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We plan to Amtrak to Boston soon and want to stay downtown for 4 nights, but hotels are very high. (We also might consider staying in Cambridge if we knew more about getting there and back with luggage.) We want something comfortable, like a Hampton Inn, but alas there seem to be nothing in our price range downtown! The Chandler Inn has some of the best prices but I wonder about its amenities, esp its A/C and the quality of its beds. About the only other possibility we can (barely) afford seems to be the Park Plaza--would this be worth at least $120-$150 more (overall) than the Chandler Inn? Trip adviser has mixed and similar reviews on both, so I wondered if anyone here has any input, as I know people here have stayed in both. Also, what's the difference in terms of convenience of location? Also, if we stay in these, is it best to get off at Back Bay or South Station? We will likely want to take a taxi to the hotel (with our luggage). Thanks a lot for any input!!
rresor Member # 128
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I've stayed at the Chandler Inn several times since the mid-80s, and it's an entirely respectable establishment, close to Back Bay station. Rooms are small but comfortable.
Another option is the Jeffries House, on the Charles River just two stops up the Red Line from South Station (it's across the street from the T station). Small rooms for one person can be had for $100 or so, a decent continental breakfast is included, and it's clean and in good repair. Larger rooms are somewhat more expensive. It's a former nurses' residence.
wayne72145 Member # 4503
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Sojourner I just booked the Boston Park Plaza near Boston Common for a Feburary trip through Hotwire and paid $120 a night for 4 nights. Hotwire only gives you a location before you pay and tells you the hotel after---I took a chance and Im quite happy with the hotel. The Park Plaza is within walking distance of BackBay Station and that was a plus.
TBlack Member # 181
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I'll go with rresor's impressions of the Chandler; they're more recent than mine which date from the late '60's. The Park Plaza Plaza is the old Statler, up-dated. If you can get a room there for $120, grab it! Otherwise, think about the Sonesta in Cambridge, the Radisson and Marriott Courtyard in the theater district and the Midtown Hotel on Huntington in the Back Bay. This town's hotels are expensive through the fall months.
The Chief Member # 2172
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The last time we went to Bawstahn we stayed south of downtown by Boston U, near a "T" stop, at a Choice Hotels that had shuttle service to "The T" station. It was considerably less than downtown hotels. We just rode "The T" in every day. It was wicked nice.
We got to Boston via the Lake Shore Limited from Chicago. I took Acela out of Boston to NYC, then the Silver Star to Miami on that June, 2006 trip.
I didn't wear my NY Yankees cap too much in Boston.
sojourner Member # 3134
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Thanks, all, for your advice. RResor, I guess I'll stick with the Chandler!!! (We are going in the fall, Wayne--no Park Plaza for $120 would be available to us!) Chief, we are kind of doing the last part of your trip, only a little backwards--we are taking an early Empire Service train down to New York City and then splurging (because my husband is going) on an ACELA to Boston. We will take the Lake Shore Ltd shuttle back to Albany, splurging (it isn't too much in this case) on its business class. I don't want to take the LSL shuttle eastbound, it arrives too late; and besides, making a "loop" is more fun, I've done it before.
I presume you heard about the fellow wearing a Yankees cap who was severely beat up, I think it was in Falmouth, Massachusetts? Pretty awful Afterward he said he wasn't really a Yankees fan, he just happened to be wearing the hat.
I am an ex-Yankees fan, stopped because I cannot abide George S--but I remember being the only Yankees fan at a Cleveland Indians game in Cleveland--a city where George S is particularly loathed, since he is from there. I went to Cleveland on one of my earliest overnight Amtrak trips, on the LSL . . . quite exciting!
TruckTrains Member # 6938
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Wish I could help, but I've never been through Chicago. Let us know how it was
wayne72145 Member # 4503
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You never know what is available on Hotwire.com They only tell you to section of the city and how many stars of the hotel. You know the price but not the hotel, then after you pay the money they tell you which hotel you have booked. It is kind of scary but I took the chance and was happy to find out it was the Park Plaza and Towers. I used them again for a trip to Chicago and got a reasonable hotel downtown a lot cheaper than anywhere else on line.
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