cw

yk, take a look at the new website for the hostel: http://bostonhostel.org/ It looks excellent.

Lori, I've often seen the Marriott in Quincy for $126 (taxes would be extra) on lastminutetravel. It is near a T station, the Red Line, which brings you into downtown where you can transfer to the Green Line for Berklee. The hotel has a shuttle to the T station.

Otherwise, you're probably looking at staying further outside of Boston. If you drive up, that would mean staying far outside the city and driving to a train or subway station to get into Boston. November is more inexpensive generally than October. Let us know when you have your dates.

sassy_cat

I picked a town, Framingham which is just over 20 miles from Boston and checked the hotels on Tripadvisor for rooms for 3 people on a random date in October.

So on Oct 22nd you could stay at the Red Roof Inn for $91.
Here's a link to reviews
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...achusetts.html

It's $8 for a one way commuter rail fare to Boston or drive in and pay parking.

How about staying with students at Berklee? Call the school and ask if student accommodation is available.

easytraveler

Lori: I would still suggest checking into the HI hostel where you can get a private room for about $119 - $139, sleeps 4 (?). Their website is still a bit thin on essential information. That rate includes a continental breakfast, so you save on breakfast costs. The hostel also runs free tours of Boston, which will also be a money-saver. Hostels generally know the best and cheapest places to eat as well, another money-saver.

The only other thing I'd worry about is parking. If it's downtown, parking may be expensive. Again, their website is still a bit thin on essential information, but you can always write/call them and ask what are the parking arrangements.

This may be your best bet, as it'll be close to where your son needs to be and it's a brand-new facility.

Even if you bid on Priceline and get a hotel near a metro stop, you still need to calculate in commute costs to get to Berklee.

ggreen

Lori, that's great that your son will audition at Berklee! As others have indicated, it's centrally located in Boston, a few steps from a couple different Green Line T stops and walking distance to a number of iconic Boston landmarks (Fenway Park and the Prudential Center to name but two). It's also close to the Mass Pike (toll section of I-90) and the commuter artery called Storrow Drive if you decide to drive in.

The only other thing I'd worry about is parking. If it's downtown, parking may be expensive.

If that's the case, driving up from the south on I-95, you could always park the car for the duration at one of those southerly train stations I mentioned (Route-128 commuter rail or Braintree or Quincy Adams Red Line T).

FWIW, the transfer between Red Line and Green Line in the center of Boston is a straightforward one. Some of the other transfers aren't so easy!

Personally, I never drive in Boston unless I have to - and I've been doing it my whole life. It is probably the most obtuse city to navigate in all of the USA... and I'm only talking about the roadways, never mind the other drivers!

If you can, I would really try to leave the car in Georgia. That said, do the math for:
- the 3 plane tickets + public transit in Boston + getting to your local airport/parking there
- versus car travel (AAA price/mile, hotels, etc) + parking
- versus Amtrak + public transit in Boston + getting to Amtrak in GA/parking there

It may actually come out about even. If flying is more economical, you can do it!!

nytraveler

For Amtrak - look at advance purchase fares which can be much less expensive. Check the web site now to see how early you can get tickets. Also - cheap flights. I now it's 3 people - but if you consider mileage at 55 cents per mile - your trip is $1375 plus motels and meals on the way to and fro. Don;t know the Hosteling International in Boston - but they are well regarded overall and the one in NYC is excellent. (Nothing like a party hostel filled with teens drinking/drugging all night.)

tomfuller

Check the college visit deal on Amtrak: http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conten...=1246042642393
I would not drive any farther north than Washington DC.
If you wanted to start from Atlanta, you would ride on the Crescent to New York or Washington and then a NE Regional to Boston South.

ggreen

and then a NE Regional to Boston South

A small point: If the OP stays near Berklee, then descending at Boston Back Bay would be closer (same price either way).

yk

Looking at the Hampton Inn family, random dates in Nov/Dec give me a rate between $92-$118 for Hampton Inn Norwood; or $109-$143 for Hampton Inn Braintree for 3 adults

Honestly, I can't imagine you can find anything much cheaper without staying even further out of town.

The Hampton inn Braintree says it offers complimentary shuttle to the "local train station". I'm 99.9% sure that means the RED LINE T station. I think this is a very good option since you can park for free at the hotel and then take the T ($2.50pp each way) into the city. If you stay in a suburb where you have to take the commuter rail, beware that
1) the commuter rail runs MUCH LESS frequently, and
2) commuter rail tickets cost at least 2x the T

Here's the website for the Hampton Inn Braintree. http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hot...out/index.html

cw

Because hotel rates vary so much depending on the dates, it will be easier to make suggestions after you know when you're coming. If you have a choice of different dates, you can play around with dates to see when there is more availability.

Lookin_Glass

yk, you read my mind.

I was going to say that you can certainly get an affordable strip motel in my neck of the woods that would be no frills clean and safe. Parking at the lot for the Commuter Rail would be $4 parking and about $12 EACH roundtrip.

There's a lot of math to consider.

Lookin_Glass

edit, the new rates would now be about $14 p/p for the Commuter Rail in my neck of the woods. So between gas/hours/commuting into the city vs flying or training into boston. . .

it's the same math I use when visiting Manhattan. 4 adults on the Metro North to Grand Central vs driving in when there is no traffic. and the same math I consider when taking a cab in manhattan - 4 people taking the subway or bus vs grabbing a cab which is often the same amount or less.

again, good luck with the math and come back when you have decided if you will fly/drive or train to Berklee.

clarkgriswold

Nantusket Beach Resort is $89 on many nights in Oct and Nov and you can take a ferry ride into Boston. Or it's a short drive to the Quincy Train Station.

Don't worry, you'll find something.