How do transit fares work in Boston? (Milton, Harvard: how much, hotel)

[cleasach]

Good afternoon,

I got some great advice for a friend that's traveling to Milton this summer and now I have my own trip to plan.

I'll be attending a conference at Harvard in early July and will be staying at the Days Inn on Soldiers Field Road. It looks to be about two miles (24 minutes) from Harvard station on a map and it looks like the number 86 bus is about a block from the hotel and will get me there. Do I need the NY equivalent of a Metrocard, which is a prepaid card to swipe on public transportation or can I pay in bills or coins? How much is the fare?

Thanks very much for any help.

[tickybox]

You can pay bus fares in cash/change, but the card is more convenient, and if you will be using the trains at all, you will need a card for that. If you are staying for any length of time, and want to do a bit of exploring, probably the most effective thing and easiest thing would be to get yourself a weekly pass that will cover both the trains (T, not commuter rail) and the bus.

Day/Week LinkPass
$11.00 for 1 day
$18.00 for 7 days
Unlimited travel on Subway, Local Bus, Inner Harbor Ferry, and Commuter Rail Zone 1A.
7-Day Pass valid for 7 days from the date and time of purchase.

You will need to get yourself to a location where you can buy one of these.

It's been so long since I've paid cash for the bus I can't recall what it is... either $1.50 or $2 per trip?

[cleasach]

I will be traveling on Amtrak and getting off at South Station. Can the pass be purchased there or closeby? I will be in town for a week so the pass os probably the best option for me. Thanks for the reply. I will be taking a cab from the station to the hotel when I arrive and depart but will be taking the bus daily from the hotel to Harvard.

[kingeorge]

South Station is great place to buy what you need!

[AbrasaxEos]

Yes, you should see plenty of self-service kiosks where you can purchase any of the passes, etc. The week long unlimited pass is probably your best bet. You can also use a variety of apps, both web-based and smartphone based to check on the buses, which you will want for the 86 bus, as it runs fairly frequently, but also goes on a traffic-heavy route, which can get congested and make a bus that is scheduled to come at one time be considerably later. Just search for Boston T apps, or go onto the mbta.com website and you will be able to find them.

[cleasach]

Originally Posted by AbrasaxEos

Yes, you should see plenty of self-service kiosks where you can purchase any of the passes, etc. The week long unlimited pass is probably your best bet. You can also use a variety of apps, both web-based and smartphone based to check on the buses, which you will want for the 86 bus, as it runs fairly frequently, but also goes on a traffic-heavy route, which can get congested and make a bus that is scheduled to come at one time be considerably later. Just search for Boston T apps, or go onto the mbta.com website and you will be able to find them.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.