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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
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..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Boston
I need some help. I've never been to Boston and we want to go.
Where is the best area to stay to be centrally located/walking distance to all the touristy things?
Also, how is the parking at hotels? I know the downtown area is like NYC in that there isn't exactly parking lots so if you drove there, how did you park? Were there daily valet fees at the hotels?
Any and all tips for a newbie are appreciated!
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Posted 4/27/22 2:46 PM  |
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JennP
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 3986 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Boston
Posted by NervousNell
I need some help. I've never been to Boston and we want to go.
Where is the best area to stay to be centrally located/walking distance to all the touristy things?
Also, how is the parking at hotels? I know the downtown area is like NYC in that there isn't exactly parking lots so if you drove there, how did you park? Were there daily valet fees at the hotels?
Any and all tips for a newbie are appreciated!
If you stay in the downtown area you can pretty much walk to most major attractions. Basically between the commons and the New England aquarium (which is excellent.)
Faneuil Hall is roughly in the center of the area I'm talking about.
Part of the North End can be hilly IIRC correctly. I just remember walking the "freedom trail" and really feeling it about that point.
I remember getting street parking near the commons and walking around from there, actually. But we didn't stay in the downtown area as we were there for something else.
If you like seafood the Barking Crab was delicious and has a great reputation but I ate there almost 13-15 years ago so definitely check recent reviews.
The places I ate on my more recent trip weren't memorable other than the pastry shops on the North End. They were amazing.
Have fun!
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| Posted 4/27/22 4:02 PM |
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lululu
LIF Adult
Member since 7/05 9511 total posts
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Re: Boston
The Marriott Boston Long Wharf is in a great location - walkable to a lot of stuff and very pretty. We have also stayed at the Seaport Hotel which is not as central but was still in a good area and we could walk to a lot of stuff. I have spent a lot of time in Boston. I love the Omni Parker House which is also in a good location. Boston is a pretty small city so as long as you stay within the city itself it will be fairly easy to get around. There is so much to do and see. You will love it.
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| Posted 4/27/22 4:23 PM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
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Re: Boston
I LOVE Boston! It's my favorite city, it feels so charming and way less chaotic than NYC.
As for parking, if you're staying for a few days many of the hotels offer parking valet service so you can come and go but they do charge a per day fee. Last time we were there we stayed at the Revere Hotel which was really nice. If I remember correctly it wasn't far from Boston Common and we were also able to walk to Fenway to catch a game.
Boston is small so you can walk most everywhere which is awesome. The Science Museum is really nice, my kids have been a few times and always enjoy it. The aquarium is also worth a visit. On a nice day the Rose Kennedy Greenway is a beautiful place to relax as is walking around Boston Common. There is so much great shopping all around as well and so many awesome places to eat. We love the Black Rose Pub which is around the corner from Faneuil Hall.
The Boston Tea Party Museum also is very nice and following the Freedom Trail around allows you to see many sights and history. If you make it up to into the Little Italy vicinity, Mike's Pastry has some amazing goodies, you can go crazy in there!
There are lots of resources online to plan your days in Boston along with hotel recs, I'd definitely check that out. We're headed back up there too this summer, can't wait! Have a great trip, you will LOVE it!
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| Posted 4/27/22 4:52 PM |
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M514
Hi
Member since 8/10 6011 total posts
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Boston
We stayed at the Intercontinental in November and we loved it. It was a beautiful hotel with a great bar/lounge. We used the parking garage at the hotel and never took the car out until we were headed home. We walked everywhere or took an Uber. We walked the Freedom Trail a bit, visited the Paul Revere house, Fanueil Hall, the USS Constitution ship, the science museum and went to TD Garden for a hockey game. Fenway Park is a lot of fun too. Every meal we ate was great too.
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| Posted 4/27/22 5:16 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Boston
Thank you all for the recs, I am going to check them all out as I do some research.
I just didn't even know where to begin because I've never been there. I didn't want to stay somewhere and be far away from everything as we don't want to drive around in a city.
I'm super excited to go though, been wanting to go forever and just never got around to it!
ETA- and DH is a history buff so I know he will love all the history! 
Message edited 4/27/2022 5:18:31 PM.
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| Posted 4/27/22 5:17 PM |
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CookiePuss
Cake from Outer Space!
Member since 5/05 14021 total posts
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Re: Boston
Posted by lululu
The Marriott Boston Long Wharf is in a great location - walkable to a lot of stuff and very pretty. We have also stayed at the Seaport Hotel which is not as central but was still in a good area and we could walk to a lot of stuff. I have spent a lot of time in Boston. I love the Omni Parker House which is also in a good location. Boston is a pretty small city so as long as you stay within the city itself it will be fairly easy to get around. There is so much to do and see. You will love it.
This is one of my favorite hotels to stay at because it's so local.
I like Harborside as well but that is not family friendly.
The city is very walkable. If the hotel does not have parking, it's easy to pop in to a parking garage.
Duck boat tours are fun!
Freedom Trail is easy and you can do a self guided tour.
Faneuil hall and Quincy Market are very touristy but fun and they have a lot of street performers that can be fun to watch.
Hay Market is fun too and that is on Saturdays
North End has great places to eat...See if you can get a seat at Table in the North End if you like that type of dining experience.
Brunch in Little Italy is great. There is typically a little marching band on Sundays at some point.
Bova's is open 24 hours a day and fun to visit for a pastry instead of Mike's
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| Posted 4/28/22 11:23 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
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Re: Boston
We stayed at the Marriott Long Wharf, great location. Right near the aquarium. I HIGHLY recommend the Go City Boston Pass. It just includes SO much! We did the freedom trail trolley, Blue Man Group, the Aquarium, Legoland, USS Constitution, Children's Museum, John Hancock Observatory Deck, Paul Revere House and I forget what else with that pass. The trolley was the best so we didn't have to walk so much. Boston Common park is nice also. We went over Christmas break, so it was cold.
link
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| Posted 4/30/22 9:55 AM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Boston
I'm loving all these suggestions, very helpful! The city pass sounds great!
The issue I'm running into now is we wanted to go Memorial Day weekend and all the hotels are insanely expensive that weekend. Like triple the price of any other random weekend.
The hotels suggested here are running from the mid 600s a night and up!
We might just pick another weekend once school is out because it doesn't make sense to pay that much more for a hotel just to go that particular weekend
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| Posted 5/1/22 8:41 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Boston
Posted by NervousNell
I'm loving all these suggestions, very helpful! The city pass sounds great!
The issue I'm running into now is we wanted to go Memorial Day weekend and all the hotels are insanely expensive that weekend. Like triple the price of any other random weekend.
The hotels suggested here are running from the mid 600s a night and up!
We might just pick another weekend once school is out because it doesn't make sense to pay that much more for a hotel just to go that particular weekend
That's crazy! I hate paying that must simply because when we're in Boston I never want to be at the hotel. lol I love being out in the city all day, there is so much to see and do. You can definitely do better on price at other times, last time we stayed at The Revere we paid only about $250/night but that was a random weekend in August.
Their train/subway system is super great and easy, maybe take a look at hotels right outside of the city and use public transportation to get in and out every day. Also makes parking easier too.
If you can (or are interested) check out a game at Fenway. I actually HATE baseball but we had a really awesome time at Fenway, it's a beautiful ballpark and the Boston fans are awesome fun!
ETA - I'm a HUGE book lover, not sure if you are, but I've heard this old bookstore (Brattle Bookshop) is pretty amazing! We're going to check it out this summer ourselves. Might be worth a look if you're in the vicinity. 
Boston Bookstore
Message edited 5/1/2022 10:56:55 AM.
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| Posted 5/1/22 10:50 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Re: Boston
Posted by NervousNell
I'm loving all these suggestions, very helpful! The city pass sounds great!
The issue I'm running into now is we wanted to go Memorial Day weekend and all the hotels are insanely expensive that weekend. Like triple the price of any other random weekend.
The hotels suggested here are running from the mid 600s a night and up!
We might just pick another weekend once school is out because it doesn't make sense to pay that much more for a hotel just to go that particular weekend
Maybe try the Juneteenth weekend since school is out Monday. That way you get a long weekend in. Travelzoo has this hotel listed right now. They often have Boston hotels, so subscribe to their Top20 deals. I always find awesome deals with them
https://www.travelzoo.com/hotels/boston/-215-up-4-Star-Waterfront-Hotel-Overlooking-Boston-Harbor-2969216/
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| Posted 5/1/22 12:39 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Boston
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by NervousNell
I'm loving all these suggestions, very helpful! The city pass sounds great!
The issue I'm running into now is we wanted to go Memorial Day weekend and all the hotels are insanely expensive that weekend. Like triple the price of any other random weekend.
The hotels suggested here are running from the mid 600s a night and up!
We might just pick another weekend once school is out because it doesn't make sense to pay that much more for a hotel just to go that particular weekend
That's crazy! I hate paying that must simply because when we're in Boston I never want to be at the hotel. lol I love being out in the city all day, there is so much to see and do. You can definitely do better on price at other times, last time we stayed at The Revere we paid only about $250/night but that was a random weekend in August.
Their train/subway system is super great and easy, maybe take a look at hotels right outside of the city and use public transportation to get in and out every day. Also makes parking easier too.
If you can (or are interested) check out a game at Fenway. I actually HATE baseball but we had a really awesome time at Fenway, it's a beautiful ballpark and the Boston fans are awesome fun!
ETA - I'm a HUGE book lover, not sure if you are, but I've heard this old bookstore (Brattle Bookshop) is pretty amazing! We're going to check it out this summer ourselves. Might be worth a look if you're in the vicinity.
Boston Bookstore
I do love baseball. As a Yankee fan it will be blasphemy to go to a Red Sox game, lol but yes I heard it's a great stadium. I just will leave my Yankee gear at home so I don't get beat up!
And I do love bookstores, so I will definitely check out that bookstore- looks so cool.
Thanks!
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| Posted 5/2/22 8:13 AM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Boston
Posted by BargainMama
Posted by NervousNell
I'm loving all these suggestions, very helpful! The city pass sounds great!
The issue I'm running into now is we wanted to go Memorial Day weekend and all the hotels are insanely expensive that weekend. Like triple the price of any other random weekend.
The hotels suggested here are running from the mid 600s a night and up!
We might just pick another weekend once school is out because it doesn't make sense to pay that much more for a hotel just to go that particular weekend
Maybe try the Juneteenth weekend since school is out Monday. That way you get a long weekend in. Travelzoo has this hotel listed right now. They often have Boston hotels, so subscribe to their Top20 deals. I always find awesome deals with them
https://www.travelzoo.com/hotels/boston/-215-up-4-Star-Waterfront-Hotel-Overlooking-Boston-Harbor-2969216/
Thanks, I will check this out!
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| Posted 5/2/22 8:13 AM |
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17792 total posts
Name:
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Boston
They seem to be having a huge music festival MDW - maybe that's why it's so expensive already.
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| Posted 5/2/22 10:55 AM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Boston
Posted by ali120206
They seem to be having a huge music festival MDW - maybe that's why it's so expensive already.
See that is what we were thinking- something had to be going on there that weekend because even though it's Memorial Day, it's a city, not a beach town and most people flock to beachy places that weekend.
Now it makes sense!
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| Posted 5/2/22 11:05 AM |
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