joeberg

Hi. I am sophomore class president at a ct. catholic high school. School Budget is limited but we can do alot more, because we make our own rules. But I would like to know the do's and don't's of big travel in Boston. Please dont be shy.

charles

Hmm. I'd like to be helpful, but don't know where to start. I think we need more info. Will you stay the night, what's your budget, and what sorts of things do you like? ie. history, museums, food, etc.?

betsy

Walk the Freedom Trail--it's free and you'll see many of the historical sites you have learned about in your US History classes. The Aquarium would be fun as would be the Museum of Science. Hope this helps!

Pris

Hi, Joe and whoever.

I _really_ hope this is not a troll, because there are people who may really be kind enough to want to help you. Students have gotten a bad reputation here for that sort of thing, but if other people here think it's a genuine request for help, they will shower you with all kinds of information. I'd like to think we'll get questions from the "real" great kids that I know are out there. By "make our own rules," I hope you mean you can earn additional money on your own to add to the budget.

Assuming this is sincere request: Unless you are talking about a one-day trip from Conn., your main problem is going to be finding a place for all of you to stay. First of all, Boston hotels and motels are very expensive, and second, student groups don't alway have the best reputation and so they aren't always welcome in large numbers. You might have to get creative -- think about the numbers: even if you are allowed to go 4 to a room, you'll need 50 rooms! That's more than some motels have. One thought -- just a thought -- is that you might be able to arrange staying in a school dormitory during a boarding school or college holiday, and there are a number of Catholic schools around Boston, so that might be a place to start.

Otherwise, you are probably going to have to stay well outside of the city and commute by train or subway, so I'd do some homework (sorry about that) and get a good map or both the surrounding towns and the transit system (try www.mbta.com). Then you might have to start making phone calls to motel chains and ask for their group reservations desk.

Otherwise, depending on how you are going to get to Boston, you might find a bus tour company with a lot of experience arranging these kinds of tours.

I'm guessing you will have to break up the group into "teams" of 30 or 40 each to make touring manageable -- not to mention getting food -- I can't imagine how you are all going to get your meals! Certainly not together.

Now: what you are most interested in -- what to do -- The Duck Tours, for sure (unless you are going in winter). But make sure you contact them to arrange for your large group(s) ahead of time. Then the Museum of Science and the Computer -- ditto. One thing that won't take a lot of pre-arranging is walking the Freedom Trail -- that's on all the visitor's maps and you do it yourself.

Obviously, I haven't been "shy," but if you were actually asking about how to behave in Boston as a large group, then I'd say a)you can figure that out pretty well already, I'd bet and b)it really was a troll question. Hope not -- enjoy that great city!!!

Pris

Woops, sorry, that was "the Computer Museum." While I'm at it, if you are going in warm weather, there are lots of harbor boat tours that are really fun. And don't miss Harvard Sq.

Penny

Try to fit in a trip to the Adams Historic Site in Quincy. You can take the subway there from Boston--it's about a half-hour ride, I think--or perhaps if you're coming from CT by bus, you could stop there on the way to or from Boston proper.

Sara

Go see the U.S.S. Constitution at the Charlestown Navy Yard. It's fascinating, and will make history come alive for you. They also have a great museum there.