Marriott's Custom House in Boston

[DCBoy]

H

So glad to hear that! We check in for our first stay there on Sept. 19 -- four weeks from tomorrow!

I'd love to hear about any activities, restaurants, etc. that you'd recommend.

There is also a Bostix kiosk just steps away from the Custom House where you can get day of performance tix to various events at half price. Also, don't know if they will be still running in September, but check to see if the harbor cruise companies are still running lunchtime cruises when you are in town. If so, you can get a half hour cruise for just a couple of dollars. You can buy food on board, bring your own, or do neither. It's a great deal.

If you take a trip out to George's Island (one of the harbor islands) midweek and want to do a tour, ask for Charlie. My father is 89 years old and has been working on the island as a volunteer tour guide for many years.

Hope you have a great trip!

DB

 

[dougp26364]

I have to disagree about taking a cab from the airport. It's an unnecessary expense and the subway is easy and quick. We purchased a Charlie Card (subway pass) for the week (very inexpensive) and took the T. It's a short ride with one stop at Maverick station , then the aquarium stop. The walk from the stop to Custom House is maybe 30 paces. For what is likely the price of a cab you have a weeks worth of transportation paid. We used the subway/rail to go as far as the Kennedy Library one afternoon and to catch a Redsocks game at Fenway one evening.

 

[Davey54321]

Don't forget about uber for transportation needs...

Both from airport and around town. Boston is an uber seeviced city and though we havent used it there, we did use it quite a bit around Los Angeles recently and were impressed with it. The 'no tipping' aspect of this car service is also very convenient as well...
Vicki

 

[Beaglemom3]

Having lived here for many years, my thoughts on cabs v. public transport.

Both have their pros and cons.

If you've had a long journey (including red eye flights and !+ connections) you're probably tired. The convenience of a cab would be a good choice.
The "T" can be packed at certain times, too.

If you're taking a cab, take into consideration that timing is everything. The merge into the tolls and into the tunnel, the tunnels and the exit from the tunnel can be a headache in rush hour traffic. It can be costlier in this instance.

Getting your 7 day Charlie Card is a good idea, too.

You can take the Blue Line to Aquarium.

You can take the Silver Line to South Station and roll your luggage about 6-7 blocks down Rose Kennedy Walk. It's a nice walk, but if you're tired, it may not be.

You can take a cab.

There's the water taxi option, but I'm not an expert on this: http://bostonwatertransportation.com/watertaxis.html

In London, I'll take the Tube 95% of the time and a taxi to a fancy dinner or theatre, however, when we landed in Dublin after a 4 hour train ride and 3.5 hour ferry ride, I opted for a private car to take us to Powerscourt for 90 Euros instead of 18 by DART/Irish Rail/EireBus just for the convenience. For me, who economizes when/where I can, this was well worth it.

 

[SueDonJ]

Both from airport and around town. Boston is an uber seeviced city and though we havent used it there, we did use it quite a bit around Los Angeles recently and were impressed with it. The 'no tipping' aspect of this car service is also very convenient as well...
Vicki

Yesterday when we flew home into Boston the uber prices were about four times the standard cab rate. Don't know if they're doing something different with their prices but that's the first time we came across such a big difference.

I used to hate flying into Logan and getting a cab because the place is a madhouse and the cabs were always so dirty. Not yesterday, though - the line was long but moved very quickly and orderly, and all the cabs were clean and shiny. Good improvement!

Upon landing I'd also grab a cab from the airport to the Custom House (and use the T for most everything else during a stay in Boston.) Sure, it's only a short ride with a couple stops but at that point convenience would be more important than saving a few dollars.

DCBoy, we'll look for your dad on our next George's Island visit - my family goes out two or three times a season.

 

[Ken555]

Yesterday when we flew home into Boston the uber prices were about four times the standard cab rate. Don't know if they're doing something different with their prices but that's the first time we came across such a big difference.

I had the same experience the last two times I arrived at LAX. They claim that it was a busy time, but that just seems questionable to me given the availability. I just took a cab instead and saved ~$75 each time. Not as nice, but I prefer the $75.


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[NEGreyhound]

Friendly place to stay

We were there for the first time, as new owners, from Aug. 1-8. You are in the heart of everything and do not need a car. We did the trolley tour (2nd day free) and the harbor tour as well as tea party re-enactment. The location being so close to everything meant we walked to several restaurants, shopped in the Sat. produce market and did a lot of walking. Enjoyed the food every where but Legal Seafood. Everything was deep fried with little taste. We did go back for a 2nd time though because of their Sangria.
Great views from the observation deck. We stayed on the 19th floor and enjoyed everything about the place. The staff was super friendly and made you feel like you were one of the family. Good idea about weekend parking.

 

[Suzy]

I was in Boston recently and took SuperShuttle to/from the airport. I was the only one in the van from the airport to the Custom House, and there were only three of us on the van from the Custom House back to the airport. The van was clean and I only waited about 5 minutes at the airport.

I like being dropped off at my exact location even if it is more expensive than the light rail, but also don't mind a stop or two along the way if it is cheaper than the taxi.

 

[falmouth3]

I haven't taken a cab to or from Logan in years. The times I did, I was really scared with the driving of the cabbies. On the phone, speeding, jamming on the brakes. Just not for me. I take the T anytime over a cab.

 

[rrickyg]

Quincy Market

Since restaurants are not a big deal to us we do a smorgasborg most nights. We wander over to Quincy Market and order a little bit of this and a little bit of that to go, take it back to the villa and gorge. The "chowda" is to die for.
Also recommend taking the T to Harvard and doing the unauthorized underground tour. Much fun.
In any event, enjoy. We go every other year. Next year.

 

[MOXJO7282]

We thought the Black Rose across the street from the Custom House was very good pub food.

 

[bastroum]

We thought the Black Rose across the street from the Custom House was very good pub food.

I love their corned beef and cabbage egg rolls!

 

[Beaglemom3]

Black Rose = very good breakfasts and just a few steps, literally, from the CH. All menus here: http://www.blackroseboston.com/about/

Irish Breakfast
Irish bangers, rashers of bacon, black & white pudding, eggs and grilled tomato 10

American Breakfast
American bacon or sausage, eggs any style, homefries & toast 8

Breakfast Bagel
Scrambled egg, bacon & cheese on a toasted bagel 7

3 Egg Omelette
Add three ingredients served with homefries & toast 8

Breakfast Wrap
Scrambled egg and cheese served in a warm tortilla with a side of homefries 7

Breakfast Bowl
Scrambled Eggs, peppers and onions topped with homefries and melted cheese 8

Fruit and Granola 8


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[Beaglemom3]

Recommended, but with limitations:

Uneven service, small & dark little place, but the food can be good. Lunch is your best bet.

Just a couple blocks from the CH :

http://www.timesirishpub.com/

 

[jme]

We thought the Black Rose across the street from the Custom House was very good pub food.

During our Custom House stay back in October, we were at the Black Rose two consecutive nights....once for dinner, and once to have a drink while watching a Sox game on TV. Both experiences were fantastic. Night we had dinner, the Patriots football game was on and everybody was going nuts. Same for Sox game. Couldn't have been a more fun atmosphere. The whole city was electric....great time to be there.

Our greatest memory (for both nights) was that every few minutes, an Irish folk song would erupt around the bar, and a bunch of "young lads" would sing at the top of their lungs, and half the place would join in. How great is that??? Nothing but awesome memories everywhere we went around the area....all the restaurants just great, North End was amazing. We loved walking everywhere.......Never fear, there's always another pub around every corner.




.

 

[NboroGirl]

Enjoyed the food every where but Legal Seafood. Everything was deep fried with little taste.

I've been to Legal several times and have never once had anything deep-fried, so I have to disagree with that statement. While it's true that Legal Seafood has a "Crispy Fried" section on their menu, I do not care for fried food so I never order from that section. We prefer the wood grilled items, and I have to say everything has been delicious so far.

 

[jont]

We thought the Black Rose across the street from the Custom House was very good pub food.

I'll second that.

 

[Ken555]

I've been to Legal several times and have never once had anything deep-fried, so I have to disagree with that statement. While it's true that Legal Seafood has a "Crispy Fried" section on their menu, I do not care for fried food so I never order from that section. We prefer the wood grilled items, and I have to say everything has been delicious so far.

+1

Haven't been to Legal in years, but it was great (non-fried) food when I was there. No hesitation at returning next time I'm in the area.


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