OT - Flying out of Boston

[Shannon G]

Help! I've never flown out of Boston before. Usually fly out of Hartford, but I won a trip, and the flight is on Airtran, so we're flying out of Boston. Myself, my 3 year old, my friend, and her 5 year old. Flight at 8:47 on a Wednesday, so tha plan is to drive up the night before and stay over. Where should we stay, and where do we park? I'm thinking about doing one of the park, sleep & fly packages - has anyone used one of these at a hotel near Logan? Or I thought of trying Priceline, but I don't know where we would park, and if parking would cost so much (Tuesday night - Sunday) that it would cancel out any priceline savings. What about parking futher out and taking a train in to Boston? Is it safe to leave a car at one of the stations for that long? Would it save money? Too much of a hassle with the kids?

Basically looking for the easiest way to do this, without spending a fortune in the process. The airport Hilton looks like it would be really convenient, but it's a bit more than I want to spend, and I don't know where we would park. But, I've read that the Hilton and the Hyatt Harborside can often be booked on priceline, but again - where would we park, and how expensive would it be?

Thanks for any help!

 

[goofy4tink]

Parking in central parking at Logan is pricey...a huge consideration. We have used the Economy lot before and parked for a week and it cost about $90. You take a shuttle to the terminal from there. But, it can be a bit tough to find (the parking area, not the terminal!). If I were you, I would stay at one of the park and fly hotels. It's usually about $150 to stay one night. That's about what it costs to park in central parking. But I like the idea of my car being away from Logan. And you can sleep a bit in the morning. The hotels all have shuttles to the terminals. I can't give you the names at the moment because I'm having a senior moment!! MInd is blank. I'm sure someone will come up with the names though.

 

[cranbiz]

There is a Ramada south of the city proper (Dorchester) that offers Stay, park and fly and I believe the Holiday Inn in Revere (I think it's in Revere, may be Chelsea but anyway it's off of 1A) also offers stay and park. There are probably more, but that is two that I know of.

Taking the train is always an option, the commuter rail stations are usually $2 a day but they want you to pay in advance and do not have lot attendants. The Rte 128 station I think is manned and I think it's $3 a day but it's a covered garage. You need to switch trains from the T (or Amtrak) to the subway and of course, there is no free transfer. The subway is $1.25

 

[winterman]

Hopefully, I got the website correct. If not google it for the proper site.
www.parksleepandfly.com
This website will list airport hotels with shuttles to the airport and parking is included for x number of days.

Have a great trip.

 

[minster22]

When are you going? Prices for the Park'nFly rates have been much higher this winter/spring than I have paid in the past. I have stayed at Holiday Inn, Hilton and the Hyatt. In the past I have gotten Holiday Inn as low as $149.00 but have not seen it that low for anytime this year, usually between $189.00 and $249.00. Also I always call the hotel directly to check their price because sometimes, not always, it is lower than the website. The other 2 hotels are substantially more money and even though they are closer to the airport,Holiday Inn shuttles run much more frequently (lots of the airline personnel, pilots, stewards stay there). Staying there is very convenient and the rooms comfortable and clean. My DH is staying at the Hampton Inn, about 1 mile further away for his trip 3/1, could not get a decent price at the HI , first stay there so I cannot comment on it. Hope this helps.....Have fun!!!

 

[daisax]

Frankly, I'd avoid driving in Boston if you're unfamiliar with it and try Logan Express

http://www.massport.com/logan/getti_typeo_logan.html

Not quite sure where you're coming from, but if it's Western Mass you could easily take the Pike to Framingham, or even the Pike to 128/93 and up to the Woburn Logan Express.

I take it out of Woburn all the time and there are budget/decent hotels very near by (a mile or so) -- Red Roof, Comfort Inn, etc. Parking for the week is $66, and we've left cars there without incident.

I find it very convenient -- you park in suburbia (right off a main highway), then buy a ticket, roll your luggage up to the curb when the bus pulls in, they ask you what airline you're taking and load the bags, then you climb up, they collect tickets, and you're whisked off to the airport. They stop at each terminal and announce it, you get off and retrieve your bags and you're RIGHT THERE, without the hassles of city driving.

I always feel like my vacation begins as soon as I settle on my seat on the bus and I've relinquished the responsibility of getting there

 

[kaytieeldr]

Specifically, parking at Logan Express is $11 per day, but check www.flylogan.com, sometimes there's a coupon (which you MUST have) for reduced rates. I'm pointing out the difference because if you go even a minute over 7 24-hour periods, you pay for an entire additional day.
And daisax? We're losing Logan Express up here in the poor-relations part of the state. Massport claims we can "easily" drive to Woburn and ride from there - but the cab will cost me as much as it would just to go directly to Logan. So, Massport is losing out on ALL my money. So there! That'll teach 'em!

 

[Shannon G]

Thanks for all the replies. One follow up question, regarding Logan Express. If I were to try to get the Hilton or Hyatt on priceline, would I be able to get there via Logan Express? I believe one is actually connected to the terminals via a skywalk, and the other is on airport property. I've read that these 2 hotels can ofetn be had pretty cheaply on priceline, and a good rate, combined with the cost for Logan Express, looks like it may be cheaper (or about the same as) than a park stay & fly hotel.

 

[loafskier]

Very new, 4 miles from the airport, and pretty cheap ($88/night at hotels.com). My parents did the stay, park and fly thing last spring there and said it worked out very well.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The problem with Priceline is, you're not guaranteed to get one of the airport hotels, and you're stuck with whatever you get.

 

[Shannon G]

I have been considering the Comfort Innn & Suites, but the cheapest I can find the Park sleep & fly package there for my dates (1 night, May 2nd) is about $150.

I realize that there are no guarantees with Priceline, but from the research I have done, it looks like the Hilton and the Hyatt are the only 4* hotels that have come up on Priceline in the airport zone, so I think the risk of getting something else is minimal.

 

[molly2004]

Be prepared. The Air Tran security check is probably the most ridiculous setup I've seen in my life!

Two lines from the x-ray machines feed into a tiny holding area. It's probably 10' x 15'. When we traveled with our twins this past August, getting the carry ons and stroller and kids through, removing shoes, etc. was a royal pain. But that happens anywhere. It's the tiny holding area size that is stupid. Trying to get everyone sorted with people clamoring over you was tough.

Oh, wait, there's more! You then have to take an escalator or elevator up to the gate. since we were taking the double stroller, we had to take the elevator. We barely made it through the door and didn't have much room inside.

Just passing along so you'll be prepared.

 

[Shannon G]

Be prepared. The Air Tran security check is probably the most ridiculous setup I've seen in my life!

Two lines from the x-ray machines feed into a tiny holding area. It's probably 10' x 15'. When we traveled with our twins this past August, getting the carry ons and stroller and kids through, removing shoes, etc. was a royal pain. But that happens anywhere. It's the tiny holding area size that is stupid. Trying to get everyone sorted with people clamoring over you was tough.

Oh, wait, there's more! You then have to take an escalator or elevator up to the gate. since we were taking the double stroller, we had to take the elevator. We barely made it through the door and didn't have much room inside.

Just passing along so you'll be prepared.

Thanks for the warning! Luckily, the kids are old enough that we won't be dragging any strollers along with us (although we probably will rent one at the parks). And even if it's something of a hassle at the airport, I'll just have to remind myself - it's a free trip!!!

 

[molly2004]

Thanks for the warning! Luckily, the kids are old enough that we won't be dragging any strollers along with us (although we probably will rent one at the parks). And even if it's something of a hassle at the airport, I'll just have to remind myself - it's a free trip!!!

Amazing the lengths you'll go through for something free, huh? Heck, I'd do the same thing!

 

[beattyfamily]

We always drive up the night before due to early flights and we always stay at the HOliday Inn Logan. It's 5 minutes away and you can leave your car for up to 10 days. Their shuttle bus leaves every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day...unlike some other close hotels.

It's usually $150 but I don't think that's bad at all. That is for one night's stay AND 10 days of parking. You'd pay more then that at the Logan Central Parking anyway.

Good luck!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Then, Shannon, I would definitely give Priceline a shot! I didn't realize the airport was its own zone. I will have to keep that in mind for early morning flights...

 

[Shannon G]

The airport isn't exactly it's own zone, but the city is divided into various zones, one of which is called Boston "(Revere - Logan Airport BOS)". But, as I mentioned, the Hyatt and the Hilton look like the only 4* hotels within that zone.

BAck to an earlier question, if I did use priceline, would we be able to get to these hotels by using Logan Express (we would probably park in Framingham if we did this - we'd be coming from CT and getting on the pike fronm either I84 in Sturbridge or 290 in Worcester, depending on which route we decide to take). What about parking at one of the T stations outside of the city & taking the T in? Would the car be safe while we're gone?

 

[shamrock30]

Most of the train stations have a parking fee that they collect daily. They come around to see if you put your money in the box, but it isn't as though they have an attendant there all the time. I don't think most of them would let anyone to park over a period of several days. I believe the Rte 128 train station is equipped to handle long term parking though. There may be one or two others.

 

[molly2004]

What about parking at one of the T stations outside of the city & taking the T in? Would the car be safe while we're gone?

I know that the mbta discourages it. I wouldn't risk it.

 

[Shannon G]

Thanks again for all of the replies. I'm still debating between just doing the park sleep & fly, or trying to get the Hilton or Hyatt at the airport & using Logan Express. I just don't know how much of a hassle it would be, to park at Logan Express, go to the airport & then have to catch the shuttle to the hotel (I'm assuming Logan Express only drops off at the terminals). The Hilton is actually connected to the treminals via a skywalk, so we could always walk from there, but to get to the Hyatt I think we'd have to take the hotel shuttle. Has anyone done this?

Obviously when we return home it would be simpler, because we won't be staying over at a hotel - just take Logan Express back to our car.