Will be visiting Boston later this summer and will be staying at the Club Quarters in the Downtown/Financial district. In a thread on this board several months ago, someone said that on weekends you could often find parking on the street in this area. Can anyone confirm this? Is street parking on the weekend feasible? I would assume parking meters do not have be fed on the weekend. True? I actually live in New Orleans and any metered spot in the CBD (downtown) is free after 6:00 p.m. on Friday through 8:00 a.m. Monday. In fact all meters are free everyday after 6:00 (and all day Sat/Sun) Beter question though is would it be safe in Boston? There are areas of New Orleans I would do it, and then there are areas I would never even think about it. Alternatively, any reasonable garages in this part of Boston near the Club Quarters (161 Devonshire St.)Trying to cut down on expenses anyway I can. Thanks.

You can park on the street on weekends for free, but make sure you read the signs carefully. It can be tough finding a spot in the financial district. Also there is a $10 garage on Devonshire on the other side of Franklin St intersection.

If you can find street parking, the area is safe to leave your car on the street, but I would advise parking in a lot. The downtown area is seriously confusing with narrow one way streets. I've lived here for 12 years and still have to think, "OK, if I take a right on Arch, I'll be force to take a right onto Milk St and then a left on ..." If you are an outsider, you WILL get lost and as frustrated as heck trying to navigate downtown.

Call your hotel and see if they have a parking deal with a nearby garage. Honestly, even $30 per day for parking would be bargain and well worth it to avoid the frustration.

Meters are not free on Saturdays, just Sundays, so I would suggest finding a garage, or better yet, not getting one to start with. Boston is VERY walkable and has a good public transportation system.

boston is a tough city to navigate and to park in. if you do take a car, if may be best to keep it parked and use mass transit, just to avoid aggravation.

Some of the already limited street spaces in Financial District have been gobbled up by Big Dig. A few areas meters are free on Saturdays, but, for the most part, they not only charge but have time limits - you can't just feed the meter every few hours - they will catch you and ticket you. If you are lucky enough to find a street space, make sure you read the comlicated signs carefully - Bostonians do not follow traffic and parking signs especially well and just because there are a lot of cars parked in an area does not mean you legally can. Don't know anything about Devonshire lot listed below, but if that is really the rate, take it and forget about your car for the weekend.

The driving in Boston in the best of times is a nightmare for out of towners with the convoluted streets and ever changing traffic patterns. Now the Big Dig, or the Big Pig as those of us who are paying for it refer to the monumental road project, has made the situation worse. Find a garage and leave the car. Maybe your hotel has some parking arrangements. The T (MBTA- public transit) has reduced fare passes for tourists and is reasonably efficient.
In spite of the traffic, hope you enjoy your trip.

Actually, the passes that the MBTA promotes for tourists are no bargain unless you're riding a LOT.

The visitors transit pass costs $6 for one day, $11 for 2, and $22 for 7 days. A single subway ride (token) costs just $1. The regular 7-day pass that Bostonians buy costs $12.50!! This regular 7-day pass, known a the "Weekly Combo Pass," is good for Sunday thru Saturday, but is sold Sunday thru Friday, since it can be a good deal even if used for only 3 days.

Since Boston is such a great city for walking around, most visitors find it more cost-effective to just buy a few tokens; they are available at booths at every subway station and often at vending kiosks in the stations, too.

See the following web site for details about the passes and where to buy them.

http://www.mbta.com/passfares/types/