Boston, MA: Hotel & Motel Planning Guide

When should I visit Boston?

The best time to visit the city is from June to October. Summer is a popular time of year, and it's no wonder why. Visitors can take in a baseball game at the famous Fenway Park while eating peanuts and drinking a beer. There are a variety of outdoor concerts to listen to every week while enjoying the warm weather at night. The large amount of outdoor cafes makes grabbing lunch more of an event than a meal as you sit in the sun, people watching while you drink your iced tea.

Fall is a gorgeous time to be in Boston because the leaves are starting to change colors and fall on the ground. The cooler weather will be a nice break from the hot summer, and you'll still find yourself reasonably comfortable walking around outside. Hotel fares will start to decrease as the tourists go home for the summer. The Boston Film Festival takes places in September, which is a great way to see the local talent through their short films. In October, celebrate Oktoberfest Boston-style as the beer flows around you and local food is sold to satisfy your appetite.

Winter is the least desirable time to go due to the weather, but if that's not a significant factor for you, you'll enjoy largely discounted hotel rooms. Just make sure you bundle up, and then head out to explore. The Boston Tea Party Reenactment happens every December, which is a fun and interactive way to visualize what you've read about it before. In February, a big Chinese New Year celebration takes place in the area. Learn about another culture, watch the fireworks, and taste Chinese food. The bonus is that fewer tourists will be around to compete with for space.

Where are the Best Hotel Discounts in Boston, MA?

For those looking to save and have a AAA membership, stay at the Seaport Boston Hotel. Members will get up to 20% off select hotel rooms. All rooms come with flat-screen televisions and air-conditioning, which is needed in the summer. Each room also comes with free wireless internet and a pillow top bed. Relax in the steam room after tough workout at the health club. There are three restaurants on site, as well as a coffee shop for snacks. Located in the Seaport District, you'll be close to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center and the World Trade Center.

What are the Best Value Options in Boston, MA?

If you're looking to spend a reasonable amount while still having money left over, plan a stay at the Boston Park Plaza. Each air-conditioned room comes with a pillow top bed and an LED television. Free wireless internet is available, and concierge services are there to help you plan your trip. For businesses planning a large event, take advantage of renting out the huge space available for meeting rooms. There's also a 24 hour business center for individual workers to get work done in peace. Located near the hotel are the George Washington State and Boston Common.

A stay at the Midtown Hotel will have you right in the middle of the action in Boston. Centrally located, it's near the Hynes Convention Center, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and the Boston Symphony Hal, so there's plenty of activities to choose from. All rooms have desks and safes to keep your precious belongings locked up. There's a seasonal outdoor pool to swim in during the warmer weather. A hair salon is available on site should a hair emergency occur at the last minute, or if it's just time to get your color touched up.

What are the Top Attractions to Visit in Boston, MA?

Being outdoors in Boston's warm summers is a popular choice to take full advantage of the weather. One of the most popular activities to do is to catch the Boston Red Sox play a baseball game at Fenway Park. Grab your warm peanuts and your glove ready to catch a ball. If no games are playing, tours are available to get a behind the scenes look at the field and stadium. Visit the merchandise shop afterwards to load up on Red Sox gear to proudly wear to the next game, or just around the city.

The Freedom Trail is another popular activity. While it's often crowded in the summer, it's worth all the elbow bumping to go on it. This 2.5 mile-long trail is self-guided, and will take you on the path of the famous American Revolution. The trail begins at America's oldest public park, Boston Common, and ends at the Bunker Hill Monument. Allow several hours to get through the whole trail and stop to read each sign explaining what's being shown. Many historical spots are located along this trail, and it's a great way to see some of Boston's history.

Boston is a city that has much to offer year-round. While summer and fall may be the more popular times to come due to the weather, any time is worth the visit. Educate yourself on the city's history by seeing historic reenactments, find historic landmarks on the Freedom Trail, and participate in local events like film festivals. No visit to Boston would be complete without a visit to Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox baseball team. No matter what your budget is, it's not hard to find a hotel with a great location and good amenities.

Boston, MA summarized

Seen as the foremost New England city, Boston never fails to impress with historic features like its old neighborhoods, blossoming parks and its revolutionary spirit. In addition to that, if the number of illustrious bars is anything to go by, a pub crawl should be a major highlight of your Boston visit. Taking on the Freedom Trail takes the best of Boston sights in one overwhelming exploration of America's finest moments during the revolt against Britain. The historic path takes you through churches, museums and burial grounds, among other significant sites. Boston Common, the oldest park in the United States, is the launch pad for this ultimate Boston sightseeing activity. Another slice of Boston's culture awaits right across the Charles River where an elite league of universities and colleges hold fort. Harvard University proves to be an essential stopover with its stately buildings and six museums. The cafés and pubs in the area, however, put you in a better position to soak up Boston's endearing qualities.

'In Philadelphia, they ask a man who his parents are. In New York, they ask a man how much he earns. In Boston, they ask a man how much he knows.
Mark Twain, the greatest novelist and documenter of American spirit, described the worth of Boston to America in this hilarious comparison. 

Of course, it may be overstated or even exaggerated, but it must be conceded that Boston is a city given to learning, to knowledge and to liberty of one's thoughts. There are solid reasons why it is often called as the Home of Modern America, the Athens of America or the Home of Freedom. The city has played an instrumental part in the struggle for independence of millions of Americans. Boston Tea Party still evokes memories of wrath, insurgence and a knowledge of one's rights. The fact that H. D. Thoreau once called Boston the only sane city in America wouldn't now come as a surprise to many. 

The traditional image of Boston - that of a city that celebrates intellect and despises inanities is still largely intact today. That's however, should not be read in way of criticism but in way of laudation. Bostonians still love to indulge in intellectual pastimes and Massachusetts is still home to some of the finest educational institutions in the world. Tourists who are making grand plans to visit Boston in near future would be best advised to stay informed about the tourism scenes that includes Boston hotels, restaurants, sights and transport options. 

Living Cheap in Boston 

It's quite possible to live on meek monetary resources even in a large and global city like Boston. It would be foolish to imagine that Boston would provide the best of worldly facilities to guests who do not wish to pay requisite prices, but it would certainly be reasonable to expect Boston to offer good, decent and safe accommodation options to tourists who want to save up on their travel expenses. 

Cheap hotels are not far and few between in Boston. But the converse is not necessarily true, either. Boston hotels observe a curious trend where a large concentration of hotel establishments seems to be located in one common price region “ that of moderation. This means that almost every other hotel in Boston is moderately costly “ not too cheap, not too expensive. 
The Inn at Longwood Medical is a famous landmark in Boston, located just opposite the Longwood Medical building. It offers friendly and comfortable experience of lodging to tourists, without costing them too much. 

Charlesmark Hotel is another fine example in the long list of cheap hotels that Boston houses. The Midtown Hotel and Ramada Boston will also be nice picks, if one isn't too willing to pay hefty hotel prices elsewhere. 

Extravagance thy Name be Boston

Boston is not generally considered to be a city of excess, opulence or extravagance, except when it comes to intellectual matters. Luxury hotels in Boston, however, seem to have a crack at shattering this low-key profile of Boston by offering some of the most lavish and the costliest suites to their guests. 

XV Beacon Hotel takes the top spot in our list of posh hotels in Boston that can give any palace in the world a tough run for their money. The Liberty Hotel and Ames Boston also manage to woo their wealthy patrons with utmost heights of comfort, opulence and extravagance. 

Regular features of brands in this segment “ Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Hyatt, Ritz Carlton and Marriott also make proper representation of their styles and strategies in Boston, through their flagship properties. 

Not to Be Missed Attractions of Boston

When in Boston, act like Bostonians. That may well be a borrowed cliche, but it applies in fullness to Boston. 
That's precisely why, tourists should adopt a typically Bostonian option while sightseeing in Boston. This means managing their time perfectly, not being too flashy about their business and keeping an overall crouched profile. 

The Freedom Trail is perhaps the best known and most revered attraction in Boston. The trail documents and decorates the fight for independence that Americans had to endure and reiterates the importance of harmony, freedom, liberty and hard work. 
Boston Museum of Fine Arts is a definite pleaser for art lovers. Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum will again be able to rekindle the flames of passion for the country, and the desire to break the shackles of oppression. Boston Public Library “ housed in an august building of stately stature “ is a sure fire charmer for the lovers of letters and literature. 

Ball game fans can straight head to the famed Fenway Park where many records have been set, and more have been broken. New England Holocaust Memorial is a solemn ode to the millions who lost their lives and spirits during the World War II. JFK Presidential Museum and Library presents a true cellar of knowledge and nostalgia to those who have lived through the 60's. 

Things to Remember Before Seeing Boston Sights 

For tourists, Boston can be an overwhelming experience, because of the high number of historic and cultural sights scattered around the city.

The best course of action, to get the most out of your trip to Boston, is to make a pre-planned itinerary that will help you decide the priority order of various sights. It's quite probable that you won't be able to have a go at all the sights in Boston in one trip. So, enjoying the sights you can visit the most makes quite a lot of sense. 

Ideal Time to Travel to Boston 

Summer months make for the most enjoyable period of activity for tourists to visit Boston. 
However, steep hotel room tariff means it may just be out of budget for many tourists. So, traveling to Boston in mid-fall (September) can also be a good idea, as the weather is mildly refreshing and you can walk around the city, soaking all the essence of Bostonian life. Traveling to Boston in winter is a big no-no, as temperatures can stay below the freezing point for weeks.