US Road Trip Planning: 2 Weeks in New England with toddler - Planning

By Georgina Sturmer

US Road Trip Review:  2 Weeks in New England with a Toddler

Planning

We chose New England as we love going to the USA on holiday.  It wasn't too far (only 7 hours flight and only 5 hours time difference) and the driving distances are relatively short between destinations.  We were there in early September which was ideal as older children have gone back to school, but it is before the fall 'leaf peeping' tourist season.

We booked most of our accommodation in advance and opted for suites (often known as 'efficiencies' in more budget American hotels) so that we could have a separate sleeping area from our toddler.

Read more about our New England Adventure:

Flight Review with British Airways to Boston
http://jetlagandmayhem.blogspot.hk/2012/10/flight-review-british-airways-london.html

Beginning in Boston (Part One)
http://jetlagandmayhem.blogspot.com/2012/10/us-road-trip-review-2-weeks-in-new.html

Midcoast Maine (Part Two)
http://jetlagandmayhem.blogspot.com/2012/11/us-road-trip-review-2-weeks-in-new_2.html

Relaxing in Cape Cod (Part Three)
http://jetlagandmayhem.blogspot.com/2012/11/us-road-trip-review-2-weeks-in-new_8080.html

US Road Trip Part 1: 2 Weeks in New England with Toddler - Boston

By Georgina Sturmer

US Road Trip Review:  2 Weeks in New England with a Toddler

Beginning in Boston 

Boston is a great city to begin a trip.  The airport is a short journey into town, you don’t need a car at all and it’s easy to get around with a buggy. 

Hotel

We spent two nights at the John Jefferies House in (www.johnjeffrieshouse.com).  The hotel is in a great location and is pretty good value for central Boston, with suites available at around $200.  The breakfast was basic (just some pots of coffee and a few pastries) but that suited us fine.  Our room was small and dark and the hotel was difficult to access with a baby and suitcases (a flight of steps to get into the main entrance) and the staff where pretty unfriendly.  We wouldn’t stay there again, but it is nicely located. 

Activities

• The Freedom Trail is a yellow line painted on the pavement that guides you on your own walking tour around the city.  It is buggy friendly and takes you around all the main sites.  We stopped off in Quincy Market for coffee, and in North End for lunch.
• The original Cheers Bar is located in Boston.  Total tourist trap, but a fun place to pose for some photos and have an easy toddler friendly meal.  Boston Public Garden is lovely to walk around and play, our toddler loved playing with the ducks at the ‘Make Way for Ducklings’ sculpture

Read more about our New England Adventures:

Planning our New England Road Trip

http://jetlagandmayhem.blogspot.com/2012/11/us-road-trip-review-2-weeks-in-new.html

Flight Review with British Airways to Boston

http://jetlagandmayhem.blogspot.hk/2012/10/flight-review-british-airways-london.html

Midcoast Maine (Part Two)

http://jetlagandmayhem.blogspot.com/2012/11/us-road-trip-review-2-weeks-in-new_2.html

Relaxing in Cape Cod (Part Three)

http://jetlagandmayhem.blogspot.com/2012/11/us-road-trip-review-2-weeks-in-new_8080.html

Flight Review: British Airways - London Heathrow to Boston with 16 mth old

Who:  My sister Georgina, with her husband and 16 month old toddler
What:  British Airways BA0239 departs Heathrow 7.30pm and arrives 9.40pm.  The return leg BA0238 departs Boston 8am and arrives Heathrow 7.25pm

Check-In and Departures
Heathrow Terminal 5 is pretty easy to navigate for families:

• Family friendly lanes at security
• Baby milk and food available to preorder from Boots
• Plenty of places to eat, Carluccio's landside, and Wagamama, Giraffe and Plane Food airside
• Plenty of baby changing facilities that are separate from the male/female toilets so that you can go in together

Boston Departure (International Terminal) was pretty basic.  Baby changing facilities were in the toilets so you can't go in there together (dad was pretty happy to get out of nappy changing duties).  They made me taste my baby formula at security and I could not see anywhere in the terminal to buy more formula (or baby supplies).

Bassinet

BA offers 'car seat' for older babies that fits in the same place as a bassinet in the bulkhead seats.  They generally carry enough of them on board, but just in case there weren't enough, we asked for one at check-in, at the gate and when boarding as well.

Onboard

The car seat was big enough for our (large) 16 mth old but she wasn't totally happily sleeping in it. She spent the flight partly on our laps and partly playing on the floor. We lined the car seat with our Moorck baby hoodie which did keep it nice and cosy and also acted as a barrier when she vomited everywhere.

Arrival

We were greeted on arrival in Boston with an horrendous queue that was over an hour long.  We waited for a few minutes with an overtired baby and no buggy (you have to wait until baggage reclaim to collect it) and I then went up to the front to ask to be let through as we had a young baby and they let us through straight away.  Taxis into town are easily available and pretty affordable.