We're emigrating to the Quincy/Braintree area from the UK in a couple of weeks. We've got a condo lined up to rent from 1 April but we need a hotel or something to cover us from 27th March till then. Theres five of us (2 adults, 3 sprogs) and we're having a bit of trouble tracking down a hotel to take all of us in one room. Moneys tight so we want somewhere cheap but not a fleapit.

Three questions:

1. Priceline experts: I can't see anyway to specify that you want anything other than rooms for two adults - any advice?
2. Anybody ever stayed at the Motel 6 or Presidents City Inn Motel - any good?
3. Any other suggestions. I'll be working in Mattapan but we hope to live in Quincy/Braintree.

Many thanks.

Hi, absolutely do NOT stay at the Motel 6. It's creepy and next to a dumping station for a landfill. I don't know anything about the other place.

As you've noticed, Priceline automatically bids for one room for two people and there is no way to adapt that.

Have you looked at the residential hotels on Wood Road in Braintree, the Candlewood Suites and Holiday Inn Express? They aren't as pricey as they look since I believe they offer free breakfast. I have relatives who stayed at Candlewood for months after a house fire, and they liked it a lot, it has laundry facilities, etc.

Bt the way, I'll soon be selling a lovely 4 -bedroom house in Milton, within walking distance to Mattapan and various bus lines and public transit.

Great description of the Motel 6 - "its creepy" - say no more.

Hey I've just had a great idea - we could all stay at your house . . . .

Interesting about your house for sale. We had set our hearts on Quincy/Braintree but you never know (especially as no doubt you're offering a 20% discount on sale price to all fellow Fodorites). Shall we take it off-line [email protected]

Welcome to Massachusetts. While I am not extremely familiar with the area you are looking at, I think you should look at total cost of your 5 days. Saving money on your hotel might not be the least expensive way.

I might look at "suite" hotels that come with breakfast or a kitchenette. I looked at ExtendedStayAmerica website and while they have a hotel in Braintree, their maximum per room is 4 people.

If you look at ResidenceInn.com you will find 2 hotels within 10 miles of Braintree (Brockton and Norwood). While they are probably more expensive than you were thinking of spending, they each have full kitchen and full buffet breakfast is included each day - feeding 3 kids will get expensive for 5 days and if you have a kitchen you could shop and cook at least some meals in the room.

Residence Inns usually have 2 rooms per suite and have 2 large beds and a convertible sofa bed. Many even have free beer/wine receptions in the early evening.

I agree that most hotels will not allow you to have 5 in a room, no matter what ages. So if you have to get 2 rooms anyway, and will have to pay to feed everyone, this might work as an option.

Comfort Inn in Rockland will pack 5 into a room but it will be $109 per night....choicehotels.com

Here is a thread from a while back regarding hotels in Braintree, transportation and some places to eat that might be helpful to you -
Gail and Joe gave you good alternatives to look into.
Others you might consider include the Best Western Adams Inn, and in Rockland the Best Western and Radisson as well as the mentioned Comfort Inn.

Also, I don't know if you are around from 3/27 until you move 4/1 into your condo and not working, but if you are working, and if the kids are not starting school right away here, you may want to consider choosing a location close to public transportation for everyone else if you are not around that week - otherwise that many in a hotel room without options would certainly drive my crew nuts anyway!

You've been given good suggestions so I won't add to that (except to say that Rockland would make for a long commute for you as the traffic on Route 3/93 can be a killer).

If you are not working until April 1st, you might consider staying far out of the city to save money. You could get great rates on the Cape, for example. But that's only if your job doesn't start until April 1.

And, welcome! Anonymous and I live near each other so you may become my neighbor!

Sincere thanks to everybody who took the trouble to reply.

And the winner is . . . the Hampton Inn, Braintree. It's not the cheapest, cheap option (so I've ignored my own question really) but you can get five in a room and theres a free breakfast. Gails reply made us think more about the big picture and we came to the conclusion that staying in a creepy dump to save a few dollars wouldn't be the best start to a new life and wouldn't get the children excited about America.

ccrosner - Anonymous and I have been chatting off-line. Looks like I'm too poor to live in your neighbourhood but you may well see me on the 245 bus on the way to work.

Welle Stevenage_boy--
Sorry our neighborhood is too pricey; however, there are less expensive areas in our town so we'll keep our fingers crossed!
Have a safe and uneventful trip here. My in-laws have stayed at the Hampton Inn in Braintree and it was very nice (with an indoor pool if I'm remembering correctly).

Welcome!

I want ccrosner to know that I've done my best to recruit you, pointing out that you could pretty much walk to work from my end of Milton and there are several properties around here in the price range you mentioned. The spring real estate season is just beginning (we have snow on the ground still) and sellers are anxious about the market; April will be a great time to look, wherever you end up. Let us know if you change your mind; we'll give you an insider's tour.

Good morning, cc!