Boston: which hotel? 2007 onward [Master Thread]
#92
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM
Posts: 2,080
Whatever you do, if you go into town for the night, don't go back to the airport the next day to rent your car. Why pay the fees and surcharges that apply only to airport rentals? IIRC, these are substantial at BOS.
#93
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: From: PWM
Programs: United GS, Fairmont Platinum,SPG LTPlat, Hilton Diamond, MarriottGold..like the rest of the world
Posts: 4,401
Am I reading it correctly that I'm better off staying in Boston, rather than one of the "airport" properties, because they are actually closer to the airport? I'm flying in at midnite with my wife and 2 year old picking up a rental car the next day. Which has the best value for the points?
#94
Join Date: May 2004
Location: VA
Programs: Marriott Silver, Hilton Silver, Hertz #1 Gold, Avis Preferred
Posts: 709
Honestly, as somebody with a wife and baby myself, if I was in your situation, I'd go ahead and bite the bullet and just stay at the Hilton Boston Logan Airport. Its a very nice, newer hotel, and its the only hotel that you can walk to from the airport terminals. Also on airport propert is the Hyatt Harborside, but you will need a shuttle for that one.
If you insist on staying in a Starwood property, than the Westin Waterfront is the closest to BOS, just on the other side of the Ted Williams Tunnel.
But frankly your life would be a lot easier if you stayed at the Hilton.
If you insist on staying in a Starwood property, than the Westin Waterfront is the closest to BOS, just on the other side of the Ted Williams Tunnel.
But frankly your life would be a lot easier if you stayed at the Hilton.
#95
Join Date: May 2004
Location: VA
Programs: Marriott Silver, Hilton Silver, Hertz #1 Gold, Avis Preferred
Posts: 709
Let me throw my vote in for the Sheraton Commander. It's a grand hotel that went under a great renovation. It's very convenient to th T and in an excellent location. They are liberal with upgrades and the suites are marvelous.
Skip the restaurant though. Harvard Square is right there.
Skip the restaurant though. Harvard Square is right there.
I love how all of us apparently care more than the OP!
#96
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Los Angeles, CA,USA
Programs: AA Plat, DL Gold, UAL Premier, SPG Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 566
I've burned all of my Hilton points over the last 2 months so it's definitely Starwood.
I'm going to Providence the next day. I plan to rent a car instead of taking the train because we'll have a lot of luggage, and 3 train tickets can get expensive. My priorities are 1) not having too long of a cab ride from the airport, 2) a decent hotel (and now that I think of it, I believe that I've stayed at the 4Pts before and didnt love it), 3) a suite so that I can put my son's crib in the other room, 4) breakfast in the hotel, preferably in a lounge/buffet setting and 5) somewhat near a rental car. Lastly, the Westin Waterfront is sold out that night.
Based on what I've read on other threads, it sounds like the Commander is my best choice (there's an Avis in Cambridge). Does that sound right?
I'm going to Providence the next day. I plan to rent a car instead of taking the train because we'll have a lot of luggage, and 3 train tickets can get expensive. My priorities are 1) not having too long of a cab ride from the airport, 2) a decent hotel (and now that I think of it, I believe that I've stayed at the 4Pts before and didnt love it), 3) a suite so that I can put my son's crib in the other room, 4) breakfast in the hotel, preferably in a lounge/buffet setting and 5) somewhat near a rental car. Lastly, the Westin Waterfront is sold out that night.
Based on what I've read on other threads, it sounds like the Commander is my best choice (there's an Avis in Cambridge). Does that sound right?
#97
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: From and of Boston.
Posts: 4,973
(To Bostonians: yeah, I understand that it's a few miles shorter to take the Expressway south, but the easiest route is usually the best route for those unfamiliar w/Boston.)
#98
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Atlántida, Canelones, Uruguay (MVD) and rarely GNV
Programs: AV LifeMiles, CM ConnectMiles, BA Exec Club. Former:ex-ASGold, ex-UA1K, ex-COPlat, ex-NWGold.
Posts: 2,673
There's a National Car Rental on Mass Ave not too far from the Commander if you prefer them instead of Avis.
#100
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Lifetime Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 178
I just stayed at Westin Copley on Friday night. Upgraded to a "Jr. Suite" which is just a slightly-larger corner room as Platinum without having to request and upgrade. Great service at check-in, attentive staff, and clean, relatively modern rooms.
My only complaint would be the valet area (was backed up with tour buses, taxis, and full of valet cars when we arrived) - it is too small and not staffed by enough valets to handle all the traffic under the lobby awning when it is raining.
I was not offered any breakfast as a Plat.
My only complaint would be the valet area (was backed up with tour buses, taxis, and full of valet cars when we arrived) - it is too small and not staffed by enough valets to handle all the traffic under the lobby awning when it is raining.
I was not offered any breakfast as a Plat.
#101
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: From: PWM
Programs: United GS, Fairmont Platinum,SPG LTPlat, Hilton Diamond, MarriottGold..like the rest of the world
Posts: 4,401
As a point of clarification, I'll just add that the Sheraton is actually called the Sheraton BOSTON. Some here on FT refer to it as the Sheraton Copley (which isn't really incorrect) which might cause some to become confused. For the record, it's the Sheraton Boston and the Westin Copley. The walk between the two is quite short.
#102
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BLI
Programs: Alaska Million Mile Flyer, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 3,195
I just stayed at Westin Copley on Friday night. Upgraded to a "Jr. Suite" which is just a slightly-larger corner room as Platinum without having to request and upgrade. Great service at check-in, attentive staff, and clean, relatively modern rooms.
[snip]
I was not offered any breakfast as a Plat.
[snip]
I was not offered any breakfast as a Plat.
#103
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Lifetime Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 178
I've been staying Westin Copley regularly for three years -- breakfast is not a Plat benefit at this property. I've also had them mark my reservation file at the hotel requesting the complimentary Plat water in the room every day, as it tends to be hit and miss otherwise. That's a nice feature, that they can tag your reservation with special requests locally that persists across stays.
#104
Join Date: May 2005
Location: DCA
Posts: 677
Harvard Square is an amazing place. For me it was pleasant to walk through it
Last edited by javabean; May 29, 2007 at 3:21 am
#105
Join Date: May 2005
Location: DCA
Posts: 677
We just stayed at the Westin Copley, paid 12K points plus $35 for an upgrade to Junior Suite (they said it would cost more for a non-gold member).
The hotel was ok but not as good as I expected. The furniture was somewhat worn out, couch and chairs dusty, bathtub was small and very uncomfortable, TV was not working!, also there were some problems with the sink and the toilet. Room service was slow.
We went to see Cambridge/Harvard Square and I liked that location and actually thought we should have stayed at the Commander. It's a good location for nightlife/bars. Copley square location is better if you are in town for shopping.
The hotel was ok but not as good as I expected. The furniture was somewhat worn out, couch and chairs dusty, bathtub was small and very uncomfortable, TV was not working!, also there were some problems with the sink and the toilet. Room service was slow.
We went to see Cambridge/Harvard Square and I liked that location and actually thought we should have stayed at the Commander. It's a good location for nightlife/bars. Copley square location is better if you are in town for shopping.
Last edited by javabean; May 29, 2007 at 6:49 am