The Boston Traveler

Chicago-based online travel company Orbitz recently began offering a nice special that could enable travelers who plan to visit destinations within the United States to save significant money.
If you book a trip by August 31 that will be completed before November 24 of this year, the Great American Sale offers discounts of up to 30 percent off for minimum stays of three nights at some U.S. hotels.
The only applicable lodging I found in the Boston area is Cambridge’s Royal Sonesta Hotel, which has an average price of $129 per night with the deal. A minimum four-night stay also throws …read more

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I’ve probably mentioned before that as a staunch non-driver, I most often walk or take public transportation, or very rarely catch a cab, when it comes time to get from Point A to Point B locally.
Even so, it’s impossible to remain unaware of the problems — meaning the sky-high gas prices — that have been tormenting the many drivers in the United States who aren’t wealthy. Since I can’t imagine what a pain in the wallet it must be to drive a car these days if you don’t have a lot of disposable income to waste, reflexive curiosity makes …read more

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I know — some people avoid traveling long distances by bus as if the vehicles were carriers of the bubonic plague. Yet, there’s really no reason to fear or loathe the mode of transportation, especially now that it’s gotten cheaper than ever.
Just about everyone who travels in the East has probably heard about the ridiculously low $1 fares some companies, such as Bolt Bus and Mega Bus here in Boston, charge for a one-way trip to a major destination, most often New York City. Compared to what that old standby Greyhound charges — currently $30–$57 one way — …read more

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Tomorrow is a big day for Boston-area residents who love Italy and authentic Italian culture. You may have heard previously that Air One, Italy’s second largest air carrier after troubled Alitalia, planned to launch an impressive new service out of Logan Airport — direct flights from Boston to Milan, its first venture in the United States.
The inaugural flight was supposed to take place on June 13. It was delayed for two weeks, however, when the airline experienced complications having new seats delivered for its aircrafts.
Now that the problems have been resolved, tomorrow marks the debut of the Boston-Milan …read more

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At times like the present, with gas prices reaching astronomical levels, I’m very thankful I don’t drive. Unlike me, however, there are millions of people across the United States growing increasingly frustrated over the rising cost of fueling their vehicles with required gasoline.
Governor Deval Patrick and his administration apparently feel constituents’ pain, and in response, they’ve established a new website specifically geared towards helping drivers in Massachusetts cope with soaring gas prices.
Titled Gas Tips, the website currently has six sections with links to timely information on:

Searching local gas prices to find the best bargain
Maximizing the amount of gas purchased …read more

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Before I located — and then duly memorized — several default locations, one of my most frustrating experiences traveling around Boston was where to find free wireless Internet access.
The information is not a big secret. It just happens that many places offering free Internet access don’t publicize it very much, probably out of fear that hordes of freeloaders will take over their place of business and refuse to leave for hours, if not days, at a time.
So, from me to you, a list of ten places where you can surf the Web for no charge follows. Keep in …read more

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During the wee, still-dark hours of the morning last Saturday, April 26, a flood broke out in downtown Boston when a city water main broke and subsequently caused a natural gas main to rupture after it was flooded. The unexpected deluge of water was so damaging, natural gas service was discontinued in the Financial District and the North End, and the State Street subway station was closed, too.
As a result of the lost gas service, local residents and commercial businesses were forced to make do without such necessities as gas-generated hot water and cooking. Many restaurants were forced …read more

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Why the alarmist title? Let me explain.
Yesterday morning at about 6:45am EST, 28-year-old New York native Isaac J. Meyers was on his way to school. The Cambridgeport resident and Harvard University graduate student took a route to the Red Line subway station that I, too, have walked hundreds of times before, after, and while I lived in the neighborhood bordered by the Charles River, Harvard, MIT, and Central Square.
At the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Prospect Street, Meyers entered the crosswalk to get to the other side of the wide and commonly busy street, where the outbound train …read more

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Officials at the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency announced a bit of a change for area residents and visitors on Tuesday. In cooperation with the Council of Massachusetts United Ways, the organization has started operating a new emergency telephone number, namely 211.
One major point of the service is to decrease the number of non-emergency calls to the traditional emergency number 911. As a result of the new distinction, individuals who have inquiries about disaster, health, and human services issues can now get assistance from 211 operators between 8am and 8pm on weekdays. The service is also capable of …read more

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