<p>We are planning a trip to Boston as a family and the prices of hotel rooms in the city is extremely high. I am not familiar with the outskirts of Boston and do not know which neighborhoods are safe and which to avoid. Also would want an area which is easily accessible to the T into Boston. Any suggestions on hotels are appreciated!</p>
<p>(BTW, when I will go myself to Boston I plan to use airbnb but it is very difficult to find a place to accommodate an entire family).</p>
<p>There was a post similar to this a few months ago, and it generated quite a few suggestions. I’d do a search and see if you can find it. I can recommend a fairly cheap ($120-$140 per night range) hotel (a Best Western) that’s in Concord, MA. Concord has a commuter rail station that’s about a mile from the Best Western. Here’s a link to the commuter rail line that goes from Concord into Cambridge (Porter Square) and Boston (North Station)
<a href=“Fitchburg Line | Commuter Rail | MBTA”>Fitchburg Line | Commuter Rail | MBTA;
<p>To get to the station from the above hotel, you would have to cross a busy highway and walk around a prison, but perhaps the hotel has a shuttle. I think there is a good chance you could find something that is actually on the the T subway as opposed to the T commuter rail so you would not have to rely on the train schedule. There is also a Best Western near the Alewife station of the T’s Red Line. It is also probably a half mile to one mile walk.</p>
<p>Actually, I take that back. You would not need to walk around the prison. There is a better way to go through an area with mostly doctors office buildings. If you do end up staying there, be sure to visit. Concord Center which has the historic stuff.</p>
<p>There is a Motel 6 in Braintree right across from the Braintree T, on the Red Line. It is also within walking distance of several restaurants such as Chili’s, Bugaboo Creek, The Chatau, a couple asian places, McD’s, etc. Braintree is a safe area, although the Motel 6 has had some issues. Depending on time of day, and day it usually takes about 30 minutes to get from Braintree to Boston on the T. </p>
<p>The Motel 6 in Braintree is reputed to have bed bugs. There is a Hyatt Place in Braintree that is under 200 per night. I Think Braintree is a good spot to stay as it is on the Red Line straight into Boston and is safe. Quincy would also be fine. It is also on the red line.<br>
<a href=“http://www.tripadvisor.com/Search?q=Braintree+ma&geo=&pid=3826&returnTo=__2F__SmartDeals”>http://www.tripadvisor.com/Search?q=Braintree+ma&geo=&pid=3826&returnTo=__2F__SmartDeals</a></p>
<p>There is also a Hampton Inn in Braintree. I have never stayed at that particular one but I love Hampton Inn because they are usually very clean, have breakfast included and have good service. I’m guessing most of the Brainteee hotels have a shuttle that will take you to the train station.In fact i saw one yesterday from the Hyatt as I was driving through Braintree 
From Braintree it will take about 20-40 minutes to get to Boston on the Red Line, depending on where it is in Boston that you want to go. From Braintree to Alewife (Cambridge, last stop) is is usually 30-40 min. </p>
<p>I do not know what you consider cheap but this might work … <a href=“Search Best Western Hotels & Resorts”>Search Best Western Hotels & Resorts;
<p>It is literally right on off the public transportation line … and about 1/2 way in between BC and BU</p>
<p>What is your price point for a hotel? </p>
<p>In the same situation we decided on a B and B in Davis Sq. Somerville which is right on the Red Line. It’s near where we used to live many years ago. Apparently Davis Sq. has become quite upscale since we left. The B and B only has three rooms and we need three rooms so we will be the only guests. Haven’t been there yet (we go in July) so don’t know for sure what it’s like but the reviews are good. The price was better than any hotel we could find.</p>
<p>We just came back from a two night, three day trip to Boston. Stayed in Somerville at the La Quinta Inn. Right off the exit, great location. You’d have to call them for T information. We used our car. Paid $163 per night using booking dot com</p>
<p>I don’t know the rates but look up the following:</p>
<p>Courtyard by Marriott Coolidge Corner, Brookline
Holiday Inn, Beacon St., Brookline
Best Western, Commonwealth Avenue (Boston/Brighton)</p>
<p>All are in good neighborhoods a short T ride into the city.</p>
<p>[qoute]Courtyard by Marriott Coolidge Corner, Brookline
Holiday Inn, Beacon St., Brookline
Best Western, Commonwealth Avenue (Boston/Brighton)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Great list … near the the homes of some to the top CC posters … right Lergnom!</p>
<p>Hotels are pretty pricey almost all times of year I visit ( unless it’s snowy it seems ) The neighborhoods I would avoid are Mission Hill, Roxbury, parts of Dorchester….Cambridge, Quincy, Brookline all good…never stayed in Somerville ( my mom grew up there and daughter will likely move there in Sept ) Newton is ok too…I even stayed at the airport recently because of an early morning flight</p>
<p>Who else lives in Brookline? </p>
<p>If you don’t mind a long T ride, you could look near the stations. I know there are few hotels near the T in Braintree Center. You could also check out along the commuter rail stops but I don’t know those very well and can’t help. Your ideal would be anything near the Green Line (including into Jamaica Plain in Boston unless you are very easily scared - though I can’t think of any hotels along the way), anything south of Boston on the Red Line (basically Quincy and Braintree), and anything north of Boston on the Orange (Malden, Medford), but I don’t think there’s much. I also wouldn’t avoid Somerville but the T doesn’t much go there.</p>
<p>I was just visiting in the spring. DS lives in Somerville and the T went there as much as anywhere. If not, there are shuttle buses that are easy to use and fast. </p>
<p>This is the thread from April which contained some less expensive lodging options in Boston:</p>
<p><a href=“Looking for cheap, safe motel to stay in Boston proper or in a close Boston suburb? - #4 by college_query - Parent Cafe - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/17130366</a></p>
<p>I guess the OP only starts threads and doesn’t really come back to them to answer questions.</p>
<p>On he previous thread, folks asked repeatedly which end of Boston the OP would need to be. Without knowing THAT information, it is not easy to make suggestions. Simply put, if the OP is going to need to be in the Brookline area of Boston, the hotel and travel options will be different than if she needs to be elsewhere.</p>
<p>And depending in the length of the trip…there are hotels in Framingham, and a commuter train from there.</p>
<p>Even though it’s about 15 minutes outside of Boston, you could stay in Harvard Square. Hotel Veritas is a wonderful hotel with amazing service and amenities. The rooms are small, but they are beautiful and have great views. </p>
<p>LBowie: I was suggesting that if the OP stayed at the Best Western in Concord he/she could take the commuter rail to Boston from the Concord station on Thoreau St. I think you are thinking of the West Concord rail station. Walking from the BW is a little over a mile walk to Thoreau St --down Elm to Main–to the Concord station. </p>
<p>My guess is Harvard Square is too pricey for the OP.</p>
<p>Questbest…it is hard to give you advice without knowing your hotel price point. If you are able to pay $300 a night, there are many more easy options than if you want to pay $50 a night.</p>