Getting there by air

Boston's Logan Airport is only about 3 miles from the Langham Hotel in the city centre. There are many direct from flights from European destinations in the UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Switzerland or connections via New York and other US & Canadian cities.

Airport website: (http://www.massport.com/logan/default.aspx)

Getting to the hotel

The cab fare from the airport is approximately $15 -$20 (including a Logan Airport tunnel toll charge paid by the taxi driver)

Alternatively, using the free Shuttle bus to connect to the blue MBTA metro train line from the airport (See: http://www.mbta.com/ and the subway guide) getting of at 'State' Street station and turning right towards Post Office Square. The hotel is about 500m on the left hand side at the end of the Square - the entrance is just around the corner.

Alternatively get the Silver Line bus to South (train) Station. The bus picks up/drops off at each terminal (Arrivals level). Please note that you need to exact fare - about $2. From South Station the hotel is about 500m. Go out onto Atlantic Ave, turn right; then turn towards the city onto Congress St, second right into Franklin St; the hotel is on the left.

Also: See the map on the hotel's web site: http://boston.langhamhotels.com/map/index.html
Logan Airport information : http://www.massport.com/logan/default.aspx

About Boston's history

Boston, capital city of Massachusetts and seat of Suffolk County, is situated on Boston Bay (an inlet of Massachusetts Bay), at the mouth of the Charles River , in the eastern part of the state. Boston is the largest city in Massachusetts and New England (with a population of about 600,00) and serves as the commercial, financial, and cultural centre of the six-state region. At one time the city occupied a relatively narrow peninsula of land, restricting city expansion, but extensive filling of tidal flats has greatly increased the city's land area. Boston not only dominates much of New England but also exerts influence on the rest of the USA through its banks, financial institutions, insurance companies, and educational institutions.
Early Bostonians blazed a trail of freedom from colony to independence. They met in town meetings to argue contemporary issues, they spoke against excessive taxes, and they were among the leaders in organizing a defence against British dominion. Today the sites of Boston's National Historical Par, connected by the Freedom trail, symbolize the accomplishments of that revolutionary generation.

Years before the revolution, the Massachusetts House of Representatives denied that Parliament had the right to tax the American colonies without representation. A circular letter issued from the Old State House sought a meeting of delegates from all thirteen colonies to discuss the Stamp Act. The British, however, continued to impose duties. In Faneuil Hall, James Otis and Samuel Adams raised their voices to oppose England's oppressive tariffs. Then on the evening of December 16, 1773, more people gathered at Faneuil Hall than could be accommodated. They moved to Old South Meeting House, the town's largest building. From there a band of men disguised as Indians went to the waterfront, boarded three British ships, and unloaded their cargoes of tea into the harbour. In retaliation, England closed the port of Boston. In May 1774 British troops occupied the city, and patriots prepared to defend their homeland. In the steeple of Old North Church, near Paul Revere's House, two lanterns were hung on April 18, 1775, warning the patriots that British troops were crossing to Charlestown by sea. Paul Revere and William Dawes rode to Lexington to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams of the pending attack. When British troops tried to confiscate patriot arms stored in Concord, the "Minutemen" fought. Shots rang out from Lexington Green and Concord's North Bridge. The war for independence had begun. The British retreated to Boston, and an American army soon took up positions on the hills surrounding the city. Two months later, the British planned to occupy Charlestown Heights. To prevent this, Breeds Hill (The Bunker Hill Monument) was fortified. Alarmed by the armaments, the British attacked on June 17, 1775. By mid-afternoon a battle raged. It ended in an American retreat, but with substantial British losses. General George Washington arrived to take command and by March 1776 he had fortified Dorchester Heights. Under threat of bombardment, the British evacuated Boston and for the next few years the war moved south.

Although the Revolutionary War was fought primarily on land, a small Continental Navy was built, only to be disbanded at the end of the war. The foundations of the permanent navy were established by Congress in 1794 with the authorization of six new frigates. USS Constitution , built at Hartt's Shipyard in Boston, was launched in 1797. Her strength in battle gave her the nickname "Old Ironsides." Now the oldest ship in the United States Navy, she is restored and berthed at Charlestown Navy Yard , one of the first naval shipyards in the nation.

Getting around today

The MBTA or abbreviate to the "T" is a subway metro system - underground in the central part of Boston.

The token system, as in New York's subway, is being phased out and replaced with electronic 'touch screen' machines selling card tickets and semi-plastic 'Charlie' tickets - holding credits. Semi- plastic tickets are mainly for longer term use - therefore mostly used by residents.

The cost of a ticket/ride (including transfer connection) is $1.25.

Using the touch screen machine in the station, you can buy either a single one way ticket for $1.25; one ticket holding 4 journeys for $5.00 or enter another amount in multiples of £1.25 for the amount of tickets that you want. Therefore if you want 8 tickets enter $10.00 into the price option.

You can insert coins; notes or pay by card. There are often attendants to help.

Please note that if you insert a large dollar bill - your change will be in coins!! Therefore insert the nearest feasible amount.

The nearest subway to the Langham is 'State Street' on the Orange line - used for journeys to Back Bay - go out of hotel turn right and right again alongside of the hotel in front of Post Office Square and straight on for about 3 blocks. The station is on the left beneath the State House building.

There are two other MBTA subway stations - all within a five minute walk from the hotel:

• Downtown Crossing - Red and Orange Lines
• Government Center - Blue and Green Lines

N.B. This information was prepared in June 2006; by September 2007 the price of a ticket may change.

See web site of subway map at: http://www.mbta.com/
See a general regional and city centre orientation map at: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?city=Boston&state=
MA&address

Useful web sites

http://www.bostonusa.com/ - City tourist web site

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/boston/0004010001.html - Frommers guide to Boston - shopping, nightlife and restaurants/bars

http://www.mbta.com/ - Subway guide

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?city=Boston&state=
MA&address - general regional and city centre orientation map

http://boston.langhamhotels.com/index.html - Hotel location map

http://www.mapjunction.com/places/Boston_BRA/main.pl?ht=768 -
Boston aerial map/location finder

http://www.bostonharborcruises.com/ - Boston harbour cruises and fast ferries to Provincetown/Cape Cod

http://www.bostonbyfoot.com/ - Boston by foot - walking tours

http://www.yankeefishing.com/OceanCharters.cfm - whale watching

http://www.neaq.org/visit/wwatch/index.html - whale watching
(from city centre harbour - short walk from the hotel)

http://www.massvacation.com/ - Massachusetts vacations

http://www.theculturalcoast.org/ - Massachusetts coast tourist
information

http://www.visitmaine.com/ - Maine Tourist information

http://www.capecodchamber.org - Cape Cod tourist information

http://www.bnbboston.com/ - Accommodation, Massachusetts & Cape Cod

http://www.capecodtravelguide.com/ - Cape Cod travel guide and hotels

http://www.capecoddiningguide.com/ - Cape Code restaurant guide

General Tourist Information

• Visas: The Visa Waiver Program permits tourist or business entry without a Visa for 90 days, with a machine readable passport, for persons from the following countries: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Residents of Bermuda, Canada and Mexico are exempt from Visas. Nationals of other states need to check their Visa requirements and contact Tony Firth who can obtain assistance from USA member firms for invitations/identification of purpose of visit etc.
• Currency: US dollars
• Taxes and service: Restaurants usually add a 15% service charge plus a mandatory Massachusetts sales tax (VAT) of 5%.
• Bank opening times vary, but generally assume 9.30am to 4.30pm and also open on Saturday morning. The nearest ATM is in Post Office Square, close to the hotel.
• Mobile phones: assume the requirement for a tri-band style phone - most phones are compatible these days.
• Weather: average temperatures in late September are 18-20 degrees centigrade and partly sunny (average of 5-6 hrs per day); but bring a small umbrella.
• Time zone : - 5 hours GMT.
• The standard electrical voltage is 110V (60Hz). The US plug type is two vertical pins.
• Telephone: The Boston code is ++ 1 781 followed by the local number.
• It is generally OK to drink tap water.
  

Further afield/Tourist tours

See 'useful web sites' above for: Massachusetts coast and vacations; Maine Tourist information; Bed and breakfast accommodation (Massachusetts & Cape Cod); and Cape Cod travel guide and hotels.

(World Link for Law makes no recommendation, assurance or warranties about any of these websites, companies or tours therein. Individuals are responsible for the management of their own bookings.)