amy

My husband and I are planning a July trip to Cape Cod and Boston. We're staying with my parents at a rented house in Cape Cod and then driving to Boston for two days. Neither of us have been to New England We'd like to stay somewhere safe, convenient to the places we'd like to see (or the subway), and reasonably priced (under $150/night). Does anyone have suggestions?

Mar

Are you going weekdays or weekend? It makes a huge difference for most cities, espcially with hotels that cater to business travelers. I've stayed in Boston on weekends at high end hotels like the Le Meridien for less than $150

amy

Thanks, Mar, that may help us make a decision. We were going to stay at Cape Cod on Friday and Saturday nights, then head to Boston either Sunday or Monday and stay until Wednesday. Do you think a better plan is to do it the other way around? Then we may miss the weekend beach crowds and the weekday city crowds? Also, which neighborhoods do you recommend we look in? I've done some reading on the area, but it's hard to get a clear picture having never been. Thanks a lot!
Amy

Joanne

Amy, if you have some flexibility , you should try to avoid driving from the Cape to Boston on Sunday afternoons and evenings in the summer , or during morning rush hour during the week.

Likewise, you don't want to be traveling towards the Cape from Boston in the late afternoon on weekdays (i.e., leaving Boston any time after 2:30 PM), or on Saturdays, if you can help it. Not only will you get weekenders, but you will also get all the weekly-rental-turnover crowd.

The Back Bay/Copley area in Boston is a great area to stay in -- lots to do, near one of the loveliest residential areas in the city, and handy to public transportation. You do NOT want to drive in the city any more than you absolutely have to! You will find the city to be much more relaxed and less crowded on weekends in the summer.

sandy

Yup- I would reverse it. Fridays heading to the Cape are tough and the weekends are crowded.

Stay in the city over the weekend and head to Cape Sunday or Monday.

Back Bay/Copley great area to stay. Park the car at the hotel and leave it there. No nneed to drive in the city especially in the nice weather- Boston very "walkable" and much more enjoyable.

I hope you have great weather and enjoy the sites our beautiful state has to offer!

RMC

Amy,

You'll also save a bundle on hotels if you stay in Boston over the weekend versus weekday. During the week hotel prices go up due to business travel. If you can, plan to drive back to the Cape on a Monday late morning. Traffic will be less of a headache.

nina

amy, I recently got the Westin Copley Plaza for $ 75.00/night on Priceline. It was a Sunday night after Thanksgiving. Great location and very nice hotel. If you go to Priceline and bid a 4* in the Copley area, you have a good chance at the Copley. Give it a try, and yes, better chance at a low rate on a weekend. Weekdays the hotels gouge the biz travelers.