crepes_a_go_go

Does anyone know anything about university accomodations in Boston? In some old posts here on Fodors there were several references to colleges and universities who offer their dorm rooms during the summer months. Can someone help me with this? I am looking for a super budget way to stay and sightsee for a week while my son attends a youth leadership conference on medicine thru Harvard. Thanks!

crepes_a_go_go

topping

cigalechanta

Crepws have you tried emailing the universities? I was unaware they did that. I have no guest room and so this will be helpful for me. I live now between MIT and Harvard, but how I do miss my Newbury St apartment!

crepes_a_go_go

No, other than the few major ones, I don't know which others to try. Since I didn't get any responses here, I think I will just call the Convention and Visitors Bureau and see if they can help me. If I find out anything, I'll let you know.

Anonymous

This would indeed be useful info, I"'e never heard of a school in the Boston area doing this even though it would probably be a big money-maker. But speaking of money-makers, many of them use their dorms over the summer for conferences, summer school, etc.

It's possible that Boston has rules against using rooming houses (i.e., dormitories) as short-term hotels, though most of the colleges in the area aren't in Bostn properl.

crepes_a_go_go

Here is the post from Fodors archives. Unfortunately this poster never came back and gave out the information which she appeared to have. Maybe someone else that knows about this will post.

Author: Bonnie
Date: 06/06/1997, 11:58 am

Message: Hi, Lorraine. Have you considered university accommodations? If you still haven't found cheap accommodations, let me know and I'll give you names and phone #s of 3 Boston universities that rent out their dorm rooms in the summer. Have a great trip! I was there myself a couple of years ago and just loved it. What a pleasant, intellectual city without the usual grime and intensity one would expect to find in a big city.
/Bonnie

Anonymous

Since the post is nearly 8 years old, it's also possible that the schools' policies have changed and they no longer do this.

seetheworld

crepes_a_go_go: I've been thinking about your situation.

My son is graduating from Boston University in May and for commencement, they offer family housing in their freshman dorm, Warren Towers for $65/night from May 20-22.

Now, I have never heard of housing being available for "renters", so I don't know if it is even possible. But there seems to be no regulation prohibiting it because they allow family, friends, etc. to stay perhaps only during this particular time.

Here is the number for the Office of All-University Functions, 617-353-5115, which will take commencement reservations. I suggest you give them a call and ask if they will rent you a dorm - it can't hurt to try. Good luck.

cw

Hi crepes,

I knew people who stayed in a dormitory at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge a few years ago. Worth checking on. I believe the rates were quite reasonable. 617 868-3450

CW

rb_travelerxATyahoo

Hosteling International (www.hiayh.org) used to get use of one of the dorms in Boston (BU ?) for use during summer months,
Boston at Fenway - 575 Commonwealth Avenue - Boston MA 02215
Tel: 1-617-267-8599
Fax: 1-617-424-6558
[email protected]

crepes_a_go_go

Thanks for all the replies and phone numbers. Staying at hostel prices would be the only way I could afford to do this as this conference my son is attending is costing about $3000. My 11 year old son and I would like to drive him up to Boston and make it into a vacation for the 3 of us. We are located in New Orleans and have never been to Boston. We'd like to route ourselves thru DC and Philadelphia as well, but we've really got to find cheap accomodations (without staying in risky areas) to be able to pull this off. I will post anything I find out.

Anonymous

You need to look into booking rooms through Priceline, it would be cheaper than hostels for 3 people and you can choose which neighborhood your hotel will be in even thogh you can't choose the specific hotel. There are wonderful online resources like www.biddingfortravel.com where you can learn how to bid and see lists of what other people have paid and won. I have never had any problem traveling with my 2 kids in Priceline hotels including in DC.

crepes_a_go_go

But Anonymous, what about the fact that Priceline says it is only for rooms for 2 people? What about that? That's why I have never used it (hence one reason I guess I don't know how to do it!) The only way I would hostel is in hostels that offer private rooms.

crepes_a_go_go

Hence, a charge by the room and not charged per person. University conference housing can be quite nice. I use my own university's conference housing in the summers and I have a double room with a private bath and small sitting room attached, a small fridge and microwave, all for $20 a night! Plus there is a kitchen on each hall if I need to use a cooktop or stove! University accomodation is quite common in Québec, London, and even in Paris. It's a great concept that I wish would catch on in large cities here in the US!

seetheworld

Gee whiz, crepes, I just double checked the price I quoted you for BU commencement and it is $65per person/night (ahh, but that includes breakfast). LOL - for THAT you get a double occupancy room with NO phone, tv, and the use of the bathroom down the hall - hope they clean it well!

How about Harvard, where you son is attending the conference? Do they give any ideas on where HE can stay? Maybe you can arrange something that way.

Again, good luck.

Anonymous

It's true that Priceline only requests/guarantees a room for two people, but except in NYC, the risk of getting a room that cannot acommodate an adult and two children is vanishingly small, and IMHO a risk worth taking. I've done it several times.

Once, when I had booked a PL room at the Marriott Metro Center in DC for a trip with my daughter, I called to verify that we could get a room with two beds. Then my son decided to come along, so my dd and I expected to share a bed. Well, when we showed up at the hotel (at 11 PM!) and they saw our situation, they went out of their way to get us a room that not only had 2 beds, but also room for a rollaway, which appeared in minutes, so that nobody would have to share.

Is your son accustomed to taking public transportation? There are a couple of suburban towns on the other end of the Harvard subway line, where hotels would be economical. If you stay in town, you'll have to pay for parking.

crepes_a_go_go

<<<<<Is your son accustomed to taking public transportation? There are a couple of suburban towns on the other end of the Harvard subway line, where hotels would be economical. If you stay in town, you'll have to pay for parking.>>>>>

He is very experienced on the Paris metro and somewhat on the London Tube. He will be staying in a dorm at Harvard for the conference. My younger son and I will stay elsewhere and sightsee during the day. Then the older one will join us for activities some nights.

Regarding staying suburban, I had actually thought of this but don't know the areas at all. I did this my last time in DC - stayed in the 'burbs, parked in a commuter parking lot and took the train into the city each day. Worked great. Can any Bostonians help me with info in this regard?

Anonymous

There have been lots of past Fodors threads on the Boston suburbs, which you can search for. In Boston, you could certainly use PL because you only need accommodations for two! If you stay in Braintree or Quincy, most of the chain hotels there will run shuttles to the subway system so you don't have to deal with the hassle and expense of driving and parking in Boston. On weekdays, the parking garages fill up very early.

Boston also has a Commuter Rail system, which goes farther out, but which costs a lot more, runs less often, and thus isn't as good as a tourist option.

You can see all the transit lines for Boston at www.mbta.com and Washington at www.wmata.com

kybourbon

Somerville and Medford are close to the Harvard Campus. There are several hotels in those areas that will pop up on priceline - Amerisuites(Medford), Tage Inn (Somerville)or the airport area(Hyatt usually under $50). If you don't mind staying a little further out you can get good rates in Burlington.

What are your dates?

Anonymous

Burlington is 15 - 20 miles outside Boston, a suburb with industries and hotel needs of its own, and the commute would be a nuisance. If you decide to stay in the burbs, there are closer places that are probably good deals, too. Whatever place you choose will be a compromise between room rate, parking fees, and ease of access to the city.