<p>DW and I will be visiting Boston in February. We’ll fly in late Thursday and depart Monday evening. We’ll be busy in Cambridge Saturday and Sunday which leaves all day Friday and most of Monday.</p>
<p>We don’t know Boston at all. Should we rent a car or rely on mass transit? Where to stay? What to do? Any misc. advice?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Do you like driving in cities? H drove us around Boston and Cambridge on our last visit so it’s definitely manageable, but he likes driving in Manhattan and Paris too. Me, I’d rather take the T or a cab.</p>
<p>The Gardner museum is wonderful; I haven’t seen the new contemporary art museum. Museum of Fine Arts has a great collection too. At Harvard, the Fogg museum is great. Also check out the glass flowers collection. Too cold in February for a duck tour I would think…</p>
<p>I’m hoping some local Boston people have good restaurant recommendations. We used the Zagat guide last time we were there, but it seems like a 27 in Boston is like a 22 in New York (sorry to say that). The ones that got high marks which were ok were: No 9 Park; Clio; the Federalist (in the XV Beacon hotel); the restaurant in Louis (clothing store on Newbury St). Not worth it at all: L’Espalier, 29 Newbury St., and Anthony’s Pier 4 (but you’re probably too smart to go there anyway). But my info is about 5 years old.</p>
<p>For Friday and Monday, I would not rent a car. If it was just for the weekend then it might be fine to rent. The week day traffic, all the one way streets, irregular city layouts and parking will kill you. I would find a hotel that has easy access to the T (subway), in Cambridge, somewhere near Kendall square comes to mind, but anywhere that is within walking distance of the T would be good.</p>
<p>This question has been asked a lot, thread below should have all that can be said about all the things you can do.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1395462-tips-whirlwind-sightseeing-boston.html?highlight=boston[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1395462-tips-whirlwind-sightseeing-boston.html?highlight=boston</a></p>
<p>Do not drive in Boston. I cannot emphasize this strongly enough. Mass transit is very good there, and your blood pressure will thank you.</p>
<p>I second the Isabella Stewart Gardner & Fogg Museum recommendations - they’re both gems.</p>
<p>Highly recommend John Jeffries House hotel. Reasonably priced (for Boston) and very close to T station.</p>
<p>Thanks to each of you for your input. The thread ttparent linked seems invaluable. We’ll study it carefully.</p>
<p>I’m convinced to not rent a car. I’ve only visited Boston once, for one day as part of a whirlwind college tour. I remember mass transit to Harvard from the airport being quick and easy.</p>
<p>This time we’ll be visiting to attend the Ivy League fencing championships at Harvard. We’ve missed these three years running and it’s our last chance to see this before DS graduates.</p>
<p>Clearly getting a hotel near the T is critical. Any thoughts on staying four nights in Boston proper vs. Cambridge vs. mixing it up? We’ll be travelling light but moving hotels can be disruptive.</p>
<p>Sorry to seem so confused. I’m an experienced traveller, but I can’t seem to wrap my head around Boston. It’s obviously a big city but it seems that it might be surprisingly manageable if we approach it wisely. I’m thinking more San Francisco than L.A., if that makes sense.</p>
<p>Thanks again for the tips.</p>
<p>sherpa–as an inexperienced traveler, I also suggest NOT driving. I am glad you decided that. I think Boston is the most difficult city to drive in, anywhere.</p>
<p>Personally, I would just stay in one hotel. There really no need to switch. Just take a taxi if you are not close to the bus or T.</p>
<p>Driving in Boston with snow on the ground can be rather miserable so I’d recommend walking. I’d also recommend boots if there is snow on the ground or if it’s in the forecast. Last winter was quite mild but we’re supposed to have a normal winter this time.</p>
<p>The Liberty Hotel is across the street from the Charles/MGH station on the Boston side. Charles/MGH is on the Red Line which will take you into Cambridge, including Harvard Square. It’s about a mile walk to Faneuil Hall. You can also take the T to Park St and switch to the Green Line to see many other Boston sights. There’s a Holiday Inn about two blocks from The Liberty on Blossom St (just off of Cambridge St) too. Both of these hotels are fairly pricey though I think that prices for February will be lower than the prices during the tourism months. There’s a Whole Foods that’s almost attached to the Holiday Inn if you like to get groceries or take-away from them.</p>
<p>Maybe if you can first decide what kinds of things you would like to do and maybe you can pick a hotel that is more convenient for your activities. Note that your Harvard fencing event is probably going to be in the Boston/Brighton side at the athletic building near Harvard stadium. There is not a lot of option for hotel there, and probably a mile from closest subway station which is the Harvard Sq station. From the station, it is across the river on a bridge that can be quite cold in February depending on the breaks, a taxi to that venue might be the right way to do it.</p>
<p>The Charles Hotel is THE hotel in Harvard Square – extremely convenient to public transportation.</p>
<p>If it within your budget, I highly recommend it:</p>
<p>[Cambridge</a> MA Hotels | The Charles Hotel | Boston Hotels](<a href=“http://www.charleshotel.com/]Cambridge”>http://www.charleshotel.com/)</p>
<p>Two more within a stone’s throw of Harvard Yard:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.thehotelveritas.com/[/url]”>http://www.thehotelveritas.com/</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.theinnatharvard.com/[/url]”>http://www.theinnatharvard.com/</a></p>
<p>This hotel is near Central Square, ie one T stop from Harvard, and looks cute and somewhat cheaper:</p>
<p><a href=“http://kendallhotel.com/[/url]”>http://kendallhotel.com/</a></p>
<p>(Actually all the hotels I listed here are within short walking distance of a T station…)</p>
<p>I agree with the recommendation for the John Jeffries House. It is conveniently located at the end of
Charles Street right next to the T station near Mass General Hospital. If you walk the opposite way down Charles, there are a bunch of nice shops and restaurants including my favorite Thai place…The King and I. At the end of Charles is the Public Garden. Bundle up…but it’s nice to see.</p>
<p>I can’t think that you NEED a car at all since there is so much to do in Boston that is accessible using the T.</p>
<p>I’d second BCE’s recommendation for the Liberty Hotel. Went to dinner at Scampo (restaurant at the hotel) for my husband’s birthday last week. Restaurant was great and the hotel was very cool–we live an hour from the city so we didn’t stay. My husband’s secretary did a girl’s getaway weekend at the Liberty and she said it was very comfortable. The T-stop is right there. </p>
<p>I grew up in the midwest and have lived in the Boston area for 30 years–I don’t think the traffic is any worse than Philadelphia or New York or LA. It’s certainly not as congested; yes, rotaries can be confusing the first time–but it’s not brain surgery. Yes, drivers can be rude, but they’re rude in other places too. Streets don’t make a whole lot of sense and street signs are often missing, but one can always get a GPS with a car rental. The only reason I wouldn’t rent a car is that in February it could snow, which is never fun. If you’re visiting colleges, a car is much more convenient than public transportation. It’s much faster to go from one campus to another. If you’re there simply to visit the city, then you’re probably fine with public transportation and/or taxis.</p>
<p>Boston is definitely smaller than San Francisco (I’ve lived both places). I find it more manageable. I third BCEagle’s recommendation for the Liberty Hotel. They have completely redone the old octagonal jail into a nice hotel (“Liberty”? Get it? :-). Really worth a look inside or to have lunch in, even if you don’t stay overnight there. But if you do, there are beautiful views of the city and river.</p>
<p>Regarding the distance from the T station to the event location, there are taxis in Boston and Cambridge. There is a hotel on the river not far from the Harvard fields (DoubleTree), but it’s sort-of isolated from public transportation too. It is not a convenient location, and not near any T stop or restaurant or anything.</p>
<p>Bromfield – I agree Boston traffic is not that bad. Parking can be a bigger concern, but the driving? Piece of cake!</p>
<p>I thoroughly enjoyed the JFK Library Museum.
I love Boston. I love just being there, LOL. I’d want a car but that’s just me. Not a city girl.</p>
<p>sherpa,</p>
<p>Good for you on thinking ahead. When I went to watch my D compete (not fencing) in college, we were told where the team was staying, and we got the same rate as the team, usually a very good deal.</p>
<p>Boston is really easy to get around so once you either pick the hotel you can figure out to get where you need to go. It is a fun city to walk around but maybe not so much fun to do in February…I recommend the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum although I haven’t been since the new addition opened. It has been many years but I still remember my trip to the JFK Library.</p>
<p>If you like orchestral music…see if the Boston Symphony is playing at Symphony Hall…well worth the visit!</p>
<p>I’m going to Boston next week. I’ll be staying at the Oasis Guest House in the Back Bay area. It is a 5 minute walk from the Hynes Convention Center T stop. In my research, hotels are very, very expensive. I’ve been looking at maps, and normally, I am fairly good with directions, but Boston streets make absolutely no sense. Check to see if your place of employment has hotel discounts and the like. Through my employer, I could get discounts on both Boston City Pass and Go Boston cards.</p>
<p>I did not check where you are traveling from…ie the. Time zone change. Traveling from the west to the east is a very tough adjustment. I went from Or. To NYC a number of times with out leaving a day to adjust and now do…but it is still difficult. think " get there by 9" and that means u are up by 5 West coast time.
I am writing this on a visit from OR to RI and awake at either 3:27 or 12:27…</p>
<p>Fendrock is probably right (the Charles Hotel is THE hotel to stay at in Cambridge). We stayed there when visiting my nephew when he was at Harvard. It’s well located and efficient, but the room decor just reminds you to check your voicemail. Nothing soft or luxurious or romantic about it at all. Depends on what you’re looking for.</p>
<p>We stayed at XV Beacon when it opened (much more our thing – younger vibe) but last time, it felt a little tired. There were other boutique hotels that had opened (the Eliot, Nine Zero) that looked cool. We also stayed at the Ritz Carlton (we had some deal through our credit card). Such a throwback – like staying at the Waldorf. Great location though.</p>