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Boston Travel Guide and Activities

Boston has a long standing reputation for excellence in education as well as being an important city in America’s history. Its colonial history blends with its modern urban appeal as old red brick houses sit comfortably next to gleaming skyscrapers. Boston is a city with vitality, undeniable character and history.

5 things to see

  • Faneuil Hall Marketplace, the city’s centre of food and shopping, right next-door to EC Boston
  • Cape Cod’s 40 miles of untouched sandy beaches
  • Walking through Harvard University campus, the oldest and most prestigious university in the USA
  • The Ferry to Martha’s Vineyard, a sunny island with plenty of beaches and home to The Flying Horses, America’s oldest carousel
  • Discover the haunting past of Salem with a walking tour devoted to the 1692 Witch Trials
Monthly Activities

Climate

Boston has a humid continental/subtropical climate, which is common in coastal southern New England. Summers are typically warm and humid, while winters are cold, windy, and snowy. The hottest month is July while the coldest is January.

Money

Currency: $ (US Dollars)

If you are staying in the United States for a long period of time you might want to open a bank account. You should request a letter from the administration office on the 4th floor. The letter will be available 24 hours after you have requested it. Please submit your full name and local address to the office.

You will need at least two of the following items to open a bank account:

  1. Passport and I-20
  2. Student I.D., major credit card, a U.S. driver’s license or a Massachusetts I.D.
  3. Social security number if you have one.

Public holidays falling on a weekday

17 Jan 2022, 21 Feb 2022, 18 Apr 2022, 30 May 2022, 20 Jun 2022, 04 Jul 2022, 05 Sep 2022, 10 Oct 2022, 11 Nov 2022, 24 Nov 2022, 25 Nov 2022, 26 Dec 2022

Telephone Country Code

+1 617 / 781

Electricity

110 V; 60Hz - 2 flat-pin plug or third round pin are used

Tap water

Tap water is safe unless there’s a sign to the contrary.

Medical

If you are not at school and are in an emergency you can either call 911 for ambulance, fire department or police department from any telephone or call the school’s emergency number 1-617-990-4880 or free within the United States 1-800-964-7009.

What to do if you get sick:

  1. Call the doctor to make an appointment. It is rare, in the United States, to be able to see a doctor without an appointment. If you feel that you must see a doctor immediately, you can go to an emergency room. However, depending on the seriousness of the illness or injury, you may have to wait in line for many hours at the emergency room.
  2. If you want to consult a doctor when you are in the U.S., first of all please call the toll-free phone number on your insurance card in order to obtain a recommendation for a doctor nearby. Please show the doctor your insurance confirmation card.
  3. If the doctor has any questions about your insurance protection, ask him or her to call the insurance company directly. Some doctors and hospitals insist on the patient paying the invoice at the time of service. If this is the case for you, please send the original invoice together with the completed claim form to the addresses on the claim form.
  4. If you need immediate emergency care, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency facility.

Transport

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) operates the oldest subway system in the United States, known locally as the “T”. You can travel by bus, subway, commuter rail or ferry.

Log on to http://www.mbta.com for an itinerary that includes the closest bus stop and the schedule, chose “Plan a Trip” to get a personalized schedule. If you wish to travel to other major cities in the United States you can do so by air, bus or train.

Train: You can also travel to other major US cities by train. Although this is more convenient, it is not much faster and travel by train is more expensive than traveling by bus. Trains depart from both South Station and Back Bay Station. www.amtrak.com Purchase the ticket online. We recommend that you book in advance as it is often cheaper and if you are caught on the trains without a valid ticket you will be fined.

Taxis The nearest taxi stand is in front of EC Boston (on the opposite side of the street). Taxis can be booked in advance. Always make sure you take a taxi with a license plate number, which is located on the back of the taxi and if you are not sure, do not use them. Taxis to/from Logan airport will include extra “toll” fees and airport charges.

Public Transport Info

Visa

For Visa information please read Applying for a Visa in USA

Cost of Living

Bottle of water/soda (0.33 litre) $1.00-$2.00
Fast-Food combo meal $6.50-$9.00
Meal, inexpensive restaurant $12.00-$20.00
Coffee/cappuccino $3.50-$4.50
Fitness club (monthly, 1 adult) $29.00-$90.00
Public transport (local transport) $2.25-2.75 (one-way);
Public transport (monthly pass) $80.00-85.00

Other Useful Information

Driving Age

The minimum driving age is 16 years but most rental companies require that you be at least 26 years old, have an international driving license, a second form of identity and a major credit card.

Alcohol Age

Legal age for drinking in the US is 21 and many places will ask for identification.

Smoking laws

Smoking is banned in all enclosed public places and workplaces, including restaurants and bars.

Insurance

All EC Boston students must be covered by health insurance for the entire length of their stay in the U.S. If you do not have health insurance, you must purchase insurance from EC Boston.

Useful Links