Rm

I am considering taking my family of five to Boston this summer. I checked the room rates around the Backbay area and the room rates are really more than I care to spend (we always get two rooms.)

Is there an area close by that we could "stage" out of. From what I read here, we won't need a car while in Boston so if we stay "out" a ways we will need some form of transportation into town bus, subway, etc.. I know I could get a taxi but really we really would prefer to use public transportation if safe and available.

I would like to keep the room rate around $100.00-$125.00 per room per nite if possible.

Obviously I know nothing about Boston but I would like to expose my teens to all the history in that area. Is what I want to do feasible? Or is Boston and "moderately priced" and oxymoron.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

RM in Pensacola

Lois

Boston is an expensive area. I'm not aware of anyplace that costs what you're looking for, at least, not during peak times [mid winter may be possible]. I recall a suite hotel [Embassy or Doubletree or something], which may enable you to get only one room, since there is a separate living room with convertible sofa,




which is located on the Charles near Boston University. This would be a great location -- easy walk to Cambridge, right off Commonwealth for transportation. The T is safe and convenient. I wouldn't want to drive around Boston. The roads are frequently one way, and usually, NOT the way you want to go!
There is a Suisse Chalet not far out of the city [about 5 min. from Boston College] that has more reasonable rates, but I can't say how convenient the transportation is from there.
Good luck with your search. There's a wealth of history to explore there. Boston is one of my favorite cities.

Maxie

If your dates are flexible, you can probably get two rooms on Hotwire or Priceline. See www.biddingfortravel.com

carole

Have you checked www.quikbook.com? You can search by price and they often have good hotels for reasonable cost (e.g. currently have the Omni Parker House for $119 in July...).

And although it's a bit above your desired price, there's a Holiday Inn in Brookline, MA which is right on the subway line into Boston. Brookline is a lovely, safe suburb of Boston that's about 15 min. from downtown. The Holiday Inn is also a five min. walk from Coolidge Corner, which is a very nice neighborhood shopping area with some very good restaurants.

Good luck with your search. I think you'll love Boston!!

Liam

Back Bay is one of the more expensive areas in which to stay.

Have you tried Cambridge? It is right across the river from Boston and shares the same T system. There are plenty of hotels both around Harvard and MIT which are all easily accessible to the T.

The Doubletree is also a good idea.

How about near the Theatre District, like the Tremont House or the Radisson? I think they may be less pricey than the major hotels in Back Bay.

Another idea (sorry, but they are slowly trickling to the front of my brain - no coffee this morning!) is the Holiday Inn on Cambridge St. in Boston. It's only a five minute walk from City Hall and across the street from the bottom of Beacon Hill.

Mr

What about staying around Newton? Is there easy access to public transportation?

Suzy

Newton is a very large town, some parts have very good access to Boston and others don't. You can get a map of the bus and subway/trolley system at www.mbta.com. One part of Newton, near the Mass Turnpike, has express buses that take only 10 minutes to get into the Back Bay (usually).

But staying in the suburbs does involve transportation costs (in time and money) and you do't get the same feel for the city as you do satying right there. So I would second the above advice to look at quikbook, hotwire or Priceline (after reading up at biddingfortravel.com). You are better-off with ANY 3 or 4 star hotel in the Back Bay/Copley area rather than staying in Newton, Brooklne, etc.

RHM

Thanks for all your replys. I went to bidding for travel and it appears as though there are some good buys being had on Pricline. I went to the Priceline website and didn't see a way to specifically request a room with two beds. This is pretty much essential for our family.

Did I overlooks something? Is there a way to bid on a room with two beds or do you take what they assign and haggle at the front desk?

Wow, looking at some of the rates on Biddingfortravel, it looks like I may have overpaid on some rooms in the past. That being said...I am kinda picky about what I want and am somewhat leary about bidding on something and not knowing what I will get..

Can you request a room type on quikbook or hotwire? I am just now starting to plan this vacation and am having a hard time pinning down accomodations though the airfare is looking good.

Again thanks,

RM in Pensacola

Donna

There's a Motel 6 in Braintree, a tenth of a mile from the subway station. See www.mbta.com for subway and commuter rail information.

gail

Re Priceline - yes, that is a problem since there is no way to guarantee 2 beds. And you are not able to specify what hotel. Some people find they can book 2 rooms on Priceline for not much more than one. Still, Boston is very expensive, especially in the summer. Cambridge, is not much cheaper than Boston, if at all. Outlying areas (Revere, Chelsea) are probably not where you want to stay; others like Newton and Braintree are also outside city and may or may not be on reasonably convenient transportation. Someone posted a while back about getting Doubletree Downtown at a reasonable rate.

Suzy

Priceline bids are for a "room for two people," but that might well be just one bed. There is no way to place special requests like two beds, nonsmoking, etc. Most people have good luck via calling the hotel after they get the res thru Priceline, and making their special requests. Be aware that you also have a special requst of a room for 3 people; I don't know about Boston, but in NYC, some rooms are legally (for fire reasons?) limited to two people.

The Motel 6 in Braintree is indeed very close to the subway station. It is just as close to a garbage-transfer station that gets mighty fragrant in the summer.

Ann

I'm usually a booster for the Newton options, but with five people you'd have to take the cost of transportation into the equation. The Newton Holiday Inn is right next to the T, but the fare is $2.50 into the city and $1 back again (i.e. $3.50 round trip). That's at least $17.50 per day in transportation. Add that to your room budget and perhaps you can get a deal in the city. Brookline is an excellent choice because it's really in town (Brookline is a separate town within the City). How about looking for a bed and breakfast or an inn? There are lots of websites to check. The all suites place near Cambridge and BU is really isolated, and not really a nice walk to anywhere, thought they do offer a shuttle service I understand. It sounds like there are lots of bargains out there. Read this website for all the past discussions.

Ann

I was considering your question again over the weekend, and if you and your family are somewhat adventurous, I have an interesting suggestion. The Howard Johnson's hotel at Kenmore Square has now become a BU dorm (this was the first year of official dormhood). In the summer, they're going to be a Youth Hostel. The rooms are going to be available from June 1 through about the 20th of August, they're all hotel rooms (i.e. bathroom in the room), and sleep up to three people. The rate is $35/night but since it's a hostel I don't know if that's per room or (more likely) per person. They have a webpage at Hosteling International, and search for the Boston at Fenway hostel (it's right by Fenway Park). I don't think you need to be a member of AYH to stay there, and it's in a terrific location at an amazing price. It's not fancy, but it's safe, a great location. This could be a good option for many of the Boston visitors here at Fodors who need a moderately priced place in the city. Just a thought. Your teens might enjoy the experience more than staying out in the 'burbs and taking public transportation into the city.

sandy

The Brookline Holiday Inn is convenient but also starts at $179/night.

Try the North Shore- its easy to commute in from there- can take the Blue Line from Wonderland. Check Salem, (Hawthorne Inn) and Swampscott and Marblehead have a number of inexpensicve B & B's.

r-travels

Someone mentioned Suisse Chalet. I believe that small chain is no longer in existance. Most have become (Marriott)Fairfield Inns, or Park Inns. There used to be one on Rt 2 (2A?) just W of the Alewife Station (western end of the Red Line), and it was walkable from the station, less than 10 min walk. Maybe Bostonians can help on the new name? BTW, MBTA does have a visitors pass with unlimited use of the system (or used to anyway) for around $5. (to reply to me, remove the x)

RHM

I appreciate all the input from everyone on the board. My mother has been to Boston a few times and she has recommended the Boston Park Plaza.

She says it is in a great location and the hotel is fine. I wouldn't question her judgement but she travels completely different from me.

She likes to get up at the crack of dawn and pack as much into every day as possible. She always comes back from her vacations exhausted. I, on the other hand, may decide to sleep in till 9:00 am and wander about for a few hours then call it a day..depends on how I feel.

I'd rather make two trips (or more) to a place and go at a relaxed pace. Anyway, I am way off topic. So how IS the Boston Park Plaza?

Thanks,

RM in Pensacola

RHM

Oh, and I know that I have shot the budget of $100.00-$125.00. Room at the hotel are running $200.00 per night. If everything pans out, I am just going to part with the extra money...

RM in Pensacola

xxx3

Check on biddingfortravel.com. I believe that people have been getting the Park Plaza for about $100 by bidding for 4-star hotel in the Copley'Back Bay area.