Hi - my husband and son will be making a final trip to boston to visit Tufts before the May 1 decision deadline. They really don't want to rent a car and can get from the airport to Tufts on the T. I'm trying to find a hotel either on the Red Line or within walking distance of Tufts. Any ideas???

Don't panic! Since the Red Line goes through Cambridge and downtown Boston, almost any hotel downtown is on either the Red Line or one of the lines that connects to it (Green or Orange).

At this time of year (school vacations, marathon, etc.) your options depend a LOT on when they are coming. Have you chosen dates yet? It sounds like they are planning to go straight from the airport to Tufts, then to their hotel, and then back to the airport?

I don't think there are any hotels within walking distance of Tufts. But like Anonymous said, any hotel on the Red line will work. There're a bunch in Harvard Sq, and a few near Kendall Sq.

I'd imagine Tufts website should have some suggestions, no?

BTW, from personal experience, Tufts is a great school!

To throw a couple of suggestions out, the Cambridge Marriott is located near the Kendall Sq T stop and the Charles Hotel is right by the Harvard Sq T stop.

Well, the Charles Hotel is 3 goodish blocks from the T, but your point is well taken. In Harvard Square you can also find the Inn at Harvard (my son says it is very noisy because of the atrium design) and the Sheraton Commander.

I would try to Priceline one of the Kendall Square hotels or the Omni Parker House, which is only a few blocks from Park Street Station.

Amerisuites Boston-Medford is about 9/10 mile from Tufts.

According to the website "AmeriSuites Medford offers complimentary shuttle service to the Wellington and Davis Square T stations and Tufts University. The shuttle also makes two daily drop-offs at the airport."

You probably want to avoid the weekend before the Boston Marathon (April 14th), when hotel rates will be ridiculous and a challenge to book.

I see that there's a Hawthorne Suites in Arlington, MA. About 1.25 mile from main campus, and 1/2 mile to the Alewife T station.

No mentioning of complimentary shuttle, however.

thanks for all the great advice. we booked them into the Residence Inn, Cambridge. I called them and was told that the hotel is one block from the MIT/Kendall station. My guess is that they will land, take the bus and then T to the Marriott, drop bags and jump back on the T to Tufts. its only 3 or 4 stops each way so should not be a big issue. Sheraton Commander, Harvard Inn, Amerisuites, Marriott Cambridge, etc were all booked. They are going 4/19-21 so that must be a big weekend around there.

I believe that is the last weekend of public school vacation up here (greades K-12), so public transportation and airport will be very busy, so make sure they leave plenty of time, esp on the return to the airport.

Don't know from where you are flying, but I have been trying to make reservations Boston to any number of cities in northeast/mid-atlantic (looking at colleges with dtr) and have found very little flight availability for the Sunday of that weekend - so flights are first place to check.

flights are done - that is always my first stop when planning a trip. We were constrained on the days set aside for admitted students so the guys are flying in on thursday, spending Friday on campus and flying home Saturday the 21st.

I thought I would update this thread a little since I searched for hotels near Tufts before heading to Medford last week for college visits at Tufts and Brandeis. The Amerisuites in Medford is now a Hyatt Place Hotel. It is convenient to I-93 and offers a shuttle to Tufts. There is a special rate for people visiting Tufts. Definitely much less expensive than most Boston hotel options.

We ate at the Chilli Garden, a simple but good Sichuan restaurant within walking distance of the hotel in Medford Square.

The last two trips to Tufts (for drop off and parents weekend) have gone smoothly as well. We've used the T with no problem. Due to last minute bookings, we've stayed at the Sheraton Commander hotel in cambridge. Its about 2 blocks from the Harvard Square T stop. Dinners have been at Durgin Park, East Coast Grill, bertucci's, Mr Crepe(brunch) and Antoines. All good....stay away from Mr Barkleys Burger Cottage. Just my opinion but the food was average, overpriced and no refills on sodas. I know that you're supposed to go for the atmosphere but I was unimpressed.