Where to Stay - Boston 2009 - page 95

lovely courtyard; units facing inward are preferable to those with street views. The
unusual decor—medium-tone woods, dark neutrals, and subtle patterns—includes
equations printed on the quilt across the foot of the bed. That offbeat spirit extends
to features such as robots in the lobby.
20 Sidney St. (at Green St., 1 block from Mass. Ave.), Cambridge, MA 02139. & 800/543-4300 or 617/577-0200.
Fax [phone]. www.hotelatmit.com. 210 units, 8 with shower only. $199-$419 double; $249-$519 suite. Chil-
dren under 18 stay free in parent's room. Extra person $20. Weekend, family, and other packages, AAA and AARP dis-
counts available. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $28, self-parking $22. T: Red Line to Central. Pets under 50 lb.
accepted. Amenities: Restaurant (American/Mediterranean); bar; 24-hr. fitness center; access to nearby health club;
concierge; 24-hr. business center; laundry service; dry cleaning; rooms for those w/limited mobility. In room:A/C, TV
w/pay movies, wireless Internet access, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron, safe, robes.
Sheraton Commander Hotel This six-story hotel in the heart of Cambridge's
historic district opened in 1927, and it's exactly what you'd expect of a traditional
hostelry within sight of the Harvard campus. The elegant public areas and decent-size
guest rooms share the colonial-style decor the regular clientele—business travelers,
university guests, and visiting parents—has come to expect. Many units have canopy
beds, and all have Sheraton's signature beds and plenty of accents in crimson, Har-
vard's school color. Ask the pleasant front-desk staff for a room facing Cambridge
Common; even if you aren't on a (relatively) high floor, you'll have a pleasant view.
The Sheraton Commander doesn't have the Charles Hotel's cachet and amenities, but
it doesn't charge the Charles's prices, either. Plan far ahead if you're visiting during a
Harvard event.
16 Garden St., Cambridge, MA 02138. & 800/325-3535 or 617/547-4800. Fax [phone]. www.sheraton.com/
commander. 175 units, some with shower only. $169-$375 double; $275-$1,000 suite. Extra person $20. Children
under 18 stay free in parent's room. Weekend packages, AAA and AARP discounts available. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet
parking $25. T: Red Line to Harvard. Dogs under 80 lb. accepted. Amenities: Restaurant (American); lounge; exercise
room; concierge; business center; room service until 11pm; laundry service; dry cleaning; executive-level rooms;
rooms for those w/limited mobility. In room:A/C, TV w/pay movies, high-speed Internet access ($10/day), coffeemaker,
hair dryer, iron.
MODERATE
The Hampton Inn Boston/Cambridge, 191 Msgr. O'Brien Hwy., Cambridge
( & 800/HAMPTON or 617/494-5300; www.bostoncambridge.hamptoninn.com),
is a 5-minute walk from the Green Line Lechmere stop. Rates at the 114-room hotel
start at $159 for a double in high season and include parking, expanded continental
breakfast, and high-speed Internet access. The Hampton Inn is a block closer to the
T than the Holiday Inn Express (see listing below), but on the opposite side of a busy
street from the station.
Best Western Hotel Tria This four-story establishment offers a sophisticated
blend of chain-motel convenience and boutique-hotel features. Set back from the busy
street in a commercial neighborhood, it offers accommodations at least one floor up
from the parking lot. Guest rooms are spacious and well maintained, decorated in
deep jewel tones with comfy yet sleek contemporary furnishings. Room rates include
wireless Internet access and local phone calls; add the pool and continental breakfast,
and the view of a traffic circle is easier to take. A 2 1 ⁄ 2 -mile jogging trail circles Fresh
Pond, across the street, and a shopping center with a Whole Foods Market is nearby.
Boston lies about a 15-minute drive or a 30-minute T ride away; Lexington and Con-
cord are less than a half-hour away by car.