Possibly a bit niche, but I am traveling to Manchester, NH next month. I am traveling alone and am looking to fly either to Boston, then take an express bus to Manchester, or to fly directly into Manchester.

What's everyone's experience with either of those airports? I fly more than the average person but haven't ever flown into a regional airport. The end-to-end commute to Manchester by flight is several hours longer than to BOS plus taking the bus, but I generally prefer to stay within one or two modes of commuting.

Also looking for recommendations on hotels in Boston or Manchester with easy access to the airport but also around some neat food/scenery. Ideally I would stay one night all said and done, but might do two.

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pgh1197 t1_islzidi wrote on October 16, 2022 at 11:49 PM

Super niche … post this in r/Boston for better insight!

Wild-Stop4857 OP t1_ism0a3q wrote on October 16, 2022 at 11:55 PM

Lol!! I considered it. Coming here first to see if anyone has the end-to-end POV of the travel (and to possibly get downvoted)

skfoto t1_ism1y64 wrote on October 17, 2022 at 12:08 AM

Flying to Boston is super convenient. I do it a few times a year. We have a couple airlines with direct flights. Not only is that faster, but also cuts down on the potential for things to get messed up with missed connections and lost luggage and whatnot.

As for where to stay in Boston… really anywhere that’s close to a subway line will be good. The Blue and Silver Lines take you to the airport. The Green and Orange Lines connect to the Blue Line, and the Red Line connects to the Silver Line. Blue Line is faster and easier but if it meant saving $50 I’d take the Red/Silver without giving it a second thought.

dwn009 t1_ismahmn wrote on October 17, 2022 at 1:12 AM

Logan is a terrible airport, it’s up there with O’Hare and Douglas as my most hated and I hop on a plane once a week. Unless the cost is prohibitive fly direct, especially if you’re flying into Boston during anything close to rush hour as it’s going to add at least an hour to your bus ride. Regional airports are great, and you can typically show up shortly before your flight and get through security in minutes even if you’re not precheck.

Also if I may ask how is flying direct into Manchester longer than Boston and a bus? Or do you have a connection and layover with that?

Wild-Stop4857 OP t1_iso2zyx wrote on October 17, 2022 at 12:56 PM

Yeah, connection and layover in Boston, most for several hours

Elouiseotter t1_ism0m24 wrote on October 16, 2022 at 11:57 PM

If it is Concord Trailways you’ll be taking, they are great. I used to live in and Maine and flew out of Logan airport a lot. They pick you up and drop you off at your terminal. Logan is basically as close to downtown that any airport could be. Pick any hotel in Boston that strikes your fancy and book it.

Tiny-Cheesecake t1_ismitrl wrote on October 17, 2022 at 2:16 AM

The Manchester airport is tiny and easy to navigate. I used to fly into it all the time before Southwest went to Logan. If that's where you're going in the end, I'd fly direct unless it's prohibitively expensive or at 5am. If that's the case, Logan is also totally fine and has one of the prettier approaches of any airport--you loop in over the ocean and fly low over the harbor islands before landing. Get your luggage, catch the free Silver Line bus to South Station, and go from there.

Hotelwise, the lazy way would be to stay at an airport hotel and then take the T into Boston or Cambridge for sights/eats. You could stay anywhere off the Red Line too, but it's more $$$. If you're VERY lazy, stick around the airport, Eastie has a ton of good Salvadorean food.

Wild-Stop4857 OP t1_iso2xmr wrote on October 17, 2022 at 12:55 PM

Thanks! No direct flights from PGH to Manchester, if that is what you mean, but I would fly direct to Boston

cosmololgy t1_isnrgwd wrote on October 17, 2022 at 11:00 AM

I’ve done a similar trip several times. Flying to Boston is really easy; you’ll probably have to go to south station if you want to take a bus. So any hotel along the subway line that goes to south station should work.

AlleghenyCityHolding t1_isodpnn wrote on October 17, 2022 at 2:20 PM

Breeze to Providence, rent a car.

MorningCrickets t1_isoy9z5 wrote on October 17, 2022 at 4:50 PM

I travel to northern NH every year from PGH to visit my parents. I've found the Manchester airport to be great, less busy, and usually less money to travel to than the Boston airport. I find it is worth the longer time/layover as I hate the bus systems