Where To Stay BOSTON HARBOR HOTEL
70 Rowes Wharf, Atlantic Ave., Boston (617) 439-7000 (800) 752-7077, www.bhh.com Boston Harbor Hotel
This is a striking hotel with tremendous water views. The hotel's wonderful location is close to many family-oriented attractions such as the New England Aquarium and Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Kids will enjoy the large pool and adults will appreciate the large rooms with "Old World Style", the health club, babysitting services, the numerous discounts at area attractions and plenty of free parking. In addition to free tickets to the New England Aquarium, children receive robes and slippers, coloring books and crayons, and children's menus and the restaurants. Pets are also welcome at this hotel. $$$$
THE CHARLES HOTEL
One Bennett St. Cambridge (617) 864-1200, (800) 882-1818, www.thecharleshotel.com The Charles Hotel
The Charles Hotel's proximity to Harvard Square provides the perfect location for families with teens. There is a lot to do in this area, and the Harvard Square T stop is just a short walk away. For families with smaller children, the hotel provides complimentary services and amenities including: cribs and high chairs; toys (Nintendo, board games, mobiles and activity boards for cribs); VCRs and children's videos, a selection of children's books from the hotel library; cassette players with goodnight lullabies; and nursery monitors and night lights. The Children's Storyline is unique to The Charles Hotel, and delivers a selection of bedtime stories available in five languages through speaker access on the room phone. $$$$
Overlooking Boston's Public Garden, this luxury hotel does its best to pamper kids and parents alike. Upon request, the hotel provides children with their own fluffy child-size bathrobes, bedtime milk and cookies, video games, balloons, complimentary VCRs and children's videos, no-tear shampoo and a special kids room service menu. Parents will enjoy the large elegant rooms with special family rates, babysitting, and the helpful concierge who is happy to arrange family-oriented activities or provide duck food for trips to the Public Garden. Another added plus is the beautiful indoor pool and whirlpool overlooking the Boston Public Garden and Beacon Hill. $$$$
RITZ-CARLTON
15 Arlington St., Boston (617) 536-5700, (800) 241-3333, www.ritzcarlton.com The Ritz-Carlton
This hotel is certainly one of the most elegant in Boston. The location is excellent, close to Boston Common, The Public Garden with its beautiful swan boats, and shopping on Newbury Street. Kids can enjoy many of the year-round activities including lunches with kids' book authors, cooking classes, and many weekend specials. Parents can enjoy the spacious rooms and their "family suites" which include a childproofed bedroom/playroom filled with toys, books and stuffed animals. $$$$
COLONNADE HOTEL
120 Huntington Ave., Boston (617) 424-7000 (800) 962-3030 http://www.colonnadehotel.com The Colonnade Hotel
The Colonnade offers a number of family-oriented packages, including a "Duck Tour Package" available April through November and a "Kids See and Do" package which includes tickets to the Aquarium and the Children's Museum. Families receive a full American breakfast for up to four at the hotel's restaurant. This hotel also has many "kid-safety" features, including rubber stops on table corners, outlet covers, and playpens. During the summer months, families can enjoy the Colonnade's rooftop pool. Free overnight parking and a late check-out are also available. Pets are welcome too. $$$
LE MERIDIEN HOTEL
250 Franklin Street, Boston (617) 451-1900, http://www.lemeridienboston.com Le Meridien Boston
Located conveniently close to the Children's Museum, the New England Aquarium and Faneuil Hall. The hotel offers special family-oriented weekend packages, and an additional room for the children is available at a steeply discounted price. Le Meridien caters to children with a "treasure chest" of goodies at check-in, children's bathrobes, milk and cookies in their room, and Nintendo gear. The pool is available to kids, and the adults will enjoy the use of the health club. Children's menus are available in the hotel's restaurants. $$$
MARRIOTT LONG WHARF
296 State St., Long Wharf (617) 227-0800 (800) 228-9290
http://www.marriott.com marriott.com
This huge hotel is right next door to the New England Aquarium and only blocks away from great dining and shopping at Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Kids of all ages will enjoy the indoor pool and cable TV, and the health club is also available to guests. Ask about the special Friday-night family rate and weekend specials. $$$
ROYAL SONESTA HOTEL BOSTON
5 Cambridge Parkway, Cambridge (617) 806-4200 (800) SONESTA, http://www.sonesta.com/boston Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston
The Royal Sonesta is beautifully located on the Charles River, just minutes away from the Museum of Science and the CambridgeSide Galleria. Kids will enjoy the atrium style pool, and parents can enjoy the complimentary use of the health club. Milk and cookies are delivered to the room at bedtime. The Family Fun Weekends package include a accommodations for two adults and two children at a sharply discounted room rate, and the choice of four general admission passes to either the Museum of Science or the New England Aquarium. Packages are subject to availability and vary during the year, so check the website for the most up-to-date offerings. Don't forget about the bicycle rentals and boat rides along the Charles River. $$$
UNIVERSITY PARK HOTEL@ MIT
20 Sidney Street, Cambridge, (617) 577-0200, http://www.univparkhotel.com Hotel@MIT: Cambridge
The University Park Hotel provides contemporary tech décor at its finest, with original artwork from the MIT collection and armoires with circuit board inlays. All rooms include complimentary high-speed TI internet access, and in-room Sony PlayStations are also available for the kids. The hotel's restaurant, Sidney's Grille, features children's menus, and a special "Smart Family Package" is offered, providing reduced room rates, "techie treats" at bedtime, four tickets to the MIT Museum, and a full American breakfast at Sidney's Grille. Special summer weekend rates are also offered. $$-$$$
OMNI PARKER HOUSE HOTEL
60 School Street, Boston (617) 227-8600, (800) 843-6664. http://www.omnihotels.com Omni Hotels
This historic property has been a Boston fixture since 1856, and has recently undergone a $70 million renovation. The hotel caters to families with value-oriented family packages, a Kids' Program providing goodie bags at check-in, and cookies and milk for the children in the room. In addition, kids will enjoy the Nintendo 64 and cable TV services in the room, while parents enjoy the great rates and Freedom Trail location. Pets under 25 pounds are welcome, and children under 17 stay free in their parents' room. The Parker House offers good room rates and special values on many of the major hotel booking sites, so make sure to check these out as well. $$
BOSTON INTERNATIONAL AYH-HOSTEL
12 Hemenway St. (617) 536-9455
The rooms here are very clean and a great value at less than $50. Ask about the discount if you are a member of American Youth Hostels. The central location is convenient to many area attractions such as Symphony Hall, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Back Bay Fens Park. The staff members are very friendly and are an excellent resource for information on the area. $
CAMBRIDGE GATEWAY INN
211 Concord Turnpike, Cambridge (617) 661-7800 http://cambridgegatewayinn.com Cambridge Gateway Inn
Formerly the Suisse Chalet, this hotel is one of the best choices for budget lodging in the Boston area. Double rooms are available, as well as small suites with a king-size bed, a sitting area with a double sleeper sofa, microwave, mini-refrigerator, and private bath. Concord Turnpike is a very busy road, so be aware that rooms may have some road noise. $
