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Coming to Boston in April

Posted: March 15, 2010 1:53 pm
by JollyMon66
We're coming to Boston for 2 days in early April so that my daughter can look at Boston University. We know nothing about Boston - can some give me a good reasonable hotel recommendation near campus? I'm thinking something like Holiday Inn Express, Comfort Inn, etc. Thank you much :D

Re: Coming to Boston in April

Posted: March 15, 2010 2:40 pm
by rmissbrook
Since I live in the Boston area I don't stay in hotels. But if you check out Priceline there are several hotels right now listed in the $130/night range. But in April they will be more. The closest one to BU that I saw was the Holiday Inn at Beacon Hill for $129. But keep in mind that it is soooooo easy to get around Boston on public transportation that you should not really worry about how far away you are from BU. I am sure that there are people on here that have a lot more experience with accommodations than I do, but if there is anything I can help you with just PM me.

Re: Coming to Boston in April

Posted: March 15, 2010 3:02 pm
by C-Dawg
rmissbrook wrote:Since I live in the Boston area I don't stay in hotels. But if you check out Priceline there are several hotels right now listed in the $130/night range. But in April they will be more. The closest one to BU that I saw was the Holiday Inn at Beacon Hill for $129. But keep in mind that it is soooooo easy to get around Boston on public transportation that you should not really worry about how far away you are from BU. I am sure that there are people on here that have a lot more experience with accommodations than I do, but if there is anything I can help you with just PM me.
I agree...I normally stay outside of Boston and take the train in...it's much cheaper and less hassle dealing with parking.

Re: Coming to Boston in April

Posted: March 15, 2010 6:37 pm
by aeroparrot
JollyMon66 wrote:We're coming to Boston for 2 days in early April so that my daughter can look at Boston University. We know nothing about Boston - can some give me a good reasonable hotel recommendation near campus? I'm thinking something like Holiday Inn Express, Comfort Inn, etc. Thank you much :D
There is a Marriott in Newton but not sure of the price and a bit of a hike to the T. It's also not that far from Boston College too so if you want to do two colleges at once, both Boston College and Boston University are on the same trolley line. There is a Motel 6 in Braintree, not that far from the Braintree Red Line stop (you would take the Red Line inbound and the only way you can go from Braintree to Park Street, then the B (Boston College) line outbound.

The cheaper and well known hotels are generally in the suburbs. There is a Sheraton in the Back Bay area but it is a bit pricey. There is also the Hotel Buckminister in Kenmore Square (right near BU but not sure how pricey and how good it is).

Re: Coming to Boston in April

Posted: March 15, 2010 6:56 pm
by SchoolGirlHeart
aeroparrot wrote:There is also the Hotel Buckminister in Kenmore Square (right near BU but not sure how pricey and how good it is).
Nooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o

Like others have said, stay in the suburbs for much cheaper and take the T (MBTA) in. You do NOT want to drive in Boston. :o

There's a Sheraton in Braintree a couple of miles from the Quincy Adams Red Line T stop.

Re: Coming to Boston in April

Posted: March 15, 2010 6:58 pm
by aeroparrot
SchoolGirlHeart wrote:
aeroparrot wrote:There is also the Hotel Buckminister in Kenmore Square (right near BU but not sure how pricey and how good it is).
Nooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o

Like others have said, stay in the suburbs for much cheaper and take the T (MBTA) in. You do NOT want to drive in Boston. :o

There's a Sheraton in Braintree a couple of miles from the Quincy Adams Red Line T stop.
That bad? I don't stay in the city of Boston so I didn't know anything about it.

Re: Coming to Boston in April

Posted: March 15, 2010 7:08 pm
by C-Dawg
SchoolGirlHeart wrote:
aeroparrot wrote:There is also the Hotel Buckminister in Kenmore Square (right near BU but not sure how pricey and how good it is).
Nooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o

Like others have said, stay in the suburbs for much cheaper and take the T (MBTA) in. You do NOT want to drive in Boston. :o

There's a Sheraton in Braintree a couple of miles from the Quincy Adams Red Line T stop.
It is much easier.....as I'm coming from the north, I normally stay in Lowell and take the train into Boston. The price of the hotel is half, and it's only 20-30 minutes into the center of Boston. Besides, many of the hotels will have shuttle to the train station, so you don;t even have to worry about that.

Re: Coming to Boston in April

Posted: March 15, 2010 7:09 pm
by SchoolGirlHeart
aeroparrot wrote:
SchoolGirlHeart wrote:
aeroparrot wrote:There is also the Hotel Buckminister in Kenmore Square (right near BU but not sure how pricey and how good it is).
Nooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o

Like others have said, stay in the suburbs for much cheaper and take the T (MBTA) in. You do NOT want to drive in Boston. :o

There's a Sheraton in Braintree a couple of miles from the Quincy Adams Red Line T stop.
That bad? I don't stay in the city of Boston so I didn't know anything about it.
All I know is from the stories of people who stayed there for the Fenway shows. NOT GOOD. :o

Re: Coming to Boston in April

Posted: March 15, 2010 7:11 pm
by aeroparrot
SchoolGirlHeart wrote:
aeroparrot wrote:
SchoolGirlHeart wrote:
aeroparrot wrote:There is also the Hotel Buckminister in Kenmore Square (right near BU but not sure how pricey and how good it is).
Nooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o

Like others have said, stay in the suburbs for much cheaper and take the T (MBTA) in. You do NOT want to drive in Boston. :o

There's a Sheraton in Braintree a couple of miles from the Quincy Adams Red Line T stop.
That bad? I don't stay in the city of Boston so I didn't know anything about it.
All I know is from the stories of people who stayed there for the Fenway shows. NOT GOOD. :o
... in that case, I revoke that suggestion then for that hotel.

Re: Coming to Boston in April

Posted: March 15, 2010 9:28 pm
by rmissbrook
aeroparrot wrote:
SchoolGirlHeart wrote:
aeroparrot wrote:
SchoolGirlHeart wrote:
aeroparrot wrote:There is also the Hotel Buckminister in Kenmore Square (right near BU but not sure how pricey and how good it is).
Nooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o

Like others have said, stay in the suburbs for much cheaper and take the T (MBTA) in. You do NOT want to drive in Boston. :o

There's a Sheraton in Braintree a couple of miles from the Quincy Adams Red Line T stop.
That bad? I don't stay in the city of Boston so I didn't know anything about it.
All I know is from the stories of people who stayed there for the Fenway shows. NOT GOOD. :o
... in that case, I revoke that suggestion then for that hotel.
I use the Quincy Adams station every day. Both the Sheraton in Braintree and the Holiday Inn in Randolph have shuttle service back and forth to the stataion.

However, I would encourage you to drive into the city and then just park the car. Boston is such a great walking city and there are so many neat places to see that if you stay out in the burbs you willmiss half the fun.

Re: Coming to Boston in April

Posted: March 15, 2010 9:43 pm
by ScarletB
rmissbrook wrote:
aeroparrot wrote:
SchoolGirlHeart wrote:
aeroparrot wrote:
SchoolGirlHeart wrote:
aeroparrot wrote:There is also the Hotel Buckminister in Kenmore Square (right near BU but not sure how pricey and how good it is).
Nooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o

Like others have said, stay in the suburbs for much cheaper and take the T (MBTA) in. You do NOT want to drive in Boston. :o

There's a Sheraton in Braintree a couple of miles from the Quincy Adams Red Line T stop.
That bad? I don't stay in the city of Boston so I didn't know anything about it.
All I know is from the stories of people who stayed there for the Fenway shows. NOT GOOD. :o
... in that case, I revoke that suggestion then for that hotel.
I use the Quincy Adams station every day. Both the Sheraton in Braintree and the Holiday Inn in Randolph have shuttle service back and forth to the stataion.

However, I would encourage you to drive into the city and then just park the car. Boston is such a great walking city and there are so many neat places to see that if you stay out in the burbs you willmiss half the fun.
I grit my teeth, gird my loins etc etc, and drive in and then hand the car to the hotel valet for as long as I'm there. Walking is no problem. I love Boston, every time I go there I think it's one city I could actually live in. Until I realize what the places I LIKE would cost me per month! :D

Re: Coming to Boston in April

Posted: March 16, 2010 7:39 am
by SuperTrooper
Near the Riverside Station in Newton you have the Hotel Indigo (a Holiday Inn branch) for about $170/nt.

There is the Boston Marriott Newton near Riverside, about $230-250/nt.

Both are right off Rt 95/128, as is Riverside.

Riverside Station is the end of the Green Line "D" trains and takes you right to Kenmore Square and BU.

I agree with the statements about the Buckminster. What a dump!

Personally, I would play the Priceline.com game. In the Boston Metro-West (Newton - Waltham) zone the Marriott is the only 3.5* hotel in the system. I've seen winning bids there for under $70. So, bid 3.5* from about $40 (the lowest winning bid I see) and take a chance.

PM me if you want help playing Priceline.

Re: Coming to Boston in April

Posted: March 16, 2010 7:44 am
by sunseeker
Call the university's Admissions Office. Many time they have worked out special rates at hotels for visiting students and their families.

They might also have a visitor packet filled with coupons to restaurants, entertainment, etc....

Re: Coming to Boston in April

Posted: March 16, 2010 9:04 am
by rmissbrook
SuperTrooper wrote:Near the Riverside Station in Newton you have the Hotel Indigo (a Holiday Inn branch) for about $170/nt.

There is the Boston Marriott Newton near Riverside, about $230-250/nt.

Both are right off Rt 95/128, as is Riverside.

Riverside Station is the end of the Green Line "D" trains and takes you right to Kenmore Square and BU.

I agree with the statements about the Buckminster. What a dump!

Personally, I would play the Priceline.com game. In the Boston Metro-West (Newton - Waltham) zone the Marriott is the only 3.5* hotel in the system. I've seen winning bids there for under $70. So, bid 3.5* from about $40 (the lowest winning bid I see) and take a chance.

PM me if you want help playing Priceline.
The Green Line is closed between Riverside and Reservoir. There is a huge sink hole under the tracks thanks to all the rain. They said it will take quite while to fix so I would not count on it being back up and running by early April. I think the thought about contacting the school is a good idea.

Re: Coming to Boston in April

Posted: March 16, 2010 10:37 am
by JollyMon66
TO ALL - Thank you for your feedback - all good info - thanks too for the additional info they don't often tell you online or at triple A. Checking with the school first may be a great start...not sure why they didn't give us this info already. If she does go here I just hope she doesn't come back a Red Sox, Bruin, or Celtic fan. :lol:

Re: Coming to Boston in April

Posted: March 16, 2010 1:05 pm
by SuperTrooper
rmissbrook wrote:
SuperTrooper wrote:Near the Riverside Station in Newton you have the Hotel Indigo (a Holiday Inn branch) for about $170/nt.

There is the Boston Marriott Newton near Riverside, about $230-250/nt.

Both are right off Rt 95/128, as is Riverside.

Riverside Station is the end of the Green Line "D" trains and takes you right to Kenmore Square and BU.

I agree with the statements about the Buckminster. What a dump!

Personally, I would play the Priceline.com game. In the Boston Metro-West (Newton - Waltham) zone the Marriott is the only 3.5* hotel in the system. I've seen winning bids there for under $70. So, bid 3.5* from about $40 (the lowest winning bid I see) and take a chance.

PM me if you want help playing Priceline.
The Green Line is closed between Riverside and Reservoir. There is a huge sink hole under the tracks thanks to all the rain. They said it will take quite while to fix so I would not count on it being back up and running by early April. I think the thought about contacting the school is a good idea.
OOPS! That's right. They are providing bus service in place of the trains between Riverside and Resevoir. It just will take longer.

Another option is a pretty decent Holiday Inn in Brookline right on Beacon St. The T stop is right out side the front door. About $200/nt.

There are also several decent hotel options in the "Longwood" area. We stayed at the Best Western Longwood when we saw Jimmy at Fenway. The T is right there, but we walked it.

Re: Coming to Boston in April

Posted: March 17, 2010 8:14 am
by Carolinadreamin'
My keet is at Boston College. What a great town!!!!!! We love going to visit. Like others have said we stay outside of Boston but we have once stayed near Copley Square when we got an amazing deal on Priceline.
Might as well get on the T because she's going to need a Charlie card and feel comfortable with it if she comes to school here. FYI - They "visit" other schools. Tell her the boys from MIT are really smart but seem to be socially awkward so parties are not worth it. :D

Oh....and if it's warm, take the "T" ferry just for the fun of it. They serve wine and beer and the sunsets are beautiful..... 8)

Re: Coming to Boston in April

Posted: March 17, 2010 7:10 pm
by aeroparrot
Carolinadreamin' wrote:My keet is at Boston College. What a great town!!!!!! We love going to visit. Like others have said we stay outside of Boston but we have once stayed near Copley Square when we got an amazing deal on Priceline.
Might as well get on the T because she's going to need a Charlie card and feel comfortable with it if she comes to school here. FYI - They "visit" other schools. Tell her the boys from MIT are really smart but seem to be socially awkward so parties are not worth it. :D

Oh....and if it's warm, take the "T" ferry just for the fun of it. They serve wine and beer and the sunsets are beautiful..... 8)
You know, you never let me know when you're at BC..... I live 5 miles from it.

Re: Coming to Boston in April

Posted: March 17, 2010 7:17 pm
by SchoolGirlHeart
JollyMon66 wrote:I just hope she doesn't come back a Red Sox, Bruin, or Celtic fan. :lol:
8) 8) :wench:

Re: Coming to Boston in April

Posted: March 17, 2010 7:18 pm
by aeroparrot
JollyMon66 wrote:TO ALL - Thank you for your feedback - all good info - thanks too for the additional info they don't often tell you online or at triple A. Checking with the school first may be a great start...not sure why they didn't give us this info already. If she does go here I just hope she doesn't come back a Red Sox, Bruin, or Celtic fan. :lol:
Never underestimate the power of the Force.