1

You can do all of those places in 9 days but you won't see a huge amount of all of them. Washington is great for history and politics, so if I had to pick another to go to I'd go with DC (if you've never been before), and a lot of the museums are free, so you can save some cash there. Its a long time since I went to Boston but it is a really nice town, lots of good places to eat and drink and just a good feeling about the place. I've never been to Philadelphia so can't comment.

Edited by: joshuagreen1984

2

You could, but you lose at least a half-day to travel each time you change cities. If that's not OK, Boston is the one to drop first, as it forces you to backtrack significantly.

You have to think about what in each city is a "must" for YOU. I love the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, but maybe you would find it boring as hell. I've seen the Hope Diamond a couple of times and don't need to go back, but maybe it's on your "must" list. I like the New England Aquarium, but maybe you'd rather gouge your eyes out with a fork than visit it. And so on. The Frommer's site (frommers.com) gives 1-3 day itineraries for all the cities you mention. It also gives lists of attractions. Look at those for ideas.

This depends on your budget, in American dollars, for lodging and transportation. Also your preferences. Would you stay in a hostel? Use a bathroom down the hall? Are you afraid of encountering street people in the subway stations? Etc.

Clothing is not taxed in New Jersey or Delaware, but you would need a car for low-pressure shopping. The tax rules elsewhere will get complicated. If you are thinking of something besides clothing, you need to be specific. The Indian Craft Shop inside the Department of the Interior building has some cool items for sale from tribes all over the country (pottery, rugs, baskets, jewelry, etc.), but maybe that's not your thing.

3

NYC offers endless shopping from high fashion to cheap imports in Chinatown. As far as outlets go, the best one in the region is Woodbury Commons outside NYC about an hour. This mall has all the high end retail brands from Barneys to Armani. Most the big tour companies in NYC offer a shuttle service. See Website.

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/store_listing.asp?id=7

As far as your plan, I think with 9 days, you should focus on 2 places, with a day to get between them. NYC requires a good 3-4 days, between the landmarks, museums and Broadway shows, shopping and eating. DC also needs at least 3 full days to see a few museums and walk about the many memorials.

Amtrak Trains are the best way to get around all these places, as parking a car is going to be $35 day in most of them.

Philly is a easy day trip from NYC.

Boston would require a lot of time to and from, and once there at least 2 days.

I hope you have booked hotels, these cities are not only very popular in the fall, they can be sold out and rates sky high. NYC figure at least $350 night, and DC/Boston $250 night.

Check Priceline and Expedia.

4

"Possible," yes. "Enjoyable," maybe.

What are your interests? History? Art? Music? Food? Parks? Night clubs? Strip clubs? Remember, we don't know you, and what we like may be what you hate.
The main thing to note is that xBoston is in the opposite direction from the rest.

There are a plethora of cheap buses that run between these cities. Some are as little as $1 per leg when booked well in advance. None are regularly over $35.
There are also trains, but for the price and speed, I suggest the buses.

5

If your entry point is JFK, getting to Boston could be problematic -- at least insofar as you will be backtracking.

I say 4 days in NYC, 1 days in Philadelphia and 3 days in Washington...you'll probably need the last day to get back to your flight at JFK either via Amtrak or Bolt Bus, Mega Bus, etc.

6

Sounds like a lot to do in a short time but still within Bob’s patented “2-nights per city rule.”®

The Boston to DC corridor is usually best traveled by train but to access the “outlet malls”( best deals on shopping) you’ll need to make other arrangements. Sometimes there are tour buses, sometimes public buses. The best outlets near NYC are near/in the Poconos, second best are near me in a town called Riverhead. But I am sure there are some near every city. Of course if you can afford it, NYC is the shopping capital of the Western hemisphere so why bother going anywhere else?

As I may have mentioned on a different thread, Philly is a love it or hate it location (I love it), but if you have to drop a location, that’s the one to drop, (because some people hate it). DC, once you get you hotel figured out, is a discount location.

7

I think #5 has the right answer (for the generic situation, which is pretty much all we have to go on here). To refine a bit: 5 nights NYC. Day 6 start early, bus or train to Philly, tour Philly, late bus or train to DC. 3 nights DC. Fly to JFK (Jet Blue, probably) and out.

8

Franklin Mills Mall outside of Philadelaphia is a fan favoriet for Euroepans looking for outlet shopping.
For art therens the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the real gem: Barnes Foundation

http://www.barnesfoundation.org/visit/