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I should say that my friend is on a tight budget and cannot afford long cab rides.
It seems that there is a commuter rail line from Back Bay to Salem, about four miles from Peabody.
sojourner Member # 3134
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Well, Peabody itself is under 15 miles from Boston, Henry, so taking a commuter train to cut down on 10 of it might not be convenient. Though it could be a lot cheaper. I would check with the hotel. People come to Boston by Antrak all the time, so presumably the Marriott has had guests who come by train and then to the hotel. They may know something. BTW I believe the commuter rail also stops in Lynn, also close to Peabody. It's possible the MArriott has a little local shuttle that might pick people up at Salem or Lynn commuter train stations????
There is commuter bus service on the MBTA that goes through Peabody and presumably stops someplace there, but the mbta.com site is too confusing to figure out. And the buses I saw seem to go to place in Haymarket in Boston, not sure where that is but I think maybe by Boston North, not Boston South (or Back Bay), where your friend would be coming in? If you have to take a taxi to the bus, and another taxi from the bus to the MArriott, it really doesn't pay to try to use commuter buses, even though they are cheaper. Esp as their schedule may be inconvenient and they may be difficult to use with luggage.
The hotel may also know about some shuttle service that usually goes to the airport but might also do Boston South for a flat rate that could be less than a taxi. For instance, Super Shuttle, if that operates in Boston . . . These usually take a little longer but can be worth taking, pricewise.
Right adjoining Boston South and very easy to access from the Amtrak station was the bus station on Atlantic Av from which I caught a surprisingly nice longer-distance commuter bus to Concord NH (It was either Peter Pan or Vermont line, I forget). This was fine--fine for luggage etc.--and had plenty all day. But whether there are such buses that stop closer in, as in Peabody, I don't know. Maybe there is one that stops in Salem?
TBlack Member # 181
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Henry, The rail to Salem would leave from No. Station, not BBY. That would cut down on the cab fare. The link provided by Ocala Mike has an estimated cab fare of $70 from the airport. But the link also mentions a shuttle service not run by the hotel. I'm assuming that your friend is attending a function at the hotel? Otherwise, that hotel is pretty isolated except by car.
TB
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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Indeed my friend is attending a function at the hotel. She is on a budget and wants to avoid superhigh cab fares.
She knows about the rail to Salem but I'll tell her it leaves from North Station. I presume the Amtrakers from D.C. arrive at South and Back Bay Stations. How to get from either of those to North Station?
TBlack Member # 181
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Henry,
Tell her to get off at Back Bay and take the subway (orange line to No. Station) The subway stop @ BBY is in the building. At No. Station it's across the street from the station. Alternatively, she could take a cab; the distance is about 1.5 mi.
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Thanks to everyone. My friend will take the Orange Line subway from Back Bay Station to North Station, then the commuter train to Salem, then a taxi to Peabody.
You CAN get there from here, but it takes a bit of fiddling.
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