(Hopefully) Helpful Hints

(Designed for visitors staying at Club Quarters Hotel.  From other Boston hotels to follow).

Bank/ATM – There is a Sovereign Bank with teller service across the street from your hotel.  Turn right out of the hotel and Sovereign Bank will be across the street on the corner of Devonshire and Franklin Streets.  Per Diem checks may be cashed at Sovereign Bank.  Please contact WorldBoston for more information.  Hours – M-F      8:30 -5

Climate – “If you don’t like the weather, wait a minute”.  Boston has a variable climate.  It can be bitterly cold in the winter and hot & humid in the summer.  Spring and fall may be rainy & cool or temperate & nice.  Bottom line: Dress in layers and bring an umbrella.  

  Cost of Living – Boston has one of the highest costs of living in the country.  While salaries reflect the high cost of living, visitors to the area find Boston to be an expensive city.  Most centrally located hotels cost around $149.00 plus taxes.  Do not despair though, meals can be reasonable and public transportation (and Filenes Basement) offer the best deals around.   

  Email – The Club Quarters Hotel has free Internet access available in the lobby

  Groceries – There is a fruit stand at the Downtown Crossing.  Please refer to your program for directions.  CVS located on the corner of Milk and Washington Streets has milk, snacks and other grocery items.  The closest full service grocery store, Shaw’s, is located in the Prudential Center.  Follow directions to Park Street and board an E/ Heath Green Line train. 

  Laundromat – The Club Quarters Hotel offers valet laundry and dry cleaning services.  Please ask at the front desk.  There is also a self-serve Laundromat Waterfront Laundry at 36 Hull Street, Boston (see map enclosed in your packet for directions)

  Money Exchange – You may exchange foreign currency at Fleet Bank (100 Federal Street).  Turn left out of Club Quarters Hours-  M-F   8:00 – 5:30

  Newspapers – Boston has 2 daily papers:  the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald.  The weekly paper The Phoenix offers entertainment suggestions.  These and other papers may be purchased at the Millennium Newsstand located on Milk Street next to the Old South Meeting House and across the street from WorldBoston.  Turn left out of the hotel and at the end of the block turn left onto Milk Street.  The Millennium Newsstand will be on your right about a block up the street.

  Post Office – There is a post office located 2 blocks from your hotel.  Turn left out of Club Quarters and walk one block to Milk Street.  Turn right onto Milk Street and the post office will be on your left.  The entrance is on Congress Street

  Public Transportation – The Subway system, in Boston, the oldest in the nation built in 1897, is called “the T”.  Tokens, which cost $1.00 each, may be purchased at all stations.  One trip = one token.  You may also purchase three-day visitor passes, for unlimited “T” travel for $9.00 at the Park Street “T” station.  Please refer to your program for directions to Park Street. 

  Shopping – Bargain shopper?  The discount department stores Filenes Basement, TJ Maxx and Marshall’s are all located in Downtown Crossing.  Please refer to your program for directions to Downtown Crossing.

  Taxes

Lodging Tax – 12.45%

Meals in restaurants, drinks & most other purchases are 5%

No sales tax on clothing, shoes or food purchased at the grocery store

Taxis – Taxis, for travel within the city, are expensive.  We recommend the use of public transportation.

Meter Rates:

$1.75 for the first 1/8th mile or less

$0.30 for each additional 1/8th of a mile 

MassPort and Mass Turnpike Tunnel Fees:

All Trips to Logan Airport: $ 2.25

All Trips from Logan Airport: $ 6.00

A taxi from Logan Airport to the Club Quarters Hotel should cost around $25-$30 (tip included)

Telephone cards – You may purchase local and national telephone calling cards at the Millennium Newsstand.

Tipping is expected in restaurants and by taxi drivers, baggage carriers and bar tenders. 

Restaurants – 15-20%

Taxi Drivers – about 10%

Baggage carriers - $1 per bag and $0.50 for each additional bag. 

Bar tenders - $1.00 for one or two drinks, 15% for three or more.