which not-too-expensive hotels are recommended for close proximity to quincy market, aquarium and kid friendly? the millenium has good rates and good location, but offers nothing extra for kids (pool, game room...) . is the millenium recommended? are there other hotels we should look into also? thanks!

This Hilton is very close to Quincy Market and the Aquarium http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/specials.jhtml?ctyhocn=BOSFDHF

The family special is pricey at $259 per night which includes Aquarium entry for 2 adults and 2 children and breakfast if you stay longer than one night. I did this special several years ago when this hotel was a Wyndham with my kids and we loved it but the price was maybe $149 per night for the special. No pool however, but it is very convenient to that part of Boston. If I was to do this today, I would use the netdirect rate and buy the Aquarium tix myself I think.

thanks

Boston is a small enough city that you shouldn't worry too much about proximity to Quincy Market and the Aquarium. Getting around the city on foot or on the subway is very easy. Why don't you post the names of hotel properties that are offering good rates and we can advise about the location and the quality.

The Millenneum is a fine hotel, but the rooms are small. The Hilton (a former Wyndham) is in the financial district, an area that is dead at night and on weekends, but it still is an easy walk to both Quincy Market and the Aquarium. The restaurant in the Hilton also is surprisingly good for a Hilton restaurant. (There are much better places outside of the hotel, but it's nice to have a good option if you don't want to go out.)

thanks, Blumie.

we will be two families with small kids meeting and spending the weekend together. one of the families doesn't travel on the sabbath, so that means as close as possible to activiites, things to see, etc. (it was recommended taht we do the aquarium on Saturday, since we can prepay tickets and walk from the hotel. and of course, weather premitting, we can walk the freedom trail. if you have other ideas, they are always welcomed!)

but, saying that, i will be sharing a room with 2 teens and 2 little kids, so a small room means potentially big arguments.

the boston hotel of my dreams is:

close to quincy, the aquarium, stuff to see without taking transportation;
easy on the pocketbook;
large enuf rooms or maybe a suite hotel;
close to the T so on other days we can move around easily.
(My kids would add: close to a dunkin donuts, but i am guesssing that isn't a problem anywhere in MASS.)

other ideas besides the millenium?

thanks!

According to Travelocity, these are the closest hotels to the Aquarium. All are within walking distance, but the further down the list you go, the longer the walk (with the ones at the bottom of the list being about a 15-20 minute walk away):

Marriott Long Wharf: directly adjacent to the Aquarium. It's a standard Marriott, but generally commands premium rates because of its location.

Harborside Inn: very convenient location, but I don't know anything about the place.

Hilton Financial District (former Wyndham): discussed in previous posts. Becuase it's in the Financial District -- which is quiet on weekends but still very close to the action -- it might offer good weekend rates.

Boston Harbor Hotel: right on the water. Probably very pricy.

Millennieum Hotel: discussed in previous posts.

Marriott Custom House: great location, which probably translates into premium prices for a Marriott.

Langham Hotel: a very nice hotel in the Financial District. Smallish rooms.

Intercontinental Hotel: also right on the water. Brand new. Almost certainly pricy.

Club Quarters Hotel: in the Financial District. Rooms are small, but it may be cheap because it's hardly a top tier hotel.

Omni Parker House: a great property not particularly well mantained. It is popular with tourists, however, because of it's great location. Might be worth looking into.

Nine Zero: pricy boutique hotel.

Fifteen Beacon: pricy boutique hotel.

Onyx Hotel: a newer hotel near the sports arena where the basketball and hockey team play. Not an area you'd look to stay in, but still convenient to all the action.

Bulfinch Hotel: I know nothing about this place.

Hyatt Regency Boston: typical Hyatt. Might be a good choice.

:) it was recommended taht we do the aquarium on Saturday, since we can prepay tickets and walk from the hotel. and of course, weather premitting, we can walk the freedom trail. if you have other ideas, they are always welcomed!)

but, saying that, i will be sharing a room with 2 teens and 2 little kids, so a small room means potentially big arguments.



If you can visit the aquarium on a day other than Saturday, you will have a much more rewarding experience. Saturdays can be very crowded. Now if you just want to have about a thousand kids running around so your kids can interact with them as they look at the fish, go on Saturday. The Aquarium is not that big. If you go on a weekday, you will be able to walk right up and buy tickets. It is not like DisneyWorld and in fact, I would budget about three hours for the full aquarium experience unless you add the IMAX which charges a separate admission. Weekdays may have fewer sea lion/seal/dolphin shows, however, so you will have to check the schedule.

Also if anybody in your group has a Boston Public Library card, you can check out a free pass for 2 adults and 2 kids from the library (the main library is at Copley Sq.). That would save you $56 (2 adults @ $18, 2 kids @ $10) but to have a BPL library card, you must be from Massachusetts and you must make reservations early. http://www.bpl.org/general/circulation/museum_passes.htm

Finally, in addition to regular rooms, the Hilton has suites and they are comfortable for 2 adults and 2 kids, fitting 2 more teenagers in the same room seems a bit too much for me, but I see my brother do it all the time. If you have gold/diamond status at Hilton, you have a good chance to get a suite upgrade. If it is just you and the four kids, two queens and a pullout couch would be fine. Let the teens fight over the pulllout and their own space as you retreat to the bedroom with the two kids. :)

Otherwise, Blumie's hotel comments are right on but staying as a family I would throw out all the boutique hotels. Say you stay at the Parker House, you will have lovely common areas but rooms built for the 19th century, but if you walk outside your door, you will be at the granary burial grounds, a stone throw from the State Houses (both the Old and Current), 5 minutes from Downtown crossing, 3 minutes from the Common, 5-7 minutes from Quincy Market, and 15 minutes from the Aquarium. Roll down the hill to the Hilton and you will be 8 minutes from the aquarium, 10 minutes to the current statehouse, 4 minutes to the Old Statehouse and 5-7 minutes from Quincy Market. I don't care where you stay but I would certainly check out the prepaid rates at the Hilton.

Staying on the water would also be a nice experience but it will be pricey. I would recommend you try priceline, but with kids you can't guarantee a two queen bed room. Enjoy your trip.

I have a few more suggestions. Boston is a very small city and you will be able to access the Quincy Market area from anywhere downtown. As a matter of fact, there are much nicer and kid-friendly places to stay than the Aquarium area.

Here are some suggestions in Back Bay, the nicest area of Boston, with plenty of restaurants, shopping, and entertainment:

1. Copley Square Hotel: Very well located, boutique budget hotel
2. Lenox Hotel: Near the Copley, a little more pricey, but worth the $ in my opinion.
3. Marriott Copley Place: Nice, large hotel that offers good deals from time to time.

thank you all for your thoughtful comments.

Marriott Custom House may be a good option for your group. It is actually a Marriott Vacation Club property (timeshares) so it has more space than your average hotel room. They seem to be renting out rooms on a nightly basis though too. I saw it available on marriott.com for $189/night the last w/e of January. I have stayed there before and there is a king bed in the bedroom and a queen pullout couch in the living room with plenty of space for kids on cots or sleeping bags if they wouldn't mind that. There is also a kitchenette so you could save some money by preparing some easy meals in your suite. Very close to Quincy Market, Fanieul Hall, Aquarium, Freedom Trail. No pool, but has a game room for the kids. Ice skating on the Frog Pond in the Common would also be a classic winter experience for the kids.

thanks for the idea of the custom house. while it seems really nice, they want $240 for our dates; hilton and millennium want 160.

can you tell me more about ice skating on the frog pond? my kids have never done it, and i bet that would be a big treat. thanks!

Club Quarters

can you tell me more about ice skating on the frog pond? my kids have never done it, and i bet that would be a big treat. thanks!It's a lot of fun. Skating opens for the season on Nov. 15. Details here: http://www.cityofboston.gov/parks/frogpond_winter.asp

Harborside Inn: very convenient location, but I don't know anything about the place.I just happened to walk by this place today. It's in a beautiful old building close to the waterfront that recently has been renovated. The lobby is small, and it's impossible to really tell much from the outside. But given the location I would think that it's definitely worth looking into.

I just happened to walk by this place today. It's in a beautiful old building close to the waterfront that recently has been renovated. The lobby is small, and it's impossible to really tell much from the outside. But given the location I would think that it's definitely worth looking into.

the website makes it sound lovely, but at the moment, they can't accommodate us for our entire trip. we are arriving a month from now, and i thought that menat we had a lot of time, but i guess we had better book something. soon. thanks for keeping your eye out for us, blumie.

hani