More About Boston Your Way

What is Boston Your Way

Boston Your Way is an upscale private guided tour service for discerning visitors seeking a polished and welcoming introduction to our fascinating yet challenging city.

We appeal to visitors who appreciate the attention and flexibility of a privately hosted tour and want to maximize their time.

We have hosted couples, families, first-time visitors, executives, convention-goers, company clients, academic groups, cruisers, sales teams, high-tech experts, physicians, scientists, attorneys, teachers & retirees.

What types of tours do you offer & how much do they cost?
We offer both drive tours and walking tours. See below for details and pricing.

Tours run year-round and in all weather, except major storms, such as declared snow emergencies or Nor’easters.

Tours are customized and content-rich, yet comfortably paced, light and interactive.
We often answer requests to "show us around." But we are happy to focus on a locale, such as Beacon Hill; an historic period, such as the American Revolution, or a topic, such as sports or literary leaders.

We always mix history with contemporary...fact with lore...sights with stories...insiders' corners with tourists' must-sees. We make sure you don’t miss the Boston of Bostonians -- where we shop, eat, play -- and that you leave with ideas for the rest of your visit.

DRIVE TOURS

Drive tours are conducted in luxury executive vehicles, with both professional driver and private guide. They are intended to allow time for short walks and stops for refreshments.

Drive tours run from a minimum of two hours to however long a guest wishes. The longest has been 9 hours. Our most requested drive tour is a four-hour overview of Boston and Cambridge. Favorite destinations are classic landmarks such as Old South Meeting, Old Ironsides, Boston Massacre site, Harvard and Fenway Park, and well-known historic districts, such as the Freedom Trail, Beacon Hill, North End, Back Bay, Fenway and Cambridge. Also popular are the equally important but lessor known destinations such as MIT, the Seaport District, the South End.

We have answered requests for interesting topical tours, such as Student Neighborhood Boston, and 1776 Revolutionary Boston.
By car you visit special hard-to-walk-to corners of Boston or Cambridge, such as Dorchester Heights, Mount Auburn Cemetery and Bunker Hill Monument.

The cost for drive tours:
$200/hr for 1-2 guests
$225/hr for 3-6 guests
$250/hr for 6-12 guests.
Cost includes car, driver, private guide and custom itinerary.
You can pay with cash, check or credit card (Visa, Mastercard and American Express).

Larger groups can be accommodated, but prices vary according to the size of vehicle and group.

WALKING TOURS

Walking tours typically range from two to four hours. They may include hops on the local transit or trips by taxi to extend the range of the tour route.
Of course, you cannot go as far on foot, but if you prefer to walk and have selected areas or topics you want to explore, you can be sure of a rich, in-depth and entertaining tour.

Popular walking tours have been the Freedom Trail, Harvard Square, historic/contemporary neighborhoods, and the Waterfront.

The cost for walking tours:
Walking tours cost $125/hr. for the private guide and custom itinerary.
You can pay with cash, check or credit card (Visa, Mastercard and American Express).

How do we reserve a tour?
Contact Boston Your Way by phone or email (617.792.9710; info@bostonyourway.com) to make arrangements.

Do you require a deposit or cancellation fee?
A 50% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm a tour. If paying by check, the date will be held for one week to allow time for the deposit to arrive. If paying by credit card, full information will be taken and the card run in full after the tour. In the event of a cancellation, a 50% fee will be taken off the card.

Are gratuities included?
Gratuities are not included but always appreciated.

Do you offer tours beyond Boston and Cambridge?
Yes. Popular day-out destinations are Lexington and Concord, Gloucester and Rockport (Cape Ann) and Plymouth. Length of these outings is approximately 6-8 hours, depending on the itinerary.

Can we ask your advice as we plan our trip?
Yes, you may. Once you have confirmed your tour, we are happy to offer opinions and advice about your stay – your hotel choice, where to eat, and what to do.

Can we hire a guide to accompany our party even if it is not for a formally guided tour?

Absolutely. The essence of Boston Your Way is attentive service. We enjoy hosting small parties such as families and business groups who want to maximize their visits but do not want to spend the entire time on a guided tour. They have found that it makes their visit richer and more efficient. For instance, we can help manage shopping excursions and museum visits, schedule play breaks for young members, or come up with some great spur-of-the-moment ideas.

How can we possibly sightsee in bad weather?
In Boston, we cannot count on the weather, so we try not to let it stop us. You will have the benefit of comfortable vehicles and a guide to tweak the route, if necessary.

Why can’t I explore Boston on my own? They say it is small and walkable.
You can, and many tourists do. However, although Boston is small compared to New York or London, it is not that small. And thanks to its colonial past, its street layout can be confusing, even for residents. But that’s not all. We nickname and abbreviate many places, like Mass Ave and JP. We leave street signs off many intersections; tuck traffic signs behind trees; switch directions of one-way streets; become maniacs behind the wheel, and blithely jaywalk. Driving is especially hazardous these days with many construction-sites creating confusing detours around town.

You can miss what is “behind the curtain” even in the heart of tourist-heavy areas, such as the Freedom Trail. Local guests have exclaimed they would never have discovered many of Boston’s secrets without our help.

Can we change our itinerary and do something different on the spur of the moment?
Of course you can! This is Boston Your Way. You can tailor your outing to suit your needs at any point – at the planning stage or in the moment.

Will we see only historic sites during our tours? Can we go shopping or stop for coffee?
Certainly! Think of a Boston Your Way tour more as your educational and fun outing, that can include stops for refreshments or some souvenir hunting.

What should I wear?
Most important -- Comfortable Shoes! You may be walking on uneven brick and cobblestone sidewalks. You also should be prepared for wet and/or windy weather, although we will provide umbrellas.

Who is the person behind Boston Your Way?
The founder and principal of Boston Your Way is Maryglenn Vincens. Although raised in New York, she came to Boston frequently as a child to visit her father’s family, whose local roots extended three generations. As a young adult she moved to Boston “for just one year.” Captivated by the city’s charm and livability, she enrolled in an area college to major in history and soon became her family’s fourth generation Bostonian.

Today she lives in one of Boston’s great downtown neighborhoods, blocks from where her great-grandfather had a livery service. She has never stopped studying her city – its beauty, quirks, contradictions, tensions, transformations and the way it integrates its past into its present. Through Boston Your Way, she shares her passion and knowledge of the city to create a special adventure for visitors.

She is a member of the The Bostonian Society, Old South Meeting House, South End Historical Society, and former member of the Board of Directors of Women in Development of Greater Boston. Prior to Boston Your Way, she had a career in development and high-end client relations.