I would like to bring my adult daughter to Boston for her birthday the weekend of Defember 12. We would fly in from Philadelphia and arrive early Friday AM - around 7:30. What is the best way to get from the airport to downtown? What would be a good hotel with a reasonable rate? We would be three adults (family). This is not my first visit to Boston but my last visit we stayed at the Omni and the rooms are very small.

Boston has city hotels so the rooms are often small. You might want to try the Copley area for hotels. I would suggest using priceline to get decent rates.

The newer hotels shouldn't be a problem as far as room size - Marriott Long Wharf and Marriott Copley, Hilton Back Bay, Sheraton Prudential Center. Older hotels like Omni Parker House and Park Plaza will have smallish rooms. Back Bay/Copley Square area is a great location.

Take a cab from the airport ($25)unless you are traveling light and then take the subway. ($3) Be glad to give directions once you know what hotel you want.

The residence inn at Charlestown is offering a rate of $119 per night. This is right on the freedom trail and within walking distance to fanueil hall and the North End. Rooms at this rate come with sleeper sofa as well.

www.charlesmarkhotel.com

Hi Jerry,

What a coincidence, I'll be over there at the same weekend! Anyway, I do my research.... Copley place seems to be a good choice, as many posters here agree to it too. Use priceline! You could never go wrong with that. I got the Marriot for under a hundred bucks (before tax). Well.. good luck!

~ http://www.massport.com/logan/ -- for information on transportation, how to get to/from Logan Airport;

~ http://www.boston.com/ -- Boston Globe is primary newspaper for the city;

~ http://www.bostonphoenix.com/ -- Boston Phoenix ("alternative" newspaper, altho it is much more mainstream than 20 yrs ago); focus on arts & entertainment in Boston;

~ http://www.cityofboston.gov/visitors/default.asp -- City of Boston's Visitor's Guide;

~ http://www.thebostonchannel.com;

~ http://boston.citysearch.com/ --- The Boston CitySearch website should also have event information.

Sorry to disaagree with the Priceline route - unless you are getting 2 rooms. If your concern is size of rooms for 3 adults, don't do it. And with Priceline you are not guaranteed 2 beds (although that is usually what you get and can call hotel directly to request). This is a surprisingly high occupancy time in Boston, so switching rooms might not be an option.

I agree, PL is very risky for 3. BUT sometimes you can get 2 rooms on PL for roughly what one would cost otherwise!

A basic PL strategy is to book a cancellable room thorough normal reservation systems, then keep trying on PL until the last minute; since they deal with surplus rooms, some of the best deals can turn up just days ahead of your visit.

My favourite hotel in Boston is the Lenox Hotel on Exeter Street, near Copley Square. Ask for a corner room -- they are HUGE and the staff was wonderful.

ALLYSON