Boston or Manchester?

[Yzerbear19]

We are going to buy our airfare for our Salem/Boston trip this week and I was looking at the fares and right now Manchester, NH is cheaper by about $60 per ticket, so together we would save $120. Boston is closer, but I really don't want to drive in that area. When we go down to Boston we are going to take the commuter train. And I guess I don't mind driving an hour from the airport to the our hotel if it would be cheaper.

So which airport is better?

 

[snowbunny]

It depends on where you are staying I think. Manchester is a much smaller, easier airport. But if you are going to be staying in Boston, I'd go to Logan.

 

[Yzerbear19]

It depends on where you are staying I think. Manchester is a much smaller, easier airport. But if you are going to be staying in Boston, I'd go to Logan.

We will be staying in Danvers, MA.

 

[pyrxtc]

I'd take the discount and got to manchester. you can then take the free bus trip into Boston and cab it from there.

 

[kelleigh1]

I haven't been there myself, but I have been to Logan and from what I hear, Manchester is a much easier airport to manuever than Logan. For that kind of savings, I'd probably head to Manchester myself.

 

[Detailor]

Those who have said that Manchester is easier to navigate are right. The airport is much smaller than Logan and far less busy. You'll also save time when you leave as going through security is much quicker. Manchester is about an hour from Boston (depending upon the time of day, traffic, etc.) and probably about the same from Danvers - two ways to get there from the Manchester airport:
take I-93 south to Massachusetts, then pick up I-495 North at exit 44A (heading toward New Hampshire and Maine), continue on I-495 for about 20 miles then take exit 55 to I-95 South for about 15 - 18 miles to Danvers; or

take I-93 south to Massachusetts, then pick up I-95 N/ Route 128 near Woburn (you'll be going toward Peabody), I-95 and Rte. 128 split in about eight miles in Peabody, stay to the right onto I-95 and continue another 7 or 8 miles.

Dick Taylor

 

[kaytieeldr]

If you're driving to Danvers, use Dick's second set of directions - except which hotel, and if you don't want to post it publicly you can PM me. Some Danvers hotels are right on 95, others are right off 128.

 

[kelleigh1]

Now don't get scared when you see that Dick says Manchester airport is about and hour from Boston and/or Danvers...because it could take you an hour to navigate your way out of Logan too.

 

[Yzerbear19]

Now don't get scared when you see that Dick says Manchester airport is about and hour from Boston and/or Danvers...because it could take you an hour to navigate your way out of Logan too.

Don't worry, I already looked up the directions on Yahoo to see an estimation of how far it was from where we will be staying. We normally drive 1.75 hours from where we live to Detroit because its cheaper to fly from Detroit. Driving an hour won't be that bad.

I talked to my sister and she said go for the Manchester. I found a rental car for the same price that we have booked for Boston. It seems that this would be the best option. When we were originally looking at flights Boston was cheaper than Manchester.

 

[rdsx28]

Did you check Providence as well? That's s great airport too.

 

[Yzerbear19]

I purchased the tickets this morning from Detroit to Manchester, NH for $198 each. Not bad. It would have been $261 fo Detroit to Boston. So I'm excited. I feel that I can get excited now that I have those booked and paid for. YEAH! Thank you all!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Did you check Providence as well? That's s great airport too.

Two minor issues with Providence: While it's about the same distance from Boston as is Manchester, it's about half again as far from Danvers; and, to get to Danvers, you need to drive either through Boston or up 95. While this is not likely to be a problem on a weekend, or at 11 AM (or PM), most other times traffic can be expected to be horrendous.