boston
Dec 29th, 2006, 07:11 AM
#2
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,206
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
there are many choices in town along points of the freedom trail - the fenway area also - it would help if you could give us some reasons for your location choices and approximate budget, number of people - are you looking for 1, 2, family with connecting rooms/suites? Only major hotel chain or would you got to a guest house or B & B type accomodation?
otherwise, the list could be endless !
otherwise, the list could be endless !
Dec 29th, 2006, 08:37 AM
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
going to Fenway to watch the Sox end of May/first of June - moderate budget with wife and 10 yr old son in hotel chain - want to get in the historical aspects as well as the ballgame - probably 4 nights or so
Dec 29th, 2006, 08:52 AM
#4
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dec 29th, 2006, 09:08 AM
#5
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,206
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
excellent choices given.
might add to check prices on Eliot Hotel (suites) - really any good hotel in and around Copley Place, Pru area, Back Bay or even downtown would serve you well. Sometimes even the Fairmont Copley has good deals - or maybe you have a chain you can use points in in this area.
make the plans sooner than later...busy time in Boston.
you might also want to look into the fenway park tour if you are all into baseball - info is on their web site.
also for 10 yr old, duck tours and view from Prudential Skywalk is appealing if you are so inclined.
might add to check prices on Eliot Hotel (suites) - really any good hotel in and around Copley Place, Pru area, Back Bay or even downtown would serve you well. Sometimes even the Fairmont Copley has good deals - or maybe you have a chain you can use points in in this area.
make the plans sooner than later...busy time in Boston.
you might also want to look into the fenway park tour if you are all into baseball - info is on their web site.
also for 10 yr old, duck tours and view from Prudential Skywalk is appealing if you are so inclined.
Dec 29th, 2006, 11:40 AM
#7
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you get sticker shock checking the places recommended above, and are looking for something more moderate but located right between the attractions you listed,you might try the Radisson Boston. We have had very uneven experiences with this chain in other places, but discovering it to be about the only reasonably reliable choice downtown not so exorbitantly priced as to drive us to the suburbs, we gave it a try on our own Fenway/Freedom Trail visit.
We found it to be a pleasant surprise in a number of ways. The location was extremely convenient for us--a block each from the subway line direct to Fenway, and also from the Garden,the Common, ans a stop for the hop-on-hop-off tour buses (which we found very helpful.) It's only a couple more blocks to the Trail.
The pleasantness and particularly the size of the room (by big city downtown hotel standards for the rate we were paying, about $150)exceeded our expectations. But the big unexpected bonus here is that because the hotel is built on top of a multi-story above-ground parking garage, nearly all rooms have good views. We were amazed to have an absolutely knockout panoramic city view (and an open balcony) which we did not expect at this price range.
The block it's on was pretty charmless, and maybe that's why the rates are more reasonable than some other places mentioned, but it seemed busy and not dangerous, with the interesting areas of downtown starting only about a block away. There's a terrific dessert specialty restaurant, Finale, about that distance away, in the Park Plaza hotel. It was a highlight of our stay.
However, the first three Indians batters hit the Green Monster on the fly for doubles, and the Sox never recovered. Their starting pitcher was back in the minors within 24 hours. David Ortiz struck out three times. Not the hotel's fault, though.
http://www.radisson.com/bostonma/
Just looked up the user reviews here at the Fodor's site for the first time (none of them written by me) and was interested to see the views and balconies here have been a major find for others--also noted the comment "without a doubt the best rooms in the city of Boston for the price" from someone who professes to be a Boston lodging veteran.
We found it to be a pleasant surprise in a number of ways. The location was extremely convenient for us--a block each from the subway line direct to Fenway, and also from the Garden,the Common, ans a stop for the hop-on-hop-off tour buses (which we found very helpful.) It's only a couple more blocks to the Trail.
The pleasantness and particularly the size of the room (by big city downtown hotel standards for the rate we were paying, about $150)exceeded our expectations. But the big unexpected bonus here is that because the hotel is built on top of a multi-story above-ground parking garage, nearly all rooms have good views. We were amazed to have an absolutely knockout panoramic city view (and an open balcony) which we did not expect at this price range.
The block it's on was pretty charmless, and maybe that's why the rates are more reasonable than some other places mentioned, but it seemed busy and not dangerous, with the interesting areas of downtown starting only about a block away. There's a terrific dessert specialty restaurant, Finale, about that distance away, in the Park Plaza hotel. It was a highlight of our stay.
However, the first three Indians batters hit the Green Monster on the fly for doubles, and the Sox never recovered. Their starting pitcher was back in the minors within 24 hours. David Ortiz struck out three times. Not the hotel's fault, though.
http://www.radisson.com/bostonma/
Just looked up the user reviews here at the Fodor's site for the first time (none of them written by me) and was interested to see the views and balconies here have been a major find for others--also noted the comment "without a doubt the best rooms in the city of Boston for the price" from someone who professes to be a Boston lodging veteran.
Dec 29th, 2006, 01:00 PM
#8
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Forgot to include the link to the Fodor's reviews I referred to in my post above:
http://tinyurl.com/ycykp9
http://tinyurl.com/ycykp9
Dec 30th, 2006, 06:39 AM
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
many great suggestions and they are appreciated - will nail down trip this weekend. As a child, went to Concord and Lexington - how far and is it worth the trouble to find from Boston?
Dec 30th, 2006, 08:28 AM
#13
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,206
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
here is one of many tours, if you aren't going to have a car or don't want to do it on your own.
http://www.libertyride.us/libertyride.html
there are other day tours also
If you have a car, it's about 30 minutes drive west of Boston.
Is it worth it? I can't answer that - depends on how much you love history, want to revisit this particular area, etc.. - want to show your son if he's a history buff.... but you could do the freedom trail one day, along with other things and then dirve out there early the next morning and use 1/2 the day or so to do that.
http://www.libertyride.us/libertyride.html
there are other day tours also
If you have a car, it's about 30 minutes drive west of Boston.
Is it worth it? I can't answer that - depends on how much you love history, want to revisit this particular area, etc.. - want to show your son if he's a history buff.... but you could do the freedom trail one day, along with other things and then dirve out there early the next morning and use 1/2 the day or so to do that.
Dec 31st, 2006, 01:06 PM
#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,605
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We just got back from the Westin Copley Place with our 2 boys, GREAT location, great room, large, 2 very comfy queens and an amazing view from the 30th floor.
We also paid $159 which I thought was a good deal given the area.
Oh, and our kids don't like to sleep in the same bed so we asked for a rollaway and got the most umbelievable "rollaway" I've ever seen. It was really a twin size bed on a forklift contraption, but oh was it comfy..it was a real heavenly bed! The mattress had to be at least 15 inches thick.
We could have easily fit 5 comfortably in that room.
We also paid $159 which I thought was a good deal given the area.
Oh, and our kids don't like to sleep in the same bed so we asked for a rollaway and got the most umbelievable "rollaway" I've ever seen. It was really a twin size bed on a forklift contraption, but oh was it comfy..it was a real heavenly bed! The mattress had to be at least 15 inches thick.
We could have easily fit 5 comfortably in that room.
Dec 31st, 2006, 01:09 PM
#15
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,605
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We were deciding between the Westin and the Elliot, and I'm glad we chose the Westin. On our way out of Boston to Cambridge we drove by the Elliot, and I thought the location was too far out of the way. The surrounding area also wasn't as nice as Copley. I would have been very disappointed had we gone with it.
Just a heads up for anyone considering the Elliot.
Just a heads up for anyone considering the Elliot.
Jan 1st, 2007, 07:57 AM
#17
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,605
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rammer, I went right to the Westin Copley website, that was an internet rate, they won't give it to you over the phone.
They probably haven't posted the internet rates yet, it's too soon, they'll do it a month or two before the date.
It's a restricted rate, I think you can't cancel within a few weeks of the stay without losing one nights deposit.
I booked the room 4 days before our stay because I wanted to make sure the weather was going to be good, but I saw the rate on their website for a month prior to our stay.
They probably haven't posted the internet rates yet, it's too soon, they'll do it a month or two before the date.
It's a restricted rate, I think you can't cancel within a few weeks of the stay without losing one nights deposit.
I booked the room 4 days before our stay because I wanted to make sure the weather was going to be good, but I saw the rate on their website for a month prior to our stay.
Jan 1st, 2007, 08:00 AM
#18
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,605
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rammer, you might also keep checking Travelzoo.com, I saw the Fairmont for $179 (rooms are too small, I've stayed there before), the Lenox for $139 (rooms also too small), and the Omni Parker house for $129.
I think for a family and for location, the Westin is your best bet. My husband has an office in Boston and goes once a month, staying in most of the hotels there and he would agree.
I think for a family and for location, the Westin is your best bet. My husband has an office in Boston and goes once a month, staying in most of the hotels there and he would agree.
Jan 1st, 2007, 05:29 PM
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nina, thanks so much for your help. We have narrowed our search down to the Marriott Copley or the Westin, both seem to have great reviews. The Marriott is a little closer to Fenway which is the main reason for our trip. Thanks again.
