Boston hotel with 3 kids
 

I'm thinking of taking my kids (11, 9, and 6) to Boston for 2 days in April (during their break). We'll be going to the Aquarium, Faneuil Hall and the Science Museum, so I'd like to find a hotel that is centrally located to these places and not too expensive (under $200/night). Thanks for any suggestions!

Spring Break is very popular in Boston....especially since it usually coincides with the Marathon so watch your timing.

Under $200 will probably be tough to do within walking distance of your sites. I would try one of the travel search engines (expedia, sidestep) for some ideas.

One thought is to stay at a place like the Quincy Marriott which is near a T stop.

Thanks ccrosner. I'm thinking about going mid week 4/19-4/20. When is the marathon?

With 3 kids you may consider the Marriott Residents Inn in Charlestown. You will be within walking distance of the Aquarium and Fanieul Hall and a short Green Line ride to the Science Museum. Plus you'll be next to the Charlestown Navy Shipyard and the USS Constitution and the Bunker Hill Monument. And you'll have a bit of room to spread out. And you'll have all of the North End nearby so lots of places to eat. I have no idea of the rates there though.

ctmom, I've had great luck with Priceline in Boston, never paid more than $100 for a 4 star in the busiest seasons and once got the Firmont Copley Plaza of $98...go to biddingfortravel and do your research, good luck!

Marathon Day I believe is the 17th. Even still, hotels will be pricey that time of year. I always recommend the Wyndham on Broad St. Very reasonable rates and within walking distance of Fanueil Hall and the North End. Keep in mind that Boston is a fairly small city so no matter where you stay it won't take you too long to get to the attractions you're interested in.

to ctmom2--

From the looks of my kids' school calendar, Patriots Day and the Marathon will be April 17th so you should be o.k. on the 19th.

That Marriott Residence is in a good location...hope the price is right :)

If you go to Biddingfortravel to research Priceline, one of the first things you'll learn is that Priceline bids are automatically for a room for TWO peole, and that in cities like NYC and Boston, where rooms can be small, you cannot count on getting a room that can legally accept 4 people. Especially during school vacation week, this would be very risky. So I'd have to advise that PL is out, and you should go for one of the famiy-oriented hotels like Residence Inn.

As others have said, Boston is a very walkable city, with good public transportation. As long as your hotel is near a T stop or one of your named attractions, you'll be fine.

Pretty much all the public schools in the Boston area have vacation the week of Patriots' Day (i.e., April 17 - 21), so expect crowds of kids wherever you go.

That's why I recommended BFT. If you do your research, you will see that there are zones that only provide hotels that have rooms with more than one double bed.

I usually have my kids with me when I stay in Boston or Manhattan, and have always managed to pick the zones with the right hotels. It just takes a little reading to save yourself a lot of money.

I disagree with anonymous that PL is out for a family hotel in Boston. On the other hand, if you're really nervous bid $80 for 2 rooms, it will still be less expensive than buying i room at the Residence inn and you'll have more room plus be in a more convenient location.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I did check out Priceline and came to the conclusion that it might be risky given our room needs. The Residence Inn is unavailable for the dates I want. Since MA schools are out too I might pick a different time to visit since we're so close, we can go anytime. I was just trying to think of fun things to do with them this year on spring break (my husband has to work this week, so I don't want to do a big trip.)

Suit yourself but the Cambridge 3 star zone (all of which are nice hotels that might really be considered 4 stars) all have rooms with beds that can accomodate 2 adults and 2 kids.

In the dozens of times I've used PL, I've yet to have a htoel not honor a request for 2 beds when they have them, and all those hotels have them. I always make the call as soon as my bid is accepted, and I've always gotten the room I've requested.

On the other hand, I wouldn't want you to blame me if they decided to make an exception in your case.

Try Hotwire, they ask you how many adults and how many kids, so they have to provide a room that can accomodate all of you or you get your money back.

I just tried Hotwire, doesn't look good. A 3.5 Star came up on the charles river Cambridge for $276!, that's either the Hyatt or the Royal Sonesta, which is what you'd likely get on PL for a lot less.

Those Hotels are very close to the Science museum and are big hits with PL for midweek stays because they're out of the way for most business travelers.

Go to some of the area hotel websites and sign up for email specials, also, Wyndham and Hyatt often have great deals.

nina thanks for checking out Hotwire for me. I did just find that the Midtown Hotel is available at $149/night, including parking, and right next to Copley Plaza, so I'll probably go with that if we go. Do you think the city would be too crazy with kids that week? Especially if I'm by myself? As anyone else gone to the museums etc. during spring break with their kids?

The city will be busy but I wouldn't make that change your plans. I took a group of 5 kids into Boston during Spring Break last year and we did Old North Church, Paul Revere's house and Old State House with no crowds at all. We ate lunch at Bertuccis in the Fanueil Hall market area and had no trouble (but it was a late lunch if I remember correctly).

I would be sure to check out a site like tripadvisor to be sure Midtown HOtel is o.k. It doesn't look that great when you walk by it and I always say to my husband that they must be sitting on a gold mine given the location and the size of the hotel. Looks more like a motel.

<<I did just find that the Midtown Hotel is available at $149/night, including parking, and right next to Copley Plaza, so I'll probably go with that if we go. >>

I think the Midtown is your best bet. There is a subway stop just outside the entrance. Last I heard, this is the only lodging in Boston which offers free parking (typically about $20-30/night).

I would strongly urge that no one book a hotel via Priceline for Boston if there are more than two people. For one thing, this is in violation of Priceline's Terms and Conditions. And, I wouldn't wish some of Cambridge Priceline 3* hotels on anyone, and most are a long hike from the nearest subway stop. I have had personal experience with two of them where the advertised shuttle service was never available.

Just thought I'd let you know we did 5 days in Boston with kids and stayed at the Doubletree across the river from Harvard on Soldiers Field Rd. We loved it and the price was very reasonable-- certainly under $200 and it's all suites.

They have a shuttle so there were no transportation problems, we wandered across the river for dinner one evening, did the Aquarium, Faneuil Hall, Boston Common etc. and thoroughly enjoyed the short ride in to the City as it gave us more of a view than if we had just stayed downtown.

The room was spacious, and with a little kitchenette we still could have snacks and relax without tripping over one another.

Oh, and they loved the chocolate chip cookies!

We had a miserable experience at the Doubletree on Soldiers Field Road. Our room, which was dreadfully shabby, did not have the promised mini-bar. When we inquired about the shuttle on Saturday, we were told there there was no shuttle service. Others in the elevator said they were advised this was because the driver called in sick for the weekend. And, the shuttle, according to their literature, goes only to Harvard Square so you can take the "T", not all the way to Downtown Boston.

When we attempted to exit the parking garage, the key cards did not work for any of the several vehicles trying to leave at the same time. They actually made us all wait in line at the front desk for new key cards (rather than just sending someone out to release the gate). At any rate, we ended up driving into Boston and paying a fortune to park for the day. We had dinner Friday night in the restaurant.

The restaurant is lovely and the food was wonderful, but the place was so cold (in November) that our food chilled immediately and we were shivering so much we rushed through dinner. We were never able to flag anyone down to comment ask about turning up the heat (our waiter was too brisk and there was no host/hostess in view after several trips to the podium). Curiously, our room was too warm, though not too uncomfortably so.

Take a look at the Hotel at MIT in Cambridge...not sure of their rates in April but kids that age will love all the high-tech stuff around and the Robot that greets you in the lobby.

www.hotelatmit.com

Sorry to hear you had a less than wonderful experience at the Doubletree djk, but reviews here and elsewhere are actually quite good for the hotel. I'd certainly stay there again, especially with kids.