Help with Charlie tickets

Hi Everyone.

I will be flying to Boston with my 2 teenage children in a few weeks to watch the Red Sox play (yeah!), we are staying near Copley Place and we are not renting a car. I would like to use the subway system but I have a few questions:

Can all 3 of use the same Charlie ticket?

Are my children eligible for the student discount ticket even though they do not live in Boston?

Do we have to pay the fee every time we change subway lines?

Is there another form of transportation that would be recommended for visitors instead of the subway?

Any mass transportation system is a new experience for us so we are excited to ride the subway, after looking over the MBTA site I think it will be easy enough for us to use but any helpful tips would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your help.

WestCoastMom

Help with Charlie tickets

Your other choices would be walking (often the best choice - Boston is very walkable and small), and taxis (sometimes the right choice - don%26#39;t be afraid to get a cab - you are on vacation).

I sympathize with your consternation because in 1999 I tried to entertain three of my wife%26#39;s Italian cousins in Washington, D.C. and found the public transportation and the people there extremely obtuse and aggravating.

The Charlie tickets are new (to me anyway). I don%26#39;t think they apply to groups of people but I really don%26#39;t know. I know that other cities (in the world) have family tickets so maybe the MBTA does. If you%26#39;ve been studying mbta.com I%26#39;m sure that%26#39;s good information.

In general, if you are underground, you can change from one subway line to another without an additional fee. This is actually pretty much true in any city I%26#39;ve ever been to, with the exception of Tokyo.

Help with Charlie tickets

Getting around Boston is easily done through a combination of walking and the T. Truthfully, it sometimes can take longer waiting at a station for the train than it is to short cut by walking surface streets. The main part of the city (where you%26#39;ll be most of the time) is small enough that you can get from Copley Square to Faneuil Hall in about 20 minutes at a brisk pace. Plus, the weather right now is just right for a walk.

Now, as for the other questions, each of you must have your own CharlieTickets. The MBTA uses a debit-based system so you apply value to the tickets and then use that ticket until the value has been exhausted. The dispensing machines at the stations are touchscreens like an ATM so they%26#39;re easy to deal with.

As for the child discount, I think it only applies to kidlets under 5 and school students with valid school ID. Check the deets at http://www.mbta.com.

As for paying the fare, it is valid for one-way travel in any direction or any line exchange as long as you remain underground. Should you leave the station and then later on wish to reenter, another fare is necessary.

I suggest a good map that designates the T stations and their proximity to all the things you%26#39;re likely to want to see. In some cases, stations can be as close as just a few blocks. And since you%26#39;re going to see the Red Sox, keep in mind that the closest station is Kenmore, NOT Fenway. Take any Green Line train outbound except an E train to get you there. Just follow the push of the crowd towards the park when you come up to ground level.

Thank you for the great information you have both provided, it sounds like Boston is a walkable city which will allow us to take in as much as we can in the short time we are there.

I have another question, what would be the best way to get to our hotel from the airport, taxi or subway? I understand the taxi would be easier but it is more expensive and the subway would be cheaper however I wonder if it would be a hassle for the 3 of us with our luggage.

Westcoastmom03

In your case I would spring for the taxi. Although subway will certainly be cheaper, you are paying 3 subway fares and lugging luggage. After you settle in your accommodations you can easily navigate around the city either by foot or subway. Also, you could check to see if your hotel has free shuttle from the airport.

School aged kids can get through without paying but teens have to pay...

The T is very cool...it%26#39;s great...you%26#39;ll love it...

Also, bear in mind that you can get a weekly pass for the T for only $15. If you think you%26#39;ll be using the T alot, it%26#39;s a great deal.

My sister and I recently were in Boston, I purchased a Charlie Card and we were both able to use it. Just ask one of the transit workers in the station, she was friendly and helpful, answered our questions, and got us on our way in no time. The system is easy to use and we didn%26#39;t get lost once!

MBTA ';T'; fares can be confusing, since there are so many methods of payment.

You may share a card if you have a Charlie Card or Charlie ticket. It is dependent on which card/ticket or pass you use. The ticket and card are used per ride, so if you have a Charlie Ticket or Charlie Card then you may share since each ride will be deducted from the card or ticket. Just put the card/ticket in the machine go through the turnstile and pass it on to the next user. A pass is not to be shared because it is per user, not per ride.

- Charlie Ticket- $2.00 per ride (add as much value to the card as needed) Charlie Tickets are available at all the T stops

-Charlie Card - $1.70 per ride (free local bus and you can also add as much value to the card) only able to purchase cards online, certain retail stores, certain T stops or going to Customer Service M-F 8 A- 6P at the Downtown Crossing T stop

- Charlie Day Link Pass- $9.00 per person goodr one day

- Charlie Weekly Link Pass - $15.00 per person good for 7 consecutive days

Charlie Day Link and Weekly Link Pass are the best value for tourists, they are per person and not per ride. They may be purchased at any T vending machine (including the airport T stop) or certain retail stores.

Unlimited subway local bus, inner-habor ferry and commuter rail only to zone 1A

- Charlie Monthly pass- dependent on use

- Charlie Semester pass - available through the local colleges

-To get Student or Senior fares use must have a proper MBTA ID card, not available for tourists

-Children under 11 are always free when with a paying adult.

Thank you all so much for the great information, I really appreciate it. I have a better understanding of the Charlie pass/card/ticket and I feel a little more confident about using your T system (hope I phrased that right??). I think it will be best for us to get a cab from the airport to the hotel but we will definitley use the subway during our stay.

Thanks again and looking forward to visiting Boston in a few weeks.

westcoastmom03