Planning a 2 day stop in Cambridge on October 19th. After checking the prices of hotels we are not sure if we can go. Is there any other areas in Boston that is nice and not as expensive? We don't mind walking a mile or two.

State a budget - who knows what "as expensive" is?

And where are you walking?

What is the purpose of your trip?

This isn't classified information. If you want help, tell us what you need help with.

Hotels in Boston are among the most expensive in the country, but there are options. People here can recommend different areas if you tell us the purpose of your trip--is it to visit Cambridge, or be a tourist, or...; and your budget; and if you'll have a car, or want to use public transportation, or have a handicap, or whatever else is important information about you and who is traveling with you.

The weekend of the 22nd is the Head of the Charles Regatta, one of the largest rowing events anywhere. Since teams will be coming from all over the world, there is huge pressure on hotels.

Could you come a week before or a week after?

A bunk in a multi-person dorm room at the hostel in Boston can run $60 per person at high season. The end of October is prime leaf-peeping season usually. The Head of the Charles Regatta also fills up hotel rooms in Cambridge.

Try changing your time of visit, and looking for B&Bs, youth hostels, Priceline hotel deals, hotels in Quincy on the T Red line, etc etc. For many outlying communities, you'd have to have a car.
It's not simply a case of walking a mile or two. You want to be on a T subway/trolley line, at best, or the commuter rail lines, at least, if staying out of the central neighborhoods.

Inn at Crystal Cove on Winthrop Harbor behind Logan Airport has rooms @ $125. You can take the ferry into the city or take a short bus ride to the metro, total time is about 35 mins into the city. You might want to Uber or taxi back in the evenings. The inn has no elevator & rooms are small.

Also the Amory Guest House in Cambridge still has a room available, funky spot with shared baths, check reviews.

We will be driving in. No handicaps for us. We mostly want to visit the Cambridge area. Seeing if we could get something under $300.0 per night.

Booking.com has the Best Western Tria (near Alewife Red Line station) for $412 for the 19-21st Oct.

As mentioned above, it's the lead-in to the second busiest weekend in Boston all year (the first is the Boston Marathon).

Quick response. Yes, hotels are expensive. Especially when an event like Regatta is going on. Can you locate in a outlying area? And by the way much to see in Plymouth, Salem, the Cape. What is there to actually see in Cambridge (we live in adjacent Watertown?) Just walking across Harvard Yard or museum at MIT?

You might try the Friendly Inn in Cambridge. I think you will have to call them, as they only book 60 days in advance on their web site. I've had several friend stay here when their kids are at Harvard and MIT and they said it was comfortable and very reasonable.

https://www.google.com/search?client...UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Once we leave Boston we are going to Provincetown for a few days. Cambridge area was a recommendation from a friend. We have never been to Boston. If there are better areas to stay and more to see, please list these areas. Thanks for all the help.

There is a lot to see in Boston itself. What are your interests? History, sports, shopping, nature, art, architecture etc. Anywhere in Boston Back Bay, downtown, theater district, Faneuil Hall/Harbor area, are convenient areas to stay for sightseeing, as are locations in Cambridge near the Red Line subway.

But, as said, this is a hugely popular time in Boston so hotel rooms are scarce (and expensive).

We want to visit Harvard, Fenway, Freedom Trail, drink beverages

All of those areas are convenient to your sites, or to easy subway rides to them. But really don't delay in making reservations. Make a reservation at a price you can live with and that you can cancel if you find something better.

Boston is a good place to drink (adult) beverages.

Given your budget, I think your best choice is to look into an outlying area like Dedham or Milton that has a "T" you can take into and out of the city. Then use the subway system and your feet to see the places of interest you've listed. That will also put you in a convenient spot to depart for P'Town, assuming you're driving.

you could try the Hyatt Medford ma. Close to Cambridge and Boston. Will run about $ 250 a night.