Oh, worldly wise regular fliers to US, I fall at your feet and beg your pearls of travelesque wisdom..

[AuraofDora]

In a nutshell I'm orf to the USA first time ever, on my tod too!
I need advice on flying these days post terror, and just sort of being there in general! It's business but I'll be on my own, so is eating in diners, restuarants okay - can you carry it off alone with book and generally going out, cinema or theatre, is it a no-no or not would you say?
It's Boston I'm off to - any particular recommendations for here? I'm very excited at the prospect of visiting Museum of Fine Arts, but any other ideas?

TIA ladies

You may well need your photo ID with you if you want a drink too... the legal age is 21 there but I got asked for ID at the age of 35, jetlagged! (passport is fine for this - I'm old enough not to have photo driving license)

Re: the landing forms, have your passport number and the address you'll be staying at handy. I always forget and put it away in an inaccessible pocket in my bag at the back of the overhead bin. Ditto a pen.

The ESTA has replaced the green landing card form previously needed thankfully!.

The customs form will ask for the US Street Address (hotel name/destination), flight number and your passport number amongst other details. This form will be given to you perhaps at check in or on the aircraft. You will need to hand this completed form also to the immigration officer upon arrival into Boston.

Take your time completing it, if you make a mistake ask for another form. Do not leave completing this till the last minute, I have seen people being sent to the back of the line for having incomplete forms!.

AuraofDora - have you also completed the API (advance passenger information) form online as required by the airline you booked with?.

I spend a full week in New York last year on my own. Most evenings I took a book and searched for a restaurant to have dinner. It could be a bit boring but it was ok. I never ever had any problems being alone.

We bought various electrical things over the years in the US and never had an issue. Take them out of the package and post your recipes. Take labels of clothing. I actually wore a couple of things I bought during my stint at work there (was two weeks in total).

If you're going to have time for sightseeing, it may be worth your getting the Go Boston Card. You buy it for one or more days and it covers most of the tourist attractions you might want to go to. Museums are expensive in the US so it all adds up quickly if you don't have the pass.

The museum of science is well worth a visit and it's in Cambridge (actually spans the river between Cambridge and Boston) so may be convenient for you.

Imo at the current exchange rate most things are not sufficiently cheaper in the US to make it worth spending your time shopping if that's not what you enjoy doing.

You don't say when you're going but be warned that Boston can be COLD in autumn. Right now the middle of the days are warm but mornings and evenings chilly. In a few weeks, you will probably need warm coat, hat, scarf and gloves.

Personally, I thought the museum of science was very disappointing - I went to a party there 4 years ago, and an awful lot of it was v dated. The theatre of electricity was pretty good though.

Oh, yes, the cold. DH and I were there once, first day or two the weather was nice. Then the wind changed and it was absolutely freezing. We had to go and buy thick coats.

It is worth getting one of the bus tour things to see the city and get a good idea where things are - you can hop on and off. (I assume they still run during the autumn). There is a ferry from Boston harbour to the Naval Boatyard at Charlestown (where the USS Constitution is). The ferry is really cheap and you get good harbour views - even if you're not actually interested in seeing the USS Constitition itself. Quincy Market at Faneuil Hall is good for takeaway food - there's a huge range. We liked teh Science Museum - but may be because we had the kids with us and they loved it.

Might not want to admit to being English (if you are) on that bus tour though .

I don;t have any advice further to what has been already said.

I am also travelling to USA alone - tomorrow - squeeeeeee!!! Am excited, but getting a bit anxious that I have everything sorted. I think I have. Jst need to tidy the house for the babysitters!! :)

Enjoy! Boston sounds ace- it's on my list!

Loads of people have given you advice on Boston but as you're staying in the People's Republic of Cambridge I hope you spend some time there too!! Things you should definitely check out:

• School is definitely IN at Harvard and MIT, so you should spend at least a day walking around campus - there are free lectures, concerts and you could even sit at the back of a lecture if you're not dressed like a tourist. There are some wonderful museums too, of which the Fogg is probably right up your alley - if you're there on the 29th all entry is free for the day (they still send me fundraising appeals...)
• Harvard Square is lovely - have a coffee at Peet's, Cafe Algiers or Cafe Pamplona, have a poke around the Coop and the Harvard Bookstore, lots of lovely shops. For experiences, definitely have a burger at Bartley's.
• Davis Square is easy to get to on the T (Red Line) and it's full of quirky cafes and shops, excellent ice cream at JP Licks, a great cinema (the Somerville Theatre), and the Rosebud diner which is ace.
• For shopping, Newbury Street is a great place to go - the Back Bay in general is very nice and there's a great used book store as well.
• You can go to Legal for seafood but it's a bit coughtouristycough...if you want something a bit different you should definitely go to the Island Creek Oyster Bar and have clam chowder and a lobster roll (or my fave, fried belly clams...mmm...)

Ask me if there's anything you're particularly interested in seeing but definitely pick up a copy of Boston Magazine - they've got a great Best of Boston section that's worth a look.

Wow, this is fantastic you guys, thank you all so much

Am off to check the API thing now, I leave on Tuesday so need to feel I am getting organised, officialdom and I dont get on too well..

Ladies, the tips for the official landing forms/ID etc are awesome and just what i need too, you are whipping a organisational slut into fine shape here
Will transfer all this info into my small handbag note book. And two forms

I am going for work, to research at one of the libraries in Harvard and hopefully will be spending a lot of time in The People's Republic Xiaoxiong that made me laugh, I just read it in the Rough Guide.
Thanks for the coffee / hang out recommendations, will make a note now. I will be there on the 29th and will sign up for the Smithsonian offer, your tips and insider info are truly just great, the shopping and poking around sounds delightful am hoping to do a bit of this after school as well as the weekend..

I really wish I had some holiday to tag on to this as it sounds very exciting place - DH thinks I will be having brunch with Noam Chomsky, whilst whistling at the freshmen - well, I'll try not to disapppoint now..

Was wondering about the weather, will leave open-toed sandals at home then and stick my beret and a scarf in the bag

I love the sea, a harbour trip sounds fab too

Am not English, and have an Irish surname so hoping that will exempt me from any colonial backlash

You lot never fail to amaze, am very grateful indeed

Shrimponastick - have fun!

Ooh which library Aura? (having spent not enough days in the libraries there in my time...)

In terms of weather you could catch the tail end of a very hot Indian summer's day but more likely it will be bright with a nip in the air.

It's at the Fine Art Library, cant wait to get my sticky mitts gloved hands on their wonderful prints am so excited!

Thanks for weather update, I'll go for layers then and not too many most of my luggage allowance will be gobbled up by old books

Ooh that's in Littauer! So you'll be v close to the Square and all the nice things to do and see. (It's also where the Economics department is, in case you're wondering why no one looks very arty )

A great place to go for lunch that's about a 2 min walk from there, a Cambridge stalwart is Veggie Planet on the corner of Church Street and Palmer Street. It's mostly people eating alone for some reason, lots of faculty and students grabbing a bite for lunch. Can personally vouch for the peanut noodle salad and the portobello redhead pizza. The house salad with tofu croutons is ace too.

Looks just fab Xiao and nice to know I wont be the only one eating alone..
..but will just have to look bit arty on my own!
The work itself is really exciting, proper research, just hope I have enough time to do it and not too jet lagged. Still pinching myself and dreaming about arriving at Heathrow with no passport..I'm going to pack it now!