When visiting Boston, it becomes clear that many of the hotels in the Downtown area are very expensive. Granted, the Boston Park Plaza and the Omni Parker House are excellent hotels for those who are willing to pay luxury rates. However, if you’re looking for a cheap way to explore the Boston’s downtown, these hotels don’t help you pinch any pennies. Luckily, there are several hotels nearby that are smaller both in size and in cost. These hotels may not have all the frills that you would find at a luxury hotel, but they provide reasonable options for those who want to see Boston on a budget.
The Milner Hotel, built in 1877 as the Sumner hotel, is one of the oldest continuously operating hotels in the downtown area of Boston. Its Charles Street location puts it only a few blocks from the Boston Commons and the Public Gardens as well as Boston’s theater district. It is a 15-minute walk from the Milner to Downtown Crossing, but you could also easily hop the MBTA subway at the nearby Boylston street stop. In the winter, the rates for a room start at $79. In the summer, the rates go up to $99. (Prices current as of February 2010.)
78 Charles Street S
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 426-6220
boston.milner-hotels.com/index.html
The Chandler Inn Hotel is only a few blocks southwest of the Milner Hotel. Also housed in an older building, this one built in the early 1900s, the Chandler Inn Hotel has been operating for 25 years. Located in the South End, the hotel is convenient to both downtown and Copley Square. The hotel prides itself on its "ultra chic new Boutique rooms" that "were designed by Dennis Duffy, one of Boston's most sought after interior designers." Rates begin at $79. (Prices current as of February 2010.)
Chandler Inn Hotel
26 Chandler Street
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 482-3450
chandlerinn.com/contact/index.cfm
While the Midtown is a little further west than other hotels on this list, it is still a convenient location when you consider its proximity to the subway. It is right next to the Symphony stop on the MBTA’s Green Line, which means it’s only a short train ride to Park Street, Downtown Crossing and the financial center of Boston. It is also convenient to Fenway Park and all of the nightclubs that surround the area. With rates starting at $69, it is one of the cheapest hotels in the city. (Prices current as of February 2010.)
The Midtown Hotel
220 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 262-1000
midtownhotel.com
