I'd stay in the Back Bay. Not Revere. The Onyx is nice; it's where where my daughter's employer in the North End puts up visitors.

Taxis are cheap because Boston is so compact and the airport is so nearby, that the mileage to get there is low!

You can check the MBTA schedules and use their trip planner at

http://mbta.com/rider_tools/trip_planner/

<i>I'd stay in the Back Bay. Not Revere.</i>

The Revere is not in Revere. It is spitting distance to the Four Seasons in what is one of the most central locations in Boston.

The Omni Parker House, an older historic hotel, and the Nine Zero are a block away from the beginning of the Freedom Trail. Check them out too.

The quoted low priced rooms at the Omni Parker House are often the euro style closet sized rooms with either a twin or a full size bed.

I would like to thank all of you for your good suggestions, I will look into all of these places. I wasn't entirely serious about basing our decision on free breakfast vs free wine but that doesn't always come through on the computer. :-) It turns out DH is indifferent to both.

Boston Marriott Longwharf and the Boston Harbour Hotel frequently offer special room rates, you could check them out! At South Station there is a Airport bus, but you would most likely be better off in a taxi.

As a former resident of Cambridge, Milton, Boston, and now ( part time ) Brookline, who actually LIKES driving in Boston, I would never even consider taking a cab to some of the places you all recommend. It's a city, for Pete's sake. It is INTERESTING on public transportation. There are interesting people, especially when the students are in town. Your bus driver speaks English. If you are not carrying too much luggage, the T is fine for the airport (well, maybe not the Green Line B and C).

I would stay in Back Bay. DD would take the subway when a student, but sometimes she would spring for the shuttle (I've forgotten the name, but should be on the airport website) which was cheaper than the taxis. Might not be as cheap for two.

Depending on when in Oct., Boston can be quite expensive. MIT, Harvard and other schools have parent's weekends and you have the Head of the Charles Regatta. Sometimes you can get a good deal bidding BB on Priceline or Hotwire. You might also try Newbury Guesthouse (block or two from Boston Common/Freedom Trail in Back Bay).

http://www.newburyguesthouse.com/

The Fodor's Boston GTG is usually first or second weekend also.

<i>If you are not carrying too much luggage, the T is fine for the airport</i>

That should read: "If you are not carrying too much luggage <b>and don't particularly value your time or convenience</b>, the T is fine for the airport."

I don't understand the appeal of spending (at a minimum) an extra 30 minutes travel time to/from the airport to save $15-$20. The T is not that interesting.