Boston Strret Advice
 

Will be staying at the BW Roundhouse and attending a Symphony Hall concert. This looks to be about a mile's walk - would it be safe walking back after the concert? We usually do not stay over, and I know some of Mass Ave is not the best area.

Well... you'd probably be okay (meaning that it's unlikely you'll get mugged or shot), but it's not something I'd feel comfortable doing at night. This is coming from someone (me) who's very familiar with the city and someone who's not afraid of traveling solo around the world all by herself.

If I were you, I'd just grab a taxi back to the hotel, to be on the safe side.

P.S. Have you considered staying elsewhere instead of the BW Roundhouse? That hotel would be one of my very last choice among the hotels in the Boston area.

Thanks for the advice. I did stay there last year when attending a funeral next door. We are not really looking for amenities, just somewhere to stay at a reasonable price. Any other suggestions?

I assume you're coming soon for a Pops concert? Not knowing what's reasonable to you, I can only list the hotels I know of that's near Symphony Hall. Of course, it's commencement season in Boston starting with this weekend, so if you're coming soon in the next few weeks, I have no doubt hotel rates are outrageously high.

Anyway, nearby hotels are:
Colonnade Hotel
the complex at the Pru & Copley (includes Sheraton, Westin, Marriott, and Hilton)
Fairmont Copley
Eliot Hotel
Lenox Hotel
Charlesmark Hotel
Courtyard Marriott
Copley Sq Hotel

All are within walking distance to Symphony Hall (no more than 15 minutes).

The closest hotel to Symphony Hall, actually, is the Midtown Hotel. I can't vouch for it's quality (looks like a 1970s HoJo), but it's certainly in a much better & nicer neighborhood than the BW Roundhouse.

I know the Courtyard is offering a 15%-off rates right now. http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel...ferInfo=515218

If you have a car and don't want to pay for parking, one option is to stay at the Hotel Indigo in Newton. The hotel is right next to the Green Line D Riverside stop. Parking is free at the hotel, and you can ride the T to Hynes Convention Center stop and then walk over to Symphony Hall (or ride to Copley stop and change for the E line back out to Symphony stop). Anyway, of course that takes a much longer time (~ 30-min ride each way), but you save the expensive parking fees charged by most downtown hotels.

No - even though it is straight walk down Mass Ave and some of it goes close to hospital area which would have more activity, I also would not do it. You probably would arrive with life, limb and wallet intact but there are some not well-lit sketchy areas which would have little foot traffic of the kind I assume you are at that hour. Stay closer or take a cab.

For once, Gail and I agree on a safety issue :-) (we agree on pretty much everything else).

They are working really hard on upgrading this area, but it lacks the trendy bars and restaurants that make much of the South End a happenin' place -- and ensure plenty of street and foot traffic you want late at night.

If you have a car, you can turn left at St Botolph Street (one block before Huntington Avenue) and park in the garage on the left behind the field house. If there is a concert at Jordan Hall, you will see others going in and out.

Otherwise, take a taxi, at least on the way back to the hotel.

Also agree about not walking back to the Roundhouse--it can be a dreary walk and the last part--next to the medical area is a maze of multilane roads to cross.

For basic accommodation, I'd second looking at the Midtown Hotel (www.midtownhotel.com). Couldn't be more convenient to Symphony Hall.

Walking from the Roundhouse to Symphony Hall (as long as you stick to Massachusetts Avenue and don't head south of that street) should be okay during the day, but definitely not after dark. This area's rather scruffy even during the day. I'm not sure any buses directly connect these two points, and there's no subway that stops anywhere near the Roundhouse, so taking a cab is likely the wisest option.

The Roundhouse isn't near anything of interest to tourists and is poorly served by public transportation, unfortunately, and I personally wouldn't stay there because of its poor location alone. Its location is scruffy and industrial during the day and not safe for walking at night.

Agreed with the suggestion to change hotels, as there are several good options within easy walking distance (a block or less) along Huntington Avenue from Symphony Hall going towards Copley Square.

Thanks for all the advice - I rather thought that was the case!