<p>Can anyone give me some advice on getting my son from Brown to Boston Logan? I am considering the Peter Pan Bus Line for his return home at Christmas. His flight is at 3:30 p.m. and the dorms close at 9 a.m. the day he is flying home. Is there anywhere that will still be open on campus (a library?) where he can go before walking to the bus? Also, how far is the downtown Providence bus stop for the Peter Pan bus? Close enough to walk carrying a duffle bag? There is a bus that leaves at 9:15 and one at 11:30. Is there anywhere near the bus stop where he can kill time if he takes the 11:30 bus or should I have him get over there for the 9:15? I appreciate anyone’s advice.</p>
<p>The bus used to leave from Kennedy Plaza, which is currently under reconstruction so he should call the company and get the exact location. It takes less than 15 minutes to walk downtown from campus – students do it all the time, even with bags – it’s downhill, too.</p>
<p>There are coffee places on Thayer Street that will be open. The bookstore is open. The fitness center is probably open, and Faunce should be open, too. Since he’s on campus now, he should be able to figure out other buildings that are open. He’s probably better off waiting on campus than where the bus leaves.</p>
<p>I’d leave it up to him to figure out where he’d rather wait, on campus or at the airport. </p>
<p>Thank you so much for the information on the construction, fireandrain. I know nothing about downtown Providence. I guess that was my one concern - whether the bus stop was in an area you would want to wait around in for very long. I’ll have him look into where the new bus stop may be and guess he can just wait in a coffee shop or something. Do you agree that this bus is the best option for students getting to Logan? This is our first experience.</p>
<p>Ooh, no, don’t have him take the bus. Peter Pan has been very unreliable for me.</p>
<p>I fly in and out of Logan every time I come between my parents house and Brown, and always take MBTA. Your son should know where the station is (downtown near the mall, a quick walk), and it’s quite reliable. He’ll take the train to South Station, and then there’s a bus (the Silver Line) that goes directly to Logan. Quick and easy, and it’s what many Brown students do, so he’ll have company.</p>
<p>It takes a bit of time, so I’d have him leave when the dorms close, and head into Boston. Around/in South Station there are plenty of places to eat, or he can just get to Logan on the early side and eat there.</p>
<p>@Bruno14 thank you so much for this advice. I have been wondering about the Peter Pan bus as the reviews have not been that great. I am very far away from Providence and have been trying to figure this out without bothering him about it till I have an idea about what the best option is, so your insight has helped me a great deal. Thanks again.</p>
<p>I second the advice on taking the MBTA. Here’s a link to the schedules: <a href=“Providence/Stoughton Line | Commuter Rail | MBTA”>Providence/Stoughton Line | Commuter Rail | MBTA;
<p>He can get the MBTA app and buy a ticket on his phone or buy it from the cafe area in the train station. It’s $10.50 one way, and if you opt to buy it at the train station it’s cash only. Depending on which train you catch, and how many stops it makes, the trip to South Station is 1 to 2 hours. Then at South Station he’ll have to get a CharlieCard to take the Silver Line 1 to the airport. Make sure he knows his terminal because Logan is pretty big (or at least it feels big to me) and the first time I went I didn’t know my terminal and had to walk forever. </p>
<p>Third the MBTA.</p>
<p>I also want to share my story of the time I stayed in the dorms past closing. I was in a similar situation where I had a later flight home that day so I decided I would just stay in my room until the afternoon when I needed to go to TF green. 9am is when they want you out and they start doing sweeps of the dorms to make sure that they are really set for winter (i.e. windows closed, no live animals etc). At least I think that’s what they were doing. I could hear them going through the halls knocking on doors. I was sitting in my room watching TV when they knocked on my door and came in. They told me I had to leave because the dorms were closed. I was already packed and everything so I just threw on my coat and was heading to Thayer to wait it out but then ran into some friends who were in the same boat so we ended up splitting a cab and just going to TF green early. It’s probably best to not do what I did but it’s not like your son will get in trouble if they find him clearly just trying to kill a few hours.</p>
<p>Fourthing MBTA. It’s so easy. This is going to sound crazy, but my son prefers to take MBTA to Logan instead of a cab to TF Green. He has favorite restaurants and such at Logan, and he finds the train relaxing and plenty flexible. I’ll PM you. I’m sure my DS (who has traveled all over by himself for years) would be happy to either go with your son or talk him through it over late-night snacks at Joe’s or something. The only time DS prefers TF Green is if he is moving in or moving out and has two huge suitcases. Otherwise, it’s MBTA/Logan for him. :)</p>
<p>Or if not the MBTA, he can take Amtrak to South Station, and then the Silver Line.</p>
<p>Thanks so much everyone for all the advice. @BrunoAlumnus I enjoyed hearing your story - funny. My thought though, knowing my son, is that if the rules are to be out by 9 he will be out. @Bruno17513 I really appreciate your posting the link to the MBTA schedules and information on the MBTA app. That would be right up his alley, doing it all on his phone. Also good to know about the Charlie card - was wondering if he could get one in Providence and use it for his trip to south station using the MBTA. @happykidsmom, thanks for your additional opinion on the MBTA and offer to PM me. Also very nice of you to offer your son’s help! Also thanks to @Chedva for the other option about Amtrack - I wondered about that and if I would need a reservation for Amtrack. Now that I know there is an easier way than the Peter Pan bus, that is what I will tell him. This is all a wealth of knowledge and I appreciate it all being here in one place so I can refer to it again as Christmas gets closer. Ordinarily I wouldn’t be so involved in all these logistics but was worried about not getting a reservation for that Peter Pan bus before the seats were sold out for Christmas/winter break. If he takes the MBTA it sounds like he will have a lot more options as far as time goes and, as happykidsmom said, I can see my son enjoying hanging out in a larger airport like Logan for quite awhile. I have not even discussed any of this yet with my son as he is very busy (he reminds us of that every time we call). As a freshman, first semester, he is taking 5 rather than the recommended 4 classes, and 4 of them are STEM. Advanced Placement Calculus is giving him a run for his money (something about IB not preparing you as much as AP calculus in HS? would love to hear other opinions on this but I know that is another subject entirely). So as time gets closer, I will tell him the options to get to Logan. He’s a very independent and self reliant kid so not too worried he will find his way. Just a worried mother in the background. Thanks again for all your help!</p>
<p>I am a Peter Pan fan. Just sit on the bus and go right to your airline’s terminal at Logan. Don’t have to negotiate South Station with all the stairs.</p>
<p>@Brownmom1: Can’t get a CharlieCard in Providence, but they’re easy enough to get in South Station.</p>
<p>Amtrak is a bit shorter (fewer stops) than MBTA, but more expensive, and would be easier with a reservation. Honestly, I head up to Boston every few weeks and never find the need to pay extra for Amtrak.</p>
<p>@Bruno14: OK. Thanks for the info. I think we will be doing the MBTA. Appreciate all your help.</p>