Boston (Swampscott) Travel On A Budget

Boston & Swampscott Travel On A Budget - You have worked hard all year and you are tired both mentally and physically. Your boss is offering you a two week vacation and you have always wanted to visit Boston, Massachusetts but can you really afford the expense? Yes, I think you can and I am here to prove it.

To start with, you will need to make your travel and lodging arrangements but before you go ahead, remember that timing is crucial here. Airlines and hotels adjust their prices according to tourist seasons as relevant to certain destinations. As you might expect, Boston is not the most popular vacation spot during the winter therefore flights are at their lowest as are hotel rooms. Summertime when the weather is more tolerable and schools are closed for vacation, airlines and hotels hike their prices to the sky in anticipation of receiving hordes of reservations. You certainly may not find Boston appealing during the winter and summer is too expensive, so why not choose the spring or fall? The prices are mid-range and the weather can be quite pleasant. Agreed? Well, you have just saved a good few hundred dollars.

Boston is a walking town. As a matter of fact, if you do not walk in Boston you would have missed an awful lot of sightseeing. Therefore, refrain from renting a car. You don’t need it. On the rare occasion when walking is out of the question such as to and from the airport, use the city’s great public transportation — it is well managed, it is convenient and it is relatively very cheap. Agreed? Good! You have just saved yourself an additional one hundred or more dollars.

You will get hungry once in a while when vacationing in Boston, I guarantee it. So, do not begrudge yourself of at least one or two high end and high priced restaurants but for the rest of your meals, get an old-fashioned sandwich and soup at one of several Boston eateries such as Charlie’s Sandwich Shoppe in the South End, Cambridge’s All Star Sandwich Bar, and Darwin’s Ltd. in Harvard Square and frequent the many family restaurants scattered throughout the city. These are deliciously tasty and deliciously inexpensive. For the best brunch you have ever experienced, visit the Eats & Treats Creperie in Allston and order Brazilian crepes filled with vanilla ice cream, cookie crumbles and hot fudge sauce or the Monterey Turkey or the Mediterranean with garlicky pesto and mozzarella. Eat, drink and be merry without going broke.

The rest of the activities in Boston are enriching yet wonderfully affordable:

> Strolling along the rivers surrounding Boston will not cost you a dime but if you like Kayaking, the Boston Sea Kayak Club charges only nominal fees for individuals as well as families.

> Do you like to bowl? You can bowl for free on Mondays at the Milky Way Lounge and Lanes. The rest of the days are not too expensive either.

> When in Rome do as the Romans do and when you are in Boston do as the Bostonians do — enjoy the seasonal sport at the Sports Depot or Game On!

> Reading a book at the Boston Public Library is free as are the countless programs they offer such as the Shakespeare reading and Civil War lecture.

> Climb to the top of Boston University’s Coit Observatory, gaze up at the night sky and you might just discover a new star.

> Enjoy the local talents at the, ImprovBoston, a long running comedy club.

> Pack a picnic lunch, rent a bike and a helmet and get your exercise on the Minuteman Bikeway. This trail stretches for eleven miles between Cambridge and Bedford and features several terrific spots for your picnic.

> Boston has no shortage of public garden where you can witness the miracle of nature at its best.

Oh, Boston, Massachusetts, here we come!

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