Here is some practical information about Boston and information on what to expect during your stay.
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Population
600,000
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Time Zone
GMT/UTC -5
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Languages
English
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Climate
Total Annual Rainfall
17 inches
Total Annual Snowfall
41 inches
Average January Temperature
36°F
Average July Temperature
82°F
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What to Pack
Spring and Autumn
Light Jackets and Cardigans. Evenings can be chilly in spring and autumn so a top coat will make evenings more comfortable.
Summer
Light summer clothing.
Winter
Warm clothes including a thick coat or jacket
Boots and rain-proof gear.
Umbrella
Comfortable shoes are important because there is plenty to see and walking around the city is the best way to experience it all.
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Electricity
110V 60Hz
Electric Plug Details
American-style plug with two parallel flat blades above a circular grounding pin/ Japanese-style plug with two parallel flat blades
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Religion
There are a selective number of religious communities. You will find Mosques, Synagogues, meditation rooms, Catholic Churches, Lutheran Churches, Methodist Churches, Unitarian Universalistic, Baptist churches etc.
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Money
ATMs are everywhere in Boston. Major credit cards, including the Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted. Travellers cheques are also excepted in most places. If you want to convert your Travellers cheques to cash you can do so at any bank. However, you'll probably need to take your passport with you to prove your identity.
Currency
US Dollar ($)
Exchange Bureau
You can change money in most banks and some travel agent chains, as well as at the numerous bureaux de change throughout the city.There is a Foreign Exchange Bureau next door to EC Boston and two banks within 1 block of school.
Compare rates and watch for the commission, which is not always mentioned.
Always ask how many dollars you’ll receive before deciding. It is a good idea to shop around.
Tipping
When dining out or drinking in a bar the recommended tip is 15 to 20 percent of your bill. Some restaurants automatically add a gratuity for large groups. Other tips include 15 percent tips taxi rides and $1 to $1.50 per bag for airport porters and hotel staff.
Cost of Living
Recommend weekly budget for personal expenses
$50-100
Price Guide
McDonald's Big Mac meal- $6
Cappuccino - $2.50
Cinema ticket- $10
Theatre ticket - $30-$49
Milk, 1 litre - $1
100% juice, 1 litre-$3
Soup x 400g- $4
Spaghetti, 500g - $1 - $2
Sliced cheese, 200g - $3 - $5
Toast bread, approx. 20 slices - $1-$3
Rolls, 4 pieces - $2
Fruit yoghurt, 250ml- $1
Still water, 2 litres - $1
Potatoes, 1kg - $3.50
Transport
If you are planning on using public transport regularly around Boston, it is recommended that you add a weekly or monthly pass to your Charlie Card. These passes allow you an unlimited amount of travel time on subways and busses for the period purchased. For more information visit www.mbta.com
Visas
See our section on visas
Health
Students that are unwell should come to the office and notify the office so that we can help you arrange a doctors visit. If it is an emergency students are told to contact 911. Contact numbers for nearby clinics can be found in the handbook.Students with our Insurance pay either only 20% or none of medical fees up to the first $10,000. Doctors appointments usually run $100-$120
Water
Tap water is safe to drink
Vaccinations
Not required
Telephones and Mobile Phones
Country Dialing Code
+1
Area Code
617 and 857
Useful Numbers
- 911 – Emergency Services (police, fire, ambulance)
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Public Holidays
Please note that EC does not offer tuition on public holidays should one fall during your booked course dates.
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Christmas Holiday: The last day of school is 19 December 2008. Centres re-open on 5 January 2009
Public holidays observed in Boston Massachusetts are:
1st January - New Year’s Day
Third Monday in January - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Third Monday in February - Presidents' Day
March 17 (Boston only) - Evacuation Day
Third Monday in April - Patriots' Day
Last Monday in May - Memorial Day
June 17 (Boston only) - Bunker Hill Day
First Monday in September - Labor Day
Second Monday in October - Columbus Day
November 11 - Veterans Day
Fourth Thursday in November - Thanksgiving
December 25 - Christmas Day
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Safety
Boston is not a dangerous city but it is always wise to ensure that you take sensible precautions to ensure your personal safety and that of your belongings.
DO
- keep all your personal belongings with you at all times, particularly in public places such as bars, restaurants and public tranport
Don't
- forget to take some for of identification with you when you go out to a bar; remember the leagal drinking age is +21 and you must be over 18 years of age to buy cigarettes.
