Visiting Boston in a few weeks (8/23-8/28)...I have several questions....

1) Found a deal at Marriott Hotel in South Boston (Area known as Dorchester) not too far it seems from JFK Library...Does anyone know about this area...Hotel offered free parking...and had a shuttle to and from Airport...and rate came in at about $99 per night. Is it too far from Boston sites?


2) Are there any other strategies for getting a hotel in Cambridge area, BackBay area or Downtown Boston for less than $140 per night?

3) I have friends in the Cambridge area, will staying in that Dorchester area be too long of a commute?

4) Is renting a car necessary?

5) Any suggestions on restaurants, jazz clubs, and points of interest that should not be missed?


Thanks in advance...appreciate input and suggestions.

Don't stay at that hotel - you are surrounded by a highway and not at all conveniently located. I would try Priceline or even stay out in Cambridge near a Red Line Stop (maybe Cambridge Marriott at Kendall Square). Don't rent a car - I live here and it is very confusing to find your way around with a car, and with transit you don't need it (plus you'll spend a lot of time or a lot of money to park it). Only rent one for a day if you take a day trip out of the city.

DeeBoz,
I agree with hlsam - find a hotel near a T stop and do not rent a car. As was suggested, try Priceline or Hotwire and you should be able to get a decent hotel in town for $100 as it is not a busy time. Check biddingfortravel.com to see what other folks are bidding.

Dorchester is an awful, crime-ridden city. Do not stay there.

Not every part of Dorchester is an awful, crime ridden part of the city - that is a gross overexaggeration - and it is not true of the area of South Boston either

however, the Mariott you speak of , while it will give you the shuttle,etc - is not a convenient location for you, esp with wanting to go back and forth to Cambridge.

Where in Cambridge? Are there no B & B's or something near your friends? Would you stay in Somerville near Davis Sq - here is a B & B that gets great recs from a frequent poster - I belive it is on the red line, a few stops out of harvard sq

www.morrisonhousebnb.com

the singles run around $80-130

here's a few threads with some other ideas too.

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=35001376

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=35012702

1. South Boston is not Dorchester, even though this hotel seems to think it is. Don't stay there. Distance to JFK is short, but is on major highway. Unless you have wings, don't do it.

4. Don't rent a car - not necessary, expensive. Use the money you save on renting and parking to get a hotel actually in downtown Boston.

It's near South Bay Center I believe - which is considered by many to be Dorchester -and/or covering South Boston, Dorchester and even Roxbury neighborhood areas.

Even those who live in Dorchester and South Boston may argue where the 'neighborhood' lines are, never mind the actual neighborhood/towns/area lines - and sometimes in Boston environs, it is a map thing - as in google/mapquest/yahoo sometimes recognizes Dorchester or Boston over South Boston for the correct address location, if this is making sense.....

doesn't matter - it's not a good location for what you want and I think it's apparent no one here would recommend it.

Not to mention that you have *all of Boston* in between Cambridge and that Marriott (in whatever neighborhood you want to call it: South Boston / Dorchester)!

You may want to look at a map of the Boston area to see where places are in relation to one another (Google maps is pretty good).

Good luck!

Visited Boston for my first time in April. Stayed at The Westin in Back Bay -- pretty conveniently located. I'd recommend them, but not sure if it fits your budget.

I really liked the North End's character. If you like Italian food, I'd recommend Mother Anna's Restaurant (211 Hanover Street) and then stop in for a canoli at Mike's Pastry just a block or so away.