Kavey

My work mate is going to Boston for a short holiday and is looking for a nice and well-located hotel.

So far the best he can find is the Hilton at $99 plus tax.

Can anyone suggest any others for him to contact which are comfortable, well priced and well located?

He will be there for 2 nights on the 6th December and another night on the 10th.

Thanks
Kavey

bm

The Hilton at $99? Is it the Back Bay location? If yes, take it. You're getting a good deal.

mimi taylor

Check out the University Park Hotel on fodors rant and raves. They often have special very low rates. It's in my neighborhood-a walk across the bridge to back bay or a one stop by the MBTA.

Joanne

Hotwire and Priceline often have excellent deals on 3 - and 4- star Boston hotels in the Back Bay, Beacon Hill, and waterfront areas.

University Park Hotel is convenient if you're doing business with MIT, but not well-located for regular tourist stuff.

kavey

Thanks all for your speedy replies.
Does anyone have any feedback on the Hilton (it is that one you mention above) regarding location and rooms etc?

Thanks

Kavey

mimi taylor

Kavey, I did not realize that was you. The Hilton is in downtown section called the backbay. There are comments about this hotel on the rant and raves. Hope allis well and hello to Beth.

Liam

Kavey:

I cannot attest to the rooms, since I live nearby, but the hotel is in a great location (Dalton St., between Boylston and Huntington).

Directly across Dalton St. is the Sheraton Back Bay, which is connected to an enormous shopping mall/convention center/hotel complex (which occupies most of the frontage along both Boylston and Huntington for two or three blocks). This is the Copley Place/Prudential Center shopping area.

If your friend is interested in museums, he is only a five minute taxi ride down Huntington to both the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum (a 16th century Venetian palazzo that "Mrs. Jack" had built specifically to hold her collection of medieval & Renaissance art). Also, in the direction of the MFA but closer to the Hilton is Symphony Hall (one of the top 3 performance venues in the world, acoustically speaking) and the Christian Science "Mother Church."

Back in the neighborhood of the Hilton are Boylston St and Newbury St, two main thoroughfares through the Back Bay. Boylston tends to be busier with car traffic and is somewhat "lower market" than the much trendier Newbury St (which is more Armani/Gucci/Chanel). Boylston, though, is home to Copley Square and Trinity Church, the anchors of the Back Bay. Also, behind Trinity Chruch is IM Pei's Hancock Tower, which has an observation deck up on the 60th(?) floor. Both Boylston and Newbury have a fair number of trendy restaurants, although your friend should check with the concierge for recommendations. The Back Bay is one of the few neighborhoods in Boston to be laid out in a grid, so it is easy to get around and the side streets (Commonwealth, Marlboro, etc) are neat to explore if your friend is into Victorian age architecture. Also, the neighborhood runs along the Charles River Esplanade, which is a great place for a morning run - he can run all the way to Harvard University in Cambridge and back (or beyond, but I don't think
there would be much to see beyond Harvard).

"Behind" the Copley/Back Bay area is the South End, another Victorian era neighborhood, complete with brownstones and small front gardens. This area has been largely gentrified over the past 20 years and is home to Boston's gay community. Lots of small funky shops, galleries, etc. And there are some great restaurants there, especially along Tremont St near Dartmouth St and Berkeley St. (Hamersley's Bistro is one of my all time favorites, especially if he has some expense account money to burn).

The Hilton also has pretty convenient access to the subway/"T" at Massachusetts Ave (about a block and a half away). From there, he can get downtown in about ten minutes, where he can explore old Boston's colonial era history. Again, his concierge should be helpful there (free maps are all over the place).

Sorry for the long reply, but hopefully this will be helpful.

kcd

A few comments on Liam's post: The Observatory at the Hancock Tower was closed after Sept. 11. There is an observatory at the top of the Prudential Building, which is still open. Second, I wouldn't suggest exploring the South End. Although there are a few funky places, it is also not the safest neighborhood. I used to work in the Hancock Tower and would sometimes park in the South End. I had my windows smashed twice and tires slashed once. (At the time I was driving a 6 year old Mazda - nothing to attract attention!) But the Hilton is in a good location. Stick with Boylston and Newbury Streets. Take the Green Line (trolley) to Government Center and explore Fanueil Hall. The $99 rate sounds great for Boston!

Gregory

Sounds like the Hilton is a good hotel. I will be in Boston for the New Year and booked the Hilton for $129+tax for the 29th December through to the 1st. On the Hilton website now the cheapest is $109 for those nights

Liam

KCD - I think you are somewhat right about the South End. There are definitely areas which should be avoided, however, I think overall it is a safe neighborhood. I would not suggest to our British guest that he stroll around after dark, but I pass through the south end regularly and never feel at risk (I am a white male, early 30's).

kavey

THANKS ALL for your replies!
I've given him the URL for Fodors Forums so he can check in on replies himself but will also copy paste email this all to him if he doesnt find it.

I thank you again for your time.

charles

KCD/SOuth End

I live in the South end, on a street where the apartments rarely sell for under half a million dollars. Your description is laughably wrong. It is a wonderful, safe, neighborhood. (I moved here from Back Bay).

It is well worth exploring, and has much better restaurants than the back bay.

Maria

Charles, nobody's denying that parts of the South End are absolutely lovely, and we are very happy that you can afford to live there. But you must admit that there are some parts of the area that are not suitable for tourist wandering, especially if they are westbound from your area!

Donna

The Hilton Back Bay is an EXCELLENT hotel. It's a few blocks farther walking than others, but for the low rate you shouldn't mind. Hotwire often has excellent deals. If a 4-star comes up in Back Bay or Downtown (usually the Hilton and Doubletree, respectively) for well under $100, grab it. Note that you can inquire on Hotwire only every 48 hours. But, it pays to keep checking. Sometimes they have no rooms one day, but lots a few days later.

kavey

Thanks again all!
Will remind my colleague of URL so he can check your answers directly.

Kavey

charles

Maria,

I do not agree with you, and I specifically include Villa Victoria, which I walk through after midnight 4 times a week.

It seems a little silly to critique the place for being too expensive and a little shady in the same post, doesn't it?

Jen

Another Bostonian chiming in for the South End. I would not recommend walking around the South End, but not because it's not safe...just b/c there's not a lot for a tourist to see. There are so many other neighborhoods for the general tourist to 'hit' first. I've never felt unsafe in the South End.

I WOULD make it a dining destination and eat at any of the following restaurants:

Hamersley's Bistro
Truc
Aquitaine
Metropolis Cafe
Franklin Cafe
Claremont Cafe

check www.foodline.com for details about these and other Boston restaurants - it's a great site that has most menus posted.

Enjoy!