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Boston Novice- HELP

Hi, Every year my fiancee and I take a three day weekend to a historical city during our birthday month. This year we want to go to Boston, but neither of us have ever been there, and to top it all off- we don't know anyone else who has. We'll be driving, so we'll need a hotel with parking. i'd like to stay in the middle of everything, so that we don't have to drive anywhere. We're on a budget, so hotel rooms will have to be less than $175 a night. We're going in the beginning of April- any suggestions? Also, what are some of the "must do" activities? Are there organized walking tours? arts/culture? etc... Any and all advice will be appreciated. thanks!!!!

There are a bunch of hotel choices in your price range. We have had pretty good luck using Hotwire to get hotels for about $100 per night in Boston. Last summer we stayed at the Boston Park Plaza, which was once probably quite elegant, but is a bit old now - we didn't mind, at $75 per night! I would suggest staying in the Back Bay area, close to a 'T' transit stop. You definitely do not want to drive around Boston, particularly with all of the 'Big Dig' construction going on right now. There is a self-guided historical walking tour, called the Freedom Trail (http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/), which winds its way past all the old churches, meeting halls, burying grounds, and other sites like Bunker Hill, Paul Revere's Home, The Customs House, etc. The trail is actually painted on sidewalks and streets, and you can get a map and guidebook. In addition, there are several trolley bus companies that sell Freedom Trail tour tickets - you can get on or off these trolleys at several stops along the way. We walked the full Freedom Trail, starting early in the morning, and we ended up at Bunker Hill around 2pm. After walking back down to the USS Constitution, we took a ferry to the New England Aquarium, then took the 'T' back to our hotel. Don't know what else you like, but it seems to me that you should drive over to Lexington and Concord - you can follow the path that the British took. There is a really fine guided walking tour that leaves from the Concord Museum, and leads past all the historic authors' homes (Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, etc.) and ends up at the North Bridge and Minuteman National Park. Also, Walden Pond is just outside of town. You could spend a nice day doing this as well. Another trip would be to head up the coast to Marblehead and Salem to see whaling/fishing historical sites, as well as the whole witchcraft thing. In Boston, there are tons of things to do. I really liked the Museum of Science and Museum of Fine Art. One thing you might want to consider is buying a Citypass (http://citypass.net/cgi-bin/citypass...&rand=9876) for about $30, which includes admission to the New England Aquarium, Skywalk Observatory (nice view!), Museum of Fine Arts, Harvard Museum of Natural History (the glass flowers alone are worth it!), and the John F. Kennedy Library & Museum. One last suggestion - for about $10 you can buy a visitor guide, map, and discount coupon book from the Boston Visitors and Convention Bureau to help plan your trip (http://www.bostonusa.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=GBCVB&P roduct_Code=Official+Visitor+Information+Kit&C ategory_Code=visitor). Have a great time?

We visited Boston last March stayed at the Radisson which had a carpark. It was a fine 3* hotel with a pool, small theatre! and golf driving range!.(Don't have breakfast). It was centrally located ideal for everything. It was about a 5 minute walk to the 'T'(subway). I had a Lonely Planet guidebook which was excellent for the sights and walks. There is of course the Freedom Trail which is a trail of red bricks set in the sidewalk that you follow to see most sight. There is great shopping in the Newbury street area. A lovley park and the fabulous old Beacon Hill district. Its a great walk around the downtown financial district, there are more striking buildings there than you would think. Have a great time.

Parking is grossly expensive in Boston, so you might consider staying just outside of Boston, but at a hotel that is accessible to the T, which will get you into Boston within a half hour. I'd suggest the Sheraton Tara in Braintree, and then taking the red line into Boston (15 minute ride). You can bid on Priceline and get a room there for $60 or less. The Sheraton Tara in Braintree is the only 3 star hotel in Priceline's inventory in Braintree. Otherwise, you might consider a hotel in Waltham or Newton, as you would have easy access to the green line.

Does the Tara have a reliable shuttle to the Red Line? It certainly isn't within walking distance. IMHO, the extra time and cost of commuting in from the suburbs is a major deterrent to this strategy. Taking the subway into Boston from Braintree costs $2 per person, per trip. So for two people, round-trip, that's $8 per day that could be put towards parking at a Boston hotel, plus it takes the better part of an hour traveling in each direction if you're staying in Braintree.

You may want to consider planning your visit at the end of April (but not during Boston Marathon, April 21, weekend). The weather will likely be much more pleasant for being out and about, and the bulbs will be in bloom all over along with the Magnolia trees on Commonweath Ave and many other trees that bloom. Early April weather can be miserable, and snow is not impossible. Some parking is exhorbitant, but there is the occasional hotel with free parking (the Midtown, for example) or hotels with lots nearby with very reasonable rates ($20 for the entire weekend). I've had terrific luck with Priceline and Hotwire (the lower rates more than cover parking). I've gotten lower rates with Priceline, but nicer hotels with Hotwire (worth the higher rates and still ridiculously low compared to other resources). Other good online hotel resources are Hoteldiscount, Quikbook, and Expedia (but you must do your shopping before seleting a hotel/rate at these, as often you can do better directly through the hotel's website). Staying in the city is far more enjoyable that "commuting" from a hotel outside the city (and you would be restricted by whatever time the last train leaves).

As preveiously mentioned, you can get great deals on hotels in the city (Hotwire and Priceline are good). Stay in the city, it is well worth the cost. You will have a much better experience. I too, would stay in the Back Bay area. Close to everything this way. In three days you can't possibly do it all. But the previous posts are right on with The Freedom trail and tours. I think you can have an amazing time with the Freedom TRail alone. That coupled with Newbury Street and just taking in the sights can be a full weekend. This would allow for some down time. One of the great things about Boston is the food. Don't get caught up in the touristy places to eat. There are plenty of great places to go and get fantastic food without getting trapped. You must visit the North end (Italian). Giaccomo's (sp?) has awesome food and a location on Columbus Ave, as well as North end. Casual but great food (reasonably priced). Also you may want to try The Marshall House for lunch, or dinner. It is a quaint little pub next door to The Purple Shamrock in the Fanuel Hall Area. The best unkown in the city. It has GREAT clam chowder and fish dishes at good prices. Very casual, great deal for the money. I take people there all of the time and get great reviews. Sonsie's is a fun place for lunch or sunday brunch and people watch. Best of luck,