Boston Hotels: Wharf or Downtown
 

My husband and I are traveling to Boston for a long weekend this July and are deciding on Hotel locations. We are down to 3:
- Marriott Long Wharf
- The Liberty
- Kimpton Nine Zero

We plan to go to a RedSox game, explore the city by foot, eat our way thru Boston, see some of the historic sites. We are foodies.
I'm leaning toward the downtown/financial district area but a good friend of DH recommends the Harbor/Wharf.
Thoughts?

We adore the Liberty. It is a great historical gem. The everchanging light from sunup to sundown is remarkable. Scampo is one of the restaurants we frequent. We've been known to bring a lobster pizza up to the room and have movie night. You may enjoy this video on the hotel

There are more extended videos that follow of the property restoration. This one is played on the hotels television.

The other hotels are good to but don't have the energy and wow factor. Also to are across the street to Charles St and the Redline that will connect you to the Greenline for the game.

I would only stay at The Liberty if I were in Boston because I or a loved one was being treated at Mass General. It is next door.
I love the wharf area and the Nine Zero.ocation by the park. Can’t go wrong with either or them. Marriott Long Wharf is popular with families, lots of children. I don't know the prices but the Intercontinental is near the Marriott, axross fromthe new Seaport area.

thanks for the info!! looking into it!

thanks HappyTrvlr. Not crazy about the "popular w/ families" for the Marriott. I know that the rooms at Kimpton are small, but the location seems great.

I stayed at the Long Wharf a few years back. It’s a modern Marriott with a stellar location. (I don’t really care for Marriotts or modern so the first part is not a plus to me) if I was travelling with people who easily get tired, and convenience was important, I’d stay there again. I don’t think “popular with families” is really an issue- I mean, I saw kids, but they were well behaved and the rooms were quiet. Also, it has a pool, which is probably why it’s popular with families.

I LOVE the Liberty, but I wouldn’t stay there for a sightseeing trip because of the location. I haven’t been to the Kimpton, but I like Kimptons, so if that’s calling to you, that would be my pick.

Any thoughts on the Boston Harbour Hotel? Again, back at the harbour.... how easy is it to get into the historical area from there?

I'm unclear why other posters are saying Liberty is a bad location It is adjacent to the Esplanade/Charles River, and a short up Charles Street a cobblestone street that leads you directly into the Public Gardens and Makeway for the Ducks and Swan Boats. and beyond. I think the area is far more appealing the nine zero as that area of the commons can be crowded and kind of getto..

No question in summer months the harbor area is nice. Marriot is in a very busy area It does have the advantage of being on the harbor, close to Northend and Fanuel Hall and on the Harbor Welk. I personally would. prefer either Intercontinental or Boston Harbor, also on the walk with nice outdoor space,

Just wondering what you are looking for in regards to historical, as all of Boston is historical.

I love walking the Esplanade in the morning. The ambulances can be annoying but the t is right there and love going over to Savenor's market.

Isn't that Marriott directly next to a subway station (as in right out the front door) and easy to reach from the airport or am I mistaken?

Yes Aquarium on the Blue line

They can also take the Silverline for free to South Station and a short stroll in Intercontinental of BHHotel or jump on the redline to Liberty or Red line to Greenline to Nine Zero

That said we don't know if the are flying in.

Boston is a very walkable city if you don't mind putting on some miles. If you are there in the summer there is no question, stay on the Harbor. The Marriott is a beautiful hotel and there are others in that area. If you stay there you can walk to the North End (excellent restaurants and on the Freedom Trail), Faneuil Hall, the theater district. You can take a ferry over to the Constitution. The "downtown" area is not far from the harbor. Getting to Fenway is easy as you can hop on the T. Boston is a great small city and with a good map pretty easy to navigate (As the streets are not on a grid pattern it can get a bit confusing but that's half the fun!) The Liberty is a great hotel so go there for a drink and check it out but I wouldn't stay there if I was touring Boston. It is close to the T and the river and right next to Mass General Hospital and Mass Eye and Ear.

The Marriott is fantastic for a summer stay. Walk to the Quincy Marketplace, the North End, the Duck Tours or Trolley Tours. The Aquarium is literally a few steps away with an Imax theater. 2 T-stops a few steps away. A slightly longer walk to Downtown Crossing and the Commons. The hotel itself is fine but overpriced, but you can't beat the location.

Mocha_dolce,

Which other hotel which has all the positives you give the Marriott is cheaper?

The Boston Harbor Hotel is a wonderful luxury level hotel.. Different price point. We like to eat outside on their terrace by the water. The Interxontinental is in the same area.

None of the positives are about the hotel itself, though, Dukey. I mean, I know what you’re saying, and it’s true if you’re comparing it to other Boston Hotels. Unfortunately actually reasonably priced in that case, actually- Boston is just crazy expensive.

But if you’re comparing to other marriotts...the high season rate is obscene for a Marriott. If I’m spending that much, I’d prefer to stay at a hotel that wows me rather than a merely pleasant chain hotel.

I am the furthest away from being an expert on Boston but the one time I did visit, I stayed in the Back Bay area at the Westin Copley Place and really liked the location (and the hotel itself).

Re: the Marriott, the rate is definitely boosted by the location. We wanted to be in tourist-central the last time we visited Boston, so it was perfectly located for us. Also we had points for one night (took so many points(!)) and we paid for two nights ), so I didn't look too hard at other hotels. I remember there was no concierge breakfast offered because it was the weekend, and the fridge wasn't a real fridge, which seems cheap at that price point. You could probably find a hotel in Back Bay, also a good location, for less. Maybe someplace like the Copley Square Hotel, which used to be less expensive. Or in Cambridge, the Charles Hotel has a touch more style, but those weren't the areas the original poster was interested in.

The Nine Zero is arguably the best located of the bunch, but really they are all in decent locations. None are that well-located for the Sox in that you are looking at a long walk back to the hotel, which is a nice option when your other choices are trying to find a cab or joining the crush of bodies on the T.

Among the other two, the Marriott is, IMO, a slightly better location than the Liberty. Charles Street is pretty, but I struggle to think of any terribly memorable restaurants or shops. The Paramount does a good breakfast though. Dining isn’t really better by the Marriott, but you have the water which is nice.

Since you said you are interested in historic sites, here is a link to information about the Freedom Trail and the Boston African American National Historic site with its Black Heritage Trail walking tour
The Freedom Trail
https://www.nps.gov/boaf/index.htm

A map of the two trails should give you an idea of how close the different hotels would be to different sites. (The Freedom Trail is in red, the Black Heritage Trail is in blue: they intersect in front of the State House)
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As others have said, Boston is a very walkable city full of historic sites.

I don't think anyone has mentioned that the Liberty Hotel is just north of the neighborhood called Beacon Hill which is a very old and charming part of the city. The Black Heritage Trail goes through that neighborhood and there are many beautiful Federal and Victorian brick houses.