Massachusetts Travel Forum

My son and his friend are doing a Uni student exchange at Amherst starting this September.
They arrive at Boston Airport at 10.25pm after a long-haul flight from Sydney Australia on 28th August.
What they will be needing is somewhere very close to the airport and relatively cheap to sleep that night, and maybe one or two extra nights, as they only have to be at UMASS by 31st August at the latest.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Even back-packer type of accommodation or budget 3 star Hotel???
Looking fwd. to your answers.

This website may help you a bit. There are some motel chains near airports that are relatively cheap - Motel 6, Marriott Courtyard, Days Inn.

http://hotel-guides.us/massachusetts/boston-ma-airport-hotels.html

Interestingly, my best friend's son is starting studies at UMASS Amherst this year. It's a lovely town.

Look at http://www.bostonhostel.org/ which is in Boston.

I cannot recommend any hotels but be aware the subway stops around 12:30 am so they may need to take a taxi if the flight is late or customs take a long time.

See the below web site for more info on the subway:

www.mbta.com

have you been to tripadvisor.com?

Thankyou June, Nige and Mike for your replies.
However ... as of yesterday the whole @@@***@@@ trip is put on hold, that is after I went and paid their airfares yesterday!! My son comes home and says there is a slight problem with America - and that is that he thought subject selection was early May, when in fact it was early April!! I said, so what does that mean? He now has to email each professor and practically beg them to let them both into the classes and if that doesnt happen then I dont exactly know what that means. So ... Im not very happy with him at the moment, especially as I only paid their airfares yesterday!!
I did look at both those sites. I think the Hostel place would be great for them, it is cheap and they will meet plenty other young people. But, Im not booking anything yet!!!

Wow... those kids can really drive us crazy! I raised two sons and know the feeling. Maybe they (or you!) can use the tickets another time or maybe your son will actually make the trip and work things out.

Good luck!

Young people seem to be so 'unplanned' these days. I blame it all on instant answers on www and mobile phones ! Life is so fast there is no time to reflect and think. Even those Twitter sites make me feel cold. I mean who really wants to broadcast their every move by using Twitter? Its another generation - another world. So much going on they forget why they are doing it all.

Yes indeed June & Nige ...young kids these days (now I sound like my mother!!!) are so unplanned and yes they do drive us crazy. This was a pretty important thing which he has known about for months, but for some stupid reason thought it had to be done by 7th May, when in fact it was 7th April!!! I couldnt believe it when he told me yesterday, I told him he couldnt organise a root in a brothel!!! Pardon the expression. And this has all come to light just a few hours after I paid their airfare. I am NOT letting him go to America for 5 months if the subjects he does there do not count towards his degree, that to me is just a very expensive holiday!!
What happens now I dont know. He was trying to sort it all out today and I havent seen him tonite as he is at work now. I gave him until the weekend to sort it out and if its not sorted, I told him he's not going!!! We are better to lose a thousand dollars now than to waste 20 thousand (which is how much his little jaunt will cost!)
Anyway ... Ill keep you informed! Cheers and thanx. Lindy

Well - a few days later and Ben & Joe are sorting out this mess they are in. It looks like the trip will still go ahead, they should have their subjects organised by Monday, then need to organise their J-1 Visa ASAP!!!!
Thanx to you all. I have noted the sites you have recommended.

Good news! Things usually work out the way they're supposed to. The kids will have a great time in the U.S.

OH yeh Im sure they will have a great time - but will they survive without their Mummys and Daddys??!! They just wont tell us about all the bad *** that goes on Im sure. Im talking about my 20 year old son that doesnt even make his own 2 minute noodles!!! But ... yes ... I am definitely to blame for that, because Ive dont everything for him. Now ... it will be time for him to stand on his own 2 feet, and Im hoping it will make him mature fast and become more organised and responsible - well, thats what Im hoping!!??
We started the visa process yesterday, its a 2 step process, and quite costly actually. It will end up costing over $400 - my Visa for China this year costs only $40!!!
Im sure I will have more questions to ask about Boston/Amherst in the coming months, so stay tuned!

Just want to thankyou Nige in London for your suggestion of the Boston Hostel. Ive emailed them and will be booking Bens first 3 nights in USA at their Hostel, cost of $40US per person per nite in a 6 bed dorm including breakfast - I thought that was an excellent price. Could have got a private room sleeping 2, but the cost was $110 per person per nite, thats a big difference I thought.

Things are slowly falling into place for my unorganised travelling son since last I wrote!!! His passport came today, so we can finalise his visa tonight. He has enrolled in his subjects, only last night tho!!! He also enrolled and paid for his Orientation week at UMASS a few nites ago. Got a Doctors appointment in 2 days to finalise all the immunisation red tape and for him to get any booster shots he needs. So, basically, that will be all the major stuff done, only thru a hell of a lot of nagging by yours truly!!!

However, only this morning, Ben said his friend Joe may change his mind and not go, but Ben is still happy to go, even if it will be by himself, so thats good. Such a great opportunity for the experience of a lifetime, and certainly something I would have loved to have done at his age (by the way, at his age I was already married!)

Anyway, just thought Id give you all an update. Thanx for reading and ... Stay tuned!!!

OK ... now Ive never had to apply for a non-immigrant student J-1 Visa to America - AND THANK BLOODY GOD FOR THAT!!! Its about a 10 step process, which you not only need a Uni degree to do, but also a rather fat bank account to fund it!!! There are about 4 separate fees to pay, the second of which I paid this morning, being the visa application fee of $196.50AUD. Already paid the Sevis fee (whatever that is!?) of about $240AUD. Then ... as far as I can make out, there is a separate fee to actually make the appointment in Sydney at the US consulate and THEN there is about a $150 issuance fee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT A RORT!!!

Oh well, all this red tape must be abided by I guess. Its almost as if they dont even want you to come to America - like they are trying to make it difficult!

I bought Bens suitcase this morning - bargain half price at K-Mart!!! At least that didnt cost me an arm and a leg!!!

I probably shouldn't tell you this, but Umass Amherst used to have a reputation for being one of the top party schools in the country. Just wanted to help you sleep better at night.

:)

Why thankyou so much for that information .......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I actually was (amazingly) aware of this as, it was in fact one of the reasons Ben and Joe chose this Uni!!! Does that not surprise you? Oh, and yeh, they said it had a good sporting background as well??? But, Im sure the "partying" aspect weighed more in their decision to go there.

But anyway, thankyou for that. Is there anything else I should know about UMASS???

It really is a great school overall, partying included, and the area is very nice. There's only so much trouble you can get into out there :)

Why thankyou donpaul for trying hard to reassure me - but believe me, if there is trouble around, these boys WILL find it and be in the midst of it!!!!! And probably not remember a thing the next morning!!

Made appointment to go up to the US Consulate on 28th May - what a drama and a headache just to get to this stage! Now ... Ive worked out there are about 16 things that Ben will have to take with him up there. If anyone out there has maybe applied for a J-1 Visa before and can remember any vital information that we may have overlooked - CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME!!! I will NOT be a very happy camper if we get up there and have forgotten to bring just one thing. I have sent an email to the US Consulate but dont anticipate a reply before we get there, they say a reply could be 5-10 days away!!!

I have just booked the Boston Hostel for the boys for their first 3 nites, at a cost of $40 each per night, which includes breakfast so I think thats great.

Also, Ive finally gotten everything together for our big day out at the US Consulate. Ive also emailed them with the list of things I was assuming he needed to take up and they have emailed me back saying that I have everything covered, which was a relief. Ill definitely be taking a copy of that email up with us, just in case they then come back and say that he has forgotten something!

Once again, thankyou all for your helpful advice