I have not heard recently of any college in Boston area renting out rooms to travelers unafiliated with a University function. Our son has friends at virtually every Boston-area college, so it is likely we would have heard of this if it were possible.

Cheap summer accomodations in Boston are going to be virtually impossible - as suggested above, do a search. It really is a trade-off between convenience and accessibility to Boston and cost. Be aware that mileage to Boston is not a reliable measure of how long it would take you to get into city. Cost of parking is also a factor - either at hotel or if you choose to drive into Boston.

If you decide to hotel shop, especially in outlying area, perhaps you could repost the name/location of that hotel and I am sure you would get all sorts of info on area, commute, etc.

I believe some of the Elderhostel excursions involve lodging in university dorms on occasion, which would be a private arrangement not advertised to the general public. This might be the source of some of the references to using dorms for "hotels."

Well, I guess the phrase "it never hurts to ask" comes into play here. I sent out a few emails yesterday and I have received a response from one Boston University stating that they do in fact offer dormitory accomodations during the summer months. It is available to the public, not in any way tied to functions at the university. They are sending me a packet of information. When I have received it, I will post the findings.

I usually have a car when in Cambridge visiting my daughter at MIT so I try to find hotels that don't charge for parking. If you are staying at BU I'm sure it won't include parking which can run $25-35 a day. You will want to use public transportation while there as parking will be expensive and in Cambridge street parking is for residents in most areas. There is great info on Cambridge/Boston parking on the biddingfortravel website.

other universities to try would be emerson college, suffolk university and Boston College. Go through their housing or special events offices. Boston College might work well as it's on he green line into Boston and there is bus service in Cleveland Circle (close to Boston College) to Harvard Square. Wellesley College is fairly active with summer programs but worth a try. Regis College in Weston might also offer rooms (and have parking).

Have you tried through Harvard to rent a room there. You probably wouldn't end up right in the same dorm as your other son (good for you both!!). Also try Harvard Business School (HBS). each college at Harvard is fairly independent from the other. The divinity school is also worth a shot. But business school has the best room/apartments!! Each time you get a person on the phone ask THEM for ideas as well!
Parking will be a huge issue if you're at Harvard or even BU. Might try to secure parking as well. If you do end up at BU try to figure out the busses over the river to harvard. It would be the fastest way without a car!

As you said that your son is able to stay in dorm room accommadations for the conference, did you already ask Harvard U if that extends to family members ???

Ran a quick Google search and found this ... per website >>>
http://www.gsas.harvard.edu/publicat...k/housing.html
Conference Housing in a GSAS Residence Hall --- The GSAS residence halls, located in the Oxford Street area near the Science Center, include Conant Hall, Perkins Hall, Child Hall, and Richards Hall.

During the summer, rooms are available for use by conferences. Members of the University community who are organizing a conference and are interested in sleeping rooms should contact GSAS Housing Services at 617-495-5060 or at [email protected].

crepes: I'm curious, did you get the information you requested and were you able to find an appropriate accomodation?

ttt

Any luck?

seetheworld, I never received the information promised to me from Suffolk University. However, in the meantime, my son's seminar and stay has been extended to two weeks which is longer than is doable for us as a family.

But if this is something in which you'd be interested, Suffolk definitely does it. I think I wrote to the director of residence life. I googled for their website and went from there. Good luck.