Tourist traps With the exception of the proprietors and their employees, few visitors to Faneuil Hall Marketplace are Boston residents. As a result, while it is one of the easiest places to find Boston-themed souvenirs, it almost always is among the most expensive as well. You're better off looking for baked beans and lobster-shaped chocolates at Downtown Crossing's off-price retailers such as Filene's Basement or TJ Maxx. The same thing goes for the T-shirt vendors around Fenway Park and Harvard University.

Tipping etiquette Standard rules apply – 15% to 20% for taxis and restaurants if service is not included. This includes all bartenders at restaurants and pubs who expect $1-$2 for service, left on the bar. Hotel bellboys and porters appreciate tips for helping with luggage. A good rule of thumb is $1 per piece of baggage.

Internet cafés are not nearly as plentiful in America as they are in Europe. However, copy shops such as Kinkos (www.kinkos.com) and Copy Cop (www.copycop.com) do offer internet access by the minute. The Boston Public Library's internet access is available for library cardholders only, but most business-class hotels offer access to guests.

Gifts to buy Shreve, Crump & Low has exquisite treasure boxes and assorted Boston-themed brick-a-brack. Legal Sea Foods, Boston's best known seafood chain, offers a variety of gift items including cookbooks (www.legalseafood.com). A gift from Louis Boston, such as a silk tie, scarf, or goodie from its upscale 'apothecary' is a thoughtful present for the man in your life. Wives or girlfriends are sure to appreciate one-of-a-kind lingerie from Newbury's Belle de Jour (164 Newbury St.) or a replica piece of jewellery from the Museum of Fine Arts collection at their gift store (Copley Place and Faneuil Hall Marketplace).