Editing Boston (section)

==Transportation==
===Getting Into Boston===
*[http://www.massport.com/logan/ Logan Airport]: Logan Airport serves Boston. Public buses, Logan Express (bus), water transport, taxis, etc can get you from Logan into the city and eventually to your final destination. Shuttle buses take you to connecting stations on the Silver and Blue subway lines. There is no luggage / locker storage here.
*[http://mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/subway/lines/stations/default.asp?stopId=14435 Bus]: If you are taking a bus into Boston, chances are you will be arriving at South Station. This station connects you to the Commuter Rail, local and long-distance buses, and the Silver and Red subway lines. '''Your best chances are to search for a cheap bus ticket to Boston using [http://www.busjunction.com BusJunction]'''. There are luggage lockers / storage available here.
*[http://www.mbta.com Rail/Boat]:
*Taxi: Chances are if you are taking a taxi into Boston, you are coming from a fairly close location or have enough money to afford a taxi from a very far location. Either way, taxis are not necessarily the best way to get around the city once you are here. Check out the [http://www.mbta.com MBTA website] for train and bus schedules. (Taxis are best after midnight when public transportation stops.)

===Getting Around Boston===
[[File:Boston_Mbta_map1.png|85px|thumb|left|MBTA ("T") Transit Map]] 

Unlike many newer U.S. cities, many of Boston's roads were not planned as a grid. Instead, many claim that the city's modern roads are simply the paved cow paths of colonial-era Boston. Add to the fact that one of the world's largest public works project, [[:wikipedia:Big_Dig_(Boston,_Massachusetts)|The Big Dig]], changed both major and minor roads on a daily basis for over a decade. Despite this attempt to simplify the major roads into and through Boston, driving and parking in the city can be extremely difficult. If you don't believe it, just look at these map examples for proof: [http://tinyurl.com/bad-boston-roads 1], [http://tinyurl.com/bad-boston-roads2 2], [http://tinyurl.com/bad-boston-roads3 3], [http://tinyurl.com/bad-boston-roads4 4]. Boston area car drivers [http://www.boston-online.com/bosdrivers.html have a reputation of driving terribly]. Metered parking spots, garages, and lots are expensive and hard to find. The city does not consistently post street signs or directions, which often unsurprisingly even confuses the locals. Driving is not recommended for travelers without a GPS (satnav) navigation device. Even these devices can become confused by duplicated street names in different historical neighborhoods of the city. Furthermore, finding a decent parking spot is challenging, as rules for parking can be be different on different parts of the same street. Car-park lots and garages are typically very expensive. If you must, park at one of the lots at the end of the subway line stations, such as Riverside, Alewife, or Oak Grove, and then get on the public transit. '''Don't drive a car in Boston unless you absolutely have to, as having a car is expensive, stressful, and confusing to deal with as a visitor.''' Your best bet for finding safe, somewhat cheap parking, is to use the '''[http://boston.bestparking.com/index.php Boston Best Parking Tool]'''.

[[image:MBTA.jpg|40px|thumb|left]] The good news is that Boston boasts a decent (locals may disagree) network of public transportation, and many sights are walkable in good weather. Buses, boats, trains and taxis are readily available in most of the greater Boston area. This network is run by the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA). In Boston, this is most commonly abbreviated to the "T" in reference to the logo, which is a circled letter T. For fares, schedules, maps and more visit the [http://www.mbta.com MBTA website]. '''Please note: The T shuts down at approximately midnight, and starts again around 6am.''' Most nightlife venues close their doors by 1 or 2am, so you may need to walk or take a taxi home if you choose to stay beyond the last train.

===Understanding the region of Greater Boston=== 
[[File:Ngf_boston_neighborhoods.png|90px|thumb|left|Areas of Boston]] 

Boston "proper" is quite small, but the city is surrounded on all sides by other, smaller cities, which are also divided into distinct neighborhoods. There is a strong chance that your host might not technically live in Boston itself, but in one of the neighboring cities. When searching for a host in Boston, you may wish to use the "within miles/kilometers" option for this reason. Boston-proper's population is approximately .5 million residents, but the Greater Boston Metropolitan Area is home to about 5.3 million residents. You can impress the locals by understanding that visiting Boston means you are also visiting places like Cambridge, Somerville, and Brookline - all independent cities on the subway system. For example, the well-known Harvard University is in Cambridge, with only some of its graduate schools and athletic areas located across the river in Lower Allston (part of Boston, not Cambridge). 

Despite its small size, Boston-proper includes neighborhoods that are also referred to as if they were separate cities, such as Allston, Brighton, Southie, Dorchester, etc. - all of which are valid "cities" when used to send post-mail, and within each neighborhood are often one or more [http://notfortourists.com/Features.aspx?ID=289&city=BO special squares]. Many of the Boston neighborhoods were independent towns before they were incorporated into Boston. These new sections of the city kept their street names, leading to confusion as several main streets shared the same name. A perfect example is Washington Street - there are at least 4 distinct streets with this name, from Charlestown in the northwest, to Brighton in the southwest, neither of which connect with the "main" Washington Street in the South End. For these reasons, '''if you are using GPS  (satnav) or meeting locals, please try to use the name of the neighborhood, rather than simply "Boston", to reduce confusion.'''

When visiting Boston, it can be helpful to know a few local abbreviations. Locals love to shorten the names of neighborhoods, major streets, and even common chain-stores. South Boston (not to be confused with the South End) becomes Southie, while East Boston is shortened to Eastie. Jamaica Plain is usually referred to as JP. Conversely, Allston and Brighton, adjacent sections of Boston incorporated around the same time, are often combined to Allston/Brighton. Massachusetts Avenue is almost always called Mass Ave., while Commonwealth Ave becomes Comm Ave. In the morning, locals may ask you if you want DD - local coffee chain Dunkin' Donuts. If you're confused, just ask. Locals are used to getting lost in their own city, and understand when visitors can't navigate the same maze! '''You might even find someone offering to help you find your destination if you simply open up a map and act as if you are lost.'''

===Finding a Couch in Boston===
Here are some general tips to increase your odds for finding a couch in the Boston area:
* As mentioned above, send requests to hosts residing in areas other than Boston "proper". Many CSers live in Brookline, Cambridge, and Somerville.  The search by map feature is useful as well.  Especially during the summer tourist season (which is preceded by college graduation season starting in mid-May and followed by college move-in season ending in mid-September), hosts in Boston "proper" have been known to receive more than 10 requests PER DAY.  Do not get discouraged if your requests are repeatedly declined or not acknowledged in a timely manner.  Hosts themselves tend to travel during the summer season as well.  
* Consider hosts with proximity to non-subway forms of public transportation. For example, there some bus lines that run as frequently as subway lines and even bus/commuter train/commuter boat schedules that are less frequent may not present too much of an issue.  Many hosts will list proximity to public transit in their profiles. Then, you can compare it with your maps and see if its worthwhile. Just remember, though, that public transit tends to end around midnight. Taxi rides from the city center to the suburbs could nearly $30-40 depending on how far away you're staying.
* Plan ahead. Sometimes this is not possible as travel opportunities do come up at the last minute and CouchSurfers in general tend to be more spontaneous than the average folk.  If you are able to fix your plans in advance, don't put off sending out requests until the last minute. A good time frame for sending requests is 1-3 weeks prior to arrival.  Likewise if you have control over your planning arriving try to avoid arriving in the wee hours, especially on a weeknight.  Also, the public transportation system does not run all night so think carefully before buying a cheap bus ticket into the city that arrives in Boston at 2:30am - you'll only end up having to pay for a taxi cab at that point anyways.
* Groups of 3+ people may have better luck splitting up (for sleeping purposes) and using "divide and conquer" to find couches.  Even for those willing to sleep on the floor be advised that apartments in this area tend to be on the smaller side.  Also, many hosts live with roommates who may be fine sharing a bathroom with one or two extra people, but not six extra people.
* If you are not able to find a couch through the traditional request syste,m consider the emergency request message board.  Whining about not being able to find a couch and/or scolding the CS community here for not being responsive/hospitable will NOT help your cause.  Even if you are feeling discouraged, try to convey positive energy in your post.

===Getting Out of Boston===

====From Boston to [[New York City]]====
Many travelers stop in Boston before heading to New York City. There are many ways to reach NYC including: car, train, bus and plane. Pick the method that fits within your travel budget. Time wise, the cheaper the ride, the longer it takes. By bus, the trip to New York usually takes 4 to 4.5 hours, although it can take up to 6 in bad traffic. By train, it usually around 3.5 hours. By flight, 45 minutes, plus 1 or 2 hours of to-and-from-the-airport travel. '''The most common way is by bus - search for a bus ticket using [http://www.busjunction.com BusJunction]'''.

*'''[http://www.megabus.com Megabus]''' and '''[http://www.boltbus.com BoltBus]''' are two competitors that serve the Boston-NYC route. By booking a few weeks in advance, it is possible to secure a round trip ticket for only $2.50 ($1 each way, with $0.50 fee). Both offer free wifi on board. Boltbus: South Station Bus Terminal, Red and Silver Lines.  Megabus: Back Bay station, Orange Line. 
*'''[http://www.fungwahbus.com Fung Wah]''' and '''[http://www.luckystarbus.com Lucky Star]''' are two buses that run from South Station to Chinatown in NYC.  The tickets are $15 each way and the buses run hourly, with extra buses during busy intervals.
*'''[http://peterpanbus.com Peter Pan Bus]'''(cheap) Another inexpensive option is the Peter Pan/Greyhound bus. If you buy your tickets online, the trip is $15 per person each way. South Station Bus Terminal, Red and Silver Lines. There are luggage lockers / storage available here.
*'''[http://www.amtrak.com Amtrak/Acela]''' (moderate) There is also a train that leaves from Boston South Station (or Westwood) going to NYC. This service is slightly more expensive ranging from around $50 to over $200. There are two stations in Boston: Back Bay and South Station as well as a station in Westwood. To view fares, schedules and to purchase tickets check out the website. If you have an International Student Identity Card (ISIC), you may be able to save 15%, be sure to check out any specials on the website. South Station Bus Terminal, Red and Silver Lines. There are luggage lockers / storage available here.
*'''Air Travel:''' (more expensive) Flights to NYC depart from Boston daily. While the flights are relatively quick (about 45 minutes), the tickets may be more expensive especially if you are buying last minute. Also, note that these flights land on Long Island ([http://www.laguardiaairport.com La Guardia Airport] or [http://www.kennedyairport.com JFK]) and will not bring you directly into Manhattan. With baggage claim and travel to and from airports, flying could very well take the same travel time as the train or bus, both of which arrive in central Manhattan locations. Airport Station, Blue and Silver Lines. No luggage lockers / storage are available here.

====From Boston to [[Montreal]]====
Montreal is a unique place, with a blend of North American modernity and a very strong Francophone flavor. There is plenty of culture, night life and restaurants. There is no direct train from Boston to Montreal - instead, by train, you need to go to NYC (+4 hrs) or Albany (+3 hrs) first. Most CSers take a direct bus to get to Montreal.

*'''Driving''' - If you have an international driver's license, and are traveling with several people, it may make sense to rent a car and drive to Montreal. Check out several of the most popular car rental companies: [http://www.hertz.com Hertz], [http://www.enterprise.com Enterprise], [http://www.avis.com Avis], [http://www.nationalcar.com National Car] or [http://www.google.com/search?q=car+rental+usa others]. The drive to Montreal takes approximately 6 hours, and runs through the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont. 

*'''[http://www.greyhound.com/home/ticketcenter Greyhound Bus]''' - Cheapest direct route to Montreal from Boston, other than splitting gas costs in a car. 7 hours ride from Boston. This is the most common way to get there. South Station Bus Terminal, Red and Silver Lines. There are luggage lockers / storage available here. 

*'''[http://www.amtrak.com/pdf/routeguideadirondack.pdf Amtrak Train]''' - (From Albany or NYC, ''not direct from Boston'') Considered a very scenic route through the [[:wikipedia:Adirondack_Mountains|Adirondack mountains]] of upstate New York, if you have the time for this ride, it is a unique experience that not many people take. 10 hours long ride from NYC. South Station Bus Terminal, Red and Silver Lines. There are luggage lockers / storage available here. 

*'''Air Travel''' - Fastest way to get to Montreal, although a nonstop flight may cost $400-500, and will take about 4 hours total. Because this route is not popular, fares can suddenly rise to absurd levels (over $1200) since it is largely business travelers on expense acounts. On the other hand, look out for online deals that can make the flight affordable for a budget-conscious traveler.

====From Boston to Points North East====
Many people choose to include a visit to some of the smaller coastal cities along with Boston, New York City, and the other large Eastern seaboard cities.  This may include any number of smaller cities and ports in [[Maine]], [[New Brunswick]] and Nova Scotia (including [[Halifax]])

*'''Driving''' -  Interstate 95 serves as the backbone for intercity travel from Miami all the way to the Canadian border in Maine.  If heading on to Nova Scotia, the ferry service through Portland or Bar Harbour in Maine can also be used.  

*'''Travel by bus''' -  The bus system of the big US cities only goes so far into Maine until it is required to switch to the Canadian bus network (Acadien bus lines in the Canadian Maritimes).

*'''Air Travel''' -  A lot of the same pros and cons of air travel to Montreal (as above)