BOSTON Hotel......
 

Hi, we are spending a weekend in Boston on<BR>April 13 and would like to find a<BR>centrally located Hotel, that we can walk to<BR>different places, and not over $180.00 the<BR>night. Do you have any suggestions??? Thank YOu.....

The Marriot Long Wharf would probably be a good choice - right on the harbor with great views, very close to Quincy Market and the North End, and right over a subway stop.

Just a reminder - and who knows, this may be why you're going - but the Boston Marathon is April 15th. Hotel prices are often raised for the Saturday, Sunday and Monday weekend of the race - especially in the Copley Square are where the expo and finish are.<BR><BR>If you've never experienced the race - go! As a runner, the million people that come out along the 26.2 miles is extremely appreciated!!

Thank you Tiffany, No I didn't know<BR>about the race... and Yes, the Hotel<BR>Prices are raised, the Marriot Long<BR>Wharf is in the $200 hundreds... and the<BR>others the same....<BR>

With the Marathon that weekend, the Red Sox also are in town (it's tradition they play on Marathon Day) and it is a holiday in Massachusetts (Patriots Day)<BR>things could get sold out. I wouldn't wait until last minute to book.<BR><BR>The Marathon is a world class sporting event and well worth attending. It is great fun and can be very exciting.<BR><BR>The Red Sox game begins early on that day (11-ish) and is timed so that the game is getting out as the runners are coming through Kenmore Square. (neighborhood of Fenway Park and Marathon route) <BR><BR>That is a GREAT weekend to be in Boston. There are alot of events scheduled (many free and open to public) and is alot of fun!<BR><BR>Come and enjoy!!!!!!<BR><BR>

It's a great weekend IF you like crowds! Personally, I flee. It might be too late to book a room right in the city, some people plan for this a year in advance. Marriott Long Wharf would at least be removed from the main action. School kids in the Boston area are on vacation that week, too. The airport is a nightmare! Is there any way you can come a week sooner?

Hi, thanks for the advises.... but<BR>we are spending the week before in Maine and arriving by car in Boston<BR>on saturday the 13 until the 16 that we are<BR>returning Home....<BR>I will try to book a Hotel as soon as<BR>possible...

Well, at least you'll miss the worst of the airport mess. Let us know what you find, and we'll share our insights on convenience! FYI, the Marathon route goes from Hopkinton to Boston, through Newton, and ties up all the traffic (even the public transit, which is above-ground out there) for most of the day on Monday.

marta, i had the same problem with boston hotels last october. that is a very popular time to be in boston and all the hotels were well over $200 a night. i used hotwire and got the hilton back bay for under $100 and it was perfectly fine. the room was large and the location was terrific, so i would suggest trying hotwire.

Thank you Carol, and Joanne, I will try<BR>Hot wire.... and would let you know...<BR>of the results...<BR>Thanks....

That weekend is almost as good as it gets in Boston.. Runners and their families from all over the world, the excitement of the city is absolutely catchy. Restaurants will be movved, I'm sure.. The Hilton is convenient and I'm sure all the runners will be at the Sheraton at conferences and displays.. We;ve met runners and their families and they say that the Boston Marathon is unlike anyother run.. the people are friendly giving out advice, handing out drinks and they want to come back..Boston that week is alive and vibrant and go and share it whether you run or not. The other event they talk about in October is the Head of the Charles Regatta.. the Marriot Long Wharf is near the North End, the Italian enclave, Quincy Market and not that close to the race. My best advice is to book a hotel immediately.. runners are put up at hotel 45 miles from Boston close to the start of the run..

TravelNow lists the Four Points Sheraton Logan Airport at $99 that weekend, it might be a good choice at least for your final night if you are flying out. <BR>Not sure if the "T" transportation train could get you from this hotel to downtown all weekend long. If so my advice would be to ditch the car in Maine, and take the Concord Trailways Bus or the Amtrak from Portland into Boston. Forget about dealing with Boston traffic that weekend! (or any weekend! or weekday! No matter WHAT the natives tell you, Boston driving SUCKS!)<BR><BR>TravelNow also lists the Radisson Cambridge at $150, maybe someone has some knowledge of this hotel? Sometimes Radisson's can be iffy at best.

Thanks Joe, for your advise, I think is<BR>wise to get into Boston by Train.<BR>Boy you guys are Fabulous!!<BR>

That "airport" Sheraton is in Revere, 3 miles from the airport and not very scenic or convenient location! They do offer a shuttle to the airport or to public transportation, but don't specify any details.<BR><BR>The Radisson is newish and right on Memorial Drive, scenic location but about a mile from the nearest subway stop.

That's a really tough weekend. Hotel rates are ridiculous. We've spent that weekend in Boston going on ten years because it's the same weekend "Champions on Ice" is in town. Curiously, I've never noticed any crowds or busier than usual restaurants Friday night through Sunday afternoon. Except that they're setting up the grandstands and TV equiment outside the Prudential Center, you'd never know it was Marathon Weekend. My plan is to shop like the dickens and book something "suitable" that I can cancel, just so we'll be sure of a room. Then, I keep on shopping until I find something really reasonable. One year, I got the Copley Plaza on Priceline for $150/night. Another year, we stayed at Club Quarters (which was just fine) through HotelDiscount for just over $100/night. Last year, I got the Back Bay Hilton with Hotwire for $85/night. However, we only stay Friday and Saturday nights. Sunday and Monday nights would be a different story altogether and the web discount booking sites would have to have all three nights available for your bid or their price. I'm guessing Sunday and Monday nights are even more difficult to book at a reasonable price than Friday and Saturday, because the race is held on Monday. Probably, because it is such a busy weekend, the hotels wait until the last minute to sell off their "leftover" rooms to the online discounters. I just checked all my favorite resources online and the best rates are coming up on Expedia, which requires prepayment for "special" rates - Wyndham Boston $192, Seaport $162 (this is a bit out of the way but better than staying near Logan), and a bargain of Days Inn $115, which is actually in Brighton, but is just over a one-mile stroll from the Harvard MBTA station. Good luck! It's a beautiful weekend to visit Boston. Be sure to walk through the Public Gardens for the blooming bulbs and flowering trees, which are also gorgeous all along Commonwealth Ave. Fortunately for us, "Champions on Ice" is the weekend after the Marathon this year!

You are positively NUTS, of course. Everyone knows, when planning a trip, to check the events calendar of the destination. If something is planned of interest and you're willng to pay the corresponding hotels rates, go for it! Otherwise, any intelligent traveler would plan their trip AROUND "events" which are of no interest and contribute to VERY HIGH accomodation rates on their selected dates. You're receiving lots of excellent advice here. Take a lesson!

I just searched a few travel sites for hotels that weekend and was surprised to find there are still rooms at several Boston hotels in decent locations - so act now. However, price will likely be higher than you want to pay - what I found was in the 250+ range for a regular room. So you will have to decide which is more important - being able to walk to things or the cost. In any case, make sure there is parking at your hotel and how much they will charge you - that can add another $20 or so. Then leave your car at the hotel and walk/MBTA to anything else. A cheaper option is to stay outside the city - these hotels are also listed if you do a search for Boston hotels, but be very sure they are near MBTA trains, not bus since streets will be crowded on Monday. Don't let others scare you about the crowds that weekend once you find a place to stay - it is not 24 hour gridlock. Monday AM some streets around the finish line close and after about noon to 6PM streets around Back Bay will be very crowded. But the rest of the weekend it will be a fascinating place to be.

THANKS... for all of your suggestions,<BR>and research..... We Have to GO this<BR>weekend specifically because we have<BR>an important engagement in New York city<BR>April 7 and then we are going to Maine,<BR>and Boston..<BR>I am very grateful for your interest.

Re Nancy's: "any intelligent traveler would plan their trip AROUND 'events.' " Sheesh! Those of us with lives sometimes gotta go when we gotta go.

And, when you gotta go when you gotta go you gotta pay a lot more, for a lot less! It will be interesting to see whether Marta reports back.