Where to sleep in Boston? – All the info about hotels in the patriotic city
It's important to know in which area to book a hotel or apartment in Boston to enjoy what the patriotic city has to offer.
The five areas popular among tourists visiting the city are:
- The Waterfront – the perfect blend of Boston's Downtown and the waterfront
- The Downtown – massive urban hotels in the skyscrapers of Downtown
- Back Bay – Quality accommodation in the upscale residential district
- South Boston and Waterfront – Family-friendly accommodation in new boutique hotels
- West End – Convenient hotels close to the center and transportation options
Click here to check availability and prices at Boston hotels…
Click here for a list of 8 excellent hotels in the center of Boston…
Map of districts worth staying in Boston
Here's everything you need to know about Boston's neighborhoods and lodging areas – to choose a perfect base for your stay.
Boston is a great city for a few days' trip. Unlike many other American city centers, Boston's downtown is relatively safe and inviting for a walk. Therefore, it’s worth finding accommodation in the city center, which allows you to explore it for a few days, including enjoying its pleasant evening life and even its nightlife.
Boston's center is accessible and available even without a car, including a large nearby airport and central train stations. Most people come to Boston by car, so it’s worth arranging parking in advance with the hotel for a fee, but it's still recommended to stay in the city center.
This guide is designed to pinpoint for you the exact lodging places in Boston to maximize your experience of this wonderful city. Boston isn’t as bustling as New York on the one hand, but on the other hand, it has a much more community-oriented identity and a unique character of its own.
The 5 best areas to stay in Boston
The Boston Waterfront
To truly experience the best of Boston, it's worth staying on the waterfront. There aren't many hotels on Boston's former harbor line, but each hotel by the water is an experience. On Boston's waterfront, there are two major and famous hotel establishments – the Boston Harbor Hotel, one of the city's most luxurious institutions, and the Marriott on Long Wharf, one of the city's most popular tourist destinations. On the second line, at the junction between downtown and the waterfront, there are still quite a few hotels, including the most experiential hotel in the city – Marriott Vacation Club Pulse at Custom House, Boston, located in the Custom House, one of Boston's most attractive tourist spots.
To check availability and prices at Boston's waterfront hotels, click here…
Advantages – Location, location, location! Downtown, bay views, and all the entertainment Boston has to offer.
Disadvantages – Price!
Overall hotel quality – Very high level, especially from international chains
Hotels in Downtown Boston
Downtown Boston may not be immense in size, but it is certainly impressive with its towering buildings casting shadows on the street below. The location of Boston's downtown is considered prestigious and desirable, offering plenty of options for entertainment (including the Waterfront, the shopping district of Downtown Crossing, and the surrounding Faneuil Hall Marketplace) and exploration. Scattered throughout Downtown, amidst the stunning mix of historic homes and giant skyscrapers, are also many new and excellent hotels.
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Advantages – The most central location, in proximity to every neighborhood or place worth visiting in Boston.
Disadvantages – Hotel prices are often expensive, and the area can be either noisy or somewhat empty in the evening.
General Hotel Quality – High standard hotels, both from international chains and private businesses.
Back Bay
Back Bay is the most prestigious neighborhood in Boston. A significant number of accommodations in the neighborhood are located in the southern part not far from the Back Bay train and subway station. These hotels are modern and belong to large international chains. As you head towards Chinatown to the east, the quality of the hotels decreases slightly, but the prices definitely improve. There are B&B accommodations in private apartments on the most prestigious and beautiful streets of the neighborhood, which are also a great experience.
Click here to check availability and prices at the hotels in the prestigious Back Bay district…
Advantages – Slightly residential area but a great location
Disadvantages – The price is still high and you need public transport or a taxi to downtown
Overall hotel quality – Excellent and modern hotels are located in the southern street strip. Near Chinatown, there can also be some really poor hotels, so it's important to check reviews beforehand.
South Boston and Waterfront
South Boston and the Waterfront is the southern part of the Waterfront beyond the Fort Point Channel (where the ships of the Boston Tea Party Museum are located). The South Wharf area has also been gentrified and features important museum institutions such as the Children's Museum and the Institute of Contemporary Art. The district itself has many entertainment spots and numerous three or four-star hotels. These hotels are much more affordable than their counterparts on the piers to the north.
Click here to check availability and prices at hotels in South Waterfront, Boston…
Advantages – Budget-friendly compared to Boston with lots of nearby entertainment options
Disadvantages – Slightly dull location
Overall hospitality level – Hotels at a lower standard than those in Boston's upscale downtown areas
West End
Near the North Station (where the Boston Celtics' home stadium is located), there are several large and surprisingly comfortable hotels. The area's proximity to downtown, nightlife and entertainment areas, as well as the historic districts such as North End and Beacon Hill, make the location attractive.
Click here for checking availability and prices in the hotels of the West End district in Boston…
Advantages – Affordable compared to Boston city center with plenty of travel, entertainment, and sports options nearby
Disadvantages – Slightly dull area of the city with many communal functions
Overall hotel standard – Generally, the hotels are good and large, most are four-star rated.
How to find a place to stay in Boston for a family trip?
How to find accommodation in Boston for the whole family?
Boston is a city with a relatively charming center, a rather rare feature among the big cities of the USA. This fact, along with the city's important history, makes downtown Boston a very attractive spot for tourists to tour and visit. Unlike New York City hotels, Boston hotels aren't as limited by real estate, and many offer family-friendly accommodations in terms of room size.
Click here to check availability and prices at Boston hotels…
The two most attractive accommodation options in Boston:
- In the center of Boston, there are numerous four-star and above hotels, which are very suitable for a family to share one room.
- Of course, you can also find accommodation in motels on the outskirts of the city along the highways. Motels typically have two queen beds in a room, and you can even add more beds.
Click here for a list of 8 excellent hotels in the center of Boston…
Motels in the Greater Boston Area
- The American lodging system is fundamentally different from what we know in Europe.
- Although it's definitely worth staying in central Boston, you can also stay as you would anywhere else in America (except Manhattan) in motels on the outskirts of the city.
- For those arriving in Boston with a car, motels are a great solution mainly because of the convenient parking.
- In the Boston metropolitan area, near the major highways I-93, I-90, and I-95, all the big and good motel chains are available, such as Comfort Inn, Super 8, Motel 6, and many other chains.
- There are both private motels and many branded motels from large international chains like IHG (Holiday Inn), Marriott, Hilton, and more.
- The motels offer a nearly uniform standard of large and comfortable rooms, two large beds, and a quite basic breakfast.
Important Information and Tips for Finding the Perfect Lodging in Hotels and Apartments in Boston
First, look for information about the hotel online
Before booking a hotel in Boston, it's really worthwhile to spend some time reading what previous guests think. There are dozens of booking websites online, all of which allow for hotel reviews. Whether you're booking through Booking.com, Expedia, or even an agency in your country, take a moment to learn about the quality of the hotel you're going to. It's essential to read reviews on Booking.com (reliable since only those who stayed at the hotel can write reviews) or TripAdvisor (less reliable as it's open to anyone who wants to write).
- Look for reviews in your language – Usually, accommodations abroad won't bother to fake reviews in a language that isn't English. If you see a review in proper language (not a Google Translate job), you can assume it's genuine. Reviews in any language typically cover the same points that would interest any speaker of that language.
- How many reviews were written about the hotel? – If there aren't many reviews, that's suspicious. Focus on hotels that have hundreds of reviews.
- Filter out suspicious reviews – The fake review industry is a thriving one. When reviewing a hotel, be skeptical about overly positive reviews (no hotel is going to write negative reviews about itself).
- Identify reliable reviews – The most reliable reviews are those that are balanced. If you see both good and bad points combined in the same review, consider it trustworthy.
- These are repeating patterns – if many reviews mention that the hotel is noisy from the outside, then unfortunately, the hotel probably is noisy from the outside. On the other hand, if many reviews say the bed is super comfortable, then great, it's really comfortable… Good night.
Guy's hot tip – Explore the hotel's street using Google Street View
Google Earth has opened up the opportunity for us travelers to preview where we're headed. Take a tour with this useful tool, which allows you to check the hotel's quality and its surroundings. Check if the windows can be opened or if they are dirtied. Look at the state of the building from the outside, is it renovated? Are there broken doors or windows, etc.?
Take a look around the hotel's immediate surroundings as well. Is the street where the hotel is located too busy? Or on the contrary, is the street deserted or neglected? Are there homeless people on the street? Abandoned businesses? Piles of junk? And so on. In Boston, it's not worth taking a risk. If the look of the hotel or its surroundings doesn't appeal to you, it's better to find another place in this wonderful city.
