Boston

Budget
The Verb Hotel - Seaport. $130-$170/night. Walk to the Boston Harborwalk and grab a lobster roll at James Hook & Co.
Hostelling International Boston - Chinatown. $90-$110/night. Steps from the T and a short stroll to the Paul Revere House.

Mid-range
The Bostonian Hotel - Back Bay. $210-$260/night. Near the Boston Common and a quick walk to Union Oyster House for clam chowder.
Courtyard by Marriott Boston Downtown/Faneuil Hall - Faneuil Hall. $180-$230/night. Walk to the historic market and try a slice of pizza at Regina Pizzeria.

Luxury
The Ritz-Carlton, Boston - Back Bay. $550-$650/night. Overlooks the Public Garden and offers a Sunday brunch with Boston cream pie.
Four Seasons Hotel Boston - Back Bay. $600-$700/night. Steps from the Boston Common and close to Legal Sea Foods for fresh oysters.

Hey, if you’re heading to Boston, here’s what I usually do.

Airports

• Logan International (BOS) is the main airport, about 4 miles from downtown.
• Worcester Regional (ORH) handles a few low‑cost carriers but is farther out.
• Typical round‑trip fares: from New York $130‑$180 on a budget carrier, from Chicago $170‑$250, from Los Angeles $300‑$450, from Miami $200‑$300, from Atlanta $150‑$220. Prices shift with season and how early you book.

Getting from the airport to the city

• Uber or Lyft from Logan costs about $30‑$40 and takes 15‑25 minutes depending on traffic.
• A taxi meter runs roughly $35‑$45 for the same ride.
• The MBTA Silver Line (SL1) is free and drops you at South Station; from there the Red Line to Park Street is $2.40 and takes about 30 minutes total.
• The commuter rail from the airport isn’t direct, but you can catch the SL1 to the train hub at North Station and then walk a short distance.

Train and drive options from nearby cities

• Amtrak from New York Penn Station to Boston South Station runs about $150 one‑way, travel time 3.5‑4 hours.
• From Providence, RI, the MBTA commuter rail takes 50 minutes, fare $12‑$14 each way.
• Driving from Providence is about 50 miles, 1 hour, gas $5‑$8, tolls $5 on I‑95.
• Driving from New York City is roughly 215 miles, 4 hours, gas $30‑$35, tolls $15‑$20 on I‑95 and I‑84.

Where to eat and what to see

• In the North End, try a classic cannoli at Mike’s Pastry ($2‑$3) and a lobster roll at James Hook & Co ($22‑$25). The neighborhood feels like a small Italian village with narrow streets and historic brick buildings.
• Back Bay offers a sit‑down brunch at The Friendly Toast; a typical entree runs $15‑$20. Walk over to the Boston Public Library and then stroll through the Public Garden to see the Swan Boats.
• Fenway Park is a must if you catch a Red Sox game; tickets start around $30 for a weekday seat. Nearby, the landmark Yawkey Way has a few food trucks serving fried clams at $8‑$10.
• For a taste of local history, head to the Union Oyster House on Derby Street; a bowl of New England clam chowder is $13‑$15 and the building dates to 1826.
• If you have time, the Freedom Trail loops past the Paul Revere House and the Old State House; entry to the houses is $5‑$10 each.

Price ranges in USD

• Meals: $10‑$15 for a casual sandwich, $20‑$35 for a sit‑down dinner, $40‑$60 for a nice seafood spot.
• Lodging: budget hostels $40‑$70 per night, mid‑range hotels $120‑$180, boutique inns $200‑$300.
• Transit: subway fare $2.40 per ride, CharlieCard weekly pass $21, taxi $30‑$45 from airport, Uber $30‑$40.

Quick tip

• Grab a CharlieCard at any T station; it drops the fare to $2.40 and works on buses and the subway. The subway runs until about 12:30 am on weekdays, later on weekends.

That’s the rundown I use when I need to get in and out of Boston fast and still have time to eat good food and see the sights.