Has anyone stayed here and if so, how was it? Are there lots of restaurants within walking distance? Happy Travels!

Is this a specific hotel or are you asking about stying in Cambridge in general? We stayed at the Hotel Marlowe in Cambridge recently and it was nice. There were restaurants we could walk to but we had to walk a bit (not right outside our door). The T is pretty accessible from anywhere. If I had a choice (we were in town for a wedding at the hotel) I would stay closer to the heart of Boston, but if you have a reason to stay in Cambridge it's not a bad choice.

"Hotel@MIT" is the actual name of a specific hotel. As snowrooster has demonstrated, it's a stupid and confusing choice even though it does have an official MIT affiliation.

There is really nothing nearby that I can rememeber worth eating at, it's been about 2 years since I stayed there last. It's 2 blocks from the T stop and close to MIT campus. Mostly MIT students work there and it's a pretty nice looking hotel they got there, rooms are nice. The internet is fast, I mean faster than anywhere else I've been. Wireless is everywhere as well. Must be connected to MIT network or something. Nice rooftop courtyard/garden. I enjoyed my stay there but wasn't happy when I was charged for parking and I didn't drive there! I never rcvd a credit I don't think. It has some great reviews on tripadvisor.

I stayed there in January for a Boston GTG. The GTG lunch was in the hotel's restaurant Sydneys. It was an excellent lunch. I had a very good breakfast there too. I looked at the dinner menu and it looked fine though I didn't eat dinner there.

The rooms are "geek chic" in my opinion. When was the last time you saw a throw at the end of the bed with mathematical equations weaved into it? The art hanging in the rooms and around the walls was all technology and science themed. Even had a couple of MIT early robot prototypes in the lobby. I thought it was pretty cool.

I didn't walk to any place to eat in the area as I was only there a quick weekend. It is only two blocks from a redline subway stop so you can get other places pretty easily. I do know Kendall Square (1 stop down maybe?) has a Legal Seafood. That's where we had a Fodor's GTG the previous January.

Another plus is there's a pretty big Shaw's grocery store on the second floor of the hotel. I bought water, bananas and a few items like that when I stayed.

One of our regulars cigalechanta (hey mimi!) will hopefully be along soon. She's familiar with the area and can hopefully recommend a few dining places within walking distance.

Yes , there are alot of places to eat. I live a block away, but in your hotel street there's an Irish bar with food and further up on the corner of Mass. ave, You have, The Miricle of Science Bar with great lunch fod several Gormet restaurants and alot of ethnic ones.
You have gay clubs, rock music(the Middle East) and alot more.
There's a Fodors GTG there in October

Thanks folks...I know there's a Fodors get together in October...I have a plane ticket.I'm going to it! It's the Bangkok group and some of the European group. I thought it might just be easier to stay at the same hotel of the get together than to have to drive there from some other hotel.Do you know of any other hotels that are close by? Thanks. Happy Travels!

Do you know if there's a shuttle from the Boston airport to the Hotel@MIT? I have reserved a rental car, but it's VERY expensive to rent a car in Boston...over $60. for the cheapest car available...the same car that would rent for under $30. here in L.A. Plus, the parking, at the hotel, is $22. a day...ridiculous. I only need to get from the airport to the hotel and then possibly back to the airport. Friends, just informed me that they will definitely be meeting me there for the weekend. They will be driving up from N.Y. and N.J. to meet me, but will arrive a day after I get there and will stay in Boston, instead of Cambridge.They might be able to drive me back to the airport the day that I leave. I'll only be there for a weekend. Thanks for the help. Happy Travels!

Rental car? Didn't do it. 1.50 token got me from the airport on the T to the Central stop.

A little convoluted but easy enough to do. Airport bus to blue line T stop. Blue line to Green line. Green line to Red line. Walked 3 or 4 blocks to the Hotel@MIT.

I've done the reverse back to the airport too. Another 1.50.

Sorry I'll miss you Guenmai. I'll be finishisg my Italian trip that weekend. My first ever GTG was in Boston. I had a great time. I'm sure you will too.

As Indy pointed out, you can take public transit very cheaply (the fare is still $1.25). The good news is, there is a new transit line and the trip is much less complicated than it used to be. From the airport terminals you take the new Sliver Line bus to South Station, where you can pick up the Red Line subway to Kendall station.

Even a taxi would probably be cheaper (and faster, and less hassle) than renting a car just to get to and from the hotel.

The advice from "anonymous"
is great...I did that route last April..It was SO easy and convenient..even though I am a senior lady and was pulling one medium suitcase and a backpack...

Try to have a dinner at the East Coast Grill- Chris Schlesinger's great barbecue place. Know it's just one stop from the Kendall T- maybe Porter Square?? Anonymous should know!

East Coast Grill: Central Square, one stop up from Kendall, but it's several blocks from the subway station, so if you're coming from the Kendall Square area, you might as well walk (about a mile, I think).

Thanks a million folks. I can now call the rental car company and cancel that expensive car! Happy Travels!

To:Indytravel....My first GTG was just last month in Honolulu. We had a west coast get together. Hawaiian/Californian/(Seattle)Washington, and on a scale of one to ten, it was an 11...although 11 is off the scale, but the event was off the scale. We had a GREAT time and all hit it off really well. We were 11 people in all and it was the Asia forum group which I'm a regular in...those with a high interest in Thailand. The GTG was at a Thai restaurant. So, the Boston(really,Cambridge)GTG is being organized by the same Bob who organized the one you went to. He's a regular in the Asia forum...we are the "Thailand" group...the regulars who answer questions on Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries. The European group has also been invited. So, I'm really looking forward to it. Happy Travels!