The IEEE Virtual Reality 2010 Conference will be held at the Westin Waltham-Boston in Waltham, Massachusetts, March 20-24, 2010. The hotel address is:

70 Third Avenue
Waltham, Massachusetts 02451
United States
Tel: +1-781-290-5600
Fax: +1-781-290-5626

Here's how to get there:

Airport Shuttle

We recommend that you reserve a ride, in advance, from Ultimate Shuttle (888-437-4379). From Logan airport (BOS) to the hotel one-way is $40 for one person and $10 for each additional person up to a maximum of 10 people. Alternatively, you can reserve the entire ten person van for $105 that will take you directly to the hotel without making other stops along the way. If you show up at BOS without a shuttle reservation, call Ultimate Shuttle and ask them to pick you up. They usually will have something available. Otherwise, just use whatever shuttle service is available.

The best way to a make reservation is online. Go to Ultimate Shuttle's web page, and type IEEE in the Frequent Rider ID Discount Code box found in the top left corner of the screen. (It is not case sensitive.) That will take you to a special reservation page the made for us. Reserving in advance is cheaper and you will get an additional 10% discount by making reservations through this web page.

From Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) or Providence T.F. Green (PVD) airports, you can rent the same 10 person van from Ultimate Shuttle (888-437-4379) for $167, but you must reserve it in advance. A taxi will cost as much or more, and none of the shuttle companies will take individuals to the hotel from MHT or PVD. If you are coming from MHT, you can take the Flightline Shuttle to Anderson Woburn for $30 (or $19 if its between 11:00am and 4:00pm) per person, then take a taxi (up to four people) to the hotel for about $40.

Please tip the driver.

Taxi

A taxi from Boston Logan Airport (BOS) to the hotel is approximately $55, from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) it is $140, and from T.F. Green Airport (PVD) it can be up to $195. Usually, you can get up to four people in one taxi, and please tip the driver.

Rental Car

The hotel is within a one-hour drive from three major airports, and a rental car is a good option if you need it during the conference. Keep in mind that the hotel charges $11/night to park at the hotel. Rental cars can also be obtained at the hotel for transportation while at the conference. Driving distances from the various airports are as follows:

-Logan International Airport (BOS), Boston, MA: 20 miles (32km), about 30 minutes

-Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT), Manchester, NH: 54 miles (87km), about 1 hour

-T.F. Green Airport (PVD), Providence, RI (but geographically located in Warwick, RI): 58 miles (93km), 1 hour

Directions:

From East
Take I-95 North to Exit 27A (Totten Pond Road). Go over the bridge and at the first set of lights, turn right onto 3rd Avenue. The hotel will be on the left. From Boston Logan International Airport

From Boston Logan International Airport
Follow the signs to the Ted Williams Tunnel then to Interstate 90 West. Continue to Interstate 95/Route 128 North. Exit at 27A (Totten Pond Road). Make a sharp right turn onto 3rd Avenue and the hotel will be on the left.

From West
Take I-90/Massachusetts Turnpike to Route 95 North. Take Exit 27A (Totten Pond Road). Make a sharp right onto 3rd Avenue and the hotel will be on the left.

From South
Take Route 84 East to I-90 (Massachusetts Turnpike). Continue to I-95/Route 128 North and take Exit 27A (Totten Pond Road). Make a sharp right turn onto 3rd Avenue and the hotel will be on the left.

You can also get driving directions from Google Maps or your car rental company. Boston is complex, so you might want to get a GPS. This Local Area Map is provided by the Westin.

Train

Public transportation is quite slow, but it cheap, if you are not in a group. From BOS travel time is approximately two hours for just under $20. From PVD travel time is around four or five hours for just under $25. From MHT travel time is also four or five hours and the cost is approximately $40 to $50 (not recommended). Please be aware of the train schedules.

From Boston Logan (BOS) take the airport shuttle to the "Airport" station on the Blue Line subway. Take the Blue Line inbound ($2.00 US) to State Street station and transfer to the Orange Line. Take the Orange Line outbound to North Station, then go to the Commuter Rail area of the station. At North Station Get a ticket to Waltham for $4.75 on the Fitchburg commuter rail line. The train take about 20 minutes and has free wireless internet. Be careful not to miss your stop. At the Waltham Station, get a cab and take it to the hotel for about $12, including the driver's tip. During business hours (9:00am to 5:00pm), cabs are usually there, but later or earlier you may have to call the hotel to have them send one to you. The commuter rail runs infrequently, so be very careful to plan your trip accordingly. You should study the subway map and the outbound schedule for this train.

From T.F. Green (PVD) take the airport shuttle to the train station in downtown Providence. Then, take the commuter rail to South Station, which takes a little more than an hour and costs $7.75 US. There is free wireless internet available. Alternatively, you can take an Amtrak train which is much faster (25 minutes) and more comfortable, but much less frequent and costs anywhere from $12 to $40. Once you arrive at South Station, get on the subway Red Line ($2.00US) to Downtown Crossing, transfer to the Orange Line and go outbound to North Station. From North Station, follow the instructions, below.

From Manchester-Boston Regional (MHT) you can take the Flightline Shuttle to Sullivan Square, a stop on the Orange Line for $30 (or $19 if its between 11:00am and 4:00pm). Then, take the Orange Line inbound to North Station, and follow the instructions from North Station, below.