US East coast recommendations

[Kitty Kat]

Hi again...

Boyfriend and i are looking at a trip to NYC in May but as we've both been before it'd be good to go somewhere else as well - a few days in NYC and a few in another city. Has anyone done this and do you have any recommendations?

Neither of us has been to anywhere else on the East coast. I was wondering about Boston? Doesn't have to be East coast i suppose. We could go further West to Chicago or down to Washington.

Also, because i've only recently booked flights to NYC through my friend's BA contact i am out of the loop on the cheapest days of the week to fly and what's a good price for May. So any tips on that would be great.

Please let me know if you have any advice - it's much appreciated.

Thanks!

[big ron]

I thought this was going to be about GANGSTA RAP init.

Disappointed face.

[dmlaw]

Washington's good, as long as you make sure that you stay fairly centrally. The Smithsonian and visits to places like the Capitol and the various monuments would fill two or three days easily.

[lolly]

I loved Boston. It's such a human city in scale, but with a lot of advantages of being a big city, and of having Harvard on its doorstep. Washington DC I've never been to, but would like to, if only for a few days.

Chicago is AMAZING, but you can see the other thread for my opinions on that.

[Kitty Kat]

Thanks guys.

Keep 'em coming, people!

[Commotion]

Washington DC is only a few hours by car or bus (DON'T take the train though as it costs a fortune.

All of the Mall is pretty interesting - you see the White House, Capital Hill; the Vietnam war memorial; the Abraham Lincoln monument; the FDR Memorial. And the Smithsoniam Musueums are great - the Native American museum has the BEST cafeteria; the Air And Space museum; the National Portrait Gallery, and my favourite is the American History Museum - particularly the display of all the dresses worn by the first ladies at the inaugural ball for the presidents.

3 days in DC and you'll see a LOT as everything of historical/tourist is close together

[tyler]

Washington hands down. Foreigners lap up all the Amercanism. Chicago a second choice. Boston a distant third at that time of year.

[Kitty Kat]

We're going to DC and then up to NYC. Jeez how expensive are US hotels?! We're staying with friends in NYC (though might treat ourselves to a hotel for the last night - recommendations please!) but need a hotel for DC and man it's pricey! Pear Boy is broke at the moment so i daren't show him hotel prices.

Commotion is the train really that bad? Is the coach nicer than UK coaches because i don't like UK coaches?

THANKS.

[delirium]

I haven't been but an American friend is adamant that Chicago has almost everything that New York has (except the obvious tourist traps) and is a bit smaller so easier to get around.

[Edward]

Boston is fantastic Kat. I would wholeheartedly recommend it. When I was staying in NYC, I made several trips there; mainly to visit friends but the city has real character - particularly the North End.

[Kitty Kat]

Thanks guys. We've got our flights booked now - Washington for a few days and then New York. (We're staying in NJ with a family friend so saving a lot of money on a hotel for that part of the trip.)

So, Washington hotels... recommendations?