Doubletree Guest Suites
 

Hello everyone - I am traveling to Boston in July (I know it will probably be pretty warm then) :) I'm thinking of staying at the Doubletree guest suites. I've heard that there are not many restaurants in the area and that its far from the T. I'd appreciate any comments about the hotel and/or suggestions for alternate places to stay. We plan on spending 2 days touring Boston, 1 day in Lexington, and a day in Plymouth. Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

Hi Terri,<BR>There are 3 Doubletree's in the Boston area that I am aware of. One is on Soldier's Field Road, the other at the Bayside Expo Center, and another in/near the Theater district. Which location is the one you are interested in?

The one on Soldier's Field Road has nothing near it except some tractor trailer parking lots and the Mass Turnpike. The one near the Bayside Expo Center (Dorchester) is not much better. Have been some good comments here about the Theatre District one, but I doubt this is the one you are speaking of.<BR><BR>If price is really an issue and you have some preference for Doubletree and are only spending 2 days touring Boston, then the first 2 might be workable - but only if you are the type to leave hotel in AM and not go back until you are ready to go to sleep.

The one I'm considering is on Soldier's field road off of I-90. I've heard that theres not much else out there. I guess thats why the rates are so reasonable. :) We were wanting a hotel in the $150 range, with easy access to a T stop, and in a safe neighborhood. It would be nice to have some restaurants close by. Thanks again for all your help!

Hi Terri. My family and I stayed at the Doubletree this past weekend and, on the whole, we enjoyed it. We had a car though, so we didn't care about nearby restaurants and subways. (By the way, there are no nearby restaurants &amp; subways!)

However, the hotel does provide a shuttle service to Harvard Square, Aquarium, Boston Common and Copley Square every day, and to Quincy Market (Faneuil Hall) on the weekends. But they don't run all the time and you need to make reservations for them. It may also be a nice walk across River Bridge into Cambridge, either to Central Square or to Harvard Square, but we have an 8 year old and she still doesn't equate a nice stroll with a fun time.

My husband and I have reservations at the Sheraton in the Back Bay area in May. I got our reservations on Priceline for $110.OO a night. I may could have bid lower and gotten a room cheaper, but I am pleased to get such a nice place at that price in such a good area. You may want to give Priceline a try. I did so after reading the posts on Fodors.

Nancy

I would not recommend Doubletree Guest Suites. The &quot;key&quot; they gave us for the parking garage almost never worked (nor did anyone else's) and there were long delays getting out (until someone went inside as there was no attendant) and back in again. When we checked in, they gave us a key to the mini bar. There was none in our room. When I mentioned this at the front desk, the clerk said, &quot;Really?&quot; and looked toward the person behind me in line. The shuttle service is not reliable. If the driver doesn't show up for work, there is no shuttle. Our room was a bit on the shabby side - enough to cross this place off our list.

I've had great luck with Hotwire. (I booked the Doubletree directly because we had tickets at Scullers that weekend.)

I'm neither recommending nor not recommending Doubletree (good thing: warm chocolate chip cookies at any time and a beautiful river view; bad thing: small, crowded, noisy pool) but just wanted to add to djkbooks' comment about the parking facility.

The card keys not working would have driven us crazy and over the edge, but luckily they did work during our stay and I enjoyed NOT having the usual hotel valet parking. I hate calling ahead, and still waiting for the car, and tipping all the time.