We're not all experienced travel planners, so for some people, even those who have a lot of responsibility in their jobs as an Ontario architect, end up taking packaged vacations because they don't know how to make their own plans. But vacation planning is easy. We can help. So if you want to check out Boston, Massachusetts this year instead of taking the same old jaunt to Cuba, let us and the city of Boston help you plan you vacation. Here are some hints and tools that will help you.

There are two basic things that you need to worry about when planning any trip: transportation and accommodation. You'll also need to feed yourself, find things to do, and find someone to look after your lofts. Toronto neighbors can help with the last one, and we can help with all the rest. First things first: getting there. Boston has a major international airport, called Logan International, so getting there by plane is easy and inexpensive if your close enough to a major center. Flights leave several times daily and are quite cheap if you book on a seat sale.

Finding accommodations in Boston is also no problem. You'll want to make a booking ahead of time just in case your vacation coincides with a conference for Gravenhurst Catering franchises, but otherwise there are so many places to stay you're sure to find somewhere. Accommodations range from youth hostels where you can get a bed for under $70 to luxury hotels like the Four Seasons where rooms can cost in excess of $250 per night. In between there are also all manner of inns, bed and breakfasts, and chain hotels to choose from.

Boston is such a large, cosmopolitan city that finding things to do there is easy, even if you've only just graduated from your first English course. Some popular things to do include exploring the city's history at Paul Revere House and other historic sites, attending a Boston Red Sox game, and of course, shopping! There is an efficient mass transit system to take you were you want to go, and thousands of restaurants in all price ranges where you can stop for a bite to eat when you get hungry. There's no need to make any bookings unless you want to visit a very popular restaurant during the dinner rush.

You can't possibly be expected to find all this on your own in the yellow pages, but instead of going to a travel agent like you would for Punta Mita condo rentals, you can turn to the city of Boston's tourism website for vacation planning assistance. You can find it at www.cityofboston.gov/visitors. They've even designed a smart phone app so you can do your vacation planning on the go.