airport? AT the Commonwealth I guess I would book two rooms, I didn't see any two bedroom suites?

I just booked the two bedroom suite at the Eliot. If they were sold out I would have gone to the Commonwealth. Also after reading some other threads I have changed our second stay in NYC to stay in the two bedroom suite at the Salisbury. I have been keeping up with "ilovetotravel's" thread and have gotten great ideas.Thanks everyone

you might be able to get an early check in, I would request one. Either way, they will hold your bags at the Eliot.

you arrive at Logan at 12:30 - get your bags if you are checking any in and there are many ways to get to the Eliot - by MBTA, by cab, etc. what is your preference - I don't think you are renting a car from this thread - I thought you were taking a train,but now you are flying - do you mean time to get from Logan to hotel or for your trip home? sometimes time depends on traffic if in a car - otherwise I would say take the T if luggage isn't a problem.

I'm not sure what your time frame is from New York to D.C. but if you're looking to save a lot of money, you should consider taking buses in Chinatown.
I think it's about 35 buck (for round trip). I left at 7am and arrive in D.C. around 11 at a pretty central location.
You can google "chinatown buses nyc to dc". There are quite a few to choose from.

Escargot, we are flying from D.C. to Logan and then my DH says we should take the train from Boston back to NYC. He says by the time you add all of the check-in time at the airport and getting there early, it will be just the same as train travel. (I need to look at a map) In this area I feel lost! Anyay cko thank you but we have little time to get from NYC to DC and will take the train. But maybe next time.
My next question is this Where is the BEST THIN Crust pizza in NYC? Should I start a new thread?