caravanman
Engineer
Having cancelled my previous trip to America due to catching Covid, I was looking forward to this visit, almost exactly a year later. It’s been an “interesting” year for me, as they say in China, but now we are finally approaching the starting block...
Arriving in America as a foreign tourist after a long flight is never comfortable, what with being tired and then standing in long lines for immigration checking.
Plan B, fly from Dublin airport, where passengers go through pre-clearance US immigration, and arrive at a domestic terminal state side. What could be easier?
I could have booked a same day flight from Nottingham to Dublin with Ryanair, but felt that was risky, with the whole trip depending on me boarding the plane from Dublin . I chose to book a through connection from Manchester airport with Aer Lingus, with connection “guaranteed” via Dublin.
This visit is planned to be more of a holiday than my usual intensive train travel trips!
Monday 2nd September, a bus from home into Nottingham.
I changed to the tram for just two stops. Happily, my "old folks" free bus pass is also valid for the tram. My stepdaughter is a Nottingham tram driver, but she was not on duty for this trip. 
I am soon at the Nottingham train station. I like to be in plenty of time when I travel... My train is the 11.45 to Liverpool, I will alight at Manchester.
The train ride to Manchester was fine, and I set off to walk to my hotel for the night. Dunno why, but I seem to manage to get disorientated very easily these days, despite Google maps best efforts! Eventually I grabbed an Uber taxi to the hotel, which was actually not as close to the train station as I had thought. I will need another taxi back again in the morning…
Tuesday 3rd. I was pleased to get a cab easily next morning, and I arrived back at Manchester train station as it was starting to wake up, staff getting it ready for the first early morning trains to begin running.
My train to the airport arrived on time and I started to relax, I am always a bit anxious about early morning transport connections!
Happily, I was in plenty of time at the airport, security was not too busy and I was soon through the security check, with only a cabin bag.
This first Aer Lingus flight to Dublin was a bit delayed, apparently they had to change a wheel, not heard that before! At Dublin airport I walked over to the USA section and the “fun” began...
There are a lot of people who want to fly to America from Dublin! Lots of flights departing. Huge slow queues to get baggage re-scanned, get passports checked for immigration, folk from the lines having to be pulled out and pushed to the front of the queues as their flights were approaching. Not a relaxing start at all, but I guess having the hassle at the start of the journey was still (just about) better than queuing at immigration in America…
I was anticipating a distinctly friendly relaxed Irish vibe from Aer Lingus, but it was just like any other modern flight, tired staff, and not a leprechaun in sight.
It was actually very nice to land at Boston and simply walk out of the airport into the warm sunshine in just five minutes! I boarded a Silverline bus to the Boston South station, a free trip in this direction. This made use of dedicated “bus only” tunnels, avoiding some traffic delays.
My stay in Boston was in the Chinatown area, and I walked there from the bus stop. The check in person was unfamiliar with my UK hostel membership card, but it was accepted eventually, for a worthwhile members discount. I retired to bed at the first opportunity, and slept well.
(To be continued...)
Arriving in America as a foreign tourist after a long flight is never comfortable, what with being tired and then standing in long lines for immigration checking.
Plan B, fly from Dublin airport, where passengers go through pre-clearance US immigration, and arrive at a domestic terminal state side. What could be easier?
I could have booked a same day flight from Nottingham to Dublin with Ryanair, but felt that was risky, with the whole trip depending on me boarding the plane from Dublin . I chose to book a through connection from Manchester airport with Aer Lingus, with connection “guaranteed” via Dublin.
This visit is planned to be more of a holiday than my usual intensive train travel trips!
Monday 2nd September, a bus from home into Nottingham.
I changed to the tram for just two stops. Happily, my "old folks" free bus pass is also valid for the tram.
My stepdaughter is a Nottingham tram driver, but she was not on duty for this trip. I am soon at the Nottingham train station. I like to be in plenty of time when I travel... My train is the 11.45 to Liverpool, I will alight at Manchester.
The train ride to Manchester was fine, and I set off to walk to my hotel for the night. Dunno why, but I seem to manage to get disorientated very easily these days, despite Google maps best efforts!
Eventually I grabbed an Uber taxi to the hotel, which was actually not as close to the train station as I had thought. I will need another taxi back again in the morning…Tuesday 3rd. I was pleased to get a cab easily next morning, and I arrived back at Manchester train station as it was starting to wake up, staff getting it ready for the first early morning trains to begin running.
My train to the airport arrived on time and I started to relax, I am always a bit anxious about early morning transport connections!
Happily, I was in plenty of time at the airport, security was not too busy and I was soon through the security check, with only a cabin bag.
This first Aer Lingus flight to Dublin was a bit delayed, apparently they had to change a wheel, not heard that before! At Dublin airport I walked over to the USA section and the “fun” began...
There are a lot of people who want to fly to America from Dublin! Lots of flights departing. Huge slow queues to get baggage re-scanned, get passports checked for immigration, folk from the lines having to be pulled out and pushed to the front of the queues as their flights were approaching. Not a relaxing start at all, but I guess having the hassle at the start of the journey was still (just about) better than queuing at immigration in America…
I was anticipating a distinctly friendly relaxed Irish vibe from Aer Lingus, but it was just like any other modern flight, tired staff, and not a leprechaun in sight.
It was actually very nice to land at Boston and simply walk out of the airport into the warm sunshine in just five minutes! I boarded a Silverline bus to the Boston South station, a free trip in this direction. This made use of dedicated “bus only” tunnels, avoiding some traffic delays.
My stay in Boston was in the Chinatown area, and I walked there from the bus stop. The check in person was unfamiliar with my UK hostel membership card, but it was accepted eventually, for a worthwhile members discount. I retired to bed at the first opportunity, and slept well.
(To be continued...)
