<p>If it were me, I would drive all the way to Albany. Then it would be midnight your time (2.5 hour drive), and you could sleep in the next day, have a place to hang out morning/afternoon, only unpack one, etc… You will be fatigued from the long flight, but you also may be able to get a nap or two in during the flight.</p>
<p>The only risk is if the plane is delayed.</p>
<p>Are you willing to use Priceline? That’s how we get the Westin, and how we have gotten hotels in Natick / Framingham at cheap prices. If you have the guts to wait til the last minute!</p>
<p>I’d have the guts to use Priceline if I found a decent deal and could ensure we would not drive too far off the beaten path. I’ll check more tonight. </p>
<p>Hmmm… land 11pm. Get rental car and pick up DS… it could be 1am by the time we leave Boston (but would feel 2 hours earlier). I usually like the idea of staying same place 2 nights instead of moveing, but I think DH will prefer to do the drive in daylight.</p>
<p>I don’t like driving through W. MA late at night when I’m tired. I’ve done it but the road is very hilly through the Berkshires. Albany is 3 hours from Boston at 75-80 mph. But a chunk of that is getting out of Boston, so starting from Natick cuts the drive more than just by the mileage.</p>
<p>If you are outside of 128, westbound traffic should not cause you any major issues unless there is an accident.</p>
<p>I agree that exits 13 (rte 30) and exit 12 (rte 9) off of the Pike are probably in your sweet spot.</p>
<p>Exit 13 is about 5-6 minutes past 128. I’ve had relatives stay at the Red Roof Inn there. It is what it is - a two-star, no frills motel. I wouldn’t say it’s a dive. It is literally seconds off of the Pike - in fact the on-ramp to the Pike at that exit curves around it. I’ve had relatives stay at the Courtyard as well - it is like every other Courtyard, and is a fine choice if the price is ok. There’s also a Hampton in a little further down from the Courtyard. I’ve eaten in the restaurant there, the hotel part looks ok. It used to be a Hilton a while ago.</p>
<p>5 minutes further, at exit 13, the Sheraton Tara is nice. The Motel 6 there is pretty dicey IMO. There is a Residence Inn buried somewhere in the office park at that exit, I don’t know anything about it specifically.</p>
<p>At the exit after that, you will have to go up 495 to route 9 where there are a bunch of choices, which is maybe getting off the trail and getting too late.</p>
<p>If the OP’s goal is to get to Albany as quickly as possible in the morning AND get a good price at a hotel, staying somewhere in Auburn/Worcester area might be a better option. (Logan to Natick is 20-some miles; Logan to Auburn is 40-some miles). I know there’s a Holiday Inn Express in the Auburn/Worcester area, and those tend to be fairly inexpensive places to stay.</p>
<p>Thanks… I’ve been bouncing back and forth between Framingham and Auburn-ish. I think I can get what I want there around $120, at least one choice with 6pm cancel option. It may be worth continuing a bit further - I know the tougher miles will be getting out of Boston. </p>
<p>It is nice that most of the suburban hotels don’t charge to park. But with our late arrival, I am paying heed to the reviews that say “tight on parking”.</p>
<p>Could you have your S meet you at the airport? It’s an easy trip on the T from Cambridge. That would give you enough extra time to ensure reaching your destination for the night.</p>
<p>I’ve never stayed at a hotel near Boston (since I live here) but D had her prom at the Sheraton Tara in Framingham and it was lovely. It’s close to the Mass Pike, probably 30 - 40 minutes from Logan.</p>
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<p>You can specify specific suburban areas on Priceline (as well as # of stars of the hotel). I know for sure Waltham is one area you can specify, and Natick / Framingham is another. You can specify either or both as you see fit.</p>
<p>Thanks - I’ll check Priceline more closely. Their areas are sometime too large to determine highway proximity, but there are ways to narrow things down by star rating. </p>
<p>Ha…DS probalby could meet us at the airport - he did so last year (catching the last train, then waiting at Logan til 3:30 am for our delayed plane). But this summer he’s at a sublet and will likely have more than the “one large suitcase” he predicts. For example, there will be pillow, sheets etc.</p>
<p>Did you consider crashing at your S’s place?</p>
<p>If you don’t have to leave until 9:00 AM or so, you will not have any major traffic issues.</p>
<p>Crashing with DS and his roommates is Plan B (there is offstreet parking, unusual in Boston)… if our plan delayed to 3:30am like last year. A 6pm cancellation policy would give us flexibilty to do so. Hmmm… I think we could delay departure to 9am if it meant less traffic.</p>
<p>Just found that becoming a RediCard member (easy/free - just did it) gives me 8pm cancellation flexbility. I’ll probably book Framinham Red Roof - nothing to loose at this point.</p>
<p>Yikes! The framingham Red Roof Inn was featured on the news tonight and not in a good way! I would not stay there!</p>
<p>[Woman</a>, 6 dogs found living in squalor at Framingham motel | MetroWest - WCVB Home](<a href=“http://www.wcvb.com/news/local/metro-west/woman-6-dogs-found-living-in-squalor-at-framingham-motel/-/11983044/21234806/-/rogvloz/-/index.html]Woman”>http://www.wcvb.com/news/local/metro-west/woman-6-dogs-found-living-in-squalor-at-framingham-motel/-/11983044/21234806/-/rogvloz/-/index.html)</p>
<p>I have family in Natick and have stayed at the Marriott Courtyard several times. Clean and convenient. I make reservations through the Marriott.com website. They don’t charge your card and you have til 6PM the night of your reservation to cancel.</p>
<p>I heard the Westin in Waltham had bed bugs recently (you may want to look into this). Have you tried the Marriott in Newton? They may offer a special rate. Also, the Hilton at the airport is very nice. I’m not sure of the rates, though they often offer specials.</p>
<p>Yikes indeed! I have the reservation but will rethink it. </p>
<p>Thanks milkandsugar - I can indeed get Natick Courtyard with 6pm cancelllation ($180 + tax AAA ). I’ll talk it over with the family.</p>
<p>Costco travel has some hotel partner discounts.</p>
<p>It’s a little North, but you might want to try Concord, MA. You can do tourist stuff, it is absolutely lovely, and not too far out.</p>
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<p>Yes, this is a good one. 2 separate bed rooms for family of 3 or 4, full kitchen and family area, laundry room.</p>