CWF

My husband and I will be spending 2 days in Boston in late May and have had recommendations to stay in the Back Bay area. Could you please recommend reasonable hotels ($100-$200 range) for our stay?

Or, is it better to stay in the harbor area? If so, hotel recommendations would be appreciated...

Thanks

soccr

With all due gentleness and respect, let me hint to you that you can "search" this site on terms like "Boston hotels" and find a wealth of info already posted. For example, I would suggest the John Jeffries.

No, I wouldn't stay near the harbour as long as the Big Dig is churning up the area. Also it will cost you much more. Back Bay -- broadly defined -- is the best idea.

Wendy

I also think backbay is the best area. I have gotten the Westin and the DoubleTree thru Priceline also. If you use one of the bidding sites definately check out the helpful bidding sites. The one I like is biddingfortravel.com

leslie

Back Bay is a great area to be in. Just an FYI, if you use Hotwire, the hotel that is the "customer favorite" is the Sheraton, which is a very nice hotel. It's also in Priceline's inventory. Frequently you can get the Back Bay Hilton through its website for under $100, and that's a great hotel too, especially for the views from the corner rooms. The Hilton has some great amenities, including robes, and coffee makers, and the showers are phenomenal and enormous, lots of shower heads, bath towels, and nice bath products.

The Westin, Hilton and Sheraton would be my choices, and they are all Priceline properties. All are close to good restaurants and shopping. If you would like to be closer to Boston Common, check out the new boutique hotel Nine Zero, which is located at 90 Tremont Street. The URL is www.ninezero.com, and the hotel has good internet rates.

Also, don't forget to take a Duck Tour. You can catch it in front of the Prudential Center.

For restaurant reviews, check out www.phantomgourmet.com. For advice on how to bid through Priceline, check out both www.betterbidding.com and www.biddingfortravel.com. Also sign up for email message from Priceline. The other day an email message was sent out offering $10/night bonus dollars, up to $50 for 5 nights.

The only glitch in you getting a decent price for a room in Boston might be college graduations.

leslie

Someone just had a successful bid on Priceline. From 5/30-6/2, got the Sheraton in Back Bay for $68/night.

djkbooks

I'll chime in here with Back Bay, along with using Hotwire or Priceline. We weekend in Boston half a dozen or more times a year. I've gotten better rates with Priceline, but enjoyed the Hotwire hotels more. There are hotels used by both. But, for Boston, the Sheraton and Hilton (both are terrific) are 4*'s on Hotwire and 3*'s with Priceline, for example. The discrepancy works in both directions. You could get one or the other with Priceline by bidding 3*'s in the Back Bay, at a bit lower rate than with Hotwire, but with Priceline, you could also "win" the Doubletree or Park Plaza, which, in my opinion are both a full star (or more) below the Sheraton or Hilton.

CWF

This is very helpful, but I am nervous about using one of the bidding sites (priceline or hotwire) to get a good hotel. Are there any smaller hotels anyone would recommend in the same area that may have more reasonable rates than Sheraton or Hilton? A few I've found searching Expedia are: Copley Square Hotel
Lenox Hotel Boston
Collonade Hotel - Summit Hotel
Eliot Suite Hotel

Any knowledge/feedback on these?

soccr

Re: Copley Square Hotel, Lenox Hotel Boston, Collonade Hotel - Summit Hotel

All are within walking distance of each other in the Copley Sq/Prudential area and pretty upscale, although I've heard mumblings that the Copley Sq. could stand updating a bit, and Lenox may be overpriced. Collonade most upscale of the three, but IMHO in least desirable location -- further down on the "other side of" the Prudential Ctr., further to get to other destinations.

Like the location of the Eliot Suites the best -- nice neighborhood, although a bit of a walk to subway.

cigalechanta

Mass. Station is practically across the street from the Elliot. Corner of Mass and Newbury. Hotel on corner Mass and Commonwealth. The streets go Commm., marlborough , Newbury, Boylston.

gail

I strongly suggest you book a room ASAP - as above poster indicated, college graduations can really tie up hotel rooms both for price and availability at that time of year. Book a room someplace now, and then you can keep researching and cancel if you find something better.

andy

When in MAY??

The weekend of MAY 16-19 is COLLEGE graduation to 8 COLLEGES!!!
The reason I know- I am going up for one!!! Most all the hotels are sold out in the Back Bay Area-

We were able to get the Sheraton Prudential Center (Back Bay) for $205 pn -AAA special...(this same hotel the week earlier is $139 AAA 21 day adv.purchase rate)..ALL the HOTELS in town have raised their rates for this specific weekend-- Time to gouge the parents!!

ParrotMom

Gail is right...it is college graduation time and hotels and restaurant reservations are hard to find..The Copley Square area is just lovely

soccr

Thanks for correction, cigalechanta -- wasn't thinking of the right line. Duh.

CWF

Actually not going until the last week of May and will be there mid week, so I was hoping that would help. However, I'm still in a quandry about which hotels. I have rates as follows. Maybe this will help indicate:
Hilton Back Bay: $189 (sleeps 2)
Copley Square: $125 (sleeps 4)
Lenox Hotel Boston: $129 std 4-person or $159 superior 4-person
Colonnade Hotel/Summit Hotel: $159 (deluxe king)
Eliot Suite Hotel: $190

Based on those rates, does anyone have further feedback? I was considering a 4-person only because it may be more spacious. Is that really an issue in Boston hotels? Or would I be ok with a 2-person in most cases?

ParrotMom

The Hilton isn't as convenient a location, it;'s rather hidden away..but better than the Sheraton and it;s close to the Mother Church and Symphony Hall.

The Copley Square is older--and nice location

The Lenox is in middle of things and I belive has been renovated recently.. and is next to Copley Square

The Colonnade is across from the Prudential center with lots of construction in the area and I don't know anything about the Eliot..

what you haven't mentioned is what your doing in Boston those two days.. All are convenient to Newbury Street, art galleries, restaurants and chic shops. Also, not far from the South End with their great little restaurants.