• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 31 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 31st anniversary: Happy 31st Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $23,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $23 Million dollars
  • Wish you could meet up with other TUG members? Well look no further as this annual event has been going on for years in Orlando! How to Attend the TUG January Get-Together!
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    Tens of thousands of subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

Another Maine question - drive from BOS toward the coast to Bar Harbor advice needed

zentraveler

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
1,629
Reaction score
995
Location
San Francisco and Hidden Valley Lake, CA
Resorts Owned
Four Seasons Residence Club
We are going to Southwest Harbor, staying at Harbor Ridge for a week at the end of April spend some time in Acadia. I lived in Connecticut for several years a long time ago but loved the time I had in Maine. But am adjusting this trip to account for 40 years that have elapsed and the fact that I am now on the west coast.

We are planning to fly to BOS and drive to SW Harbor the next day. We will land around 4 pm and have booked a generic Marriott in Peabody for that first night but I have realized that landing at 4 pm gives us an hour or so for a reasonable night there so we could venture farther (considered just driving to Portland but two ambitious for us after a long day getting to BOS). Considering around Portsmouth, NH as a more scenic interesting place to land for the night. Any other ideas?
 

WaikikiFirst

Guest
Joined
Apr 20, 2023
Messages
1,433
Reaction score
701
there was a thread on this about 6 mos ago. I voted the 2 you list: Rt 1 Peabody or then Portsmouth. Most people voted to spend the night in Logan, which ... never mind.
Kittery is just past Portsmouth and the hotels may be closer to the highway? I don't remember. Been a long time but I remember the "scenic" part of Portsmouth being at least a couple of miles from the rotary on I95. There was a thread you can search for
 

zentraveler

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
1,629
Reaction score
995
Location
San Francisco and Hidden Valley Lake, CA
Resorts Owned
Four Seasons Residence Club
there was a thread on this about 6 mos ago. I voted the 2 you list: Rt 1 Peabody or then Portsmouth. Most people voted to spend the night in Logan, which ... never mind.
Kittery is just past Portsmouth and the hotels may be closer to the highway? I don't remember. Been a long time but I remember the "scenic" part of Portsmouth being at least a couple of miles from the rotary on I95. There was a thread you can search for
Thanks @WaikikiFirst - more fabulous info. Some great Maine threads here. Portsmouth it is. And I have not been to New Hampshire in years šŸ˜Š.
 

andre10056

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2007
Messages
304
Reaction score
240
Location
Boston
I guess it all depends on how you feel after your arrival, but I, myself, would not plan on a long drive after already flying cross country and then waiting in line for a rent-a-car. I would prefer to drive nearby to a nice hotel to spend the night, enjoy an ocean view, perhaps a subway trip into Boston, maybe even take in a Red Sox game.

Revere Beach is minutes away from Logan Airport, the Marriott there is direct oceanfront, and is right on the Blue Line at Wonderland Station. Minutes to downtown Boston, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, the North End, Cambridge (Harvard Square), Fenway Park, etc.

In fact, assuming there would be some value in getting a rent-a-car the NEXT day rather than your day of arrival, the subway train that comes into Airport Station on the Blue Line goes direct to your hotel at Wonderland Station in a matter of single digit minutes. Return to Logan the next morning (again, in a matter of minutes; have the hotel hold onto your bags) to get your rent-a-car.

 
Last edited:

missyrcrews

TUG Review Crew: Elite
TUG Member
Joined
Aug 5, 2014
Messages
1,217
Reaction score
1,679
Location
West Bath, me
Resorts Owned
Cold Spring Resort, Acadia Village Resort, Samoset Resort, Attitash Mountain Village Resort
Just remember that it will be quite cool still. I dearly love the end of April/first of May here in Maine...but it can still be cold. You are traveling at a time of year when tourists will be at a minimum. Well-played! Some places won't be open yet...but the fun is in finding the year-round spots that the locals go to. :) And Acadia is beautiful any time of year! Have a great time planning!
 

amycurl

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2011
Messages
3,232
Reaction score
3,357
Location
Greensboro, NC
I have vivid memories of the pic of the tennis team shoveling two feet of snow off the MDI high school courts so their season could beginā€¦on April 1st.

So, yesā€¦it can still be ā€œquite cool.ā€ :)

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

arch53

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
87
Reaction score
18
Location
Falmouth, ME
Resorts Owned
WorldMark
My vote would be the Hampton Inn and Suites in downtown Portsmouth, NH. (see link below). Much nicer than a typical Hampton Inn and downtown Portsmouth is a great spot to visit. The hotel is about only 10 minutes from the last NH exit on I-95 before the Portsmouth- Kittery bridge into Maine. It will probably take you 1 hr and 15 minutes from Logan assuming no major traffic issues on Route 1 around Boston. Far preferable (IMHO) to a generic Marriott [or other brand]. right off the highway. And a great little city to wake up in.

 

zentraveler

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
1,629
Reaction score
995
Location
San Francisco and Hidden Valley Lake, CA
Resorts Owned
Four Seasons Residence Club
I guess it all depends on how you feel after your arrival, but I, myself, would not plan on a long drive after already flying cross country and then waiting in line for a rent-a-car.
We have preferred status on a few car companies so we never wait in line, but this idea of driving anywhere is looking like a no-go for my husband. He wants to stay at the airport Hilton - at least at this point. Thanks for the other info but we are just going straight into Maine.
 

zentraveler

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
1,629
Reaction score
995
Location
San Francisco and Hidden Valley Lake, CA
Resorts Owned
Four Seasons Residence Club
My vote would be the Hampton Inn and Suites in downtown Portsmouth, NH. (see link below). Much nicer than a typical Hampton Inn and downtown Portsmouth is a great spot to visit. The hotel is about only 10 minutes from the last NH exit on I-95 before the Portsmouth- Kittery bridge into Maine. It will probably take you 1 hr and 15 minutes from Logan assuming no major traffic issues on Route 1 around Boston. Far preferable (IMHO) to a generic Marriott [or other brand]. right off the highway. And a great little city to wake up in.

Looks great and I am defintely with you on where I wake up, but (see previous post), sounds too far to drive for DH and for many others over the posts who think setting out is too much after travel to the east coast. So we may have to stop for breakfast on our way north.
 

missyrcrews

TUG Review Crew: Elite
TUG Member
Joined
Aug 5, 2014
Messages
1,217
Reaction score
1,679
Location
West Bath, me
Resorts Owned
Cold Spring Resort, Acadia Village Resort, Samoset Resort, Attitash Mountain Village Resort
I have vivid memories of the pic of the tennis team shoveling two feet of snow off the MDI high school courts so their season could beginā€¦on April 1st.

So, yesā€¦it can still be ā€œquite cool.ā€ :)

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
The year I moved to Maine from Missouri, my sister came to visit for her spring break from college. Her flight back was April 1st. Cancelled due to a major snow storm. :) My poor mother: "Where in the world have you moved to that it snows in APRIL?" Little did she know we sometimes get snow in May! ;)
 

andre10056

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2007
Messages
304
Reaction score
240
Location
Boston
We have preferred status on a few car companies so we never wait in line, but this idea of driving anywhere is looking like a no-go for my husband. He wants to stay at the airport Hilton - at least at this point.
I don't blame him as I, too, would want to rest after a long flight.

What makes the airport Hilton an "airport" Hilton? A shuttle bus takes you to the nearby hotel. That's precisely what the Marriott Revere Beach is and does.

The difference is that you're surrounded by excellent restaurants (there's even a Tripadvisor category: 10 best restaurants near Wonderland Station). And #1 on that list, and number #7 of 82 in Revere, is seafood restaurant Dryft right outside the door of the hotel. I don't know what restaurants are numbers 1 through 6 but Dryft is outstanding.

Or, if you're feeling adventurous, hop on the subway also practically right outside your door and head into the North End for Italian food or Chinatown for Chinese and Vietnamese...or any one of hundreds of destinations and restaurants in the Boston area. All accessible in a clean, safe subway system filled with families including parents with kids in strollers.
 

tonyg

TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
1,397
Reaction score
254
Location
Connecticut
Resorts Owned
Acadia Village Resort
From Logan to Southwest Harbor will take about 5 hours more or less. You could take 95/Maine pike to Bangor and then 1A to Ellsworth. We used take the Maine pike to Augusta and 3 to Ellsworth and then Southwest Harbor via 102. Harbor Ridge is a great place to stay.
 

zentraveler

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
1,629
Reaction score
995
Location
San Francisco and Hidden Valley Lake, CA
Resorts Owned
Four Seasons Residence Club
From Logan to Southwest Harbor will take about 5 hours more or less. You could take 95/Maine pike to Bangor and then 1A to Ellsworth. We used take the Maine pike to Augusta and 3 to Ellsworth and then Southwest Harbor via 102. Harbor Ridge is a great place to stay.
Thank you for this @tonyg and thank you for all who have helped me plan this trip. @andre10056 the Marriott Revere Hotel is perfect and we are staying there. Interestingly, I had looked at this before but the website was goofed up, I saw the $475 price and just moved on from there, thinking it was also a web glitch . And I thought we should go further toward Maine, but too much after a cross country flight.

And for those of you who warned about the weather very appreciated also. I had an idea about that, but your comments will help me check the weather carefully ahead of time. I appreciate off season travel and we used to go to Paris on at Thanksgiving, so we will be prepared for whatever April brings us in Maine. It also turns out to be "vacation week" there (the woman at Harbor Ridge told me that) so some restaurants may open a bit early.

Looking forward to the trip!
 

andre10056

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2007
Messages
304
Reaction score
240
Location
Boston
Thank you for this @tonyg and thank you for all who have helped me plan this trip. @andre10056 the Marriott Revere Hotel is perfect and we are staying there. Interestingly, I had looked at this before but the website was goofed up, I saw the $475 price and just moved on from there, thinking it was also a web glitch . And I thought we should go further toward Maine, but too much after a cross country flight.

And for those of you who warned about the weather very appreciated also. I had an idea about that, but your comments will help me check the weather carefully ahead of time. I appreciate off season travel and we used to go to Paris on at Thanksgiving, so we will be prepared for whatever April brings us in Maine. It also turns out to be "vacation week" there (the woman at Harbor Ridge told me that) so some restaurants may open a bit early.

Looking forward to the trip!

Hello again zentraveler.

That hotel was just recently built and has become a phenomenal success. It's a wonder that no one thought to build there before.

A fiend of mine stayed there and was very pleased. He and his family loved the hotel, the oceanfront views, the beach, but mostly the Wonderland blue line subway stop right outside the hotel. That allowed them to get to "everything" within minutes, prefect for exploring the city.

Of course, you'll likely just want to relax after a long flight and it should be perfect for that as well.

The weather should be pleasantly warm in late April. Here is website Wunderground in which I've chosen "history" and "monthly" and "April" of "2024":


From mid-April to late April: highs in the 50s, 60s, and even 70s. Not too shabby.

What about daylight? Right now, Boston gets dark very early. But, in April, particularly after daylight savings time adds an hour of daylight the second Sunday in March, the days are pretty long:


April 28, for example: sunrise 5:43 AM, sunset 7:40 PM.

Who are some of Revere's most famous sons?

John Cazale, actor, best friend of Al Pacino, acted in numerous movies but his most famous role was in the Godfather as he played Fredo Corleone

Tony Conigliaro, Red Sox legend, came up to the "show" as a teenager, reached 100 career home runs faster than anyone in American League history, career cut short after being beaned in the face with a fastball. THE most tragic story in Boston sports history.

And then there's little Stevie Weinberg. His extended family all came from Revere. But his father was assigned to Marlin Firearms in New Haven, CT during WWII when he was born. Still, spent much of his life visiting and living with uncles/aunts/cousins, etc. in Revere. When little Stevie was four, his father had changed the family name to Wynn. Became a billionaire casino magnate: Steve Wynn.

And here, just for the heck of it, is last year's winning sand sculpture in the International Sand Sculpture competition held on Revere Beach:

Bouchard.png
 

zentraveler

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
1,629
Reaction score
995
Location
San Francisco and Hidden Valley Lake, CA
Resorts Owned
Four Seasons Residence Club
Hello again zentraveler.

That hotel was just recently built and has become a phenomenal success. It's a wonder that no one thought to build there before.

A fiend of mine stayed there and was very pleased. He and his family loved the hotel, the oceanfront views, the beach, but mostly the Wonderland blue line subway stop right outside the hotel. That allowed them to get to "everything" within minutes, prefect for exploring the city.

Of course, you'll likely just want to relax after a long flight and it should be perfect for that as well.

The weather should be pleasantly warm in late April. Here is website Wunderground in which I've chosen "history" and "monthly" and "April" of "2024":


From mid-April to late April: highs in the 50s, 60s, and even 70s. Not too shabby.

What about daylight? Right now, Boston gets dark very early. But, in April, particularly after daylight savings time adds an hour of daylight the second Sunday in March, the days are pretty long:


April 28, for example: sunrise 5:43 AM, sunset 7:40 PM.

Who are some of Revere's most famous sons?

John Cazale, actor, best friend of Al Pacino, acted in numerous movies but his most famous role was in the Godfather as he played Fredo Corleone

Tony Conigliaro, Red Sox legend, came up to the "show" as a teenager, reached 100 career home runs faster than anyone in American League history, career cut short after being beaned in the face with a fastball. THE most tragic story in Boston sports history.

And then there's little Stevie Weinberg. His extended family all came from Revere. But his father was assigned to Marlin Firearms in New Haven, CT during WWII when he was born. Still, spent much of his life visiting and living with uncles/aunts/cousins, etc. in Revere. When little Stevie was four, his father had changed the family name to Wynn. Became a billionaire casino magnate: Steve Wynn.

And here, just for the heck of it, is last year's winning sand sculpture in the International Sand Sculpture competition held on Revere Beach:

View attachment 105464
Wow, thank you for all of this info @andre10056. Glad to hear about the hotel and I have always liked Springhill suites. We have stayed in a lot of them over the years on various drives mostly (and I must say most of them were ~$129 or 15K points so this was a surprise, but actually not surprising). I booked a junior suite for us which should be great; the front desk said they were all corner rooms.

Although the subway sounds wonderful and I wish we had time to get into the city. When I lived in Connecticut we used to come to Boston for the day to visit the bookstores around Harvard Square and go to Steve's Ice Cream (long gone I am sure). It is tempting to think about using it to get to the hotel, but they have a free shuttle and navigating a subway system I don't know well with luggage is not appealing. Would it be possible to just get a cab to the hotel or is it just too short a distance for any cab to want to do that do you think? (Shuttles are great but we may not feel like waiting around because it sounds like they are not just on a regular loop but you call them and just hopping in a cab would be so easy.)

Happy to hear about the weather (which I know can be variable) and the light, and the famous sons and sand sculptures!
 

andre10056

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2007
Messages
304
Reaction score
240
Location
Boston
Wow, thank you for all of this info @andre10056. Glad to hear about the hotel and I have always liked Springhill suites. We have stayed in a lot of them over the years on various drives mostly (and I must say most of them were ~$129 or 15K points so this was a surprise, but actually not surprising). I booked a junior suite for us which should be great; the front desk said they were all corner rooms.

Although the subway sounds wonderful and I wish we had time to get into the city. When I lived in Connecticut we used to come to Boston for the day to visit the bookstores around Harvard Square and go to Steve's Ice Cream (long gone I am sure). It is tempting to think about using it to get to the hotel, but they have a free shuttle and navigating a subway system I don't know well with luggage is not appealing. Would it be possible to just get a cab to the hotel or is it just too short a distance for any cab to want to do that do you think? (Shuttles are great but we may not feel like waiting around because it sounds like they are not just on a regular loop but you call them and just hopping in a cab would be so easy.)

Happy to hear about the weather (which I know can be variable) and the light, and the famous sons and sand sculptures!

I think all Uber, Lyft, and cab drivers expect to sometimes do shorter trips from the airport as well as longer trips. It all averages out in the end. So there will be MANY "cab" opportunities if that's what you choose.

Hopefully, however, you'll call the hotel and they'll confirm that the shuttle is fortuitously already on its way and will be there in a small single digit number of minutes. If not, and you don't want to wait, you'll have many options.

I know an unfamiliar subway system may seem daunting but you'll see non-stop shuttle buses stopping at each airport terminal, most are going to Airport station (and many, if not most, departing passengers are taking those shuttle buses), the "outbound" side that you'll need is the side at which the bus drops you off, you pay the fare, take a few steps straight ahead (no stairs, hallways, etc.), board one of the "every few minutes" trains, and you'll be at Wonderland Station and the hotel in a very few minutes.

By the way, I just posted some pictures of parking options around the Marriott in the "Custom House" thread if that may be of interest. If nothing else, you'll see a picture of a subway train. :)
 
Last edited:

zentraveler

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
1,629
Reaction score
995
Location
San Francisco and Hidden Valley Lake, CA
Resorts Owned
Four Seasons Residence Club
I think all Uber, Lyft, and cab drivers expect to sometimes do shorter trips from the airport as well as longer trips. It all averages out in the end. So there will be MANY "cab" opportunities if that's what you choose.

Hopefully, however, you'll call the hotel and they'll confirm that the shuttle is fortuitously already on its way and will be there in a small single digit number of minutes. If not, and you don't want to wait, you'll have many options.

I know an unfamiliar subway system may seem daunting but you'll see non-stop shuttle buses stopping at each airport terminal, most are going to Airport station (and many, if not most, departing passengers are taking those shuttle buses), the "outbound" side that you'll need is the side at which the bus drops you off, you pay the fare, take a few steps straight ahead (no stairs, hallways, etc.), board one of the "every few minutes" trains, and you'll be at Wonderland Station and the hotel in a very few minutes.

By the way, I just posted some pictures of parking options around the Marriott in the "Custom House" thread if that may be of interest. If nothing else, you'll see a picture of a subway train. :)
Thank you again. Subway does indeed sound easy as the shuttle or cab. Ride shares (uber, lyft, wingz) are difficult for rides from SFO so I don't think about them (they can only park at pick up at the top floor garage outside of terminal 3 - going to SFO is easy). I would likely either just take the shuttle or the T if I were by myself. (Do you still call the subway the T?)

Saw the parking Custom House thread. I think will just pick up the car the next day and head up north so no parking to worry about.
 

andre10056

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2007
Messages
304
Reaction score
240
Location
Boston
Some might say, "MBTA" (for Mass. Bay Transportation Authority). Or, more simply as you said, the T. If you look closely at my picture of the blue line train, it's hard to see but you might be able to make out a "T" on the side of the train.
 

zentraveler

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
1,629
Reaction score
995
Location
San Francisco and Hidden Valley Lake, CA
Resorts Owned
Four Seasons Residence Club
Some might say, "MBTA" (for Mass. Bay Transportation Authority). Or, more simply as you said, the T. If you look closely at my picture of the blue line train, it's hard to see but you might be able to make out a "T" on the side of the train.
Everyone just called it the T back in my day. Good rail line.
 
Top