Boston-ish Hotel Tips

[n8littlefield]

Hey there - I'm looking ahead to next year in March when the Penny Arcade Expo comes to town. Any tips for hotels that are on the T that might be out of town a bit more and therefore cheaper? I'm coming down from Maine for it but how many nights I stay depends on the hotel price (taking the Downeaster train in).

 

Any ideas?

[tremoloman2006]

Are you willing to drive or does it need to be walkable from the T?

[phaxda]

When I was living in the area, my parents would often stay at the Somerville Holiday Inn on Washington. It's not a bad walk from the T and they run shuttles all the time. My parents usually got a $99/night special with no trouble and really liked it there. Their other favorite was the Hawthorn Suites in Arlington; it's right over the Cambridge line and easy to catch the Red Line into Boston from there. The Holiday Inn is closer and cheaper, and the Hawthorn was a little nicer with more room.

 

Hope this helps--hotels are expensive there! We did find that it was not worth it to be too far out of town. On their first visit my folks stayed somewhere close to the commuter rail and the train fare they wound up paying was about as much as they saved on the room so it was kind of a wash.

[christianscott27]

Check out the Midtown Motel on Huntington Ave. Its not fancy but its right in the city and its clean.

[bcprs1]

I was looking at the PAX east webpage and I'm curious what exactly goes on at this expo?

[n8littlefield]

Thanks for the input all. Yes, I was trying to avoid driving simply because I hate driving in Mass (I'm originally from a small island off the coast of Maine - city driving scares me!) and because I love riding trains.

 

The expo itself is a combination of panels with geek-type folks (game designers, comic writers, etc), exhibitors like game companies with playable demos, concerts, gaming tourneys, bring your own pc areas, and board/rpg/card games. I've been jealous of it every year so now they are having an east coast version I can't resist.

[Waterborn]

Thanks for the input all. Yes, I was trying to avoid driving simply because I hate driving in Mass (I'm originally from a small island off the coast of Maine - city driving scares me!) and because I love riding trains.

 

The expo itself is a combination of panels with geek-type folks (game designers, comic writers, etc), exhibitors like game companies with playable demos, concerts, gaming tourneys, bring your own pc areas, and board/rpg/card games. I've been jealous of it every year so now they are having an east coast version I can't resist.

 

If you don't mind a little commute each morning, I suggest staying somewhere in the burbs and taking the T into town. Both hotels and parking will be much cheaper.

 

As for the Expo itself, if you have the chance to go, DO IT. You will not be sorry. I was actually at one of the PA public advisory gatherings for PAX_EC and am very excited about attending this expo. I am also working to set up a post-expo event for the Saturday of the Expo, so stay tuned for details.