<p>D is travelling on Amtrak to Boston for Visitas on the 15th. So D is definitely lugging baggage and shoulder bag. Being a worried parent who's never been to Boston, is it better for D to take the Red Line train or a cab and how much does it cost? Any input is truly appreciated.</p>
<p>Red line is easier. The only thing that should make you want to take a cab is if the luggage is too hard to carry, though the amount of walking you do for the subway system is minimal.</p>
<p>We were in your shoes four years ago. We opted to pay for D’s cab which was around $35.00 plus tip. For the train, she would take the silverline(which is actually a bus) from the airport, then change trains at South Station onto the redline. It is not that difficult, and if she is up for the adventure, it is a cheap, around $2.-, but it will take 45 minutes or more with waiting time. With a cab, it is about 15 minutes.</p>
<p>The Silverline to the T is the true Boston experience, and when you come up above ground, there you are - in Harvard Square, looking at the campus. I’d recommend the T.</p>
<p>The red line is direct from so. Station(the train station) to harvard square, so there should be no silver line involved. It should take definitely less than 45 minutes, and just use a debit card to buy the Charlie fare round trip --$4</p>
<p>CORRECTION: So sorry, I misread and thought she was arriving from the Airport- I see it is Amtrack. </p>
<p>Then definiteley go with the redline, as she can hop on right at South Station!</p>
<p>I’m kind of in the same situation. My mom wants me to take a cab so that I don’t get lost, but I sort of want to be able to become more familiar with the transportation system b/c I already know that I am going to Harvard. At this point, I might be taking a cab and then take the T during move-in weekend.</p>
<p>Moms do worry, so if she is happy funding it, the cab provides lovely views of Boston and Cambridge. There is nothing like coming up off Storrow Drive and seeing the bell towers of Harvard Houses lining the Charles River, it is beautiful. The drive helps you get a sense of direction and visualize how close Cambridge really is to downtown Boston. (An easy 20 - 25 minute walk.)</p>
<p>I’d recommend the Red Line so she can familiarize herself with the T. If she picks up a free Charlie Card in the station, then the fare’s something like $1.70 - cheap. But the subway doesn’t make carrying luggage easy, so if it’s heavy, I’d go with a cab if cost is no concern.</p>
<p>Is she familiar with the area yet? My first time in Boston, I was utterly lost and went on the T on the wrong direction. :p</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.mbta.com/fares_and_passes/subway/[/url]”>http://www.mbta.com/fares_and_passes/subway/</a></p>
<p>How much luggage can she possibly be carrying for a three day stay :o? The Red Line will work fine. She may even run into a fellow student on the train :)!</p>
<p>The Redline is also not entirely underground; around the MGH stop you’ll get to see some sunshine and the river…</p>
<p>I am surprised with the response that I got. Thank you everyone. I know that my d will probably take the train if we can manage to get her to bring just the bare necessities. </p>
<p>xrCalico23 - 
She’s actually visiting Yale too. This will be a new experience for her; traveling by herself. She has always travel with the school even on international trip. I can’t help but lose a lot of sleep. I’m more worried about her traveling by herself than the school that she will eventually choose. I hope and pray that the people there will be just as nice and friendly as the people around here. Thank you once again.</p>
<p>If your daughter is coming via Amtrak, then the Red Line will be a bit more convenient, I think. Also, she doesn’t need much luggage for a 2-night stay - one bag should be enough.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Almostmt - This thread is really sort of nostalgic for me, because I was just where you are five years ago. I even asked on CC if it was OK to take the subway from the airport. We sent our D1 off to the Harvard admitted student weekend with a cell phone, called her several times, and worried about her following public transportation directional signs on her own. After all, when we’d travelled, she was always using that time to do homework since she stayed so busy outside of class. She really didn’t even drive herself many places in HS.</p>
<p>If there’s one thing at which Harvard is without peer, it’s putting opportunities and invitations in front of students and then subsidizing those who accept the invitations. Fast forward to today - as a Harvard student, D1 made three trips to Peru, one to Argentina, one to Brazil, taught HS students for three weeks in China, and visited Harvard friends in Italy, Paris and London. Last week when we were up there for D2’s Junior Parents Weekend, D1 came driving in from New York to meet us and chauffeured us all around Boston. She knows all the highlights and the backroads to get to them. She advises us on how to travel, how to pack light, where there are bargains, which airlines to seek and which to avoid. At 22, she’s more worldly and sophisticated than I’ll ever be. It’s hard to believe that that transformation has happened in only five years!</p>
<p>Bring less. Whatever she’s planning to pack, bring less. Having lots of luggage is a much bigger inconvenience than not having X object. On the off chance that she and her host decide to go somewhere dressy, the suite of freshman girls will have plenty for her to wear. One pair of flat boots that she can wear with jeans or a dress is all she will need.</p>
<p>My son does this a lot and usually takes the T. There have been times when he was able to somehow identify another Harvard student and share a cab.</p>
<p>My daughter will be flying in from the West Coast on Friday. I am also worried about her travelling from airport to Harvard. She has assured me she will be fine and should take the subway. Any advice? Is this safe?
Another question…Admitted students weekend said to bring a sleeping bag. She can bring a sleeping bag but it seems odd to bring one across the country.</p>
<p>TessaR - my daughter is a sophomore and she always takes the T to and from the airport. I have no concerns about the safety. wrt the sleeping bag, she will be staying in a student’s room that may or may not have a sofa to sleep on. It is best to prepare to have to sleep on the floor, so I’d bring the sleeping bag if it were me.</p>
<p>I visited this week and made it easily from the airport to Harvard on the T. Admittedly, I’ve made the trip a few times with my debate team, but I’ve also made that trip many times alone during the debate tournament–it’s remarkably easy.</p>