favorite Boston hotels
 

Any recommendations for good central hotels, with access to mass transit - maybe near historical sites. budge $150 or thereabouts...thanks

General picture:

Dates matter hugely: Marathon Week late in April, college graduations in early to mid May, Fourth of July mean no bargains during those periods.

Priceline is your friend because $150 per night in the city will not be easy. Parking will add $40+ per night. Don't bring a car.

Back Bay is well located for public transportation and walkability. Kendall Square in East Cambridge has several hotels focused on business travelers that may be reasonable on weekends. Good access to historic sites via Red Line, changing at Park Street.

Don't be fooled by places on booking sites that advertise themselves as Boston-Danvers or Boston-Braintree or whatever. They are a long way from the historic sites.

We can drill down when we know your dates and room needs.

I have done very well with Priceline and Hotwire in Boston. I only work listings in Back Bay and the Theatre District, four stars and up. I got the Hyatt and the Sheraton for $150 or less. Dates matter as noted above and parking is very expensive. Have fun, it is a fantastic city.

for smaller place i liked the newbury guest house which is in the back bay area.

I recently stayed at the Courtyard in Back Bay, and it was a great hotel and an excellent location near the T. It might be within your price range depending on the dates. But as other posters have said, there are many others.

thanks, we are looking at the last week of March, and I was definitely leaning towards Back B ay so that is so helpful

Like the Newbury House, but my very favorite secret: John Jeffries. http://www.johnjeffrieshouse.com/ Location, ambiance, value outstanding (except during summer heat wave - no A/C).

Invariably a bargain, still has flavor of European clientele -- not luxe but even slightly seedy - more spartan. Many rooms have useful kitchenette -- used to be nurses' residence for Mass. General. Is right next to Charles St. station on T's red line, on Beacon Hill itself, and across from the amazing Liberty Hotel (used to be Suffolk Cty. jail). You can get anywhere from there, very easily.

It does fill up. Upper floors are best, but they never ever assign a room before the day of check in and you are likely to be on a lower floor. But you can ask to face the river or the "back" of the hotel. The "front" faces the T station and a busy traffic intersection, but they seem to have decent sound control, even then.

CORRECTION: " not luxe but even slightly seedy - more spartan. " SHOULD BE "NOT even slightly seedy...." Rooms have been updated to look quite lovely - see the website. No I don't work for them, but everyone I direct there becomes as enthusiastic as I am.

We like the Chandler Hotel for good rates. Easy walk to Back Bay, Newberry St, Copley, etc

thanks all, great thoughts

We stayed at the Newburyport Guest House this past spring and couldn't have been happier with the location, the room, or the hotel's service.

That should have been the Newbury Guest House.