AOL PICK from our Editors
The top Boston hotels are a pricey lot, including the usual names, like the Ritz and the Four Seasons. Dedicated searching for bargains online can uncover a good deal, but you have to keep at it, especially if your goal is to find one of the best Boston hotels for a reasonable price. Unfortunately, the affordable hotels that are common in many cities have been pushed to the margins here by high-end lodgings catering to businessmen, wealthy travelers and celebrities. In every price range, the best Boston hotels mix comfort and convenience with the unique flavor of their neighborhoods.
Charles HotelCharles Hotel
Neighborhood: Cambridge Price Range: Expensive You may meet a brainier set of guests at this calm outpost on the edge of Harvard Square. Visiting parents mingle with writers, actors, scientists and politicians headed for Harvard or one of the town’s many cultural institutions that are just steps away from the Charles Hotel. As a result, there’s a less-glitzy vibe here, but no less luxury. Dine at Rialto or the more modest Henrietta’s Table, then take in a jazz act at the Regattabar. When booking your room, make sure to request a Charles River view. Also, note that the raw bar on the plaza out front is replaced by a small skating rink when the snow flies.
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Charles HotelNine Zero Hotel
Neighborhood: Beacon Hill Price Range: Expensive This small, luxe hotel caters to big-name celebs and others who prefer to get in and out of town without a fuss. Location is close to the State House, Common, Freedom Trail and Financial District, and not too much of a hoof to Back Bay shopping. Some rooms have dramatic views and martini bars. Staff tries hard to take care of individual needs, including accommodating pets. Nine Zero is one of the best places to stay in Boston for a unique combination of style, comfort, form and function. The hotel's KO Prime steakhouse makes a good, if pricey, dinner option. Cons for Nine Zero include the fact that it’s on one of the busiest blocks in the city.
Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston
Neighborhood: Cambridge Price Range: Moderate Location, location, location. The Royal Sonesta is considered by many to be one of the best Boston hotels with a view due to its position on the north bank of the Charles River, looking directly across at the Boston skyline. Request a room with a view and you’ll find yourself sitting by the window at sunset for much longer than you intended. Riverside dining, an indoor pool and access to the CambridgeSide Galleria across the street sweeten the deal.
Charlesmark Hotel
Neighborhood: Back Bay Price Range: Moderate This boutique hotel on Copley Square ranks as one of the best Boston hotel values with its mid-range pricing, and it's right in the center of the Back Bay. You’ll trade some amenities for the price, but a slick lobby bar and nice décor in the smallish rooms will help you forget that there’s not a gym or a fancy restaurant in-house. If the Charlesmark Hotel's lounge and sidewalk patio don’t offer what you’re looking for, there are oodles of other options just a short walk in every direction.
The Westin Boston Waterfront
Neighborhood: Seaport Price Range: Moderate One of Boston’s top hotels, as well as one of the newest, the Westin Boston Waterfront connects to the dramatic new Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in the rapidly developing Seaport District. Although its prices scrape the ceiling of the moderate category, it’s a good choice, especially for business travelers who want easy access to downtown and the airport—and who aren’t focused on taking pleasant strolls or handy shopping. Key assets include a modern atmosphere, a fitness center and an in-house Starbucks. If you want a nice dinner, we recommend Legal Test Kitchen, a short walk away.
Farrington InnAbercrombie's Farrington Inn
Neighborhood: Beacon Hill Price Range: Budget Okay, Abercrombie's Farrington Inn is well out of downtown, near Boston University. And there’s nothing in the way of a lobby bar, room service or most other amenities—except for your phone, a TV and WiFi. But this guest house does have a certain bare-bones charm, and you’ll be speechless when you see the rates. It's on the T: Take the Green Line B train to Harvard Avenue and walk three blocks.
463 Beacon Street Guest House463 Beacon Street Guest House
Neighborhood: Back Bay Price Range: Budget This turn-of-the-century brownstone is an attractive, low-priced option in the heart of the Back Bay. The rooms at 463 Beacon Street Guest House are small but cozy, and staying in a brownstone can make you feel a part of the neighborhood. All rooms have a microwave and a fridge, and some have full kitchenettes. But we have to divulge that there are five floors… and no elevator. Also, parking can be tricky, and daily housekeeping is basically limited to towel service. If you can tough it out, though, the price is right for lodging with character at one of the best places to stay in Boston.
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463 Beacon Street Guest House
Boston Hotel Buckminster
Neighborhood: Beacon Hill Price Range: Budget The Boston Hotel Buckminster is all about location. It’s smack dab in the heart of Kenmore Square, just around the corner from Fenway Park and across the street from a Green Line station. It's definitely convenient. On the other hand, if the thought of ballgame crowds, foot traffic and student hubbub from nearby Boston University makes you cringe, you might find a better match elsewhere at one of the other top Boston hotels. Despite considerable renovation lately, the 1897 venue is not the most luxurious place in town. A Pizzeria Uno now occupies what was a jazz club on the ground floor in the 1950s and ‘60s. But it gets the job done.
Midtown Hotel
Neighborhood: Back Bay Price Range: Budget This two-story, motel-like hotel, just down Huntington Avenue from some of the city’s priciest lodgings, offers one of Boston's few genuine budget options. It’s convenient to Newbury Street, Symphony Hall and the Museum of Fine Arts, as well as the T’s Green Line. There’s an outdoor pool and a hair salon, but not much else in the way of facilities. Hipsters may find the Midtown Hotel charmingly retro.
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