Trip planning assistance for a clueless Canadian’s first trip to Boston? (Re-posted public)
And this is the public post… (Y’all LJ friends don’t have to read this again)
Trip planning assistance for a clueless Canadian’s first trip to Boston?
Some background: We’re Canadian, this is our first trip and it will just be the two of us. We have three days to try to squeeze in as much as possible (we’re arriving on the evening of Wednesday the 22nd and departing at the ass-crack of dawn on Sunday the 26th).
We’re staying at Fairmont Battery Wharf, and have have Citipasses for:
New England Aquarium
Harvard Museum of Natural History
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Museum of Science
Skywalk Observatory
I realize we probably can’t squeeze all these things in, however. We will almost certainly skip the JFK Library and need to prioritize among the others. We have tickets for the late afternoon show of Blue Man Group on Thursday.
I would love some assistance with logistics, recommendations of economical/moderately priced eats, and some basic tips on American/Boston travel.
We won’t have a car and are not only unfamiliar with local transport, we’ve had no experience with public transit anywhere (we don’t really live in an urban area). We’ve had a suggestion to spend a day using Old Town Trolley to visit some of the above locations - they main selling point (other than the tour) was the on and off privileges. We have passes for 2 days for the price of one. Another person suggested going on a Duck Tour, largely for the amphibious portion on the river. This may be interesting, but since we can’t get off, we wouldn’t be able to use it for transport to any attractions.
As to logistics, we don’t know the area and I can get turned around in my local shopping mall. I’m trying to figure out how best to map out activities so that we’re not doing a lot of backtracking and we’re visiting attractions at optimal times. We also need to figure out how to get places, including how to get where tours start. Any suggestions in this area would be hugely appreciated!
We don’t know where to eat and would love to know what decent, economical/moderately priced places anyone would recommend in the area of our hotel specifically. We’d like to do a bit of shopping as well.
I’m assuming we’re going to need some US cash in addition to using our credit card. Since I don’t travel, I don’t know whether there is any point in standing around at my bank for the exchange or if I should just use my credit card at an ATM there and get US money (I assume I can do this?) I’m not sure how much paper money we will need - we will surely need some for tips at the hotel and for cabs (?) - I don’t know how many other places are cash only.
Sales tax: How much? On what? Included in prices or added at cash?
Finally, for our trip back to the airport, would you recommend a regular cab or a water taxi?
This is our first real vacation (short though it may be) in over ten years of marriage and we want to make the most of it. Not knowing anyone in Boston (or the states really), and not having a lot of lead time, I just don’t know where to start. Any help whatsoever would be appreciated. Thank you in advance :)
Trip planning assistance for a clueless Canadian’s first trip to Boston?
Some background: We’re Canadian, this is our first trip and it will just be the two of us. We have three days to try to squeeze in as much as possible (we’re arriving on the evening of Wednesday the 22nd and departing at the ass-crack of dawn on Sunday the 26th).
We’re staying at Fairmont Battery Wharf, and have have Citipasses for:
New England Aquarium
Harvard Museum of Natural History
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Museum of Science
Skywalk Observatory
I realize we probably can’t squeeze all these things in, however. We will almost certainly skip the JFK Library and need to prioritize among the others. We have tickets for the late afternoon show of Blue Man Group on Thursday.
I would love some assistance with logistics, recommendations of economical/moderately priced eats, and some basic tips on American/Boston travel.
We won’t have a car and are not only unfamiliar with local transport, we’ve had no experience with public transit anywhere (we don’t really live in an urban area). We’ve had a suggestion to spend a day using Old Town Trolley to visit some of the above locations - they main selling point (other than the tour) was the on and off privileges. We have passes for 2 days for the price of one. Another person suggested going on a Duck Tour, largely for the amphibious portion on the river. This may be interesting, but since we can’t get off, we wouldn’t be able to use it for transport to any attractions.
As to logistics, we don’t know the area and I can get turned around in my local shopping mall. I’m trying to figure out how best to map out activities so that we’re not doing a lot of backtracking and we’re visiting attractions at optimal times. We also need to figure out how to get places, including how to get where tours start. Any suggestions in this area would be hugely appreciated!
We don’t know where to eat and would love to know what decent, economical/moderately priced places anyone would recommend in the area of our hotel specifically. We’d like to do a bit of shopping as well.
I’m assuming we’re going to need some US cash in addition to using our credit card. Since I don’t travel, I don’t know whether there is any point in standing around at my bank for the exchange or if I should just use my credit card at an ATM there and get US money (I assume I can do this?) I’m not sure how much paper money we will need - we will surely need some for tips at the hotel and for cabs (?) - I don’t know how many other places are cash only.
Sales tax: How much? On what? Included in prices or added at cash?
Finally, for our trip back to the airport, would you recommend a regular cab or a water taxi?
This is our first real vacation (short though it may be) in over ten years of marriage and we want to make the most of it. Not knowing anyone in Boston (or the states really), and not having a lot of lead time, I just don’t know where to start. Any help whatsoever would be appreciated. Thank you in advance :)