My wife and I are planning on spending a few days in Boston this July before heading to Cape Cod. We've never been and are in need of suggestions for moderately-priced accommodations in the best possible location for walking around/sightseeing downtown. We will not have a car. I do not know Boston and am hoping we will be able to walk to most places worth seeing. Am looking forward to your recommendations. And of course we'll be eating also, so if you have any ideas there.
Thanks for your help.
Mike

Newbury Guest House 261 Newbury St. Center of the Universe.

The Taj- the old Ritz Carlton on the corner of newbury and arlington. always seems to have suprisingly phenomenal rates. It's a great location as well.

I second the Newbury Guest House; book now.

Newbury is definitely fun for unique shopping and nice outdoor dining. Copely is right around the corner for more high end shopping. U can also take a duck tour to see the sights. I highly recommend heading over to little italy and visiting Mike's pastry it would be a sin to leave Boston without trying their cannoli's. In between newbery street and bolyston their is a great middle eastern place perfect for a inexpensive and delicious lunch. if u enjoy gyros and hummus & chips etc. I believe the name is Jafar, not fancy but really good. If u want their are plenty of cabs to take u around. But if u want to be in the action definitely plan to stay near prudential and copely, lots of places within walking distance.

I live on the Cape so feel free to ask me anything you need to know, I recently did priceline for Boston and got Hyatt in Cambridge for 100 per night and New Years we stayed in the Sheraton at Copley, did priceline about a month before and got it for 150 on priceline. I really really liked the Sheraton, right smack dab in the middle of everything, such a great city, you'll love it. We go all the time so if you have any other questions feel free to ask

I prefer the Copley/Back Bay area for walking and being most central to most attractions -
Newbury St guest house is great -
another one we like is the Clarendon Square Inn
www.clarendonsquare.com

As far as hotels, I like the Copley Fairmont and Eliot - also XVBeacon and Nine Zero -
haven't stayed in the Taj/Ritz for years but I am sure it is lovely.

Seeing as you are coming in July, I will put in a pitch for my favorite summer things in Boston: Get out on the Harbor (harborislands.com) it's great seeing the city from the harbor, and learning about all the Boston islands -

The Isabella Steward Gardner museum - for the courtyard and at least an hour to walk thru the museum -

Make sure you walk Boston Common/Public Gardens and down Charles St and the overpass to walk along the Charles River

The view from either the Skywalk or cocktails in the restaurant at the Pru - or and also - the view from Foster's Rotunda at the Rowes Wharf (free) open during day

a good link
www.tbha.org/resources_bestofboston.htm
www.bostonislands.org

there are certainly hundreds of other favs, but in good weather, these are on top of my list

Thank you for your quick replies. I'm starting to do some research on the suggestions you gave me but am having some trouble simply because I really don't know where something "centrally" located should be. The early stages of planning a trip are the hardest because it's sometimes difficult to get a grasp on things because there is so much to get a grasp on. Thank you again, and if you have any more thoughts, please send them my way.
Mike

It's impossible to plan a vacation without a good map of the area you're visiting. Especially with a "walking city" like Boston, you might as well get a good street map now.

some websites you should find useful:

www.bostonchamber.com/
and click on visitors, it will give you lots of info and links to two good pages- tourism and visitors bureau pp

www.freedomtrail.org

Get a good travel book like Fodors or Frommers - one that has a map in it if you can - and that will help you get more acclimated -

there are also some maps online that might help initially, but I'd get a hard copy one and a book

Boston is small, VERY walkable and the T is easy to use - From Back Bay/Copley, you can walk to Boston Public LIbrary (Sargent Murals, great exhibits), Newbury, Boylston, Prudential Skywalk, Duck Tours, Boston Common, Boston Public Library, Charles St, Esplanade/Charles River, South End - and if a real walker, all the way to Faneuil Hall and the waterfront - and over to the NOrth End - we do it all the time -

otherwise, you can hop on the T or the trolley -

Do a search here - put Boston, Boston Trip Reports, Boston Itinerary, into the 'search this forum' box and you should see lots of threads and trip reports come up that will help you out

I would recommend the Millenium Bostonian Hotel or the Marriott Longwharf Hotel for great location. The Millenium and Marriott are next to Fanuel Hall Marketplace and on the edge of the North End (little Italy). You can pick up the freedom trail for a historical walk of the city. You can walk or take the subway to the Boston Commons (public Garden) Newbury and Charles Street (shopping and restaurants). Please note that the Millenium has more of a "Boston" feel than the Marriott. You can get great package deals at the Bostonian as well that include a great breakfast. Please try Masamino's restaurant in the North End and go to Mikes Pastries in the North End for desert. You will not be disappointed.

http://www.thecharlesmark.com/

This hotel is opposite the Copley Subway stop on Boylston next to the Library.

Here is the best deal in Boston for a nice place to stay for under $200 look at www.constitutioninn.org
a room with 2 double beds or king and a kitchenette is $139 . I've stayed there a couple of times, it's nice, not fancy but clean, safe and for location it's awesome. A block from the USS Constitution. 1/2 mile to the Bunker Hill Monument. Only a block and a half walk is the Tavern On the Water, It's a restaurant on a boat in the Yacht Club. Very Reasonable and food good. I had the lobster ravioli..YUMM.
You are only 1/2 mile to Little Italy (North End). If you like Italian food, any restaurant in this nighborhood is good. You are also in the heart of the Freedom Trail (Old North Church, Paul Revere's House, etc.Not far from Faneuil Hall, New ENgland Aquarium (you can catch a water taxi from the pier at the end of the street which drops you off at the aquarium and faneuil Hall. The duck tours are great.The Museum of Fine Arts, The Elizabeth Gardner Museum. Mikes Pastry on 300 hanover Street..THE BEST ITALIAN PASTRY EVER.(My favorite's the Florentine Cannoli and the "Lobster Tail")