Where should I stay in Boston?
 

Please help me! I'm trying to plan a trip to boston for 8/26 - 8/30. I'm not familiar with Boston at all. Basically, we would like to stay in a nice hotel (no more than $300 a night - possible?). We would like to stay within walking distance of nice restaurants (any cuisine), nice shopping, and the touristy things. I just don't know where to begin, since I'm not familiar with Boston at all. I'm 27 years old and my husband is 29 years old. Any recommendations would be great for hotels and what is close to them. Please help.

I would recommend staying at the Sheraton in the Prudential Centre as it's convenient for shops, restaurants, Duck Tours, walking to Boston Common etc. It also links to the Copely Mall which has more shops, restaurants and a cinema. Good restaurants nearby include Legal Seafood (in the Prudential Centre) and loads of nice restaurants along Newbury Street and Boylston Street, where the centre is actually located. I'm sure you can get a room for under $300, I have stayed there about 3 times and never paid more than about $150 but that may have been later in the year. Boston is relatively small and easy to get around and this is great base for you. Hope you enjoy your trip, Boston is a great city.

Take a look at Jury's Hotel and Hotel Commonwealth. Both are relatively new to Boston and both get rave reviews on trip advisor.

Boston is a very *walkable* city, so I would pick a hotel with amenities to your liking, get a good map and enjoy !

Marion

In late summer of last year my family and I stayed at the Colonnade and had a great experience there. The hotel restaurant, Brasserie Jo is excellent as well and the staff couldn't have been better! It is just outside a "T"-stop too so getting around is not bad from that location. As to other restaurants, we really enjoyed "Skipjacks".

Thanks to everyone for responding. I've been researching The Omni and the rate I could get is $199 a night. Is this a nice hotel? Is it in a good location with lots of attractions, shopping, and restaurants?

My boyfriend and I were up in Boston this past weekend and stayed at the Jury's Doyle Hotel. We paid $175/night. It was centrally located. It wasn't spectacular but had all the typical stuff.

If I didn't live here, I'd stay at the Charlesmark

http://www.charlesmarkhotel.com/

The copley subway is across the street. You overlook the BPL. and you are surrounded by rstaurants and are around the corner from Newbury St.
There isn't a restaurant in the hotel but you have tons to choose from.

We stayed at the Omni Parker House - but it was about 5 years ago so I can't comment on the current state of the hotel.

However, when we stayed at the Omni, we got a similar rate to yours. We were happy with the rate but surprised that we got it b/c it was so much lower than other hotels. When we got there, we found out why. The low rate was for their smallest rooms-- rooms that, in the past, were used as servants quarters. The room was tiny and my husband and I still joke about it. We could not stand up in the room at the same time-- one of us would have to sit on the bed while the other went to the bathroom, ironed, or whatever. So, if you want to stay at the Omni, I would call ahead and make sure that the room rate is not for these rooms.

That being said, I would probably choose a different hotel closer to Newbury Street/Back Bay. There's much more to do out there in terms of restaurants and shopping. Omni is on the Freedom Trail but I'd still pick a place closer to Newbury.

Jane

Jane, thank you so much for letting me know about the Omni. That is exactly what I was scared of.
CigaleChanta - I think that I'm going to make reservations at that hotel. I just received a rate of $189 for night for a step above a standard room. Thank you so much!!
Do you know any good restaurants nearby that you can recommend to me? Price and cuisine does not matter. All we're interested in is good food.

On Newbury St I like Tapeo , a spanish Tapas resto. On Boylston across from the Boston Common, I like Troquet.
My favorite shop, a sort of like "Colette" in Paris is Louis on Berkely at Newbury and has a rstaurant called "L". There's a Brasserie Jo ( I like the fruit de mer tower) A legal seafoods at Prudential(I go for the oysters) Sonsie's, Stephanie's for café people watching. The South end for special dining at Hamersley's Bistro
If you take the "T"to Harvard Square, ther's another legal with out door dining and Henrietta's table and the Rialto, and an outside bar.

Thank you so much. That's a big help.

Cigalechanta: Have you ever eaten at The Oak Room, Stephanie's on Newbury Street, and Davios? If so, would you recomment them?

I like Davio's very much. Somewhat loud but the food is very good and its known to be popular with local sports stars/celebs.

Grill 23 is another popular steak place that you might consider - its across the street from Jury's which has a fairly cool bar to have a drink in.

Check www.hotels.com and put in your dates of travel to find out what rates are at lots of hotels, so you know if you are looking at good pricing.

I also agree staying in the Back Bay is a good place to start looking, lots of restaurants, shops and easy walking to juat about anything.

Have a great time.

I have decided to stay at the Charles Mark, which is in the Back Bay area. Thanks to everyone for responding.

http://www.oleanarestaurant.com/pages.asp#GeneralInfo
This is my favorite alfresco dining spot but they don't take reservations for the outside it's first come with regular reservations.
I'm not a steak eater.
You'd have to take a cab.
Have a wonderful time.

Thank you cigalechanta - you basically planned most of my vacation for me.

The Oak Room is an old fashioned sort of steak house. Nice atmosphere and decor, but I think the food isn't as good as Capitol Grill, and Grill 23. If you're looking for a steak I would definitely try Grill 23. However, the Oak Bar is a really nice place for a drink before or after dinner. Good (expensive!) martini's, single malts, jazz.

I also recommend Stephanie's, Tapeo, Capital Grill.