New England - Boston College trip

Hi ,

I will be in Boston Sept 23-26 to visit come colleges with my wife & son. We will be visiting Northeastern, MIT & BC. Does anyone have any suggestions at to hotels? I'm even open to staying outside of town and coming in just for the campus visit. I will probably Priceline something or else use some Starwood or Hilton points.

Thanks

Jerry

Have you spent any time in Boston before ? I would think you would stay in town to get a feel for the city. It will be great weather in Sept.

If you have the extra points, I would recommend some place like the Westin Copley. Right in the middle of everything downtown and very close to public transportation to get to NU, BC, MIT.

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1035

Cambridge LeMeridien:
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3253

You can find any hotel chain and many more. If there was a specific area of Boston you wanted to stay in, probably could narrow the recommendations.

Cheers.

Are you planning to use transit, or to rent a car? BC, MIT, and Northeastern are all in different parts of the area; the interactive street map at http://mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/subway/ may be helpful for identifying proximate stations.

I might suggest the Back Bay, which would be walking distance to NEU and MIT (across the bridge), and a longish but tolerable Green Line ride to BC.

It's going to be inconvenient, though hardly impossible, visiting BC without a car. If you have a car, two relatively central hotels would be the Crowne Plaza in Newton and the Doubletree Suites in Allston/Cambridge. The Hyatt on Memorial Drive would also not be a bad choice, and it's often available at a great price.

The Hyatt on Memorial will be impossible without a car. There's a bus stop right in front, but it's the most inconvenient, infrequent, go nowhere bus in the system. The hotel is otherwise completely disconnected from everything (without a car).

I disagree BC is inconvenient without a car. The Green line (B train) goes right to the main entrance to the campus.

If it's your first trip to Boston, or are not experienced with driving in Boston, I'd skip the car. Every college you list is easily accessible by T or foot.

I second the opinions that you should plan to take the T rather than drive -- will be a good experience for your son to see what student life is really like in Boston.

If you've got hotel points, I agree that the Westin Copley is a good bet (walkable to Northeastern and pretty subway accessible to the others). Hilton Back Bay would also work - although not as nice as the Westin.

The Meridien Cambridge is a bit less desirable location but perfectly fine hotel. If you end up there, PM me for some walking-distance restaurant recommendations.

Thanks for the info!!

I have stayed in Boston once before , for one night before and one night after on a trip to Vermont. We stayed at the Westin Copley but it was a special, something like $99 or $119 a night! Looking now, the Westin and Sheraton are over 300. I especialy like that its walking distance to both MIT and NEU, maybe walking the campus's will give us a better feel for living there.

Is that the normal price there or is there something special happening over that time period?

My sister was recommending staying in Worchster .. but that is 1 1/2 hours away by train

I was thinking maybe a day in the Copley / Backbay area and maybe another outside the city as BC is no as centrally located. Does that sound reasonable?

Worcester is too far. Have you considered Pricelining? That's what we do when stay in Boston.

Our son is at Tufts. When the prices are nuts in Boston proper, we frequently stay at the Hilton Garden Inn out in Burlington. There is also a nice Homewood Suites in Arlington which we have stayed at a couple of times. Both are good bets, depending upon what price they are at. We have seen significant fluctuation, depending upon football games, "Head of the Charles", Parents Weekend at various schools, etc.

My sister was recommending staying in Worchster .. but that is 1 1/2 hours away by train

Agreed with Analise, Worcester is WAY too far out of your way.


I was thinking maybe a day in the Copley / Backbay area and maybe another outside the city as BC is no as centrally located. Does that sound reasonable?

I don't think there are really any hotels in the immediate BC area, so I think your best bet is to just stay in the same place for both nights and take the T to BC, especially if you won't have a car. If you are driving, then changing hotels makes sense to at least save on parking charges for that second night.

With those 3 schools, I think renting a car is a waste of money. Use priceline or hotwire to get a decent deal on a hotel in Boston because autumn is a great time to be in Boston and the hotel prices reflect that.

With PL, Boston offers many areas from which to bid in which you can take public transportation and have no need to drive and park in Boston. Boston driving makes NYC driving look stressless.

Just do your research. Check out the maps for each area (use google maps too) to see for yourself that there are T stations within walking distance.

The guy from Worcester agrees that Worcester is too far especially for a short visit. Find a place by a T stop and take the T.

Thanks for the info!!

Is that the normal price there or is there something special happening over that time period?

I was thinking maybe a day in the Copley / Backbay area and maybe another outside the city as BC is no as centrally located. Does that sound reasonable?

September/October is an expensive time in Boston/Cambridge. Don't think it's worth staying in two different places.

I concur that Back Bay would be a perfect area given your destinations. Easy walk to NEU (where my wife's son is a student) and an easy ride on the green line out to BC (where my son's wife is a student). How's that for symmetry. And a terrific neighborhood, as you know. As *wood people, we really like the Westin Copley if the prices are reasonable, but they are not for that period. Our next choice is the Copley Inn (http://www.copleyinn.com/index.php) which is a privately owned 4-story B&B without the B. VERY nice owner. Clean, comfortable accommodations, the same great location, and a price around $165. It's a well-kept secret we learned from friends who had to stay for an extended period while a family member was in one of the hospitals in the Longview areas, and we've enjoyed it many times since. The location is ideal. Lots of excellent restaurants nearby. We particularly enjoyed Lucca on Huntington - about 2 blocks away.

Another decent option would be Coolidge Corner Courtyard. Right on the green line (take it to Cleveland Circle and then a bus or walk to BC from there) so getting to Northeastern is very easy. MIT wouldn't be hard from there either (you could walk if you wanted to).

MIT wouldn't be hard from there either (you could walk if you wanted to).

That is 2.5 miles which makes for a very long walk! :confused:

To the OP through, the T isn't very hard and Boston is easy to get around. Pick a hotel on the green or red line and you will be fine.

That is 2.5 miles which makes for a very long walk! :confused:

Eh, long is all relative. ;)

But really it is closer to 2, depending on where at MIT you need to be. Plus, you can check out BU along the way. :)

Thanks Everyone . We decided to use points and stay at the Westin Copely
We get in at 10:00 and will go straight to BC, then see MIT and NEU the next day after that we will be traveling to Worster and visiting WPI

So as it worked out, we will only be staying one night in Boston

Also the Westin was one of the few hotels to offer two queen beds

Thanks

visiting WPITry The Boynton on Highland Street if you plan to eat in Worcester after your visit. The Sole Proprietor across the street is pricier but has a great 4-6:30 happy hour where any appetizer on the menu in the bar is $5. Walk Highland Street or throw a Frisbee in Institute Park if you want the WPI experience.

Thanks OB one, I'll keep it in mind

Is there anything special I need to know getting from the airport to the Westin ?

I see a lot of water taxis, harbor express , etc are they a good alternative?

Thanks OB one, I'll keep it in mind

Is there anything special I need to know getting from the airport to the Westin ?

I see a lot of water taxis, harbor express , etc are they a good alternative?

Nope - just take a taxi (but beware it's $7.50 before you even drive a foot) or the T (see silver line thread somewhere in this forum).

From airport (via the T):

Silver line - SL1 to South Station -> Red Line inbound to Park street -> any Green Line train outbound to Copley.

The Westin is right on the other side of the library you see when you come out of the station. The Green Line, America's oldest subway, is a treat and something our potential BC student will get to know intimately. Might as well give it a shot right upon arrival.

I'd take a taxi from the airport; it's not terribly expensive.

But if I were to take the T because I wanted to save money, I would take:

free shuttle bus to the Blue Line station --> Blue Line to State --> Orange Line to Back Bay

The route tkey suggests costs more, and it requires going up extra stairs (at Copley Station) with suitcases -- Back Bay station has escalators.

I'd take a taxi from the airport; it's not terribly expensive.A taxi to the Westin will cost about $30, all in, including tolls, tip and extortionate MassPort fees.

The route tkey suggests costs more....The two routes cost the exact same, don't they?

The two routes cost the exact same, don't they?

I had the same thought, Blumie, there is absolutely no cost difference between the two subway/silver line options.

The two routes cost the exact same, don't they?

If so, apologies & my bad. I'd thought that there were separate fares for the Silver Line and the subway, but maybe the Silver Line fare entitles you to use the subway? (Whenever I've used the Silver Line, it has either been a standalone trip or a connection from the T's commuter rail.)

If so, apologies & my bad. I'd thought that there were separate fares for the Silver Line and the subway, but maybe the Silver Line fare entitles you to use the subway? (Whenever I've used the Silver Line, it has either been a standalone trip or a connection from the T's commuter rail.)It is a free (and very easy) transfer from the Silver Line to the Red Line at South Station.

It is a free (and very easy) transfer from the Silver Line to the Red Line at South Station.
Very, very easy connection.

I just plain ol' enjoy the T, and recommend it in most circumstances. Yeah a cab is quicker, but costs 10x as much as the T and is far less charming.

Very, very easy connection.

I just plain ol' enjoy the T, and recommend it in most circumstances. Yeah a cab is quicker, but costs 10x as much as the T and is far less charming.

I concur with the T recommendation but remember, there are three of them so that changes the calculation a bit.

to the OP, are you taking the commuter rail to Worcester and are you staying the night? You can get back and forth fairly easily on the train and WPI is a short cab trip from Union Station. The Courtyard by Marriot would be your best bet if staying in Worcester. It is walkable to WPI.

I concur with the T recommendation but remember, there are three of them so that changes the calculation a bit.The T is $2/person, or $6 for three (less if a Charlie Card is used). A cab from Logan is $7.50 before you even put the car in drive, and $25 or more to almost anywhere in town.

....if you want the WPI experience.

I thought the WPI experience was going to the other colleges to trawl for women? :p

Thanks for the info!!

I have stayed in Boston once before , for one night before and one night after on a trip to Vermont. We stayed at the Westin Copley but it was a special, something like $99 or $119 a night! Looking now, the Westin and Sheraton are over 300. I especialy like that its walking distance to both MIT and NEU, maybe walking the campus's will give us a better feel for living there.

Is that the normal price there or is there something special happening over that time period?

My sister was recommending staying in Worchster .. but that is 1 1/2 hours away by train

I was thinking maybe a day in the Copley / Backbay area and maybe another outside the city as BC is no as centrally located. Does that sound reasonable?

I between Worcester and Boston, and it's about 40 minutes away from here into Boston, add another 20-25 mins from Worcester. It's like someone flying into LAX to go to SAN and spend the night there. Absolutely pointless.

Your best bet is to stay in or near Boston and ride the T around. Have a good trip!

The T is $2/person, or $6 for three (less if a Charlie Card is used). A cab from Logan is $7.50 before you even put the car in drive, and $25 or more to almost anywhere in town.Hence my recommendation to take the T, but it does change the calculation espectially if they find transfering or carrying bags a hassle.

I thought the WPI experience was going to the other colleges to trawl for women? :pI think there are now 30% women at WPI. There is Madden NFL, Call of Duty, and Halo for everyone else. ;)