Getting to Boston: By plane

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• Logan International Airport (IATA: BOS), ☎ +1 800-23-LOGAN (56426), www.massport.com/logan. radio: AM 1650.

Boston Logan International Airport is the main gateway to Boston and New England. It is in East Boston a few kilometers from downtown. All major U.S. carriers serve Boston Logan with extensive direct connections nationwide. Many European carriers also fly to Boston from their hubs including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic (London), Air France (Paris), Alitalia (Rome), Lufthansa (Frankfurt, Munich), Aer Lingus (Dublin, Shannon), Swiss (Zurich), Icelandair (Reykjavik), Iberia (Madrid) and NWA/KLM (Amsterdam). Getting to Boston from Asia will require at least a one stop connection.

The Silver Line is a low-floor articulated bus that stops at each terminal every 10 to 15 minutes, from 6AM to 12:45AM every day (5:35AM start M-Sa). From the airport the bus travels through the occasionally-clogged Ted Williams Tunnel, and then through a dedicated bus tunnel to an underground stop at South Station. Convenient transfers are available to the Red Line, south-side commuter rail trains, and southwesterly Amtrak trains. The fare is $1.70 with plastic CharlieCard, or $2 cash or CharlieTicket. The Silver Line is best if your final destination is on the Red Line.

To get to the Blue Line, MBTA boat, or parking, take a free Massport shuttle bus. Check the sign on the front of the shuttle for its destination.

The Blue line requires a transfer at the Airport Station to/from a free Massport shuttle to get to/from the terminals. On your way out of the city, check the signs at the Airport Station to see which terminal you need and which shuttle route goes there. The Airport station was completely rebuilt in 2004. Blue Line fare is $1.70 with plastic CharlieCard, or $2 with cash or CharlieTicket. You can get a CharlieCard for free if you ask the customer service agent near the faregates at Airport station. This is a good deal; it gets you discounts on all MBTA trains and buses, and free transfers. You can get this discount on your first ride if you see the agent before you use the ticket vending machine. The last Blue Line train leaves Airport station shortly after about 12:30AM.

From the Blue line, change at Government Center for Green Line trains and at State Street for Orange Line trains. If you need a Red Line train, you could take a Green Line train from Government Center to Park Street, but the Silver Line (see above) is a better bet.

Taxis are more expensive than in many other cities. Fortunately, the airport is very near the city so the fare is not extremely expensive. It would be about $25 for fares to Boston, and less if you are staying downtown in the financial district. If you're not driving or being picked up, you'll need to take a taxis if you are at the airport when the T is not running.

Airporter, Phone: +1 781-899-6161, toll free: +1 877-899-6161 reservations@theairporter.com www.theairporter.com. Between Logan and the suburbs, door to door.

Driving to Logan from the north, take the Callahan Tunnel; from the south or the west, take the Ted Williams Tunnel. Routes are well marked, and there is no toll in this direction. Driving from the airport to downtown Boston or to points north, including Interstate 93 northbound, take the Sumner Tunnel; for points south and west, including Interstate 93 southbound and Interstate 90, take the Ted Williams Tunnel. There is a $3 toll for either tunnel. Routes are well marked, but the airport road system is complex. Read the signs carefully and be sure you're in the correct lane, or you may be forced to swerve across several lanes of traffic to catch an unexpected off-ramp.

Airport Limos Axis Coach, LLC [www.axiscoachusa.com] is a great choice for travel to and from Logan airport or Manchester airport. They have reasonable rates from $79 one way. They are also a good choice for nights out and their knowledgeable chauffeurs also double as tour-guides. They show you the local flavor of Boston.

If your final destination is a point outside of Boston, you may be better off flying into Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (IATA: MHT) www.flymanchester.com (50 miles north of Boston) or T.F. Green Airport (IATA: PVD) www.pvdairport.com (60 miles south of Boston). Public transportation from these airports to Boston is infrequent, so if your final destination is Boston, renting a car is the best option.

General Aviation traffic is mostly served by Hanscom Field (ICAO: KBED) off Route 128/I-95 near Bedford, Lexington and Burlington, northwest of Boston.

• www.massport.com/logan
• www.theairporter.com
• www.flymanchester.com
• www.pvdairport.com