Trips from Providence

Reading recent posts regarding visiting Newport from Providence, since we won%26#39;t be driving during our trip, are there other means of visiting the surrounding area, i.e public transport, day trips by coach, tour buses, etc.? We are two seniors and plan to stay in Providence (following a stay in Boston) for a few days next June. If all else fails, is it easy to hire a car with a driver?

Trips from Providence

There are public buses that travel between Providence and Newport. Also once in Newport there is a bus that takes you to the Newport mansions area. While these aren%26#39;t organized bus tours, with a little planning you could easily do Newport by bus on your own.

Where are you staying in Providence?

The web site to research the buses is

www.ripta.com

On the RIPTA web site you can enter your hotel address in Providence and then the address for the Newport visitor center. This will give you exact directions from your hotel to the Newport visitor center (use this address: 23 America%26#39;s Cup Avenue Newport RI)

Or if you plan it right pick a hotel near Kennedy Plaza as the bus to Newport (Bus #14) leaves from there. Hotels such as Courtyard by Marriot. Staying in this area you will also be near to down town area where the Waterfire event takes place during summer and near to restaurants on Federal Hill.

Trips from Providence

Or an even faster route to check out is Bus #60 also having a stop at the Kennedy Plaza. In the upper left corner of the www.ripta.com web site from the ';Quick Scheduler'; pull down, pick the 60 Providence / Newport - Outbound route.

Many thanks sedum37 for your advice. I%26#39;ve gone on to the www.ripta.com website and the service to Newport is excellent. We plan to take advantage of it.

We haven%26#39;t yet decided where to stay as we can%26#39;t decide between Hilton Providence, or Courtyard Providence Downtown (although we are leaning towards the Hilton). Have you any thoughts on this? Is one more central than the other? Which one is nearest to restaurants for evening meals?

We are thinking of staying at Hilton Back Bay in Boston as we like the Hilton chain and it seems to have quite good reports on Tripadvisor. Last time we were in Boston (13 years ago) we stayed at the 57 Park Plaza (now the Radisson) but fancy a change this time.

Downtown ( or downcity as the locals like to call it ) Providence is very compact and walkable. The Courtyard and Hilton are about a half mile from each other. The Courtyard is right next to Providence Place Mall which is fantastic for shopping as well as eating out. It%26#39;s also right next to Waterplace Park, a beautiful park which hosts Waterfire and other outdoor events in the warmer months. Courtyard is also VERY convienent to Kennedy Plaza for the bus to Newport. It%26#39;s basically across the street from the hotel.

Hilton is adjacent to the Convention Center and arena. Not a bad location at all, but not as nice as the Courtyard. It will be a 10 minute walk to reach the ';main downcity area'; where the Courtyard is. The Hilton is super close to the famous Federal Hill section of Providence. This is where you will find some very good italian restaraunts all along Atwells Avenue.

If it were me staying in Providence, I would go with the Courtyard. You can always take a quick, inexpensive taxi ride to Federal Hill for dinner if you don%26#39;t feel up to walking. If you can save money by staying at the Hilton, then go for it.

One last thing. There are two Marriotts in Providence. The Courtyard Downtown and the Marriott Providence Downtown. Be sure to book the Courtyard and not the ';regular'; Marriott which states it%26#39;s downtown, but they lied.

Will007 you are back posting again! Long time since I%26#39;ve seen you on these boards.

I agree the Marriot Courtyard would be the one I%26#39;d pick. I%26#39;ve been staying in Marriots lately as they are totally smoke free so no chance of getting a %26#39;non-smoking room%26#39; that has been smoked in.

Hi, Sedum!

I check in here and there. The R.I. forum is so quiet compared to the Mass forum! Keep up the good work and I hope you had a great summer!

To Rover,

I realize your time in Rhode Island is short and your going to spend a day in Newport, but consider another day trip to Block Island. It%26#39;s completely charming, relaxing and has spectacular scenery. To get there, take a Galilee bus from Kennedy Plaza. It%26#39;s a 1.5 hour bus ride. It will drop you off at the ferry dock. From there you can take a high speed (35 minutes) or traditional (55 minutes) ferry over to the island. You%26#39;ll get dropped off right in Old Harbor, the center of it all. While it would be a long day, it would be a fun one. So much to do, so little time!

Many thanks to both sedum37 and will007 for your input.

The Courtyard sounds to have the edge and we will take your advice. As seniors, cost is not the most important creteria (you can%26#39;t take it with you!) so even though the Courtyard is a bit more expensive it sounds as though it will be the better option as regards postion and convenience.

What did you think of our possible choice for Boston, i.e. Hilton Boston Back Bay? I have a vague recollection of the area from many years ago, but would appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks again.

Nothing wrong with selecting the Back Bay Hilton while in Boston. The Back Bay area is a shoppers paradise. There%26#39;s also plenty of restaurants around there as well. Sights to see in the Back Bay include The Boston Public Garden, Christian Science Center reflecting pool, Mapparium at the Mary Baker Eddy Library, The Boston Public Library and the Trinity Church. The Hilton is also close-by to the Prudential Center for the Duck Tours and the Prudential Center Skywalk for fantastic views of Boston. It also has a couple different T stops close-by for exploring other parts of Boston.

Thanks again.

Hilton Back Bay it is then.

Will007~~Great advice for the Courtyard Marriott. I am an admitted Marriott junky,they are clean and comfy and you generally know exactly what you are getting at each location. I have to laugh at your remark about Marriott not being truthful about the other Marriott in Providence not being ';downtown';!! Its pretty darn close,you have to admit. My fiance and I had dinner and quite a few glasses of wine one night at the Capital Grille. I insisted that we walk back to the Providence Marriott. He was mortified. We made it unscathed!!! Its not that FAR off the beaten path!

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