Miraculously, SO and I have found a weekend in May when there are no major commencement ceremonies and the Red Sox are not at home, and hotels are not costing the usual arm and a leg that is Boston

So which hotel to choose?
I am seeing the Westin Copley Place for $295 (prepaid, though, which I can't commit to just yet), the Loews Boston for $296, the Park Plaza for $275...

The location of these hotels is good for a tourist, yes? Can you recommend any other hotel I should look at in the same area? Or a different area? Help me choose between these three??

Exact dates are Friday, May 8-Monday May 11.

Thank you!!

I would choose in this order:
Loews
Westin
Park Plaza

Boston is a very walkable city and the public transportation is great as well. Loews puts you in a nice spot for shopping on Newbury St and is only a few blocks from Boston Common.

Thank you, rizzo0904! That helps. Anyone else?

Are you taking two separate trips? A long weekend and then a different driving tour?

Of those three, I would choose the Loews, Westin, and Park Plaza. Same as rizzo. The Loews is in the former Boston Police Department Headquarters.

You may want to make a reservation that you can cancel, in case you find a better deal/hotel.

Check Travelzoo closer to your dates. The Nine Zero, a Kimpton Hotel right near the Boston Common, often has some good deals in May. Back Bay, the harbor (but not the Seaport area), and Quincy Market/Faneuil Hall are all good areas for tourists.

Inaka (sorry, that's all I got ), yes. That is one plan, or we might do one longer trip with Boston at the beginning or end of it.

cw, thank you! I did make a reservation at the Loews, and I;m glad to hear that Back Bay is in fact the area I want to focus on. I will check the Nine Zero.

Agree with that order. Park plaza is old school with a grande dame lobby, but the rooms can be stuffy, although it's been a few years. Add intercontinental, on you list. It's coming up 285 cancel label and would be my first choice in that price range, that time. Of year.

Autocorrect typos��

I thought the Intercontinental was in a more business-y neighborhood, no? than the Loews?

It's directly on the harbor, with harbor walk on one side and rose Kennedy greenway on the other, with Chinatown and Italian north end in either direction. Both hotels are good choices. Just my personal preference that time of year. In the winter, I'd prefer Loews.

Got it, thank you!

I would prefer the Intercontinental and then Loews at that time of year, both both are good.

Taking a look at hotels in the $300 range (per Expedia), there are a few different choices that might make sense.

For the ones you mentioned... it depends. I think that the Park Plaza has the best location, but the hotel is older and I'm not sure it is as well-kept as the others. And the location differences aren't huge - they are all walking distance apart. But the Park Plaza is closer to a T (subway) stop, closer to the Common, and slightly more central.

The Westin is slightly better than the Loews for location. I've stayed at the Westin and thought it nice; a little worn in spots, but still solidly a 4-star. If you were planning on doing shopping when in town, the Westin is very well-located. The views can also be quite nice. It is a corporate hotel, though.

Don't know much about the Loews, but they have a nice sunken patio off their bar if the weather is good.

As for other options... I see the W for $269, which is a pretty good deal. It is on the other side of the Park Plaza from the Back Bay, so not as good for shopping as the others, but still not in a bad spot. Right near Chinatown. I've stayed at the W and it is a W. Expect over-designed rooms, a frenetic, noisy lobby, but very comfortable, clean, and with decent service. Personally, I'd probably stay there for the savings vs the other three, even though I've soured on the W brand a little bit.

The IC is a decent choice as well. It is in downtown, which is a bit sleepy on the weekends, but the area has improved in terms of nightlife and isn't nearly as dead as it used to be. If you wanted to do anything in the Seaport (the ICA mainly), it is pretty well-located for that. A longer walk to the T than other options, but it is still pretty close. I've stayed at the IC and the rooms are excellent and the staff is very good. Just based upon the hotel, I think it is (pretty easily) the best of the bunch. The bar was pretty popular when I was there and there is also a nice patio area at Smith & Wollensky next door. The Greenway park makes walking to the Quincy Market area a pleasant walk.

Further into downtown is the Langham. Have no idea how nice it is, but it is definitely a luxury place. I'd choose the IC.

Nothing else jumps out at me as being a better choice or deal compared to the above.

Thank you, tg, that's a helpful roundup. The W rate, $269, is good, but it's a prepaid rate, and I can't commit yet. The cancelable rate is $365, while the Loews is $338.

The IC rate, $285, is not cancelable either, as far as I can see. Cancelable rate is about the same as the Loews.

I think I need to wait just a week or two until I know for sure that we're going and then look for the best rate...

I am going at the end of February, so I cannot mke a suggestion from recent experience, but I was really surprised with the location, excelent rate, including breakfast and great reviews of the Charlesmark hotel . I got the best rate directly in the hotel, if it is true as the Spanish say
"ara muestra basta un boton," after talking on the phone with Curt , the reservation Manager who took my reservation , I shall be very happy with my choice. Give it try.