I just think that you should try to stay in town. I did a quick search on Kayak.com for your dates. The Collonade has a rate of 167, has a roof top pool and close to everything. I never looked further, but think you should really reconsider your lodging.

I would not bother, but you husband is healing, and a healing like his should be paid due attention. A rest period if needed should not be an hour commute away, only to try to take the commute back for dinner.

If you want to have a slower time, exclude the USS Const., all the other places are near eachother.

After Sunday evening dinner, try a North End Cafe, Vitoria or Paradiso, for coffee/dessert.

Another consideration, replace JFK library, which will be time consuming to get to, instead shop and eat on Charles Street on Beacon Hill, maybe the prettiest street in Boston.

I think the OP will have their own car and intends to drive into Boston and park (with disabled permit?)...

Have you thought about a B&B while in Boston?

I always stay at the Morrison House (I LOVE Ron and Linde!!) They are technically in Somerville, but you are right by the T (red line) and so close to everything

Also, for food I wanted to give you this website:
http://www.phantomgourmet.com/

I also want to double check on something ... you did mean Rockport, Ma right? (I am sure I saw your b&b was by Front Beach) - There are other Rockports on the east and reading some replies I think there was some confusion.

Wow....I have a lot of planning/replanning to do. I will take the hotel downtown into consideration. I didn't realize that we were that far away. It would be nice to be near the room for resting or napping before dinner. The hotel website was very misleading! We will have a car and free parking is nice. Please bear with me - would driving into Boston, parking and then using the T to get around the downtown areas be insane?

I am sure I will have more questions but you all have been so wonderful.

The Red Wings are about to finish their series against the Ducks - have to go for now. Thanks again!

The $ you saved from the free hotel parking, *may* be enough for parking in the city every day.

Ahhh....good point yk!!! How is South Boston? There is a Marriott Courtyard there, with free parking even. I called the hotel and they said that the T stop is only a few blocks away - should be doable with DH. The reviews looked ok - it does look like the hotel is kinda in the middle of nowhere, but we would have a car for locations close to the hotel. I'm trying not to spend a ton of money on the hotel so we have more to spend on all of the wonderful meals we plan on having! Any thoughts on this hotel?

I was curious so I just checked Hotwire -- there is a 3.5* Boston Common area hotel for $92 a night for June 7-10, and a 4.5* Quincy Market area hotel for $133 a night (as well as others). Have you used Hotwire, or are you willing to try it? It's usually fairly easy to narrow down what hotel it will be. Anyway, how bad can a 4.5* hotel be???

I have not used Hotwire. To be honest, it scares me a little. How do you narrow down what hotel it will be?

Can anyone tell me anything about the Holiday Inn Express in Cambridge? I found a decent rate there as well. Would that be a better location than South Boston?

I've stayed at the Marriott Courtyard south Boston but only to park and fly and I noticed they're now charging per person for the airport shuttle so not such a good deal for me anymore!

It's not convenient for downtown Boston... better than your other hotel but not great. Taking the T does involve a fair amount of walking including plenty of steps so don't imagine just getting to the T-stop will be the bulk of actual walking.

Hotwire sounds like your best bet. I very rarely use that site but I narrow down the hotel by comparing the details of the amenities with the hotel websites (only 4 star hotel in area x with a pool would be Z for example) but others might be able to give you better strategies to do this.
Maybe the better bidding site helps negotiate hotwire site?

Yes, the HI express is in a better location. Check these reviews on Tripadvisor..
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...achusetts.html

It's close to Lechmere T and it that proves too difficult for your DH then you could try driving into Boston and parking another day.

It's very close to the Science museum too which wasn't on your itinerary but is worth a visit. Great views over the Charles river from inside the museum too.

The HI Express Cambridge location is fine.

Another possibility is the HI Express Boston Downtown (next to North Station). I think it's pretty new.
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/...ilsearch&ias=y

To narrow down the possibilities on Hotwire, you compare the listed amenities with the lists provided on betterbidding.com. Also, many, if not most, of the hotels on Hotwire also tell you the TripAdvisor rating and number of reviews the hotel has gotten, so you can match those up.

For example, betterbidding shows that there are three 4* hotels in Back Bay-Copley Square - the Westin Copley Place, the Colonnade and the Lenox. It lists the amenities for each. Matching those up with what's available on Hotwire, the hotel shows on Hotwire as having a spa, so it's not the Colonnade. It could be either the Lenox or the Westin. Hotwire says the TripAdvisor rating is 4.0 and it has 240+ reviews. The Westin is a 4.0 with 258 reviews, while the Lenox is 4.5* on TripAdvisor, so it's very likely the Westin.

Obviously, it's not for everyone, but we have used Hotwire very successfully over the years, even before there were resources like betterbidding.

Hope that helps.

I think, for the OP, the HI Express Cambridge option may be the best. based on the website, the HI Express Cambridge offers:

1) complimentary parking
2) complimentary breakfast

Therefore, if the rates there are comparable to the Hotwire rates, the HI Express Cambridge definitely has the edge. One can easily be paying $40/night parking at any of the 4* Back Bay hotels, plus at least $10/day for take-out breakfast from Dunkin' Donuts or Starbucks.

Of course, the HI Express is more like a 2.5* hotel. but it sounds like the Cambridge one has been renovated not too long ago, so unless the OP is looking for 4* luxury, the HI Express should be just fine.

I didn't see a great price for HI ExCamb....what rates are you seeing?

Where are you driving from? I would suggest parking at 128Westwood Amtrack stop, just off Route 95 for $12 a day. Taking the commuter rail in and going for either 3.5 or 4 star in Copley area on Hotwire/Priceline. At this point your car is parked, your husband has only walked from the car to the train, and the train to any of the wonderful hotels in copley from BackBay station. He's good to go for whatever adventures you have in store, and a short trip back to the hotel for a rest.

http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_ma...ns/?stopId=178

oh and if you take my advice, and I am thrilled that you took it in regards to Riverside....I love the Paramount on Charles Street for breakfast. A nice morning stroll down Comm Ave, thru the Public Gardens and down a couple of blocks of Charles Street. Sounds better than the same distant to the train station in cambridge.

I did book the room at the HI Express (I can cancel if needed). I am a little concerned with Hotwire/Priceline because I want a hotel close to the T. But I will check out better bidding. I so appreciate all of your help. I really had no idea how bad of a choice the Hotel Indigo would be - especiall with the Sox/Yankees games!