Inexpensive Boston Hotels are Cheap and Chic
These surprisingly cheap Boston hotels are located in the heart of the city, near Back Bay shopping, museums, and the financial district. They’re clean and nice, too.
Looking for the best hotel deals in Boston? Skip the chain properties, where prices range upwards of $200 a night for a cookie-cutter room, and consider these unique and cheap Boston hotels. Join the ranks of visiting Europeans and savvy travelers who have discovered Boston’s best, inexpensive places to stay. Keep in mind that prices are highest during graduation weekends in May and June, and during fall foliage season.
Charlesmark Hotel
As skinny as a supermodel, the 33-room Charlesmark is a darling of those who’d rather spend money on a good meal than a hotel bill. Facing the finish line of the Boston Marathon in Copley Square (a fabulous location), the sleek Charlesmark is within walking distance of 40-some restaurants, plus shops galore, and a T (subway) stop. Guest rooms are tiny but well turned out, with lots of wood and brick adorned with local artwork. 655 Boylston St. Standard rooms are $119 and up.
Inn @ St. Botolph
There’s no doorman, concierge, or full-service restaurant at the St. Botolph, but guests who’ve discovered this value-packed Boston hotel don’t care. Set in an antique brownstone on a residential street, the inn is located a block from the Prudential Center (and Back Bay shopping and dining.) It’s very quiet, and feels like home, albeit a chic-ly decorated home in stylish cinnamon and black. Guests let themselves in, using a key code, and rooms (all suites) have fully equipped kitchenettes. 99 St. Botolph St. Rates from $169.
John Jeffries House
Looking to stay in quaint Beacon Hill, or need to be close to Massachusetts General Hospital? This gracious, comfortable, 46-room bed and breakfast inn fit the bill. Formerly a dormitory for nurses, it’s pleasantly turned out in floral-patterned upholstered furniture, with triple-glazed windows to block out the noise of busy Charles Circle (and ambulances.) Most of the rooms have kitchenettes, but it will be hard to resist the cafes on adjacent Charles Street. 14 David G. Mugar Way. Rooms from $115.
Encore B & B
Filled with boutiques and restaurants, the South End is one of Boston’s trendiest neighborhoods, the perfect home for this ultra-stylish bed-and-breakfast inn. Set in a four-story 19th-century townhouse, the Encore was created by an architect and a set designer, who glammed it up with Italian furnishings and contemporary accents. Guest rooms are located on the top two floors, and there’s no elevator, so think about packing lightly for a stay at this property. 116 W. Newton St. Rooms from $140.
Book at one of these budget-friendly Boston hotels and use the money saved to buy a fun souvenir at Quincy Market, or a great meal at one of Boston’s best restaurants. Check out the hotel’s web sites for packages and special Internet rates, to make these Boston hotel deals even sweeter.
Guide to Saving Money in Boston
Using research methods and reservation tools enables travelers to save money on hotel stays in the Boston metropolitan area.
Finding quality hotel rooms near downtown Boston does not necessarily require paying top dollar. Do some research on how room rates change throughout the year with high tourist seasons, such as the American baseball season that runs through each fall, or when families visit students during college graduations. Consult the Boston Visitors Bureau and other local guides for timely deals. Try alternative forms of accommodations, such as short-term apartment rentals or university housing. Save even more money using online reservation services and club memberships.
Boston Travel Deals & Discounts
Visit the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau for information on local hotel packages and discounts, including reservation services for area bed and breakfast accommodations. The Visitors Bureau website, located at bostonusa.com, compiles a list of bed and breakfasts in the Boston area, in addition to lists on hotels and other lodging options.
Use a student, AARP or AAA membership card to get discounts at hotels such as the Buckminster Hotel, which also gives a dining discount for the nearby Maluken Restaurant. Chain hotels, like members of the Wyndham group of hotels, offer their own rewards cards for return visits. Wyndham Rewards apply to hotel brands like Days Hotel, HowardJohnson, and Super 8 which all have franchises near downtown Boston.
Stay at Alternate Types of Lodging
Research the Boston area for daily and weekly rates on apartments. The Copley House, located on West Newton Street in downtown Boston, offers studio or one-bedroom furnished apartments with a kitchen and private bath. Some of their kitchens are equipped with appliances like a refrigerator, oven, microwave, and coffee maker. Hostels are another option for budget travelers. Hostelling International operates a location in Boston’s Back Bay area with dorms that offer 6, 12, and 16 beds per room.
Utilize housing services on college campuses during the summer break when many students, and potential dorm tenants, are away. Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts offers housing for professional organizations, young adult group activities, and student internship participants. Colleges, like Northeastern, may also offer dining options and access to campus amenities like fitness centers and meeting rooms.
Boston Hotel Deals and Techniques
Boston contains many hotel choices for travelers on a budget. The Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau has information on hotel deals. Lodgings are available in downtown Boston for short term renting, as are hostels for travelers on a budget that don’t mind potentially sharing a room with strangers. Colleges in the area may provide summer housing programs for groups like interns. Discounts are available for members of travel organizations and hotel rewards programs.