hope_t

I am going to take my 11y. old daughter for summer camp in Holyoke, MA
We will fly from VA to Boston on Saturday morning around 10 am.
We have to be at the Holyoke on Sunday (next day) by 1:00pm.
I am going to rent a car from airport (need to store suitcase of my camper.
We must see Boston, but not sure where to stay on Saturday night. I don’t like to drive from and to Boston in one day on Sunday, but I also will be too tired to drive 90 miles on Saturday.
Should we stay outside of Boston, but not far?
If we stay in Boston what area should we choose?
I am flying back on Monday morning around 9:00am

hope_t

July 14 - 16

rkkwan

Hotels are expensive in Boston, and since you don't want to drive to/from Boston same day on Sunday, more reason not to stay there.

Holyoke isn't that far from Boston, but if you don't want to drive that far out on Saturday, then you can go halfway and stay in Worcester. There isn't much in terms of accomodations after that between Wocester and Springfield.

citywalks

Here's a suggestion. Stay at the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square. It's an easy drive from the airport (relatively speaking) and they have parking. After check in, you'll have time to stroll around Harvard Square and take the subway into Boston. The entrance to the Mass Turnpike is 1-mile away for your drive to Holyoke on Sunday.

Have fun.

Anonymous

If you stay at a hotel in Boston on Saturday night, you can take a taxi to the hotel and then pick up your rental car on Sunday morning. If your room isn't ready, they will still store your luggage for you.

I'd recommend the Back Bay area rather than Harvard Square: It's closer to the airport, also has a convenient turnpike entrance, and plenty of car--rental offices and things to do. The taxi from the airport will cost about the same as overnight parking for the rental car, so your net savings will be one day of car rental.

Then, drive part-way back to Boston later on Sunday, perhaps take in the Lextington/Concord area, stay at one of the more economical chain hotels in the suburbs, and finish the drive on Monday early AM. Most car-rental agencies wouldn't mind if you rent at one office and return at the airport, as long as it's the same city.

dfrostnh

I think either suggestion for a Boston hotel is good. I think the poster wants to do some Boston sightseeing on Saturday. I like the idea of getting the rental car near the hotel and using a taxi to the airport. (Call me chicken, I don't like to drive in Boston without a good navigator.) Given that her flight is at 9am and she has a rental to drop off and should be at the airport an hour or two ahead (check airport's suggestion, my guess would be 2 hours ahead) and commuting traffic ... I think it's going to be easiest to do a one day rental on Sunday, returning to the same hotel Sunday night, dropping off the car and then just getting a taxi to the airport on Monday morning. Driving to Holyoke and back on Sunday should be easy driving. If an airport rental is used, then staying at an airport hotel on Sunday night would be my choice. But staying at the same hotel both Sat and Sun nights might make things a little less stressful.

Ackislander

Driving from Holyoke to Boston on Sunday will be easy as long as you get on the road (I-90) before Tanglewood lets out -- say 3 PM. Otherwise, the trip will be endless, especially near the I-84 entrance where traffic often bogs down for miles.

If I were you, I would bid on Priceline for a 4* hotel in the Back Bay for Saturday night. You will probably get the Sheraton. Take a taxi there, and you can pick up a Budget (or I think Avis) rental car next morning at the Motor Mart Garage (ten minute walk) to return to the airport.

For Sunday night, I would bid for a 4* at the airport, return the rental car at the airport Sunday evening, and take the hotel's shuttle to the terminal on Monday morning. Getting from the Back Bay to Logan on Monday morning in time for a 9 AM flight requires an early start.

You ought to be able to get both these hotels for something like $75 plus taxes per night unless there is a convention in town. You might be able to get them for less, but you may not want to bother if you are not a regular Priceline user.

Anonymous

Those are good suggestions, dfrost. In fact, staying both nights at a hotel that's really at the airport is starting to sound good. Unlike many cities, it's fast and easy to get from the airport to downtown by public transit.

Hope could go straight from the baggage claim to the airport hotel, check the luggage if her room isn't ready, then head downtown for the rest of Saturday. The only possible glitches in this plan might be related to the office hours for the car rental. Although the hotel might be pricier than some others, the savings on taxi and car rental would reduce the net cost in both money and hassles.

"I don’t like to drive from and to Boston in one day on Sunday, but I also will be too tired to drive 90 miles on Saturday."

Although that does sound like a lot of driving for Sunday, the tradeoff is that you could stay in the same hotel both nights. Staying "outside of Boston, but not far" would add hassles in transit and parking.

CAPH52

I guess I'm missing something here, but I'm a little confused as to why you're not just flying into Bradley Airport in Connecticut. It's much closer to Holyoke than Boston.

I get that you want to see Boston. But with so little time and the 90 mile drive and all....

capxxx

My question too. Holyoke is more like 20 minutes from Hartford/Bradley Airport.

taitai

I went to school in Northampton and always, always, always flew into Bradley. If you have not already booked flights, I would look into that. It will make everything much, much easier.

taitai

Ackislander

Why fly to Logan:

1. She's flying from Virginia and there may not be a direct flight to Bradley?
2. She wants her daughter to see Boston, even if only for a day?

hope_t

Yes, we will use direct flight from VA on July 14.
My daughter would like to see Boston even for a few hours.

1. I will check if car rentals are open on Sunday (I already have reservation for a car for Saturday-Monday for $56 total, but can cancel it) It is reasonable to take a taxi to the hotel and only use it to drive to Holyoke. I would love to use a public transportation!
We may stay at the airport on Saturday if car rentals open on Sunday only at the airport.

2. I also like the idea of staying near the airport on Sunday night–no morning drive for me.

3. I can leave Holyoke after 4:00. what about traffic near Boston?

4. If we drive late Saturday night and stay in Worcester I will drive less on Sunday and arrived earlier to Holyoke.

suze

I'm a big fan of western Massachusetts and not so crazy about Boston. I would have gone with the fly into Bradlee plan, and spend time there instead. Traffic/drivers in Boston can be pretty crazy. Hopefully since it's the weekend won't be so bad.

hope_t

We already bought tickets to Boston (total for 2 RT tickets is $140) flight is only 1h 10 min + 20 min from our home to the airport. Flight to Bradley with connections will be longer…

Now I am totally confused with hotels near the Logan airport. Search of the hotels in Back Bay gives me $250-300 a night.
Also I got a price of $179 a night for Hampton Inn Boston - Logan Airport – at 230 Lee Burbank Highway, Revere, MA it has 24 h shuttle service. Good reviews.
Any B&B around $170? I will rent a car on Sunday or S-S-M.

Now I am ready to drive from and to Boston in one day on Sunday

rkkwan

Boston is one of the most expensive cities to stay in, and to park your car whole day.

Spend your few hours there and that get out! That's what I suggested in my reply early on, and that's what I'm going to say again.

hope_t

I checked prices for Worcester.
But still need to stay in Boston on Sunday night.

kealalani

Just went to kayak.com and put in 14th for 2 nights.

Midtown, may have parking cheaper $161
Weston Waterfront - easy drive to and from airport and access to 90W $189
Sheraton at copley $139

rkkwan

For the night of 7/15, Hotwire has a 3* in BOS/Saugus with shuttle to BOS for $113. You can return the car Sunday night first, then use the hotel shuttle. It should be the Four Points Sheraton.

If you want both nights in Boston 7/14-16, Hotwire has a 4* Customer Favorite in Quincy Market/Financial District for $129/night. Should be the Hilton Financial.

Or a 4* Waterfront/South Boston for $136. No listing on biddingfortravel.

Or a 3* Boston Common/Theater District Customer Favorite for $101. Should be the Park Plaza.

Or 4* Cambridge boutique hotel for $134. Not sure what hotel.

Or 3.5* Cambridge customer favorite for $105. Which is definitely the Hyatt. [Not convenient with public transport.]

Budget at least $20-25 for parking at any of those above hotels.

And you can try Priceline to get something even cheaper.

Looks like that wasn't a particularly busy weekend in Boston, as far as hotel is concerned.

kealalani

With plenty of options I would just stay away from satellite airport hotels in Revere and Saugus. Hotwire listings look good.