mimda

hi,

we are going to the afternoon red sox game next saturday, but staying by the waterfront for the Harbor Parade of Lights. Choices are Renaissance or Marriot Long Wharf. Renaissance is more affordable at this point, but I am wondering about distance.

I know that it is a couple of changes on the T, from Fenway to the Harbor. Is one hotel more easily accessible to a T stop? And here's another consideration. We could take the T or train in from South Shore, thereby eliminating the car.......if either hotel is more direct by public transport.
thanks for your help, I have done some online research, but just seem to be getting more confused !

yk

I assume the Renaissance is the one in Waterfront? It's served by the Silver Line, but not as convenient as Marriott Long Wharf. You also have more restaurant options with Marriott than Renaissance.

Regarding the car; weekend parking in Boston is usually fairly affordable. You can use bestparking.com and plug in your dates and location, and it'll map out the parking garages nearby with rates posted.

We usually park at the South Station bus terminal roof-top lot on weekends when we go into the city. They charge $8/24hrs. If you do that, you can either
1) Walk to Marriott Long Wharf (~10-15 min) or take the Silver Line from South station to the Renaissance.

mimda

thank you for the info on the South Station roof top lot. I didn't know about it and it seems like a good parking choice. Have you ever had any difficulty with either security or the lot being full?

and yes, it's the Waterfront Renaissance. I am wondering how many changes on the T for this hotel vs. Long Wharf, to go to Fenway. My research online tells me about 40 minutes from Long Wharf to get to Fenway by T...would that be right?

My first choice would be Boston Harbor Hotel, but way, way out of my price range....WOW !

thanks, again.

Ackislander

Long Wharf is more convenient to T. The Aquarium stop on the Blue Line is literally right outside the front door. Change at Government Center for the Green Line to Fenway.

The Post Office Square underground garage is within easy walking distance of the Marriott Long Whart (5-10 minutes?) and is much cheaper if you won't need the car while you are in town. At all costs, avoid the Aquarium Garage.

How long it will take on the T: absolutely unpredictable in either direction. Go early and get lunch at one of the restaurants/bars near Fenway Park. It will be really packed going home, so you may want to wait a bit (and have another drink) after the game to let the T clear out a bit. But if the Sox won, it can actually be fun.

Coming home, if I didn't wait around at Fenway, I would get out at Government Center and drift down to the Waterfront through the Quincy Market. It will be fun at that time of day.

tchoiniere

If you take the subway all the way, it will be at the most 40 minutes including the transfer. Alternatively from the Long Wharf you can walk up thru Quincy Market (Shops and restaurants) to the Government Center station and just take the Green Line to Fenway from there. Keep in mind you want the Kenmore Station, not Fenway station to get to Fenway Park. When I was in Boston in April for a Sox game, the Blue Line wasn't running and they were bussing people to Gov't Center anyways. Not sure if this was a long term thing or just that weekend.

bachslunch

Normally, when bus service replaces subway service on the MBTA, it's a temporary measure -- most often happening anywhere from a few hours to a weekend. That's not happening on the Blue Line at this time, at any rate.

tchoiniere

I figured it was a short-term thing but worth pointing out in case. It was a spur of the moment thing; otherwise I would have checked and parked elsewhere.

yk

Just to reiterate what others have said so far - for Fenway, get off at the Kenmore station. And do the same at the end of the game: walk to Kenmore station for the T.

Regarding # of changes on the T, for
Renaissance Waterfront, it involves: Silver Line -> South Station; change for Red Line -> Park Street Station; change for Green Line -> Kenmore Station

vs

Marriott Long Wharf: Blue Line -> Gov't Center Station; change for Green Line -> Kenmore Station.

It shouldn't take more than 30 minutes for the latter; but probably quite a bit longer for the former.

yk

And to answer you Q about parking @ South Station bus terminal:

We've parked there at least 1/2 a dozen times, and I find it very safe. It's not a huge lot, but it was never full when we went on weekends. I think that not too many people know about it. Beware that the rate jumps up to $30+/day during the week.

It's a bit difficult to find the entrance to the lot. The entrance is actually off the MassPike South Station exit. If you're coming from the South on I-93, I think you need to exit near Chinatown or South Station, then get on Kneeland Street. Between Hudson & Lincoln cross streets, you will see the ramp (heading South) to MassPike as well as I93. At the ramp, there's also a sign that says "South Station Parking". Follow the signs and it'll direct you to the roof-top parking lot.

mimda

these tips are really helpful, thank you !
the Long Wharf it is, then, and probably walking to and from Government Center for just one T line.
And the couple of options for parking are invaluable....we will drop the bags off, park, and walk back to the hotel. Definitely worth it when the hotel wants to charge an extra $40.
Looking forward to it !!!

yk

Hi mimda -

I was in the Financial District today, and notice a ad sign for parking garage at 225 Franklin Street. It's right next to the Post Office Sq Garage (mentioned above), and the ads states that parking rates for nights and weekends is only $7. That's $2 cheaper than the Post Office Garage.

Either one would be an easy walk to the Long Wharf Marriott. We may try out the 225 Franklin Garage this weekend.

mimda

thanks for the tip, hopefully if i put the address on the GPS, we'll be able to find it!
see you there.......

yk

mimda, I just noticed that the Central Parking company offers web coupons. Here are some that is closest to Faneuil Hall; you can get the discounted rate if you print out the web coupon. http://boston.centralparking.com/Bos...l-Parking.html (The State STreet & Broad Street garages will be closest, but both are $12 on weekends.)

If you don't mind walking slightly farther, http://boston.centralparking.com/Bos...t-Parking.html - the One Federal and One Post Office are both $8. And the 225 Franklin garage I posted yesterday is in the same area for $7.