Cambridge hotels?
 

I'm going back to Cambridge for the first time in 10 years, so while I know the area, I don't really know what the hotel options are these days. The Charles seems a bit expensive and the Hyatt Regency a bit out of the way (I'm mostly going to be in the Harvard to Porter Sq. area). The Sheraton Commander looks like the right price and the right location but the comments on TripAdvisor aren't promising.

Thoughts?

If you don't mind being 2 stops down the T, the Kendall Hotel near MIT is a nice boutique hotel with reasonable rates. Mrs. Broccoli and I had a very enjoyable stay there for Valentines Day last year. It is built into an old fire house about 100 ft from the subway station.

You might want to look at the Inn at Harvard. It can be quite expensive at times but is a really nice facility and is right in the middle of everything. This time of year should be reasonable, I would imagine.

Other options: the Mary Prentiss Inn, about 4 blocks south of Porter, is a good B&B. The Doubletree across the river is comfortable and inexpensive. They have a shuttle van into Harvard Square.

I stayed at Sheraton Commander last year - It was barely OK.
IIRC, the place had a "poky dark corridors" feel to it. But the room itself was furnished quite well. Main frustration for me was that there was only one terribly slow (and tiny) elevator to reach my floor. God forbid that there should ever be more than two people in that elevator. Also, the gym equipment was broken - only one working exercise bike.

Service was generally OK. Breakfast buffet smelled rather greasy. Location was a 10 minute walk to the Harvard Square T. Very pleasant walk in the summer - but potentially punishing at this time of year.

You might prefer the Kendal Hotel (in Kendal Square). Since it is close to the entrance to the T, you can reach Harvard Square very quickly.

There is also a Marriott in Kendal Square (also right next to the T), which is.... a Marriott. (Sorry, I've never stayed there).

The following thread has comments on hotels at the MIT end of town...
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...28#post5200128

You might want to check out the University hotel at MIT. Decent rates, good location and nice rooms.

If you like B&B's, A Cambridge House is in a nice quiet location, about ten minutes' walk from Porter. The #77 bus which runs frequently to and from Harvard until about 1:00am stops right out front.

I agree that the Hyatt and Doubletree are out of the way, and not all that convenient to transit; many of the places you could park near Harvard ten years ago are gone now. But if you like jazz, Sculler's jazz club at the Doubletree is great.

Bed & breakfast near Harvard and ~10minute nice walk to the Harvard T stop: Irving House
Hotels in Harvard Square: Inn at Harvard (very nice), Harvard Square Hotel (good but not as nice), Charles Hotel (very nice)
Sheraton Commander is also very nice but is located not in the Square itself, but a 3 minute walk to the T station.
Taxis are plentiful.
Sometimes the Best Western Tria Hotel (which is also very nice) can be much cheaper, but they are a little bit more inconvenient, a slight walk to Alewife, although there is a free shuttle to wherever you want nearby.

I always stay at the Hyatt. It's not in the center of Cambridge, it's closer to MIT, but it's a great hotel.