Boston on a budget
 

OK, I know "Boston on a budget" is probably a contradiction in terms, but hey, we did get airfare for two from Atlanta to Boston for under $270 total. Now, where should a frugal person like myself stay (we won't have a car) and what should we do? I figure I can use Priceline to keep the cost of the hotel as low as possible. We'll be there from Apr 5th thru the 9th. We're just an average couple in our 30's, no kids, just want to see some sites and eat some decent meals.

I don't know if this will help you or not, but when I went to Boston a couple of years ago, I was disappointed to learn I couldn't find a hotel room for less than $300.00 per night. I was working through a TA and she really went to work for me and came up with an option I had never considered before: an apartment. She found us a little 1 bedroom apartment with a small kitchenette for under $300.00 for 4 nights. I did manage to find it online once, but not sure if I could find it again. I think I located it (and others) through Boston's Bed and Breakfast registry. Just something you might want to consider.

Have fun!

I needed 1 night after a tour for a Friday night, and it was the Red Sox night, and I paid for my room $139+tax, and it's on a busy weekend, and on a T-line, and off the hotel's website, so don't be discouraged Jay!

Maybe the last weekend in January is really off season but I got a 4* Priceline room for $65 a night for two nights. It was the Cambridge hotel@mit 3 blocks from a T stop.

It cost $1.25 for a token to take the T from the airport to the hotel. You have to take a free shuttle from the terminal to the airport T stop. Pack reasonably and you shouldn't have a problem. I looked at the 1 day visitors T pass but don't think it's very economical at $7.50. You can ride the T 4 times for $5.

www.mbta.com

I've not done it yet but walking the Freedom Trail is free if you do it yourself. The State Capitol is free to visit and on the trail.

www.thefreedomtrail.org

I thought the fine arts museum was excellent but pricey at $15 per adult. The same goes for the Gardner Museum at $11 on a weekend, $10 weekdays. If you only budget one I'd pick the less expensive Gardner. It's very unusual as Isabelle Gardner left her huge mansion with the stipulation that nothing could be changed.

www.mfa.org
www.gardnermuseum.org

I love the chicken livers at Durgin Park in Faneuil Market. It gets mixed reviews as its ambience is very 1930's warehouse worker.

www.durgin-park.com

The JFK Presidential Library was designed by I.M. Pei. It's accessible by public transportation. I wanted to see it in January but didn't make the time. $10 adult admission though.

www.jfklibrary.org

Jay - if your real name happens to be Isabella you can get into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum for free! For the rest of us we can get a discount at the Gardner if we show a ticket stub from the MFA from within the last two days.

Fenway Park tours are around $12 for an adult and are really fun. Even if you are not a big Red Sox fan, there is so much history in that park that it is very interesting.

Boston is very much a walking city. You could stop in and see the beautiful Boston Public Library - there are murals there by John Singer Sargent. Walk through Beacon Hill and the Esplanade. Window shop on Newbury St.

Thanks for all the tips, everybody. This southern boy needs all the help he can get going to the big Yankee city of Boston. Priceline lists the following areas to bid on: Back Bay/Copley, Cambridge, Chestnut Hill-Brookline, Downtown BOston/Charlestown, Medford-Somerville, Revere/Logan Airport, and South Boston. Which area or areas would you suggest that would be a nice area and convenient to the T, tourist attractions, restaurants, etc.?

The only one of those areas on Priceline I would feel really safe bidding on is Back Bay/Copley. Immediately forget Medford/Somerville and Revere/Logan. While close in mileage, can be a real pain to commute to downtown. Problem with Downtown/Charestown zone is the Charlestown part. Same problem with Brookline - Chestnut Hill is too far.
I worry that the Cambridge zone might put you in some area served by bus rather than MBTA Red line train, but that might be my second choice.

The Priceline zone problem here is that within each zone, you could be fine or end up someplace with a commute that would be very annoying - so try to get a Back Bay/Copley hotel and you can't go wrong there.

Word of warning about April weather - it could be either beautiful spring (60s) or snow - just check the weather before you come.

Walk the Freedom Trail - some sites along way charge an admission, but just the walk is great. You end up near Faneuil Hall/Qincy Market - first is historic, latter is refurbished area of shops and restaurants. You could also walk from there to North End and pick an Italian restaurant.

Just checked on Expedia - they have Park Plaza for about $130/night or Lenox for $150 - both good locations. So do some research, check out Priceline. I urge you not to try to save money by staying at any hotel called Boston-something (Revere, Waltham, Burlington, etc.) These are not in Boston and you could spend way too long getting into city.

So far I've stayed at the 2 Priceline 4* properties in Cambridge that are listed at biddingfortravel.com.

The previously mentioned hotel@mit 3 blocks off the Central Square stop of the Red Line.

The other was the Hotel Marlowe which is about 4 blocks from the Lechemere stop on the Green Line. You can cut the distance and stay inside most of the way if you go through the Cambridge Mall.

Some of Cambridge's 3* offerings on Priceline can be much further from the T stops.

I believe that the Museum of Fine Arts is free for a few hours a week. You could probably check this out on Boston.com. I'm remembering that it was Friday nights (memory's not what it used to be though).

Thanks again for the tips, this is an amazing resource. I figure I'll try to bid for a 4 star in Back Bay on Priceline. I've been studying biddingfortravel.com to learn how to bid, I'm hoping $100 will do it...

We're from Massachusetts and stay in Boston every so often. We stayed at the Boston Radisson in December for $179, including a breakfast buffet and parking. You won't need the parking, but go to their website and check what they have. The hotel is right in the theater district and convenient to Newbury Street, Faneuil Hall, etc., along with T stops everywhere. Have fun! I've never used Priceline - maybe someday I'll give it a try. As others have said, make sure the hotel is really in Boston or you'll spend lots of time traveling back and forth.

I usually bid Cambridge 3* and end up with the Cambridge Hyatt but I need to be close to MIT. I would rather stay across the river in the Back Bay/Copley area because there are so many shops and restaurants.

If you want to go to a wonderful art museum, I recommend the Isabella Stewart Gardiner Museum. As much as I love the MFA, If you're only going to do one, this is the one I would choose. Mrs. Gardiner built a Venetian Palace in Boston to live in and house her art collection, and it is stunning - especially the courtyard, which is always full of seasonal plants and flowers. It is also less expensive than the MFA - admission is $10 instead of $15. It has a very nice cafe for lunch, also.

If you do want to visit the MFA, their web site says that on Wednesdays after 4:00 pm admission is by voluntary contribution, On Thursdays and Fridays after 4:45 admission is reduced by $2.

I also recommend a visit to the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) and its museum at the Charlestown Navy Yard - admission is free, and it's really fascinating - especially if you enjoy history. You could take a harbor tour and get a different perspective of the city. Massachusetts Bay Lines offers tours that stop at the Charlestown Navy yard so you can get off and tour the Constitution, which would be a good way to get there (there are also water taxis that go over to the Navy Yard) or you could walk - it's on the Freedom Trail - but it's a bit of a hike. The harbor tours are only $10.95. There are at least a couple of different boat companies that offer tours, this is the one whose web site I came across first. I've done harbor tours before, which I enjoyed, but I don't remember which boat line we used.

If it's in your budget, a duck tour is a lot of fun, and gives you a great overview of Boston. It is kind if expensive - tickets are $25 - but you'll learn a lot. Some of the advance tickets can be bought online, so you can avoid waiting in line to get them.

Walk down Commonwealth Ave., window shop on Newbury St., walk through the Public Garden (unfortunately the swan boats won't be operating yet, they start on April 16) and Boston Common, walk through the beautiful old neighborhoods on Beacon Hill. Take the red line to Harvard Square and explore that area.

If you want to see a show, you can buy discounted tickets to same day performances at the ArtsBoston booth in Copley Square.

You'll love Boston - have fun!

Thanks again everybody for the tips. We haven't been on a vacation since Savannah at the end of 2003 and my wife was sick the whole time. That's one of the cons of using Priceline, it is non-refundable. If you've never used it before to book a hotel, take time to read through the Hotel FAQ on BiddingForTravel.com, it is very helpful...

Newbury Guest House is located in the 200 block of Newbury St. If you stay there, breakfast is included and you won't need a car. PLUS you will be right smack in the middle of a wonderful area of Boston for a reasonable price. Not the most luxurious place, but comfortable and clean on my last visit. I used to live right across the street and sitting out on their patio having coffee takes me back........

Check out this site
http://www.johnjeffrieshouse.com
it is right across from "T" stop, that takes you to Cambridge, breakfast included,Beacon Hill area (near Mass. Gen Hospital) all rooms have a Kitchen and staff is most helpful, especially manager..
This was formerly a nurse's residence.
the Newbury House is great especially for young people as it is in the middle of everything...It does book up early.
Good luck..
Really pay attenion to the remarks about Priceline zones.. In past I did the "Cambridge" zone and was way out near big freeway --price was good $ 68 but very inconvenient--quite a hike to "T" station.
Another "maybe" is Constitution Inn
at the Navy Yard--where the U.S.S. Constitution is moored and open for tours.. The Inn is not fancy but adequate- don't know about prices as I was there for a conference..

Jaynang,
This is such a coincidence! I am also in Atlanta, in my early 30's, very frugal and planning my first trip to Boston. (May 24-June 1) PLEASE give us a trip report when you get back so that I can benefit from your experiences :-) (BTW, what airline are you flying? I need to start booking tickets - but I will be flying from Toronto, not Atlanta... This will be my first time flying "open-jaw")

Have you thought of a B&B instead of a hotel? You will save money on breakfast. ;-) This may not be for you, but after much research, I decided on the Morrison House B&B near Davis Square. (I don't drive and need to be by the subway or busline) http://www.morrisonhousebnb.com ... anyway, it is just a sugestion.

oops, forgot to mention this:

I am a true Chowhound and I have been doing a lot of research on places to eat. ;-) I think we should definitely try Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage in Harvard Square. www.mrbartleys.com

I like the Back Bay/Copley area myself. If you have never been to Boston before you will be surprised to find how compact it is. Sure the burbs are far flung but the sites that you will want to see, and places you want to eat, are walkable or accessible by public transport. Of course, a freak snowstorm could change that, but I think you're safe in April.