Travel ideas

[jeffp18]

Hey everybody,

I am looking to go away for 4-5 days the beginning of February with my wife. We are in the Boston area. Originally I was thinking of driving to New Hampshire or Maine. But since we haven't been on a true vacation in almost 2 years, I was thinking something a little further away.

One thought was New York city. There are buses that run from Boston to NYC frequently. I have never traveled by bus outside of local routes, so I'm not sure exactly how it works. I would prefer driving there myself and just leaving my car parked at the hotel while we are there, but parking expenses are kind of high to justify it.

My other thought was Washington D.C. A round trip flight is around $110 per person to fly into either airport in Washington D.C. or Baltimore.

Neither of us have been to either place, so we would need suggestions on where to stay and how to get around. We enjoy walking, but know that the weather might prohibit that and public transit would probably be faster. I would be open to renting a car in Washington D.C. if that is easy than public transit, but from what I have researched so far it is not.

We are also open to any other suggestions for destinations.

We both like seeing the big tourist attractions wherever we go. If we go to NYC, we would definitely see a show or two on Broadway. Neither of us drink and we aren't beach people.

We would be leaving either Wednesday 1/31 late afternoon/early evening our Thursday morning and returning home early afternoon on Sunday 2/4 or late in the day Monday.

Our budget for travel and lodging would be around $1200. We don't really have a budget for food and entertainment. The dates are not really flexible because I am having surgery in early March which will keep me out of commission for a while and we have prior commitments the rest of February.

 

[descovy]

If you are still at 4 weeks notice, consider https://www.packupgo.com

I'm doing this Presidents Day weekend with my daughter for her 18th birthday. But super bummed I didn't think about sooner or would have done it with my dh first. He is in love with the idea.

Basically its a 3 day trip, domestic. (doesn't have to be weekends) You won't know where you are going until you get to the airport. The travel is no more than 4-5 hours away.

You fill out a survey of what you like, and add any other notes. Let them know where you've been recently so they don't send you there. Cost includes transportation (airfare, uber) hotel and usually an event on the itinerary.

I am so excited! Basically we will spend the air travel deciding what we are going to do!

 

[jeffp18]

If you are still at 4 weeks notice, consider https://www.packupgo.com

I'm doing this Presidents Day weekend with my daughter for her 18th birthday. But super bummed I didn't think about sooner or would have done it with my dh first. He is in love with the idea.

Basically its a 3 day trip, domestic. (doesn't have to be weekends) You won't know where you are going until you get to the airport. The travel is no more than 4-5 hours away.

You fill out a survey of what you like, and add any other notes. Let them know where you've been recently so they don't send you there. Cost includes transportation (airfare, uber) hotel and usually an event on the itinerary.

I am so excited! Basically we will spend the air travel deciding what we are going to do!

That sounds like fun. I would love to hear how it goes. Unfortunately, we only have less than 2 weeks to figure out what to do. It's a last minute thing. I found out the other day that I will be having surgery in a couple of weeks that will keep me limited for 3-6 months, so we decided to take a quick trip before I go under the knife.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

I would go to NYC since neither of you have been there. I was looking up hotels around the same time frame not too long ago and there's some really reasonable rates right now for some nice hotels (around $100/night). NY isn't as lively in the winter as it is in the spring/summer/fall but there is still plenty to do, and bus tickets are cheap. I did that trip several times when I lived in NYC and my best friend lived in Boston. It's not the most fun trip in the world but it's not awful.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I would vote for NYC too -- so many things to do. Wash D.C. has a lot of history and museums, and I'd rather go there in the spring when the cherry blossoms are in bloom (and a possible govt shutdown should be long gone, allowing the museums to re-open.)

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Never been to NYC, but D.C. is a terrific destination!

 

[NYCgrrl]

Hey everybody,

I am looking to go away for 4-5 days the beginning of February with my wife. We are in the Boston area. Originally I was thinking of driving to New Hampshire or Maine. But since we haven't been on a true vacation in almost 2 years, I was thinking something a little further away.

One thought was New York city. There are buses that run from Boston to NYC frequently. I have never traveled by bus outside of local routes, so I'm not sure exactly how it works. I would prefer driving there myself and just leaving my car parked at the hotel while we are there, but parking expenses are kind of high to justify it.

My other thought was Washington D.C. A round trip flight is around $110 per person to fly into either airport in Washington D.C. or Baltimore.

Neither of us have been to either place, so we would need suggestions on where to stay and how to get around. We enjoy walking, but know that the weather might prohibit that and public transit would probably be faster. I would be open to renting a car in Washington D.C. if that is easy than public transit, but from what I have researched so far it is not.

We are also open to any other suggestions for destinations.

We both like seeing the big tourist attractions wherever we go. If we go to NYC, we would definitely see a show or two on Broadway. Neither of us drink and we aren't beach people.

We would be leaving either Wednesday 1/31 late afternoon/early evening our Thursday morning and returning home early afternoon on Sunday 2/4 or late in the day Monday.

Our budget for travel and lodging would be around $1200. We don't really have a budget for food and entertainment. The dates are not really flexible because I am having surgery in early March which will keep me out of commission for a while and we have prior commitments the rest of February.

For starters you definitely don't need a car in NYC. It's a decided disadvantage in this locale and the parking and high insurance costs help to explain why the majority of Manhattanites don't own a vehicle. Born and raised here and I don't even know how to drive but make an excellent navigator, LOL. Use public transport in the city and don't bother getting stuck in gridlock with taxis.

For DC, a car is not needed either but the closer you are to the city's center, the more you'll pay in hotel costs. We stay @ the Hay-Adams near Lafayette Sq. (avg rm rate around $300 nightly) and wuvv it...it's one of our favorite hotels in the US, yet I hear that you can get a substantially better rate at nearby hotels like the Hamilton, Marriott Marquis Washington ($125.00- 190.00 per night on avg at this time of the yr). There is a Whole Food nearby which makes for a good morning run/walk with breakfast pickup. Our last trip, we toured exclusively near the National Mall since my mother is elderly and we always wanted to be able to get back to the hotel fast if she tired. Normally, we also tour Georgetown and what other neighborhoods peak our interest (if you go, don't miss Dumbarton Oaks; the house filled with pre-Columbian art, amazing gardens-dig that amphitheater!).
Still at the end of a week we still hadn't seen all the museums and sites that are there and oh yes bonus points most of them are free.

Were I trying to get a bang for my buck in NYC, I'd stay at an Airbnb locale with in an established and convenient neighborhood excellent reviews. Lots of them on the Westside and if you can find one close to Zabar's that's a plus. Good breakfast food, prepared or make at home.

 

[powellrj]

Gatlinburg and the Smokies are lots of fun!

 

[Darcy03231]

I don't think you can go wrong with either NYC or Washington DC. My sister and her family went to NYC over Thanksgiving. They used Airbnb to rent an apartment and said they would do it again. It was much cheaper than a hotel room, allowed them to have breakfast/coffee in each day and a public transportation stop was right at the corner of their block.

 

[PollyannaMom]

We're hoping to go to DC in April, so I would have said that, but with the shutdown right now, I'd stick with NYC. Seeing shows sounds great!!

The bus to save money wouldn't bother me, but there is also an express train from South Station in Boston, if you'd like that better:
https://www.amtrak.com/acela-express-train

I don't have any recommendations on where to stay, but I'm sure you'll get some here!

 

[mjkacmom]

I’d take Amtrak to NYC. I’ve never taken the bus, but dd21 used to have a boyfriend in Boston, so took Bolt several times. She took the train once (on my dime) and said it was so much nicer (I’ve only taken the train, loved it). I love DC, I just find we were outside a lot more, and February is cold!

 

[jeffp18]

Thanks for the replies. The government shutdown made the decision a little easier. We are going to go to New York on this trip and try Washington D.C. another time. As of right now, I am planning on going there on Thursday 2/1 and returning home on Monday 2/5. Tickets for the two of us for the bus would $40 total round trip and the train is about $250 total round trip. We could afford the train, but is it worth the $210 difference over the bus? Bolt Bus, Megabus, Greyhound and Peter Pan are all about the same price. Any ideas as to which is better if traveling by bus?

Any recommendations as to where to stay? I would like to keep it under $225/night including taxes and fees.

Just of the top of my head, some of the sites we would like to see are:
Times Square
Rockefeller Center
Empire State Building
Radio City Music Hall
9/11 Memorial
Ellis Island
Broadway (1 or 2 shows)
Statue of Liberty
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Central Park
Any other places we should go out of our way to visit?

Also, any recommendations for a place to watch the Super Bowl that Sunday?

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

Last time I stayed in a hotel in NYC it was the Affinia Shelburne- convenient to Grand Central which has a shuttle train to Times Square. We really liked the hotel and would stay there again. It’s rate is $119/night for your dates.

 

[gotomu212]

If you are still at 4 weeks notice, consider https://www.packupgo.com

I'm doing this Presidents Day weekend with my daughter for her 18th birthday. But super bummed I didn't think about sooner or would have done it with my dh first. He is in love with the idea.

Basically its a 3 day trip, domestic. (doesn't have to be weekends) You won't know where you are going until you get to the airport. The travel is no more than 4-5 hours away.

You fill out a survey of what you like, and add any other notes. Let them know where you've been recently so they don't send you there. Cost includes transportation (airfare, uber) hotel and usually an event on the itinerary.

I am so excited! Basically we will spend the air travel deciding what we are going to do!

I would love to hear your experience- I’ve heard very mixed things. I tried it last year and was really really unhappy with our trip (the flights they booked were 3x what they should have been and compromised way more of our budget). They also put us in a horrible hotel compared to what was available in the city. I LOVED the concept but was disappointed. Others have had fantastic experiences though.

Since the idea was so cool my husband and I are each planning a weekend this year. We won’t tell the other any details until we get to,the airport and we’re picking places we haven’t gone before (just an idea if your husband wants to try a modified approach).

 

[NYCgrrl]

Thanks for the replies. The government shutdown made the decision a little easier. We are going to go to New York on this trip and try Washington D.C. another time. As of right now, I am planning on going there on Thursday 2/1 and returning home on Monday 2/5. Tickets for the two of us for the bus would $40 total round trip and the train is about $250 total round trip. We could afford the train, but is it worth the $210 difference over the bus? Bolt Bus, Megabus, Greyhound and Peter Pan are all about the same price. Any ideas as to which is better if traveling by bus?

Any recommendations as to where to stay? I would like to keep it under $225/night including taxes and fees.

Just of the top of my head, some of the sites we would like to see are:
Times Square
Rockefeller Center
Empire State Building
Radio City Music Hall
9/11 Memorial
Ellis Island
Broadway (1 or 2 shows)
Statue of Liberty
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Central Park
Any other places we should go out of our way to visit?

Also, any recommendations for a place to watch the Super Bowl that Sunday?

Since you'll already paying for admittance to the Met you can enter the Cloisters for free. It's further uptown and has a fantastic view of the Hudson River as well as a world class collection of medieval art. I take DGD there about once a month at her request; she never tires of it.

My suggestion choose one to go to the observatory deck: either Word Trade Center OR Empire State Bldg. Since you are already going to the 9/11 Memorial, Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty, my suggestion would be to do WTC and observe the Empire from the outside. Great eats at nearby Eataly. I'm partial to the prime rib sandwich (make a right when you get off the escalator and then another right; you're there) but they've so many food stations you should find whatever your heart desires. Running low on time? Don't bother taking the official ferry to the Statue of Liberty when the Staten Island ferry will give you pictures and a view just as good. I would only take the official ferry if I wanted to walk to the top which as a "good" NYer I haven't done since a class trip in the 6th grade, LOL.


Want a view of the harbour area of NYC? Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge, (early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the crowds) and eat at Junior's on Flatbush Ext. Not sure if it's just nostalgia but I think the original Brooklyn restaurant is better than the newer Theatre District restaurant. Take the train back to Manhattan; it's right next to Junior's. Have some Jewish style cheesecake (the purist in me only eats the non fruit version but they do a landmark business in all of them) and a "mile high" deli sandwich with a chocolate egg cream. Or an ice cream float. Orrr whadevahyawant, LOL.

I normally take AMTRAK to and from Boston but have heard good of the bus services. Many companies offer TV plus recharge services for phones. They seem to offer more seating space than in the past.

Have fun whatever you chose to do.

 

[mjkacmom]

Since you'll already paying for admittance to the Met you can enter the Cloisters for free. It's further uptown and has a fantastic view of the Hudson River as well as a world class collection of medieval art. I take DGD there about once a month at her request; she never tires of it.

My suggestion choose one to go to the observatory deck: either Word Trade Center OR Empire State Bldg. Since you are already going to the 9/11 Memorial, Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty, my suggestion would be to do WTC and observe the Empire from the outside. Great eats at nearby Eataly. I'm partial to the prime rib sandwich (make a right when you get off the escalator and then another right; you're there) but they've so many food stations you should find whatever your heart desires. Running low on time? Don't bother taking the official ferry to the Statue of Liberty when the Staten Island ferry will give you pictures and a view just as good. I would only take the official ferry if I wanted to walk to the top which as a "good" NYer I haven't done since a class trip in the 6th grade, LOL.


Want a view of the harbour area of NYC? Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge, (early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the crowds) and eat at Junior's on Flatbush Ext. Not sure if it's just nostalgia but I think the original Brooklyn restaurant is better than the newer Theatre District restaurant. Take the train back to Manhattan; it's right next to Junior's. Have some Jewish style cheesecake (the purist in me only eats the non fruit version but they do a landmark business in all of them) and a "mile high" deli sandwich with a chocolate egg cream. Or an ice cream float. Orrr whadevahyawant, LOL.

I normally take AMTRAK to and from Boston but have heard good of the bus services. Many companies offer TV plus recharge services for phones. They seem to offer more seating space than in the past.

Have fun whatever you chose to do.

I’d take the paid ferry and get off at Ellis Island (which is on the OP’s list). You can spend a lot of time there. I’ve heard great things about the Tenement Museum, which you need to book a spot ahead of time.

 

[Action City]

I’d take the paid ferry and get off at Ellis Island (which is on the OP’s list). You can spend a lot of time there. I’ve heard great things about the Tenement Museum, which you need to book a spot ahead of time.

If the government is still shut down when they visit, Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty will be closed.

 

[mjkacmom]

If the government is still shut down when they visit, Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty will be closed.

True, I hope this **** down will be over by then.