| Author |
Message |
    
Soulful Mr T
Citizen
Username: Howardt
Post Number: 891
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, September 22, 2005 - 11:08 pm: |     |
I need to travel to Boston next Thursday for the day and I thought I could fly some kind of cheap shuttle from Newark but the cheapest r/t I could find was well over $500. Yipes! Anyone know a cheap way to fly to Boston? If not, I guess I'll drive, but, if Rita is as bad as they say, it might cost more to drive to Boston than to fly. Any advice? |
Mayor McCheese
Supporter
Username: Mayor_mccheese
Post Number: 504
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, September 23, 2005 - 2:09 am: | |
Maybe Amtrak. I haven't taken them in a few years, but I can only assume that the cost would be way under $500.
But then again, driving isn't so bad, and it would only take about a tank and a half (overestimate). So it wouldn't be too much $$$ to drive. Unless you drive an SUV, in which case it would be cheaper to take the flight. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 5394
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, September 23, 2005 - 6:16 am: | |
I don't know the price, but it's such a pleasant train ride. I can't remember if th Acela is running again or not. Metroliner is. Even the regular train (which is cheaper) is a nice ride.
Whenever I have meetings in DC, I always take the train. You catch it right at Newark Penn. And since you'd be heading north, most people will get off in NY & you'll get your choice of seats.
The other thing to remember is that 95 sucks in CT, even northbound. |
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 3854
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, September 23, 2005 - 8:31 am: | |
If your business is in downtown boston it is nice to come right in to South Station. The Acela RT looks to be about $220 and will be faster then driving. |
Soulful Mr T
Citizen
Username: Howardt
Post Number: 892
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Friday, September 23, 2005 - 8:36 am: | |
Well, looks like I'm gonna drive. How long should it take? (Specifically, I'm going to Waltham, wherever that is. I got a Boston map here somewhere...) |
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 3855
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, September 23, 2005 - 8:38 am: | |
what time do you want to arrive at? |
Soulful Mr T
Citizen
Username: Howardt
Post Number: 893
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Friday, September 23, 2005 - 8:40 am: | |
My meeting is at 12:30 in Waltham. I'd liek to be there by Noon so I can park, find my way, etc. So you tell me, what time am I leaving?  |
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 3856
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, September 23, 2005 - 8:47 am: | |
I would leave EARLY and get over the GW by 7:00. Then I'd go Cross County to the Merrit, to 91, to 84, to Mass Pike ... that's just my guess. It should take you about 4.5 hours that time of day -- I think. |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 3399
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Friday, September 23, 2005 - 8:49 am: | |
I agree with Alge 4.5 to 5 hours to get to Boston. Love Boston! |
jet
Citizen
Username: Jet
Post Number: 918
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Friday, September 23, 2005 - 9:03 am: | |
It's cheaper to fly out of La Guardia. |
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 3858
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, September 23, 2005 - 9:07 am: | |
At this point though you have less than a 7 day advance ticket. So any flight is going to be costly. I'd take the Acela to the Rt. 128 Station and the get a car the serice the 15 iles to Waltham. Cheaper and a nicer trip. Once you get to logan you'll have to rent a car to shlep to Waltham. Driving will be the most direct (and cheapest). |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 5397
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, September 23, 2005 - 9:27 am: | |
Alg's directions are right on. |
campbell29
Citizen
Username: Campbell29
Post Number: 220
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Friday, September 23, 2005 - 12:35 pm: | |
But remember - you must hit the GWB by 6:30, or you're sunk. If you hear of bad traffic, the alternate is to take GSP till it ends, cross Tappan Zee and then 287 to Merritt. (you'll avoid incity traffic) |
Stuart0628
Citizen
Username: Stuart0628
Post Number: 122
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Friday, September 23, 2005 - 4:28 pm: | |
I would make the Tappan Zee Plan A and GWB Plan B. If you want to use GWB as your default, listen to the traffic reports and be ready to bail if the GWB gets ugly. Back Roads through Englewood to the Palisades have saved my hide many times. |
Jerry Tuttle
Citizen
Username: Jerrytuttle
Post Number: 24
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 10:40 am: | |
My travel choice is GSP (or 287) to 87 to 84 to Mass Pike. This avoids Tappan Zee. Always avoid 95.
Jerry Tuttle
www.SoOrangeNotary.com |
Elaine Harris
Citizen
Username: Elaineharris
Post Number: 39
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 8:23 pm: | |
There is a bus leaving daily from NY to Boston that is run by a Chinese company. The signage on the bus in in Chinese. This is definitely the cheapest way to get to Boston. I know, because this is the way my mother-in-law traveled to my daughter's graduation. She is the most thrifty person I ever met. I have no clue how to find them, but thought it might interest you. Maybe Google. |
Soulful Mr T
Citizen
Username: Howardt
Post Number: 898
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 8:28 pm: | |
Elaine, I've HEARD about those buses, something like $10 or $20 each way. I've also heard that they're undependable, dirty, unsafe and filled with chickens and goats. Plus, I don't know how I'd get from Chinatown, Boston to my appointment in Waltham. And since it's a serious business mtg., I don't want to smell like a barn.
So, I've decided to drive up early Thursday AM.
Thanks all of you for your suggestions, routes and caveats! |
Soulful Mr T
Citizen
Username: Howardt
Post Number: 906
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Friday, September 30, 2005 - 7:51 am: | |
Well, yesterday was my Boston appointment and I drove up, leaving at 6AM and drove back, departing at 2PM and it was, well... alot of driving. Took Hutch to 684 to 84 to Mass Pike and it was pretty simple. I *TRIED* to get to the GWB before 6:30 as suggested above but when I stopped in Maplewood for a coffee and bagel, at 6 on the dot, the guy behind the counter was in a friendly mood and chatted and chatted and chatted. He was interesting and very nice but I was itching to get goin'...
Best radio stations? Hartford!
Thanks for all the tips. 500 miles. One day. One tank of gas. 27.4 mpg. I hoped my Camry would do better. |
Elaine Harris
Citizen
Username: Elaineharris
Post Number: 44
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, September 30, 2005 - 10:56 pm: | |
The chickens and goats missed you but they had a good nap on the bus. |
HarDen
Citizen
Username: Harden
Post Number: 70
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 - 10:09 pm: | |
The Fung Wah Bus company runs buses from Chinatown NY to South Station in Boston about every hour all day long. The price is $15 each way. My daughter takes it all the time-----and THERE ARE NO CHICKENS OR GOATS. |
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 3895
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 - 10:15 pm: | |
my sister came up from DC on the Chinatown bus (Eastern Shuttle I think) last weekend and it was great. I am planning on taking my 6 year old to visit her on the bus too. No goats OR chickens! I've wanted to visit her but was too cheap to take Amtrak and too nervous to drive. |
papayagirl
Citizen
Username: Papayagirl
Post Number: 441
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 - 10:43 pm: | |
Just saw this tonight. Probably doesn't go into effect by next week, but for future reference...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051011/us_nm/airlines_jetblue_dc_1
JetBlue takes on rivals for Boston-NY route
Tue Oct 11, 8:00 AM ET
NEW YORK (Reuters) - JetBlue Airways Corp. said on Tuesday it will use new 100-seat jets to begin up to 10 daily flights between New York and Boston, taking on competitors in a long-established air shuttle service on the same route.
New York-based JetBlue also said it would use the Embraer 190 planes to start flying from New York's JFK International Airport to Austin, Texas; Nassau, Bahamas; Richmond, Virginia; and West Palm Beach, Florida.
The Boston-New York route will make JetBlue a direct competitor of the traditional air shuttle service flown by bankrupt Delta Air Lines Inc. and by US Airways Group Inc., which recently emerged from bankruptcy.
JetBlue will offer introductory fares of $25 each way on what will be up to 10 flights between the cities, with fares later settling at between $40 and $120 each way, undercutting the established shuttle.
JetBlue has ordered 99 of the Brazilian-made Embraer jets through 2016 in what some analysts have called a risky change from most discount airlines' practice of flying a single aircraft type to minimize training and maintenance costs.
JetBlue is also still taking deliveries of its main, larger, aircraft type, the Airbus A320. |
HarDen
Citizen
Username: Harden
Post Number: 71
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 8:01 pm: | |
Only problem is getting to JFK--LAG is no picnic either---Why doesn't Newark rate a shuttle? |
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