New York or Boston?

[Kathryn15]

It is our 10 year anniversary next year and w e are planning to go somewhere on holiday to celebrate. We were thinking of 4. nights and would love to go to America (with no children)
Would Boston or New York be the best option? I would love to do both, but don't have enough time unfortunately

4 nights isn’t enough to do NYC justice. Perhaps do that another time when you can do at least 5 days.

Liked Boston (been a couple of times) - HATED New York. (Apart from the Statue of Liberty and the 9/11 memorial) wouldn’t go back if you paid me!

I like New York but Boston is one of my favourite cities. Loads to do and see in a walkable space with tons of interesting history, good food, shopping, whale watching, museums etc.

I vote Boston

America? At the moment? Seems like asking for trouble.

I have lived in both. Boston is a nice place to live but when people visited us I used to run out of things to do with them by day three. So I vote New York.

I’ve been to New York twice in the last 10 years and have been frankly disappointed. The tourist stuff is fun, and maybe you have to do it once in your life, but the city itself didn’t give me a good feeling at all, and didn’t live up to the glamour of films. Plus the subway was so so much more horrible than the London Underground that I couldn’t believe a world class city could function with something so nonsensical. It might have improved, but I wouldn’t go back.

I’ve been to Boston once and I’d go back in a heartbeat. It’s not as flashy as New York but it’s a place I could immediately picture myself living, and I felt at home just walking around it.

They’re very different trips though, so maybe think about what vibe you’re looking for. If you had a few more days you could fly into one and get the train, then fly out of the other. That’s very easy.

Lots more to do in NYC. Boston is nice but we did 2 nights there recently and thought that was enough.

I would say Boston. We did 5 nights - you wouldn’t need that just for city but we went to Salem for a day - we went late October but if earlier would have liked to have done a trip to the coast. You could also go to Concorde with more time.

If you’ve never been to either destination then surely it has to be New York.

Curveball here, but I'm going to suggest Washington DC - loads to see and do, all the excellent national museums are free, and the Georgetown area is absolutely stunning. Readily available flights at the same flight time. Hugely underated and loads nicer than NYC (although I've not been to Boston, would like to go there too)

I was in Boston two years ago loved it ..actually a lot of it reminded me of the posher parts of London.
I've never been to New York and I'm hoping to go soon.. I vote New York

Boston by miles.

I have been to NY a couple of times, mainly for work but with plenty of free time to do and see things.
I really dislike the city, loud,humid, very dirty, very expensive and in my opinion overrated.

We only went two years ago becaus it was DD's 16th birthday/GCSE celebration trip.

We went to both on our honeymoon several years ago. NYC was great if you want a busy, noisy trip. Boston is more chilled but still plenty to do. I'd happily go back to both.

We went to new York last year and had a brilliant time. We were there for 6 days, but i think we could have squeezed everything that interested us into 4, we are quite lazy so we took it easy. Tbh though, I don't think I would go anywhere in the states at the moment.

@Kathryn15 I’ve been to both and a few other USA cities as well. You have to consider when you are going and what you would like to see.

For example, NY has world class museums and art galleries as well as iconic buildings and views. However don’t go in the summer! It’s hot, humid and horrible. The subway is indeed sub standard. You need to plan exactly what you want to see and don’t underestimate travelling time and the need to book in advance for top sights. It’s a world class city but it’s rough at the edges. Planning your “must see” itinerary is key and 5 nights is best. NY citizens can be brusque and meals out are very expensive due to tipping at mostly 20% plus on top of tax. There are certain things that only NY can give you and the skyline from the Brooklyn Bridge, or the views from the High Line, are wonderful - and free!

If you are going in whale watching season, late summer is fine for Boston. Its a great low key city. Has a few good museums and neighbourhoods you might wish to visit, eg Harvard university. It’s a city where you can wander and enjoy it at a slower pace.

i agree with the curved ball of Washington. I’d put it above Boston for iconic buildings and it has the Smithsonian museums that are outstanding. Georgetown is indeed lovely snd you have places like Arlington Cemetry and the war memorials that are memorable as well as presidential memorials. The museums are all on The Mall and transport is easy.

I also really like Chicago. The birth of the skyscraper was here and there are some great buildings to track down. The Art Institute is fantastic and you can see early Frank Lloyd Wright houses too. The rail system works but is a bit grimy in places. Loads of good restaurants. It also has fantastic art installations in many plazas. I feel Chicago is a better destination than Boston but you must consider what matters to you. All are too hot in high summer!

Boston definitely (and I’ve been to both!).

We went to NYC earlier in the year (for our 10 year anniversary!) for 5 nights then took the Amtrak to Boston (3 and a half hours). Loved both. So much to do in NYC (9/11 memorial, the Met, MOMA, high line, Empire State, sex and the city tour, if that’s your thing) but also loved the chilled vibe of Boston. Went to Harvard, Salem, Cheers bar and the Boston Tea party. Want to go back to visit Cape Cod to whale watch and Martha’s Vineyard.

if you haven’t been to NYC go there but if you can get longer, go to both.