Anyone take the Boston express bus from Nashua to Logan?

[mlacreta]

Hello...we just decided it would be easier and very cost effective to take the boston express bus from nashua to logan for our sept. trip. it is an early flight and we are looking at the 2 6-7am departures and I'm wondering if they fill up quickly at that time...we are a group of 8..one being an infant....do u need a car seat or can you hold infants? Last time I took a public bus...years ago I remember having a baby in a car seat but there were no buckles or anything. also i noticed the exit 6 stop is first and i think we would need to go to exit 8 since we would have to leave our car for someone to pick up later that day but again are concerned the bus could get filled at exit 6 first and maybe we should go there. Any advice helpful if anyone on these boards has used this system!!!

 

[seashoreCM]

I have used this bus service, just once, but it was in the afternoon so I cannot extrapolate about crowding etc. on the morning buses.

Actually I don't remember seeing seat belts. But remember that the Magical Express buses don't have seat belts either so child seats cannot be fastened in place.

There is some parking at the Exit 6 stop; it was not full when I rode so I suspect you should have no problem leaving the car there for a few hours (but not for days). Use the spaces behind the building (where the bus boards) for parking for more than 30 minutes.

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/disney.htm

 

[kaytieeldr]

Haven't used that bus, but based on the buses I've used or observed...

You won't be able to use the car seat on the bus. Car seats aren't effective if they're not buckled in and you're right - there are no seatbelts. On the other hand, the dynamics of 'tour' buses like the one on which you'll be riding make them awesomely safer than a personal auto.

PLAN for the 6 AM departure, but be prepared to have to take the 7 AM one. In fact, swing by the stop you plan to use at those same times, now. See how full each bus tends to be. If there's someone onsite, ask them if the bus usually/often/sometimes/never fills up before it gets to your exit, and what provisions are made. If the bus is always full by the time it gets to exit 8 and they don't send a backup bus, you're probably going to want to rethink your car pickup plans and instead just pay to leave the car at exit 6.

What day of the week are you leaving, and in fact what date? Weekdays you're going to hit rush hour traffic and will want to shoot for the 6 AM bus, unless you've already left plenty of time.

eta: "buses I've observed" means AT Logan, not just airport transportation buses in general. The bus I take only runs once an hour, so on many returns I have up to 59 minutes to observe

 

[TheWog]

Exit 6 has plenty of parking for you to leave a car to be picked up later as well. Friends have used it and liked it a lot, but I do not have personal experience with it. They did not comment on how crowded or ability to get seats, etc. Good luck.

 

[mlacreta]

thanks for all the info!!! it is very helpful...29 sleeps till disney...yeah!!!!!

 

[sanschag]

I haven't taken it to Logan, but I have taken it several times to South Station. (My dad lives in Merrimack and I work in Boston.) It's a typical "commuter" bus like the DME bus. There are no seatbelts (so no carseats) and overhead space is very limited (not very tall), but there is storage under the bus. I have only taken the weekday 6:30 and it wasn't all that busy. (Most seat pairs had only 1 person.) Keep in mind that it's not unusual for it to be somewhat late depending on traffic, so take that into account. In terms of parking, there is quite a bit of parking at Exit 6 (at least at 6:30 AM) and you can park there (in part of the lot) overnight for free. (I don't know that I'd leave my car there for a whole week or more.)

 

[mlacreta]

I haven't taken it to Logan, but I have taken it several times to South Station. (My dad lives in Merrimack and I work in Boston.) It's a typical "commuter" bus like the DME bus. There are no seatbelts (so no carseats) and overhead space is very limited (not very tall), but there is storage under the bus. I have only taken the weekday 6:30 and it wasn't all that busy. (Most seat pairs had only 1 person.) Keep in mind that it's not unusual for it to be somewhat late depending on traffic, so take that into account. In terms of parking, there is quite a bit of parking at Exit 6 (at least at 6:30 AM) and you can park there (in part of the lot) overnight for free. (I don't know that I'd leave my car there for a whole week or more.)

thanks for all that info. we wouldn't leave our van for very long..have plenty of family to pick it up just none that want to be up at 6:00am! exit 8 stop is closer and later so i guess it all comes down to which stop we chose! thanks again!