Boston hotel recommendations?
 

Hello again---I trying to help DH and DD with their college-scouting trip over spring break. He asked me to "Fodorize" these three hotels in Boston for him: Chandler Inn Hotel, Jurys, and Constitution Inn.

Any thoughts, positive or negative? What about location?

Thanks fo ryour help!

Which schools does she plan to visit, and will they have a car? The Constitution Inn is not a convenient location for much of anything.

Jury's is probably the best. Chadler Inn is okay, here's a comment on it from last year:
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...omment-2416111

They won't actually be visiting any colleges in Boston. I think they just want to see the city, and thought of staying there on their way from one place to another. And yes, they will have a car.

Colleges (on the current list anyway) are Amherst, Williams, Middlebury, Wellesley, and Bowdoin.

Can they get rid of the car? They won't need it in Boston, and parking is expensive in the city. HOw long will they be in Boston for? If they're there for several days, just retunr their car when they first arrive in Boston, and then rent another one when they're ready to leave to drive elsewhere.

The list of hotels you provided has very odd choices of hotels.

yk---I don't know where he got the list of hotels. They were planning on staying with friends in Boston, but something came up. The list may have been provided by the friend. I'll ask.

They will just be staying 1 or 2 nights and he's already got a weekly rate on the car, so I don't think he can return and re-rent. I have heard how difficult it is to drive in Boston but he's done it before so I guess he's not concerned.

Newbury Guest House is a reasonably priced, extremely well located bed and breakfast. They had free parking on my last visit. My go to spot in Boston because I love to be on Newbury St.

Thanks, cmcfong! I'll suggest it to him.

Check out the newly-renovated Copley Sq Hotel, which is offering a tremendous deal:
http://hotels.travelzoo.com/lodging-hotels/550080
$109/n including FREE upgrade.

I stayed there in 2003 and I really liked it then, before the renovation. The location is fabulous too.

Another deal on Travelzoo is the Millennium Bostonian near Faneuil Hall for $139/n
http://hotels.travelzoo.com/lodging-hotels/553940

Thanks, yk! The Copley Square looks very nice, and the price is great. I'll point those out to him.

And in case none of these are available for his dates, what about Starwood properties? I have a ton of points. I see several Sharatons, and a Westin which looks nice---Westin Copley Place. Is that a good location?

There's a Sheraton and a Westin @ Copley. Both are at good location, and both are mostly geared for business travelers. Check tripadvisor for reviews.

I would not stay at the Westin Waterfront (not convenient), nor the Park Plaza (poor reviews if I recall correctly from others).

OK--I just talked to DH and he reminded me they are flying home from Boston---that is why they are staying there! I should have clarified that sooner, as it might help focus the recommendations.

Would there be good public transport to the airport from either the Copley Square or Newbury Street locations? Then they could turn in the car and be done with that worry (and expense).

I keep reading about the "T". What is that?

"T" is the nickname for our subway system here. If they are traveling light, they can certainly get to the airport by the T (subway). It should take about 45 mins max. Get on the Green Line from Copley station (or Prudential if they stay at Sheraton) and get off at Government Center - change for the Blue Line to Airport Station. Once they come out of the Airport station, they need to take a bus shuttel which will take them to the terminals. Cost is $2 per person.

If they have lots of luggage, a taxi ride should take no more than 20 mins (unless they're stuck in traffic). Not sure the taxi cost but the hotel should be able to tell you.

This is so helpful. Thank you! He looked at websites last night but is going to call the Copley Square and Newbury Guest House this weekend--they need a large room with 2 beds, and it's not always possible to specify that online.

Next question---what do dad and daughter do on a Friday afternoon in Boston? Something with historical significance, and/or a museum---no shopping! A favorite historical walk?

And places to eat? They like upscale---she is very sophistocated in her food choices.

enzian, I'm sure the locals will have suggestions, but when we've been tourists in Boston, we loved walking the "Freedom Trail". There are (or were, yk, are they still there?) footsteps indicating where to go.

http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/

Or they can visit the Old North Church and climb the Bunker Hill Monument, or tour the USS Constitution. There is so much history in Boston!

Perfect! I'm printing out the website pages now. . .

Any reccomendations for eateries (light lunch or snack) on or near the route?

Hi Enzian-

sf7307 is right, if your husband and daughter only have 1 day (or 1 afternoon) to go sightseeing in Boston, the Freedom Trail is the one to do - you just follow the RED brick path on the sidewalks.

Freedom Trail - free Self-guided tour
http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/visitor/visitor.html

If weather is not good (ie, rain), then I highly recommend the Gardner Museum. It is a private mansion built by Ms Gardner, based after Palazzo Barbaro in Venice.
http://www.gardnermuseum.org/index.asp
Since they are here in April, they can view the once-yearly Nasturtiums display:
http://connect.gardnermuseum.org/sit...tail&id=101881

Across the street from the Gardner Museum, is the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. It is open late on Friday nights. The new show, Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese in Venice has just opened:
http://www.mfa.org/venice/

Oh, re:Food

My favorite place in North End (the Italian section), is not an italian restaurant, but a seafood place. It is just off the Freedom Trail a little bit. They have the BEST lobster roll in town - Neptune Oyster. When my parents came visit last year, that's where I took them!
http://www.neptuneoyster.com/

For dinner near Copley, one of the best place (though I've never been), is Sorellina for Italian. Consistently rave reviews on Chowhound.
http://www.sorellinaboston.com/

Or, they can try out the new location of L'Espalier at the Mandarin Oriental.
http://www.lespalier.com/

yk, how do you feel about cannolis at Mike's?

I wish I have an opinion! :) I don't go to North End much.

You people are great!

The Gardner Museum sounds just right for a rainy day, especially since Venice is our favorite place. Although DD hasn't been there yet, she knows how much her dad & I love it, so visiting a mansion syled after a Palazzo should be fun for her. They will probably do the Freedom Trail too even in the rain---after all, we're from Seattle and used to it.

And Neptune Oyster is perfect---I can already hear her order: the Hamachi tartare, tuna ribbons, and seared sea scallops. DH will have the cioppino.

Now I wish I could go too. . . But if she ends up near there for college, I'm sure I'll visit Boston too.

<i>I can already hear her order: the Hamachi tartare, tuna ribbons, and seared sea scallops.</i>

What I would give for a child who would eat like that!!

Hi enzian-

It looks like the Copley Sq hotel deal via Travelzoo is gone already. Maybe lots of people lurk here on Fodors and they all snapped up the good deal!

But another great deal just showed up on Travelzoo for Nine Zero:
http://hotels.travelzoo.com/lodging-hotels/553084
$169/n including FREE upgrade

Have you husband act on it quickly or the deal will be gone soon as well.

If you like mysteries, the Boston Herald is running a series of stories about the unsolved art heist at the Gardner Museum in 1990. www.bostonherald.com

yk---he did try for the Travelzoo deal at Copley Square last night and it was still there but only good for rooms with one bed. The 2-bed room was $169. Then he checked Priceline and found you can't specify a room with 2 beds.

So he decided to just wait until he can call places. I can always get him 1/2 price with Starwood points at the Westin at Copley Square if nothing else works.

gomiki---thanks for the links. We love a good art mystery. We followed the recent Swiss art theft with great interest, as we had been in Zürich with DD the previous summer. Fortunately two of those---a Monet and a Van Gogh --- were recovered. As far as I know, the other two, by Degas and Cezanne, are still missing.

I'll print out the srticles about the Gardner museum theft for them to take along---now they are sure to want to visit that museum!

Here's an article from the Boston Globe a few days ago about the upcoming 19th anniversary of the Gardner theft (tomorrow is the anniversary):
http://www.boston.com/news/local/mas...not_forgotten/

DH & I were at the Gardner just a few weeks ago. I swear that up until a few years ago, there were signs in the Dutch Room telling the visitors about the theft. We were disappointed on our recent visit that the signs were gone. There is absolutely no mention, no sign, no indication anywhere in the museum regarding the theft. The empty frames still hang on the walls in the Dutch Room, but for a casual visitor who don't know anything about the theft, there's no reason for them to notice anything unusual.

Newberry's parking isn't free (not expensive though) and is limited to just a few cars - just for the record.