cmt, you definitely don't want to stay in Burlington if you take the train and want to do some sightseeing in Boston/Cambridge -- Burlington is not convenient to the interesting spots, and you need a car.

For good access to the Fri & Sat dinners, a hotel near Kendall Square (Cambridge) would be ideal. You could take the Red Line & bus to Arlington Center for Friday, and you'd be in walking distance of Saturday's dinner. Second-best is any hotel near the Red line (Harvard Sq or Boston Common, for example).

Thanks for the advice. If anyone has hotel suggestions fitting the above guidelines, I'd welcome them. I'd better buy a map of Boston/Cambridge (or a guide book with maps).

cmt: My plans are looking more and more favorably on landing in Boston at least by the 10th of October.

Main reason is that the NY Met live HD simulcast will begin on the 10th and I can't see myself caught out in the New England toolies somewhere and missing the first live simulcast!

I'll definitely have a car, as have to drive in from Vermont. Be happy to pick you up from anywhere and give you a ride - at least to the Saturday night shindig.

Not certain yet where I'll be Friday night, but if close, I could also give you a ride on Friday night.

Otherwise, rizzuto's advice is good to get a hotel near the sights of Boston and Cambridge, where presumably you'd want to do some exploring.

ok....as stated the indigo hotel is directly next door to the MBTA (public trolley system) at a station called riverside....this is the same name of the trolley line it is on and is also called the green line for cambridgeites that only know colors (note that is not cantabridgians)...

this is by far the easiest place of the weekend to get to...
friday nite is the most difficult although the MBTA has bus service to the area along Mass Avenue from Harvard square cambridge... saturday nite is just down the road from lechmere station on the MBTA also...

getting away after the GTG's is easy as many of us have cars and will drive you...

hotels: you will be shocked with the prices around boston....priceline is a good bet...
i will look for your mail on my alternative e site...

I was not planning to go to he Indigo Hotel, so my concerns were about getting to the other two GTGs.

I've never used Priceline. I had the impression that it's not possible to specify locations (sections of town, e.g.).

I should probably reconsider attending....

Easytraveler: Thank you very much for the offer. IF I do go, I would welcome rides in the evening. But so far, it's still a big "if" and I'm reconsidering.

i notice that hotwire.com is advertising affordable hotel prices for boston

Before using Priceline, check out biddingfortravel,com. Anyway, when bidding on priceline, you pick a location and a star level and submit a bid for a certain dollar amount. Your bid will either be accepted or rejected. If accepted, they will tell you which hotel. I've used it lots with good savings.

I used Hotwire for Theater District and got the Radisson ( thought I can't recall how many stars). As with everywhere, hotels are down and I've seen some good deals - I think most recently on Travelzoo.

cmt: you've got to come! Boston is a great city and has so much to offer.

Right now, as the crazy quilt fragments of my trip come together, it looks like I'll be in Boston Friday and possibly even before that.

Being from California, we're used to driving long distances, so I can come and pick you up from whichever hotel you choose. Now you have no excuse not to come!

Give us an idea of what you want to do in Boston and I'm sure the guys can work out a good hotel for you.

btw, for any of you who plan to come we need a count for each meal....please let me know of your intentions: [email protected]

i have written the final notice and will be sending it out about september 8 upon my return from europe... remember europe, that's the place we all used to go to before discovering the wonders of asia...

Ha, ha, Bob, yes, I know that comment was directed at me. Pfffft!

BC

I still want to go to Italy one more time . . .

me too and england, france and all the other places...

I dunno, Bob, somehow I don't picture you back in Romania, nor do I see you in Luxor again for some reason....Indianapearl, there's nothing wrong with you, and don't let anyone convince you otherwise!!

BC

Thanks, bookchick! I feel better now.

The POB is soon off to Russia, then South Africa, then Bangkok with the pandas and then in May, Bali, again with the pandas. His dance card is pretty full. It was just our bad luck that he's actually going to be home for the GTG.

easy---can you send me a contact address for you so that i can add you to the e mail list for sept 8 about the final GTG info?

[email protected]

simpsonc510: do you have a direct flight from The City with Big Shoulders?