Nitemare

10PM on a weekend is PEAK time for Ubers.  Fares will be high, and drivers who don't want to deal with drunks won't be working

6 hours ago, princeton123211 said:

It's easy enough to do its just pretty boring-- the Seaport area you'll walk through is all newer highrises, condos, hotels etc so it isn't the most scenic area of Boston. I would take a taxi or Uber to save time to walk around much more historically significant and atmospheric areas like Beacon Hill, Comm Ave, Boston Common, etc. 

If you do walk it, and we've done that walk many times, aim for the water and take the HarborWalk.  It's not always well marked but it's much prettier to go via the ICA (Institute of Contemporary Art) and past the piers and behind the Courthouse and walk along the harbor than taking one of the main streets, which would be slightly quicker

taxi makes sense with 3 or more people. Otherwise "Flybus" is what most folks take.  Yes, you do need to reserve going from city to airport, and yes, you will have to make a change at the central bus station.

Rome2Rio is ok to get a general idea of options but ALWAYS double check to see if they still work.  I have yet to review a R2R suggestion without seeing something that hasn't been in place since Covid or whatever.  I find Google Maps is more uptoday on bus lines and air options and ferry choices than R2R is, but their lists also need to be double checked for accuracy

Taxi should be on a meter from the airport or to the airport or anywhere else in Boston.  When you ask for a quote you are putting yourself at risk for the driver making something up.

12 hours ago, princeton123211 said:

$49 is insane for that short of a trip. An UberX with tip will be $15-20. 
 

I can’t even believe a taxi meter would yield that. You were seriously ripped off.

Unless there was dreadful traffic, and that can happen, I agree.  Way out of line

The site is "famous" because Justin Bieber filmed a video there.  It has been thoroughly scavanged, so honestly, unless you are a Bieber fan or a military jet fan (so technically, not a DC3), I don't think it's worth the lengthy hike out and back instead of doing a glacier walk or snowmobiling or ice cave visit.  And if it's raining . . .

Have you looked into the Into the Volcano excursion?  Of all the things we've done with 31 nights in Iceland, it is by far the most memorable and unique

1 hour ago, mjkacmom said:

Has anyone reported not being able to get a spot since they started offering reservations for an extra fee?

No one has reported that on this forum that I have seen

14 hours ago, LEtue said:

I have used them for multiple excursions in the Med and had wonderful experiences.  Cancellations were possible up until 24 hours before the tour start time.

 

Not sure I would use them in Iceland though because of the potential weather issues at the last minute - but that may be the same for many tour operators? .

Cancellations due to weather are always possible in Iceland.  My concern with third parties is if there are delays or changes, how much harder might it be to communicate from the provider to the traveler (or the other way around) if time is of the essence?  We like knowing we can email the provider directly at the last minute to let them know we hit a closed road and are going to be 15 minutes late and expect there is a better chance they will get that message than if we have to go thru a third party.

19 hours ago, LinP said:

I have family picking me up at the cruise port in mid-September.  Looking for a safe area 3 - 4 stars outside Boston.  They will be driving up from Virginia and need a place to sleep but nothing fancy.  Any recommendations?

September is wicked expensive in the Boston area.  Coming from the south, I expect they will arrive via the Mass Turnpike, it is almost always faster than I-95.  Since they aren't picking you up first thing in the morning, I'd look for lodging between Hartford, CT and Sturbridge Mass to get the best combo of rates and convenience

2 hours ago, Gramontherun6 said:

Arriving on a sunday around 3 and cruising on monday     hotel in seaport area.  will it work to drop off luggage at hotel and then spend the evening trying to see some of the sights in boston?  Arriving back in port on a Friday early am and not leaving for home until  1:30 from South station.(Amtrak)  Concerns regarding luggage drop if we were to try to see a little more before we leave.  from what i have read there is a drop at a convenience store at south station but that seems iffy to me.  also a drop on the fifth floor south station at Grayhound.  (sounds a bit more secure?)  anybody have experience with doing something similar? Thanks! We havent been to boston in years and would like to take advantage of the two little blocks of time we will have before and after the cruise!

 

Sure, it will work out.  A hotel nearer the tourist areas might be more convenient for this purpose and won't take much longer getting to the dock on monday.

I'd ask your hotel if you can leave bags with them for a few hours upon your return.  I doubt they'd say no.  Most places will hold bags for a small tip ($5/bag or so).

Just now, phabric said:

A budget of $200-300

2 beds

Never been to Boston before, we like taking HoHo bus to see places.

Airport,?

Near port?

It's too early to see prices for next year, but we can come up with some ideas.

Take a look at a map to see what you want to be near.  I don't think you want to be near the airport since you have 24 hours or so to see the city, and the HOHO doesn't go to the airport.  The cruise port is on another edge of the city, the Seaport District.  There are a few hotels near the port, but again, that's not near the touristy areas of the city.

If you could take 10 minutes to figure out what YOU want to see in Boston, and come up with a few neighborhoods, we can help suggest nearby properties that might work.  $300 shouldn't be hard, $200 probably won't work that time of year.

24 minutes ago, phabric said:

2 senior ladies with canes, thinking of flying into Boston Friday August 29, 2025 around 10am for 1 night.  
 

Any suggestions for a hotel near the trolley or HOHO?

Budget?

Any thoughts of what you'd like to be near and see?

One bed or two?

It is recommended to arrive at KEF Airport 3 hours prior to international flights.  I have had it take close to 2 hours to get checked in and start walking to the gates (which are a long walk) so I would not suggest getting picked up in the city just 3 hours prior to flight time

Always wear waterPROOF outer layers in Iceland, and expect wind and rain.  Leave the umbrella behind, they don't work there

Last time we were in Isafjordur, there was a tour office near the dock that the tenders use that I would have thought you could have taken shelter in.  And there are nice shops in town, which is about a 10 minute walk away.

I used to work down the block from there and it seemed to be fun for the kids, maybe up to 12 or so?  But perhaps less so for adults.   There are some good exhibits about the history around the Tea Party Patriots, but the reenactment of throwing the boxes into the water is the Big Deal which gets the kids smiling

56 minutes ago, kibutzer said:

How did you get from airport to hotel? Thanks in advance for information.

Flybus is the most economical for 1-2 people.  Taxi might make sense for 3, definitely for 4

21 hours ago, donaldsc said:

 Info on cost would have been available by typing "taxi fare from blue lagoon to kef" into Google.

 

DON

With the recent volcanic activity and the current detours to get to the Blue Lagoon, most info on Google will not be accurate.

21 hours ago, donaldsc said:

Rome2Rio.

 

DON

Rome2Rio is a decent site to being doing research on, I've used it for that many times.

But their data is often quite out of date, so you must followup and research the actual options being recommended to make sure they are still active.

Or ask for specific local advice on a forum like this or the ones at TripAdvisor for specific and current information.

19 minutes ago, quicklabs said:

That is exactly when we are scheduled to visit.  *Sigh*

None of the volcanos in the past few years have affected any tourist visits beyond the Blue Lagoon and the lovely town of Grindavik.  You will still have an amazing vacation.

13 hours ago, zqvol said:

I would never consider a local bus after a cruise, you’ve just spent thousands on a cruise why would you fool with luggage on a bus just to save a few dollars.  Makes no sense.

It's a short ride, direct, and simple, and they run constantly.

I've done the walk dozens of times.  Without luggage it's a very reasonable distance.  With luggage, the Silver Line to South Station just makes sense

Their bus doesn't have any magic powers, it will be in the same traffic a car will be in.

There are harbor ferries that avoid the tunnel and the MBTA Blue Line avoids the car tunnel, while the MBTA Silver Line shares one of the tunnels with cars

Well, I lived in and around Boston for fifty years. It’s a major city. No major city can be thoroughly toured in a day, so that is an odd thing to mention.  I have never heard it called an Urban Jungle before, not sure what that means. It is easily walkable, from the pier to the Freedom Trail to Boston Garden, even to Fenway Park if that’s your goal. And the MBTA is cheap, clean, and runs to all these places.  Not in a day, but in four or five days. Plus amazing museums, if you have more time. And we haven’t mentioned the harbor and islands,

I love Lexington and Concord, but the density of attractions there is nothing like what you get on the Freedom Trail. You DO need a vehicle  to see them.  And Salem is great, once you get past the kitschy With tourist traps.

I don’t see any such traps mentioned in your post for Boston, and if Faneuil Hall is closed, well, that’s not 10% of the historic attractions in the city. 90% of visitors don’t even go there, they enjoy the shopping and food and entertainment at the adjacent Quincy Market, which has not been closed.  And yes, I worked there and I know the numbers.  I think you are confusing tourist “traps” with tourist “attractions”.  Fisherman’s Wharf and Plymouth Rock are tourist traps.  Not the Freedom Trail.

50 minutes ago, princeton123211 said:

I don't think price was the issue here-- it was the assertion that downtown Boston is "not particularly nice" by the previous poster. 

Totally agree.  I have no idea where that comment came from.

They are dreadful to use as transportation.  The subway is fast, easy, cheap, and safe.  If you are walkers, the stroll from the 9-11 Museum to the Intrepid is along the river and is beautiful with all sorts of parks and attractions en route.  We've walked that path dozens of times