Plan to fly into Boston on a Friday morning, from D.C., to allow for an afternoon/evening downtown; next day mid-morning need to drive to Amherst for family get-together, returning Monday.

Questions: Downtown Boston hotel from which we can do some walking, sightseeing [we are late 70s, but reasonably mobile]; and would it be better to pick up a car Saturday morning, say Enterprise, rather than picking it up at Logan and driving to the hotel?

Definitely, wait and rent the car when you're ready to leave town. Several agencies have offices in the Copley/Back Bay area, which is also handy to the Massachusetts Turnpike, which you'll be taking to get to Amherst. I suggest that you read past Fodors threads about Back Bay hotels and attractions.

Anonymous is right. The car offers you no advantage on Fri as Boston is so compact, you can walk to restaurants, etc. And you will have to pay to park it at any hotel. That parking fee will be around the same, or even more, than the cost of the taxi from Logan *plus* you will be paying an extra day's rental.

Check out either the Westin Copley or Sheraton Boston Hotel. Both are connected to the Prudential Center and Copley Place shopping and many restaurants. There are several T-stations (subway) either within walking distance or inside by the Sheraton. Boston T is safe and the most convenient way to get around. You can take the T from Logan right to your hotel or very close by. Cab ride wouldn't be too expensive either. For the Boston T see http://www.mbta.com/traveling_t/schedules_subway.asp
Parking at Boston hotels is usually around $30/$35 pr night so pick up car when you are ready to leave.

Last year, when I stayed at the Radisson, I found there was a Budget Rent a Car place across the street which was equally convenient to the Park Plaza hotel a block away. Also, I was able to pick up my car at the airport and turn it in at this Park Plaza-Radisson site without any extra charge, so you might very well be able to do the reverse.

We had a magnificent view of the city from our room at the Radisson, which is a modern, quite tall hotel, while the Park Plaza is an ornate "grand old dame." On the whole, my impression is that these two hotels are not quite as expensive or luxurious as the leading Back Bay hotels, and the nearby shopping, restaurants and nightlife are better in the Back Bay, but on the other hand they are equally close to the subway, closer to the Public Garden, Boston Common and the principal historic sites, and right next to the theater district. We also especially liked Finale, a restaurant in the Park Plaza specializing in delicious desserts and after-dinner drinks.

If walking among the historic sites is a top priority, there's no hotel better located than the Omni Parker House, another "grand dame," right in the middle of them. I think you'd probably find a rental car place there or very nearby, too.

Thanks for the comments. It appears that the Copely area, convenient to the T, will be a good place to look for a hotel....

I would second the recommendation for staying at the Park Plaza or Parker House. Their rooms are probably not as modern as the Copley Marriott or Westin; however, I think they are closer in walking distance to what makes Boston unique (Public Garden, Boston Common, Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall. The Copley is great for those of us who live here but are basically just lovely malls. They are in the Back Bay and famous (and charming) Newbury Street; however, on your limited time, I would opt to see the things I've mentioned.

Second the opinions about waiting until Saturday to get the car. It is not easy driving into Boston from Logan and we are not the most courteous drivers. And our signage is atrocious (basically, we don't have street signs!). You'll do fine if you can just get on the Mass Pike and get to Amherst. And it will be easy on the return trip to find Logan from the Mass Pike.

Enjoy! We love our city

Right you are ccrosner about the difficulty of driving from Logan to Back Bay or even downtown, not to mention dealing w/the notorious "Boston drivers". I glossed over those details in an attempt to be a good ambassador for the city, but I was thinking of those things when I posted above, even if I did not mention them. I remember when we moved here in 1971 and the only way we ever knew what street we were on was to look for "spas", dry cleaners, diners or other establishments that incorporated the name of the street into the name of the business--Beacon Diner, e.g.--but we do "love that dirty water"!!!