I was checking Boston hotel rates for the week of April 19th, and they seem incredibly high to me -- even on Hotwire, the cheapest 4*+ is $258 in Cambridge and $316 in Boston proper. What gives? How bad would it be to stay in the burbs with free parking near a T stop if we are visiting the Harvard area (and Boston, too)?

It's school vacation week!

You might be hitting some graduation weeks. But Boston always seems high. Perhaps you should lower it to a 3 star.

Oops meant to add that Boston prices do skyrocket 'in season'. From the end of March through to the end of October the prices are always much higher. Fewer people visit in the winter.

I'd prefer to stay in a cheaper place (not 4 *)in Boston rather than travel by T each day.

Not only school vacation week, but Boston Marathon is on Monday 4/20.

Boston is always pricey..
We got a great deal at the Westin Boston Waterfront Westin next to the convention center last year for $199 and that was for a corner suite overlooking the harbor..T was across the street and free parking was street parking but worked out.. its a newer hotel and found it to be perfect for our needs..Love the Langham Hotel and I see it is $279 a night on Expedia..this is one hell of a hotel!

It's the Marathon.

It's the Marathon.

Well, that explains it (shoot, I wish our dates were flexible but they're not)

I will do a 3* if I have to (sigh!).

sassy cat, if we were coming to sightsee, I would definitely agree with you -- we always prefer to stay in the city center -- but we're coming to look at apartments, with some sightseeing/hanging out, so not as big an issue.

Duh, I just realised I was going to stay in town on April 19th as we fly to Miami the next day...even the Courtyard Marriott South Boston (park&fly with shuttle to the airport) is nearly $400.
I guess we'll park at the airport then....

Using public transportation during the marathon might be more chaotic. I tried to drive around a marathon once. One of the stupider things I've done.

Did you check vrbo? A lot of the little condos rent by the night.

If you're in Boston to look at apartments you're loaded and can afford the hotel! Just joking

Good luck!

I agree - it's the Marathon.

For many years, we'd weekend in Boston that weekend, because Champions on Ice was the same weekend.

Even so, the rates never made sense because many marathon participants live locally, many stay with friends or in private host homes, and it was usually very quiet in Boston on Saturday and Sunday.

I always shopped like the dickens for the best rate I could find, but cancel, then try Hotwire and Priceline much closer to date of stay. Every year but one I landed a great deal on Hotwire or Priceline. At some point, if fill rate is not favorable, the rates will drop like a stone.

The newly renovated Millennium, right by Faneuil Hall, is running a $139/night special. April 18-20 are blacked out, of course, but you might want to consider your first nights elsewhere, then taking advantage of the special.
http://hotels.travelzoo.com/lodging-hotels/550102

Be sure to check all resources such as Quikbook, Kayak, even Expedia, as you never know...I've often round rates I'm sure may have been a mistake, but no booking or checkout problems.

have you looked into the Hotel indigo in Newton? It has free parking, and a 5-min walk to Riverside T station, which is at the last stop of Green Line D.

If all fails, I'd be happy to rent out our guest room to you at *only* $200/night, and heck, I'll even throw in free (cereal) breakfast!

Farther out, I think there's a new hotel called aLoft in Lexington. I've seen many ads recently, but that's pretty far out.

Thanks all, and thanks for the offer yk! We'll have to talk to our son to figure out the details, i.e. which days he absolutely has to be in Boston (sassy cat, the apartment would be for him, grad school....plus, I've gotta tell you, compared to San Francisco, the price of condos in Cambridge is downright inexpensive!! We're not decided yet on purchasing v. renting)

My husbnad and I are going to Boston in May and found the hotels were very expensive as well (more than NY hotels!). We ended up checking out B&Bs around town. There were some very good options. We ended up in an apartment accross from Boston Common for $175/night - but they had other options as well for as low as $130.

www.bnbboston.com

If you can afford to buy now, it would be a terrific investment. I'm sure you'll check the taxes and fees first, but also check the utilities. You can phone the utility companies for accurate history (as oppposed to believe what an agent tells you). Beware of all-electric units.

Ahh, yes San Francisco would make Cambridge look cheap.

Sassy, for the same type and size of unit, you'd pretty much be looking at 1-1/2+ times the cost.

DJK, we're comparing the cost of buying vs. renting and even then it seems it might be logical to buy.

If you're arriving on the 19th, it may save you $ to stay outside of the city the first night. Eg the Hotel Indigo rate for 4/19 is $212 I think. After the Marathon is over and rates are back to normal, you can switch hotel to some place more central.

I should be around that time, if you want to meet for cawfee at Havahd Square.

Buying or renting, utilities not included can vary enormously. Gas versus oil versus electric heat, for example, especially if you're not used to very cold winters and keep the thermostat up there...