Boston Cost Breakdown: Do More With Less

As guest blogger Ryan Latone always tells us, "Do more with less". We practice this in our every day lives as well as on our travels. Unfortunately, Americans do not believe in vacation days the same way other countries do, so we already START with LESS. We spent 3 days and 4 nights in Boston for this visit (only 2 vacation days). Below is the cost breakdown.

Category	Total	Per Person
Flight	$300	$150
Transportation	$126	$63
Activities	$159	$80
Food	$312	$156
Accommodations	$308	$154
Gifts	$62	$31
Total	$1,267	$634

The big money saver were flights and accommodations. This DID NOT involve using any type of rewards (hotels or credit card). This was purely looking for deals. Deals can help you do more with less. 

Flights
On average, people like planning in advance. They love having their flight booked and a roof over their head. We can't blame them, it is a great feeling to know everything is done... but what is it worth? United has "last minute" deals that are very time restricted. The offer usually has to be purchased by the end of the week and actually take off by then too. Typically the trip ranges 3-6 days. Southwest has a similar offer, but it is seasonal and usually gives you more time the prepare. This is actually how we found our flight to Boston. For those that need the comfort of purchase in advance, United has a Special Offer page.

Get with your preferred airline and set e-mail alerts for deals and specials! You are only hurting your wallet if you don't!

Sleeping

Accommodations are a make or break deal for vacations. After all, you do spend about a third of your day in your bed.  For us, that is all we use it for... and storage for our luggage. There are many types of accommodations, including hotels, condos, hostels, bed and breakfasts, and apartments. We wrote a compare and contrast article for Hostels and Hotels, but don't let that limit your choices. Hostels aren't as prevalent in America as they are in Europe. Bed and Breakfast places are usually in remote locations. Renting apartments/condos is on the rise though. We tried out AirBnB which does exactly that. Guest Blogger Ryan Latone tried this in Puerto Rico with great success, so we gave it a shot. We found a great deal and honestly, we got what we paid for. It was a bed in a room with a shared bathroom. Not once did we see the other guest. Our room had it's own key and we had clean sheets... we were set. 

Don't be afraid to try new things.

Budget travelling makes you feel so accomplished that so much was done on so little. Check out some of our previous trips like 9 days in Alaska for $150/day or Saving while visiting Chicago on a holiday weekend

Boston Freedom Trail 2014 (Video)

Put together our experience of the Freedom Trail from start to finish. Let us know what you think!

Boston Freedom Trail

Boston’s Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile path that weaves throughout Boston passing 16 of our country’s significant landmarks. Most of these sites helped form this nation in the early rebellious years. The entire path is notable marked by red bricks. The unofficial starting point is the Boston Commons and the Visitor Center there will provide trail information, maps and other gifts. The walk is easy, free, and you control the pace. The visitor center does offer guided tours that are dependent on weather and it should be noted are only 90 mins with admission to ONE site that charges a fee. The guide will provide information not known otherwise, but we recommend going on your own.

Start off at the country’s oldest public park, Boston Common. The Boston Common was used by the public for just about everything: concerts, duels, public celebrations and even hangings. The Visitor Center neighbors the Common.

Follow the red brick road through the park to the current State House. John Hancock originally owned the land on Beacon Hill, but in 1798 the State House was completed. Head inside to view the decorative designs and the gold dome.

After the construction in 1809, the Park Street Church was the first thing travelers saw coming into Boston for many years. William Llyod Garrison gave his first public anti-slavery address here. Also in 1832, My Country ‘Tis of Thee was first recited here.

Granary Burying Ground is the 3^rd oldest cemetery in Boston and has many of the country’s founding fathers claiming this as their final resting place. Some of these famous Bostonians are John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, Peter Faneuil, all five men who were killed in the Boston Massacre, and many others.

The King’s Chapel became America’s first Unitarian Church. Condemned prisoners heard their last sermon here before being marched to Boston Common to be hung. President George Washington made a visit in 1789 while in Boston.

In front of Old City Hall lays a reminiscence of the site of America’s first public school, Boston Latin School. Erected in 1635, the school taught some of America’s greats, including John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Ralph Waldo Emmerson, and Ben Franklin who has a commemorating statue in front of the Old City Hall.

At the end of the street is the Old Corner Bookstore. The original building was home to Anne Hutchinson, who was banished for unorthodox religious views. However, the Bookstore went on to publish works by Dickens, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Emmerson, Longfellow, and many more.

The Old South Meeting House was built in 1729 and is the second oldest church in Boston. As the largest building in colonial Boston, it was used for public meetings, the most famous being when over 5,000 angry Bostonians showed up to protest a tax on tea on December 16, 1773. This site does have an entry fee.

Where the Boston Massacre Took Place

The British used the Old State House as their governing office during colonial times. This was the center of political and commercial life for Boston. Pay the entrance fee to tour the museum and learn more about the Boston Massacre because just below the balcony is where this famous incident occurred. The Declaration of Independence was recited from this balcony.

Right around the corner is Faneuil Hall. Faneuil gave this building as a gift in 1742. This building served as a meeting place and open market. Even today it sticks to its roots and has vendors set up inside selling a variety of things.

Make your way through the North End to Paul Revere’s House. There is a $5 entrance fee to view this house built around 1680. It might be hard to imagine that up to 8 of Revere’s 16 children lived in this house with him.

The story “one if by land, two if by sea” began at the Old North Church. On Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride, it was Sexton Robert Newman that hung 2 lanterns to warn Charleston (across the river) of British troops invading.

Inside Daily Catch

Break here for some good eating. We highly recommend Daily Catch for some Sicilian style seafood. If you are looking for desserts, go to Mike's Pastry or Maria's Pastry if you want to pick something on the way to Charleston.

We ended our freedom trail here for day 1, but came back the next day to finish it up.

The Bunker Hill Monument commemorates the Battle of Bunker Hill, one of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolution on June 17, 1775. Climb the 295 steps to the top of the monument to get great 360 degree views of Boston.

The USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. Built in 1797, her nickname Ironsides was earned during the War of 1812, as British cannon balls bounced off her hull. Hop aboard and listen to a U.S. Navy sailor give a tour of the warship.

View of Boston from the water

After touring the USS Constitution, walk over to the water shuttle to take back to the Long Wharf ($3.25 one way).

Puerto Rico... Off the Beaten Path (Video)

Here is the video Guest Blogger, Ryan Latone put together on his adventure to Puerto Rico!

Puerto Rico... Off the Beaten Path (Written by Guest Blogger Ryan Latone)

I arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico on a Tuesday at 4:00 pm. My travel mate on this adventure, Nick, had already grabbed the rental car. We booked a couple beds at a hostel roughly an hour and a half West in the town Isabela. At first glance, this peaceful coastal town had little to offer, however, it did provide us with the catapult we needed to attack this trip and make the next 4 days COUNT!

We saw a sign dubbed Hostel; surely this is the place to crash the first night. As we rolled into the parking lot, there were 20 or so garages all uniquely labeled, “Love Machine.” There wasn’t anyone in sight except a young guy yapping on his cell phone. I hopped out of the car and said, “Es este el hostel?” (Is this the hostel?) To which he replied, “No! Alla arriba.” (No! It is above/up.) I jumped back in the car and away we went. We had driven right by the Hostel into this “Love Machine” place by accident. I don’t know what goes on in those garages exactly, but I have an idea…how couldn’t you with a subtle title like that?

 We flew in with no agenda, nowhere to sleep, and no idea what Puerto Rico had to offer. In my opinion, sometimes it’s best to book a flight and figure out all the other shit when you get there. Once we found our hostel, we hit the beach for a brew and to chat with some locals. The beach was beautiful with the sun setting over the ocean, but we had little time to admire. We needed to find some locals and get some information. Fortunately, we met a couple that gave us some ideas. We would hit up Jobos, a surf spot near town, then proceed to get lost finding a waterfall locals frequent called Las Cataratas. We drove through the Puerto Rican hillside mesmerized by the beauty of it all. The road twisted and turned through the hills making each drastic turn a game of, “What could we hit around this corner?!” With the road only being about a car and a half wide, it makes for some interesting encounters with both animals and fellow drivers.

A bit lost, I asked Nick to pull over so I could ask an older gentleman working on a house if we were headed in the right direction. Sam was as nice as they come, small build with hands as tough as rocks, his English, PERFECTO! After explaining detailed directions, he could tell we still had no clue where to go. No fear, Sam to the rescue! “Give me 5 minutes, I will drive you there, you will follow me.” What an offer! He drove us the 20 minutes there and when we arrived a man tried to hustle us to pay for parking; Sam had none of that. We parked, walked over to Sam, and thanked him. He had unselfishly took the time  to drive us there without any motive at all, he simply wanted us two gringos to see a local waterfall in his home country. I tried to give him a ten-dollar bill for gas, but he wouldn’t take it. “Grab an extra beer for you boys tonight, safe travels,” he said with a smile.  It is moments like this when you see the kindness in people that is all too easy to forget.

We were the only ‘tourist’ there, although I use that term loosely.  

There had to be 200+ Puerto Ricans at the waterfall enjoying the day. The waterfall was everything we hoped it would be, both beautiful and jump-worthy! There were multiple jumping points, one at the top, and the other halfway at about 15 feet high. With no hesitation, Nick and I committed to jumping off the lowest one with the larger still in question. The first jump was relatively easy to get to and was a nice introduction to the cool water that waited for us below. We hiked up to the top where only one person has jumped that day. The question was, did I have the balls to jump? The waterfall was a pretty steep slope; you had to jump a solid 5 feet out to clear the rock face. Uneasy and nervous, I crawled my way to the edge and found my footing. A local gave me a thumbs up from below; his look of ease gave me the boost of confidence I needed to make the jump. Before I knew it, I had hit the water to a roar of laughter and cheers. Nick soon followed. Not only did we stick out like a lion at a vegetarian convention at this local spot, but we also conquered the fall. We hiked back to our car about 20 minutes away full of pride and amazement that we had just accomplished that! Thirty hours before this, I was working at my job with no idea jumping off of a waterfall was on the horizon.  This is why I like to travel with no plans; the unexpected becomes the story you want to tell.

We found a place to stay in a nearby town on AirBnB in Utuado, a sleepy little town in the heart of the Puerto Rican countryside. At $25 a night, it had our name written all over it. (AirBnB is a great alternative to hotels and hostels. Homeowners rent out rooms or guesthouses to people in need). We grabbed a bottle of rum and headed to our home for the night. The night was pitch black, without any city lights polluting the air it made for a great evening. Free from text messages, emails, or facebook; it was just two friends enjoying the simple life.

Goofing off in Yunque Rain Forest

We woke early to hit up the Camuy Caverns before jetting over to El Yunque Rain Forest. The caverns were a sight to be had, but the tour required for access made for a slow hike. This hike could have been done in an hour, instead we wasted a half a day. My advice would be to skip it if you have little time. We boogied our way to the rain forest. We hiked aimlessly for the rest of the day and found another series of waterfalls. We found a swimming hole, posted up to enjoy the afternoon sun, and enjoyed the sights and sounds we are not used to back home. We could have hiked for days around this beauty, but decided to go find our beds for the night in Fajardo.

AirBnb to the rescue again at $10 a night, chickens clucking at 5 am included! Luck plays into travel, and boy did we get lucky. Bioluminescent Bay was a sight to see, so we had been told.  Little did we know reservations for the kayaking tour into the bay booked up two weeks out! Shit. I spoke with every company there and had no luck. A man said he might have two spots available because a ferry from Vieques had broken down and a few folks might not make the 9pm launch. We waited with our fingers crossed and our bellies full of beer. Luck was on our side! We managed to get a kayak and we were off. I can’t explain how great this experience was. Essentially the bay has algae that ‘glows’ when it is disturbed.  It’s a beautiful fluorescent greenish/blue color that lights up the water. As you glide your hand against the kayak a trail of algae fused fireworks lights up behind your hand. It’s magical and mind-boggling. I felt like a kid again. 

The next day we planned on heading to the island of Vieques off the east coast of Puerto Rico. Luck would not be our friend this morning. The ferry sign said it clear as day, “SOLD OUT.” What the hell? We didn’t even think to come the night before and get a ticket, but that’s exactly what Puerto Ricans do. I talked to a local who said he got there at 11 pm last night to reserve a spot and camp out.  I thought back to the prior night and at 11 o'clock, I was three beers deep after our kayak trip. Oh well, he mentioned we should check out a secret beach near "Seven Seas Beach." Seven Seas Beach was a hot spot for locals, jammed packed and busy as hell. We walked along the strip of beach to the end where it turned into forest. The guy gave us directions to this so called ‘secret beach.’ 

On the way to Playa Colora

We were either going to get robbed, killed, or find an epic beach spot. We gambled and decided to follow the directions we jotted down through the forest. It was a brisk 20-minute hike to this paradise of a beach called "Playa Colora." I kid you not; we were the only ones there on a stretch of sand a half mile long without a hotel or other person in site. We relaxed as the day’s sun moved across the sky. I snorkeled for 3 hours as I had done when I was a kid in Marco Island, FL on family vacations. The risk paid off, we had found our slice of Puerto Rican paradise.

Old San Juan was exactly what I thought it would be, yet still very enjoyable. Touristy in its unique way, but still friendly and full of potential. San Cristobal Fort was worth the $5 admission and was worthy of the hour. We heard of an old bar called La Factoria, after walking in circles for an hour we found it. It was named, “La Taberna Lupolo” on the outside. This explained why we walked by it ten damn times. Carlos, our bartender, made us a unique drink infamously called, “The Industry Handshake.” It was a blend of Don Q rum, cayenne pepper and a dash of some ‘magic’ I couldn’t get him to share. The drinks were worth every penny that night, and went down like water on a hot summer's day. We drank till 4 in the morning that night, dancing and drinking with the locals. We drove to the airport, dead tired and ready for a nap. I slept right in front of my gate as to not miss its departure, surely someone would wake me up when they were boarding, and someone did thankfully.

My biggest take-a-way from this trip was a simple one: choose your travel partner wisely. Nick and I had been friends for a few years, but didn’t have any mutual friends and we lived roughly 1,000 miles apart. This distance created a lack of bullshit conversation on petty things going on back home. Instead, it opened us up to REAL conversations about life, passions, and our dreams.  My advice would be this, if you take a trip don’t always go with your best local friends. Ask an old friend who has moved away, try and reconnect with them on a new level. The opportunity for growth in your friendship is exponential.

Total cost for 5 and half days of badassity:  about $1500

$573 for flight, purchased 10 days out

$217 for food

$70 for paddle boarding/ caverns/ bio bay trip

$206 for alcohol, 70% of which was on the LAST night (idiot me!)

$250 misc cash spent

$150 for gas and car (short trips like this there was no time to hitch)

$85 on sleeping arrangement for 5 nights

Get out there and DO MORE! Thanks for reading. 

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Alaska Kayaking Video

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