Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
5
Where to Stay
T
he search for a hotel turns some travel-
ers into the human equivalent of the dog
in the “Far Side” cartoon who hears only
her own name (“blah blah
Ginger
blah
blah”). Faced with a detailed description
of a potential lodging, they see only what
they care about: “upstairs from the meet-
ing that starts at 7:45am,” “awards me
frequent-flyer miles,” “across the street
from the wedding reception.”
Others shop by price alone. If that
describes you, be aware that the average
room rate in the Boston area in 2007
topped $200, occupancy rates are high
and getting higher, and just thinking
about hotel parking rates can cause a
nosebleed. Nevertheless, bargains are out
there, particularly at slow times.
As you go through this chapter, keep
Boston's relatively small size in mind, and
check a map before you rule out a loca-
tion. These listings use the neighborhood
descriptions in chapter 4, “Suggested
Boston Itineraries.” Especially down-
town, the neighborhoods are so small and
close together that the borders are some-
what arbitrary. The division to consider is
downtown versus the Back Bay versus
Cambridge,
and not, for example, the
Waterfront versus the adjacent Financial
District.
With enough flexibility, you probably
won't have too much difficulty finding a
suitable place to stay in or near the city.
Year-round, it's always a good idea to
make a reservation,
and the earlier you
book, the better your chances of landing
a (relative) bargain. Definitely book
ahead if you plan to travel between April
and November, when conventions, col-
lege graduations, and vacations increase
demand. During foliage season, the
busiest and priciest time of year—even
more expensive than the summer—plan
early or risk staying far from Boston, or
staying home.
Every hotel in this area accommodates
both business travelers and families.
That's not to say that you'll trip over a
stroller in the elevator at a Hilton or a
corporate takeover in the Hampton Inn
lobby—you'll find a mix of guests wher-
ever you stay in Boston. But you may feel
more comfortable at the Hilton while
you're executing that takeover, and more
comfortable at the Hampton Inn if the
stroller goes with you everywhere.
The area's lodging options reflect
Boston's random geography, with proper-
ties built from the ground up in the 21st
century competing against hotels in busi-
ness for a century or longer. Different
establishments emphasize different fea-
tures; don't assume that a certain hotel,
even one that's part of your favorite
chain, has every option you expect. If you
must swim a mile every morning or order
food at 4am or hold a meeting in a con-
ference room with Web access, always
check to see whether your hotel can
accommodate you. If it can't, a compara-
ble property almost certainly can.
Most of the major hotel chains have a
presence in the Boston area. Many of the
larger establishments share a certain
sameness, but even that comes with a
