UK Pats fan seeking advice on visiting Gillette/Boston please

[bob85ne]

Hello Patriots fans

I'm from the UK and I'm planning to go and watch the Patriots at Gillette Stadium this coming season.

This is the first time I will be going to Gillette and I am planning on staying in Boston, again the first time I will be going to Boston. I'm hoping that some of you can spare the time to give me some tips/advice please?

I'm looking for advice/tips on the best places to stay in Boston for a reasonable rate and the best ways to get out to Foxborough and Gillette Stadium from Boston?

Any advice, tips, help are greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time.

Bob

 

[Raymond]

3: Hotels in Boston are vastly overpriced.

You could probably stay with my ex wife.................

The man is flying to another country for a little R&R visit and to see his favorite football team. Do you really think he's not planning on a hotel room?

 

[Holy Diver]

With the new Flat screens in Gilette Stadium, you could probably stay in Boston and watch the games from your hotel room on the gigantic TVs from 30 miles away.

Wanna see Gillette's new scoreboard? - Extra Points - Boston.com

anyway....here is the T schedule to the game. I'd suggest getting there as early as possible, to soak in the tailgating and get to your seat early!

Enjoy!

MBTA > Riding the T > Patriots

 

[nabwong]

If you want "cheaper" accommodation, check out hotel near Lechmere T Station. There are the Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express. Lechmere is also near Cambridgeside Galleria Mall, Boston Duck Tour and 1 or 2 stops from downtown boston (Quincy Market, South Station etc... ). Buses to Harvard Sq. Short walk to Star Market (Groceries).

I'd recommend also checking out B&Bs near Harvard Square (Between Central Square and Harvard Square) in Cambridge. For me, that is the nicest part of "Boston".

I can also give you food recommendations. Boston/Cambridge is my favorite city. I'm so sad to have moved.

 

[eagle eye]

Hello Patriots fans

I'm from the UK and I'm planning to go and watch the Patriots at Gillette Stadium this coming season.

This is the first time I will be going to Gillette and I am planning on staying in Boston, again the first time I will be going to Boston. I'm hoping that some of you can spare the time to give me some tips/advice please?

I'm looking for advice/tips on the best places to stay in Boston for a reasonable rate and the best ways to get out to Foxborough and Gillette Stadium from Boston?

Any advice, tips, help are greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time.

Bob

Regarding accommodation the budget is hugely important. You need to give us some idea of how much you plan to spend on accom. and how many nights that has to stretch over. Some of the guys will give you great advice then.

 

[cloud34]

I would stay in one of the 'burbs.

 

[PatsGuy]

A prior poster is correct; there is no "reasonable rate" in Boston. Nevertheless, the pound is trading at what? $1.5, so you will get a "bang for your buck".
With such rate, the Marriot at Long Wharf or in Copley allows to to be right in Boston. The Marriot Long Wharf and the Bostonian also are within walking distance to South Station where you can take the Patriot train to Gillette.

 

[BlueThunder]

Have ya noticed how the Brits stole alot of our town names.

Cambridge....Dedham....Gloucester...Worcester....Exeter..Peterborough...Manchester...Chester

just to name a few.....

 

[Gwedd]

Seriously, if he has the time, he really SHOULD visit the Boston navy yard and tour USS Constitution.

But yeah, staying somewhere close by South Station will let him not only get to the game easily and back, but give him easy access to any number of sight-seeing areas.

Also, there is a shuttle bus from Boston's Logan Airport to South Station that comes by every 15 minutes or so, and costs $5 each way. Save him some cab fare too.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Recommendations are strongly driven by budget and personal preferences. Staying at the Marriot Long Wharf is a good location if downtown tourism is the agenda. Otherwise it's gotta be cheaper out on Rt 128 about 8 miles from the stadium. Consult Trip Advisor or somesuch for detailed choices and location maps.

Downtown you have the Freedom Trail and the Trolley Tours. Boston is a fun, walkable city with an easily mastered subway system. I wouldn't spend $ on cabs except from the airport assuming your hotel doesn't have a courtesy shuttle. Boston's North End is near the Long Warf and full of good Italian restaurants.

The train from South Station runs to the game. The downside is it arrives too late and departs soon after game ending for tailgating but that's not likely a factor for a tourist. Much cheaper than renting a car and parking at $40-$50. Google/Bing the schedule.

Enjoy your visit.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Have ya noticed how the Brits stole alot of our town names.

Cambridge....Dedham....Gloucester...Worcester....Exeter..Peterborough...Manchester...Chester

just to name a few.....

You're forgetting Dorchester.

 

[Big-T]

You're forgetting Dorchester.

And Boston (New) York & (New) Jersey too! (yeah I know they're cities but it counts!)

 

[tailgater]

If you really want to enjoy the gameday experience, either hook up with a professional tailgate charter out of Boston, or rent a car for the weekend, drive to Foxboro early on the day of the game and tailgate.

Depending on what day you plan to arrive during the week, and what time of the year, I'd book your car & hotel thru hotwire or priceline. Only bid on 3 star or better, in an area of Boston you'd like to see. If you arrive on a Friday, room rates drop significantly vs. weekday rates.

 

[Mike the Brit]

1. Staying Boston isn't huge and getting around downtown is reasonable with the T (= tram/underground) so, if money's an issue, I wouldn't spring the extra for a city centre hotel. I thought the Lechmere suggestion was good -- it's a couple of stops out of the centre on the Green Line. Easy access to Cambridge. (Cambridge is, in effect, a part of the Boston urban area -- sort of like calling Camden a different city from Westminster.) The places I know to stay in Cambridge are so-so and pricey. I'd trust the internet.

2. Travelling Top tip. Use the "Silver Line" to get in to town. You need to buy a ticket for the T (see above). There's a bus stop outside the International Arrivals building (Terminal E) way off to the right, as I recall. That takes you to South Station on a dedicated busway. Then you can get onto the subway and continue your journey. All on one ticket! As quick as a cab and much, much cheaper.

As for getting to the game, if you don't have a car, the train from South Station is the option. In its favour, the train is convenient and the atmosphere is fun. But it's not perfect. Takes an absolute age to get about ten miles and sometimes doesn't even manage to get there for kick-off! If I were you, I'd explore other options, so you can check out Patriot Place and the tailgating scene, but, if you end up on the train, so be it.

3. A Warning You can't take backpacks into the stadium and you can't leave them on the train. So make sure that you have everything you need in your clothing (and make sure you have lots of clothing -- the stadium is open and, if it rains, you can't have too many oilskins/plastic ponchos, etc. -- funnily enough, snow isn't so bad).

4. Places to go, things to do For me, the Museum of Science is 10/10. There are lots of great bars/restaurants. I know ones in Cambridge/Somerville (just behind Lechmere) but downtown there are a lot in the South End, which is pretty much the hip place to live these days (or so my friends who think they're hip tell me!) And there is great music of all kinds.

You'll have a marvellous time. People are courteous and friendly and the stadium atmosphere is wonderful -- very different from a European football stadium but a great experience nevertheless.

P.S. Remember to have your passport with you. You'll get "carded" (asked for ID) in bars very regularly -- indeed, I got carded at Gillette trying to buy a seven-dollar Bud -- and sometimes they won't accept a U.K driving licence. (I know, isn't it?)

 

[BlueThunder]

Boston is a small city compared to New York and others here, You can walk to alot of the places you want to see.....and if it's too far, the T can get you there for minimal cost.

Since I live only a 50 minute drive from Gillette, I never thought of accomodations, but there's a hotel right next to the stadium in Patriot Place.
I wonder if you could get a reservation there now for the day of the game you're attending. ( maybe even the nite before the game) Would save alot of headaches/time traveling
and there are restaurants, shops and movie theatre there. Just a thought.
No rush after the game to make the train out back to Boston either.

I guess it depends on how much time you plan on sightseeing Boston and the area and how much time you've allocated for your trip across the pond.

 

[resdubwhite]

Looks like I'm going to be in NY weekend of the 12. May head up to Foxborugh.

Anyone got any ideas on how t otravel up. Don't want to hire a car. (automatic isn't real driving)
So any travel hints. Will probably pick a ticket up from stubhub. Any hints you can pm me.

Thanks guys.

 

[gregz0r]

Priceline.com is 100% the way to go as far as staying in the middle of Boston. Bid $100-125 and 3 1/2 stars on the Quincy Market / Financial District area and almost every time they will accept the bid at the Boston Marriot Copley Place. It's a nice big hotel in the middle of everything and the typical rate is $300 a night otherwise.

I'm going for the first time myself to Gillette for the season opener, really excited

 

[Garbanza]

Hello Patriots fans

I'm from the UK and I'm planning to go and watch the Patriots at Gillette Stadium this coming season.

This is the first time I will be going to Gillette and I am planning on staying in Boston, again the first time I will be going to Boston. I'm hoping that some of you can spare the time to give me some tips/advice please?

I'm looking for advice/tips on the best places to stay in Boston for a reasonable rate and the best ways to get out to Foxborough and Gillette Stadium from Boston?

Any advice, tips, help are greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time.

Bob

Hi,

Definitely stay in Boston. There is so much to see and do. Your consierge will be more than happy to tell you where and why. Do not come past November 15th. The weather turns. Hotels can be reasonable - you just have to look. Priceline.com, Travelzoo.com, Shermanstravel.com, Travelocity.com. I would rent a car for the game (unnecessary otherwise and we drive on the wrong side of the street )- and enjoy the tailgating experience. Get yourself a cooler, some ice, some sandwiches, some beer....be goober like the rest of us.

 

[Garbanza]

Looks like I'm going to be in NY weekend of the 12. May head up to Foxborugh.

Anyone got any ideas on how t otravel up. Don't want to hire a car. (automatic isn't real driving)
So any travel hints. Will probably pick a ticket up from stubhub. Any hints you can pm me.

Thanks guys.

The acela train from Penn station in NY will drop you off in Providence. From there, I would rent a car. There may be another train that takes you from Providence, RI to the stadium (20 minutes max) - not sure though.

 

[resdubwhite]

Coming from closer to Whiteplains than NYC itself. Looks like about 3 hours by car.