solo female traveller - safety 4 nights in boston

hi everyone

i am staying in boston18th-22nd june for 4 nights after 3 nights in philadelphia , i have a hearing disability but wear a hearing aid,so i can hear okay, i am from the uk and this is my first time to america and boston. i am staying at the sheraton on dalton street, is this area safe at night?

also i plan on arrival to get a go boston card and head over to fenway park for their tour, is this area safe during the day? and what time does the tours close?

also on my 2nd day i plan on taking the train out to salem from north end station (not sure whether to take the boat?) and i will be arriving back around 7pm, is it safe in this area at night? and would i be able to walk back to my hotel safely or would a cab be more advisable?

what areas should i avoid?

also looking for places to eat at night,im not the sort of person to dress up for a meal, so a more relaxed dress code.

also what is there to do at night as i dont drink that much and im not into nightclubs etc, i am not a person to strike up conversations with complete strangers. help this is my first time, i am married but this trip i am doing on my own.

any ideas and advice would be great

solo female traveller - safety 4 nights in boston

would the trip to salem be better by train or by the ferry? not sure which to choose here, if the ferry anyone have any info on times and prices etc?

thanks

solo female traveller - safety 4 nights in boston

Hi dreamcometrue! How exciting. I can totally understand being nervous, but don%26#39;t worry - Boston is an ideal city for a solo female traveler. All of the neighborhoods where you%26#39;d want to be (such as Back Bay where the Sheraton is) are very safe. In terms of areas to avoid - again, there really aren%26#39;t any where touristy/fun sites are, so you should really be fine! The only thing I%26#39;d say is that Downtown/Financial district while VERY safe, gets quieter at night, so you might feel slightly less comfortable there after dark.

Of course, all of this being said, just use common sense - stay in well lit areas, take a taxi if it%26#39;s late at night rather than walking alone, etc.

Regarding what to do at night outside of bars and nightclubs, there are certainly options - some of the museums are open at night, and less crowded, such as the MFA (Museum of Fine Arts) that%26#39;s open Wed - Fri until 9:45pm. Also, I know you said you weren%26#39;t into meeting people, but the evening events at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum look fun, and there%26#39;s one when you%26#39;re here: gardnermuseum.org/afterhours/event_june.asp

Either way, the MFA and Gardner Museums are great to visit while you%26#39;re here if you like art!

Eating - you%26#39;re so close to many casual restaurants, you won%26#39;t have a problem finding something. I like the Summer Shack which is lobster and BBQ type fare a stone%26#39;s throw from the Sheraton. All down Boylston Street you can find casual options for anything you might want!

I%26#39;ll post again if I think up any more night time activities, and the others will weigh in on your Salem trip, I%26#39;m sure.

Have a great time, and just ask questions here if you have them.

As you%26#39;ve alrady heard, Boston is a safe city, although you have to use your ';street smarts'; no matter where you go.

For information on the Salem ferry, check http://www.salemferry.com/. The train info to Salem can be found in mbta.com, commuter rail, Rockport Line. You will have to take a taxi from the port area to your hotel, but could take the subway from the rail station.

Most places in Boston have no specific dress code, so that shouldn%26#39;t be much of a problem.

The ferry is a nice ride especially if it%26#39;s a nice day. You get it down by Long Wharf which is near the Aquarium.

Anywhere a tourist would go in Boston is pretty safe. The subway is busy at night and safe, too.

At night you could take in a show such as Blue Man Group or Shear Madness. Both are always running. Or take a look at the Arts section on Boston.com and see if anything appeals.

hi

thanks bostontophilly for replying, what i meant about not talking to strangers is i dont mind, but as i am shy around people i dont know until i get to know them, i probably would talk to someone if they spoke to me and seemed alright.

are cabs easy to catch in boston?

seems strange your username and im staying in both philadelphia and boston!

hi

also i may be 40 yrs old but i look as if i am in my late 20%26#39;s early 30%26#39;s and i feel like im in my late 20%26#39;s, i often get mistaken for my daughters older sister by her friends

hi

phillytoboston, can i use the go boston card for the after hours tickets at the isabella gardner museum? this sounds like fun?

Sure. And if your name is Isabella, admission is free.

I know! You should hop over to the Philly board, too. They%26#39;re great, and it is more important to know where you%26#39;re going in Philly - most areas are very safe as well, but some dicier neighborhoods can pop up! I%26#39;d give you more advice on Philly, but I moved to Boston years ago so my advice isn%26#39;t very current.

Oh, I didn%26#39;t think you were saying you wouldn%26#39;t talk to anyone! :) I think Gardner After Hours could be fun because it definitely draws a nice crowd. I%26#39;m not that familiar with the Go Card (someone else might have better advice for you on that!) but after a quick look on their website it says it can be used toward General Admission at the Gardner...

Cabs are easy to catch anywhere in the busy areas. The only time I usually have problems at all are in bad weather or at last call (around 2am - which honestly, I haven%26#39;t seen in a while!) so you should be fine.

Let us know what else you need - happy to help!

As far as food and safety, there are a number of restaurants on Newbury St. Also, a trip over to Harvard Sq in Cambridge has lots of great restaurants. That is an easy T ride.