We are thinking of staying at the Cambridge Marriott for $99 night with our 2 college age teens next month. Is it worth saving some $$ to stay here instead of in downtown Boston? It is just a Sat & Sun night trip, so we'll want to pack as much in as possible, including history, shopping and colleges. Advice?

It's been 7 (?) years since I've been to Boston, but I remember a taking a great tour there. I can't remember the name, but I remember people telling us to take the tour on the "orange" trolley. We saw everything we could possibly have wanted to see in Boston. One highlight was the tour's stop to let us explore Old Ironsides. If they still have this tour company, I highly recommend it.

Donna

Only you can decide whether the savings is "worth it;" the hotel is in a boring business area, not near any tourist destinations. You'd be handy to MIT, but otherwise not particularly near "history, shopping, and colleges."

A stay right in downtown Boston (waterfront, downtown, theater district, or Copley/Back Bay) would cost more but would be a better overall experience being in an interesting neighborhood near your desintations.

The best tour to take, IMHO, is the "Duck Tour," it gives you an overview and some history but is always lots of fun.

What I haven't liked about staying in Cambridge (we were a loooong walk from the subway) was the need to take a cab so often. I much prefer the Copley area. You all would enjoy the Blue Man Group Show. We loved the Duck Tour but that meant getting tickets first thing in Copley Square. After a day of doing things we had to go back to our hotel in Cambridge and then take a cab back to see a show. Remember you can get discount tickets on the day of a show (but probably not for Blue Man Group) at a kiosk in the Quincy Market area. Your teens might want to go off on their own so you might end up paying for two different cabs. The Kennedy Library is great but it is south of Boston. If you are arriving by car, I would go there first. Once you get to your hotel you will want to park and never ever drive in Boston until it's time to leave.

You can also get your Duck Tour tickets at the Museum of Science, not too far from the Cambridge Marriott.

Bostix, for half-price tickets, also has two locations. In addition to Copley Square, they have a both near Faneuil Hall. Both locations accept cash only. During their opening hours (after 11 AM), you can check their day's offerings via www.bostix.org. A quick check just before your trip will give you a rough idea of what might be available.

The Kennedy Library is accessible by public transport -- take the subway's Red Line to the JFK/UMass stop, then take the shuttle.

The Marriott isn't a bad choice if you get a good price. The hotel is on top of a subway station (Kendall on the Red Line, giving easy access to all of Boston and Harvard Square), and it's just a block from the Charles River.

Tickets for the Duck Tour can also be bought on-line.. and I too recommend Blue Man group. You maybe able to buy half price tickets in Copley Square at the Bostix Booth., Depending on the colleges you maybe better off staying in Boston.

I agree with other posters that Marriott is not a bad choice at that price...it is right on a T stop and on the same block as a Legal Sea Foods and a Harvard Coop store...otherwise the neighborhood is mostly offices and quiet on the weekend... but for the money is could be a great base and you are so close to the subway that you can get anywhere...