Page 142 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - New England

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Shopping typically feature casual, tips. For good service, tip
home-style cooking. 20 percent. For counter or
Visitors from overseas Those looking for quick window service, loose
consider clothes shopping bites on the go, especially change or a dollar should
in New England a highlight in cities, should focus go into the tip bucket.
of their visit since lower on food trucks, most of
taxes reduce the cost of which serve only a few Where to Stay
apparel. Although most specialized items (two
states levy a sales tax of popular Boston trucks New England’s highly
6.2 to 7.5 percent, New often found together varied accommodations
Hampshire has none. specialize in lobster rolls can suit almost all tastes
Massachusetts does not and grilled cheese sand- and budgets. During the
levy tax on clothing and wiches, respectively). summer vacation season
footwear items that cost Restaurants range from and during fall foliage,
less than $175. very casual places with lodgings can sometimes
Household linens are family-style seating at be hard to come by, so it
often discounted at the large tables to temples of is always best to book in
January “white sales,” haute cuisine that require advance. Many lodgings
winter apparel in March reservations months in require a minimum stay
and April, and summer advance or a name that of two or three nights
apparel in September. might be found on the during holiday periods,
Best prices on brand- front page of a tabloid. summer high season, or
name items are usually Most New England bars weekends during foliage
found at the factory outlet also serve food, and a season – unless rooms
stores. These cluster in more casual and less are still available at the
malls, especially in North expensive restaurant bar last minute.
Conway, New Hampshire; menu might be just what State and local lodging
Freeport and Kittery, you’re looking for – no and sales taxes can add
Maine; Manchester, reservations required. The as much as 19 percent to
Vermont; and Wrentham, legal mini mum drinking your bill and the charges
Massachusetts. age in New England is 21, are inescapable. Resorts
and photo ID may be often charge 15 to 20
Where to Eat needed to enter a bar. percent either for staff
Children are welcome gratuities or as a “resort
Travelers can eat well almost everywhere and fee” for facilities.
in New England without many restaurants in Hotel and motel chains
breaking the bank. Even tourist areas feature are not known for their
casual luncheonettes and children’s menus. individuality; they thrive
diners will often feature Along the coast, look for on providing their guests
local seafood, meats, and places that serve seafood a consistent, predictable
fruits and vegetables. The in the rough. Ultra-casual product. But they often
dominant “cuisine” here and usually located by the offer discounts for mul-
is American, a melting pot ocean, these spots focus tiple bookings, as well as
of flavors from around the on steamed lobster and free nights through their
world. Hamburgers in the clams and fried seafood. loyalty programs. All the
US are unrivaled. The top They generally feature a major global and national
ethnic cuisine is Italian (or counter to place orders, chains and hotel groups
Italian-American, which is and picnic tables for are represented across
heavier on pasta and red eating al fresco. In Maine, New England, but as the
sauce), while Mexican, The Lobster Pound (see lodgings included in this
Thai, and pizza dominate p128) is a culinary icon guide prize local charac-
the budget category. for its particular style of ter, few of the listings
Places to eat come in seafood in the rough. belong to these groups.
many shapes and sizes. American restaurants Motels usually offer
Any place that calls itself generally pay waitstaff the best combination
a diner, whether it is a only a token wage and of price and convenience
roadside dining car or just count on diners to make for trav elers who do their
a small storefront, will up the difference with own driving. A standard

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