Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
service that doesn't operate on weekends
or holidays. The one-way fare is $2; visit
the website for the schedule.
BY CAR
If you plan to visit only Boston and Cam-
bridge, there's absolutely no reason to
have a car. With its pricey parking and
narrow, one-way streets, not to mention
abundant construction, Boston in particu-
lar is a motorist's nightmare. If you arrive
by car, park at the hotel and use the car
for day trips. Drive to Cambridge only if
you're feeling flush—you'll pay to park
there, too. If you're not motoring and you
decide to take a day trip (see chapter 11),
you'll probably want to rent a car. Here's
the scoop:
Rentals
The major car-rental firms have offices at
Logan Airport and in Boston, and most
have other area branches. Seriously con-
sider waiting to pick up the car until you
need it, to save yourself the hassle of driv-
ing and parking. Rentals that originate in
Boston carry a
$10 convention center
surcharge
—you can get around it by
picking up your car in Cambridge,
Brookline, or another suburb. Note that
the Enterprise and Thrifty airport loca-
tions are nearby but not on the grounds,
and allow time for the shuttle-bus ride.
When making a reservation, it's impor-
tant to remember that in general, Boston
doesn't conform to the pattern of a big city
that empties out on weekends, when busi-
ness travelers leave town and rental-car
rates plummet. The parts of downtown
Boston that aren't densely populated resi-
dential neighborhoods are near them, and
at busy times—especially on summer
weekends and during foliage season—
you'll want to reserve a car well in advance
or risk getting shut out.
Some logistics: Most companies set
aside cars for nonsmokers, but you have
to ask. To rent from the major national
chains, you must be at least 25 years old
and have a valid driver's license and credit
card. Some companies allow drivers aged
21 to 24 to rent, subject to a steep daily
fee. And some chains enforce a maximum
age; if you're over 70, check ahead to
avoid an unpleasant surprise.
If you're visiting from abroad and plan
to rent a car in the United States, keep in
mind that foreign driver's licenses are
usually recognized in the U.S., but you
should get an international one if your
home license is not in English.
Money-saving tips:
If you belong to
Zipcar
or another car-sharing service at
home, check ahead to see whether your
membership is good in the Boston area.
And if you don't mind taking a short T
ride to (potentially) save a bundle, check
rates at
Enterprise's
neighborhood loca-
tions and call ahead to request pick-up at
the station closest to the office you choose.
See “Getting to Boston: By Car,”
above, for information about driving (or
not) to eastern Massachusetts.
Insurance
If you hold a private auto insurance pol-
icy, it probably covers you in the U.S. for
Impressions
Boston's freeway system was insane. It was clearly designed by a person who
had spent his childhood crashing toy trains. Every few hundred yards I would
find my lane vanishing beneath me and other lanes merging with it from the
right or left, or sometimes both. This wasn't a road system, it was mobile
hysteria.
—Bill Bryson,
The Lost Continent
(1989, but it's still true)
