TRAVEL TIPS

Air Travel

About 75 airlines operate at Logan International Airport (BOS), offering nonstop flights to 120 cities. Flying (actual air) times to Boston from New York average 1 hour; it’s 1½ hours from Washington, D.C., 2¼ hours from Chicago, 3 hours from Miami, 3½ hours from Dallas, 5½ hours from Los Angeles, 6½ hours from London, 13 hours from Tokyo, and 20 hours from Sydney. Delta, US Airways, and JetBlue run daily shuttle flights from New York and Washington, D.C.

The Boston Convention and Visitor Bureau's website (www.bostonusa.com, 1-888-733-2678 [SEE-BOSTON]) has direct links to worldwide airlines and national bus lines that service the city. You can book flights here, too.

Airlines and Airports

Airline and Airport Links.com. Airline and Airport Links.com has links to many of the world's airlines and airports. www.airlineandairportlinks.com.

Airline Security Issues

Transportation Security Administration. The TSA has answers to almost every question that might come up. www.tsa.gov.

Airports

Boston's major airport, Logan International (BOS), is across the harbor, barely 2 miles from Downtown, and can be easily reached by taxi, water taxi, or bus/subway via MBTA's Silver or Blue lines. Logan’s four passenger terminals are identified by the letters A, B, C, and E. Free airport shuttle buses run between the terminals and airport hotels. Some airlines use different terminals for international and domestic flights; most international flights arrive at Terminal E. A visitor center is in Terminal C. Worcester Regional Airport (ORH), T.F. Green Airport (PVD) in Providence, Rhode Island, and Manchester Boston Regional Airport (MHT) in New Hampshire are about an hour's drive from Boston.

Airport Information

Logan International Airport (Boston). I–90 east to Ted Williams Tunnel, Boston, Massachusetts, 02128. 800/235–6426; www.massport.com/logan.

Manchester Boston Regional Airport. Off I–293/Rte. 101, Exit 2, Manchester, New Hampshire, 03103. 603/624–6556; www.flymanchester.com.

T.F. Green Airport. 2000 Post Rd., Off I–95, Exit 13, Warwick, Rhode Island, 02886. 888/268–7222; 401/737--4000; www.pvdairport.com.

Flights

Airline Contacts

Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air. 800/252–7522; www.alaskaair.com.

American Airlines. 800/433–7300; www.aa.com.

Delta Airlines. 800/221–1212; www.delta.com.

JetBlue. 800/538–2583; www.jetblue.com.

Southwest Airlines. 800/435–9792; www.southwest.com.

Spirit Airlines. 801/701--2200; www.spirit.com.

United Airlines. 800/864–8331; www.united.com.

US Airways. 800/428–4322; www.usairways.com.

Ground Transportation

Buses or Shuttle Vans

Several companies offer shared-van service to many Boston-area destinations. Most provide door-to-door service to several major Back Bay and Downtown hotels. Reservations are not required, because vans swing by all the terminals every 15 minutes. One-way fares are $17 (less for each additional person). Easy Transportation runs sizeable vans from the airport to the Back Bay Hilton, Radisson, and Lenox hotels from 7 am to 10 pm. Star Shuttle operates shared vans from the airport to the Marriott Copley Place and Sheraton Copley, every hour on the half hour, from 7:30 am to 2 am. The best deal is Logan Express, with buses from the airport to the suburbs of Braintree, Framingham, Peabody, Woburn, and Back Bay. One-way fares are $12, and accompanied children under 17 ride free.

Contacts

Easy Transportation. 617/869–7760; www.easytransportationinc.com.

Logan Express. 800/235–6426; www.massport.com/logan-airport/To%20and%20From%20Logan/LoganExpress.aspx.

Star Shuttle. 617/230–6005; www.starshuttleboston.com.

Rental Cars and Taxis

For recorded information about traveling to and from Logan Airport, as well as details about parking, contact the airport's ground-transportation hotline. Traffic in the city can be maddening; it's a good idea to take public transportation to and from the airport.

When driving from Logan to Downtown Boston, the most direct route is by way of the Sumner Tunnel ($3.50 toll inbound; no toll outbound). On weekends, holidays, and after 10 pm weekdays, you can get around Sumner Tunnel backups by using the Ted Williams Tunnel ($3.50 toll inbound; no toll outbound), which will steer you onto the Southeast Expressway south of Downtown Boston. Follow the signs to I–93 northbound to head back into the Downtown area.

Taxis can be hired outside each terminal. Fares to and from Downtown should be about $20, including tip. Taxis must pay an extra toll of $5.25 and a $2.75 airport fee when leaving the airport, which will be tacked onto your bill at the end of the trip. (On the way back to the airport, you'll pay the $2.75 fee again, but not the $5.25 toll.) Major traffic jams, or circuitous routes to avoid them, add to the fare. Avoid hailing rogue taxis: legitimate Boston taxis are white; also check for a medallion plate and a posted photo ID of the driver.

Contacts

Logan Airport Customer Information Hotline. 800/235–6426.

Metro Cab. 617/782–5500; boston-cab.com.

Top Cab. 617/266--4800; topcab.us.

Town Taxi. 617/536–5000.

Subway

The T's Blue (metro or underground train) and Silver (bus) lines run from the airport to Downtown Boston in about 20 minutes. The Blue Line is best if you're heading to North Station, Faneuil Hall, North End/Waterfront, or Back Bay (the Hynes Convention Center, Prudential Center area). Take the Silver Line to South Station, Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Seaport World Trade Center, Chinatown, Theater District, and South End areas. From North and South stations you can reach the Red, Green, or Orange lines, or commuter rail. The T costs $2.65 for in-town travel if you're paying in cash or $2.10 if you purchase a CharlieCard (a prepaid stored-value card). Free 24-hour shuttle buses connect Airport Blue Line Station with all airline terminals. Shuttle Bus 22 runs between the subway and Terminals A and B, and Shuttle Bus 33 runs between the subway and Terminals C and E.

Contact

MBTA. 800/392–6100; 617/222–3200; 617/222–5146; www.mbta.com.

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