I think the reason NYC is so attractive by train is that it ends up being nearly the same amount of time when you factor in airport check-in, security, waiting and then doing the reverse in NY. In contrast the Acela is large seats and it is easy to walk around, get something to eat, or just plug in the laptop and watch a movie.

Boston is a bit different because the time difference really starts to get noticed. Logan is so central and the train sort of dilly-dallies its way through Connecticut.

Anonymous wrote:Airplane. Not even a question. Would train between NY and Boston, especially given the out of the way locations of Logan and LaGuardia that adds to plane travel time, but not from DC.

Have you ever been to Boston? Logan is 5 minutes by cab or 10 by subway from pretty much all of the financial district or back bay. I've woken up at a Back Bay hotel an hour before a flight, showered, taken a cab, and made a flight with time to spare.

New York's airports are a different animal.

Airplane. Not even a question. Would train between NY and Boston, especially given the out of the way locations of Logan and LaGuardia that adds to plane travel time, but not from DC.

Plane to Boston
Acela to NYC

Train would take forever to Boston. It's 2.5 hours to NYC and then I think it sits in the station for an hour, and then a few more hours to Boston. Not worth it unless you have a huge plane phobia.

Acela is 7 hours and very comfortable. Plane is $100 r/t and you have choice of airports, carriers, and better schedule. Unless you don't like to fly, plane is a better bet. But if you don't like to fly and have the time, the acela is a good choice.

Plane. The Acela north of NYC is a totally different animal. You are talking about a seven or more hour train ride vs. what, a 50-minute flight? It's a no-brainer. You don't even save much money, if any, on the train.

OP here. Thanks. That's what I thought. I just kept hearing that the train was so great I thought I must be missing something.

DH and I were transferred to Boston for his job, as were our friends. We both take the plane back and forth. Jet Blue, Regan to Logan, perfect trip

Why torture yourself?
Plane is faster and less expensive.

Plane

Plane for sure.

Plane. The Acela is nice -- to NYC. Boston is just too far and the journey just takes too much time.

Plane.

I'm going to Boston in two weeks. I've taken the shuttle, but never the Acela. I've heard that its really nice. Would you suggest one rather than the other? TIA!