Boston Hotel Option

I am able to get a friends and family rate for Hilton Hotels. Never been to Boston where would you stay based on location and rate:

Hilton Back Bay - $120/ night.

Double Tree Downtown Boston - $39/ Night (near Hospital)

Besides the money, what are the advantages/ disadvantages to location?

Thanks for any help or direction you can provide.

Boston Hotel Option

Personally, I would prefer the DoubleTree Downtown Boston location right next to New England Medical center (although quite honestly I was never aware there was a hotel there - not something I am paying attention to, but unfortunately we have occasion to visit NEMC quite a bit for health reasons).

Either location is fine however. I used to live near the Hilton Back Bay, although the area has changed a lot since I was there.

The DoubleTree location is maybe a bit scuzzier - it helps that I know the combat zone well (or what%26#39;s left of it) and would know which streets to avoid, or at least to be aware of.

Boston Hotel Option

If you don%26#39;t tell us what you plan on doing, it%26#39;s rather difficult to assess hotels for their location. What%26#39;s your criteria?

The downtown DoubleTree is located right across the street from Tufts/New England Medical Center, but I don%26#39;t think that%26#39;s necessarily a detractor. It%26#39;s within sneeze distance to the Orange Line, and it is a walkable distance to the theatres and restaurants in the area. In fact, you can cut through one of the side streets and be right at the Wang Center in minutes. Chinatown is close, too.

The Hilton Back Bay is squeezed in on a small side street next to the Sheraton and around the corner from the Prudential Center. Again, within walking distance to shops and restaurants. The Prudential and Hynes Convention Center stops on the Green line are close by.

It%26#39;s really a tossup as to which one. With such close access to public transpo it really doesn%26#39;t matter. Both locations are safe; you just need to use your city smarts when you%26#39;re out late.

Both locations are good convenience-wise. I would say the Hilton Back Bay is in a better area. But, wow, the difference in the price is unbelievable. Still, even $120 a night is a fantastic deal for downtown Boston. But, $39 a night is unbelievable!

While not horribly unsafe, the area where the DoubleTree is located is a little rougher around the edges. During the day and early evenings I would not worry a bit. Late at night I would be a little more alert about my surroundings than I would be where the Hilton is.

You have all been very helpful.

The visit with my Wife is purely tourism.

We have never been to Boston.

Im 30 and my wife 28.

Thanks again for posting, maybe you have more to add given the updated info.

Thanks again.

The are around the Doubletree isn%26#39;t too bad unless you are walking around late at night...after 11:00 or so. Up until then, there are a lot of people and traffic around and it%26#39;s relatively safe even after dark due to it%26#39;s proximity to the theaters that generally let out around 10pm.

It%26#39;s a short walk to the Green Line (Boylston St)and Orange line (New England Medical Center) stations, the Boston Common, Downtown Crossing and Chinatown. There are also a number of good restaurants and bars nearby.

The Hilton is close to the Prudential and the Prudential Mall, Newbury St, Copley Square and also a large number of great restaurants.

Either way, you%26#39;re very close to a number of points of interest in the city. Are you sure about that $39 per night? Even for the Doubletree, that%26#39;s extremely low. Read the fine print and make sure there isn%26#39;t some catch to that.

If it were me, I would be staying at the Back Bay Hilton. Much more enjoyable area than the Doubletree at the hospital.

While it may be hard to believe, that is the rate. I%26#39;ve gotten rates similar in Baltimore Harbor. Its a fantastic perk for knowing a relative in the bizz!

That said, is it worth another $80 per night to in at the back bay? Im thinking no. But it would be nice to have most sites and good resturants at our footstep. or more money on good wine and food.

Thanks all for your comments...

I think your dining and nightlife options are better downtown than in the Back Bay but again, we aren%26#39;t talking about a huge distance between the two hotels and they are both T-accessible.

I%26#39;d take the Doubletree based on price alone. Sure, it%26#39;s not the greatest of areas at night, but by saving $81 a night you%26#39;ll have plenty for a cab ride back to the hotel rather than a late-night walk or T ride.