Boston hotel rates are notoriously expensive, soaring higher at times than even New York City, LA, and San Francisco.  So can you save money by considering suburban hotels outside of Boston for your next visit?

Maybe, maybe not.

Boston hotel rates do drop outside the central city neighborhoods - Downtown, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Fenway, the West, South, and North Ends - and suburban hotels may be even cheaper. 

But before you rush to book a hotel on Boston's outskirts, consider this:  the hotel may be far from a subway station or other public transportation.  In fact, it may be so far away that even an economic car service such as Uber or Lyft will cost you more for a round trip into the city and back than you'll save, not to speak of the chunk of your precious vacation time you're wasting while sitting in Boston's always-snarled, often-gridlocked traffic.  

And if you're planning to drive your own car into Boston, you'll spend the same or more time in traffic (Boston's one-way streets always delay the unwary) plus you'll spend an unspeakable amount of money on ski-high Boston parking fees.

So . . . if you want to save money by staying at a hotel outside of Boston, follow this simple strategy:  choose a hotel within walking distance of a subway station.  We'll show you some of the best.

Top photo: Studio Allston Hotel on the outskirts of Boston

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Hotels Outside of Central Boston near Subway Stations

You don't actually have to venture far outside of Boston to start saving on lower hotel rates.

Take a look a few of our favorites, starting with one that is just 5 minutes by subway from Downtown Boston.

The Row Hotel at Assembly Row near a Subway Station (& the Mystic River)

Harborwalk along the Mystic River, just a 1-minute walk from The Row Hotel
Harborwalk along the Mystic River, just a 1-minute walk from The Row Hotel

360 Foley Street, Assembly Row, Somerville

The Row Hotel by Marriott anchors the Assembly Row shopping/entertainment complex in Somerville just to the north of Boston, and is just steps away from the Orange Line's Assembly Row T (subway) station.  Hop on, and you'll be in Downtown Boston in 5 minutes.

Dazzling modern architecture in a brand-new building, an indoor swimming pool with private cabanas, and a relaxing roof terrace are just a few more reasons to love The Row Hotel.  You're also next to parkland along Harborwalk, which borders the Mystic River.

Best of all, the hotel puts you right at the center of the exciting Assembly Row shopping/entertainment complex, yet just a 5-minute subway ride gets you to Downtown Boston.

Hilton Garden Inn Boston/Brookline

700 Brookline Place, Brookline

With 174 guestrooms and a convenient location on the Brookline/Boston border close to top cultural attractions, universities, and Fenway Park, Hilton Garden Inn Boston/Brookline offers an indoor swimming pool and fitness center, onsite dining, and shuttle service to nearby Longwood Medical Area. 

If you're driving into the city from the west, you'll appreciate the hotel's convenient location close to the Mass Pike (I-90) and Route 9.  Valet parking is available for an affordable (for Boston) fee. 

Best of all, once you're at the hotel, you'll have lots of transportation options at your fingertips. 

Just hop onto the commuter rail, subway, or bus and you'll be at Fenway Park, the Museum of Fine Arts, Northeastern University, Simmons University, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Harvard Medical School, and Boston's world class hospitals in Longwood in 3-10 minutes. 

Or walk, and enjoy the many coffee shop/bakeries, restaurants, scenic parks, and friendly vibe in Brookline.

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AC Hotel by Marriott Cambridge near Alewife Station

Summer Shack near the AC Hotel by Marriott Cambridge
Summer Shack near the AC Hotel by Marriott Cambridge

10 Acorn Park, Cambridge

At first glance, there's no obvious reason to stay in this sleek new AC Hotel on the western edge of Cambridge unless a work trip brings you to the business/research park where it's located. 

But here's the "hidden secret" lure of the AC Hotel Cambridge for Boston or Cambridge visitors:  it's just a 5-minute walk to Alewife Station on Boston's Red Line, which gets you to Downtown Boston in 20 minutes. 

The AC Hotel Cambridge is also a great option for anyone visiting Harvard - about a 10-minute ride from Alewife. 

A couple of good restaurants, including a suburban branch of celebrated Boston chef Jasper White's Summer Shack seafood restaurant, are located next to the station.

And the hotel itself is lovely, with plushly comfortable guest rooms and well-equipped suites, stylish public spaces, and a tranquil outdoor terrace.

You do sometimes need to book well in advance here in order to get good rates, as the hotel is popular with visitors to the nearby offices and research labs.

Freepoint Hotel, Cambridge - Also near Alewife Station

220 Alewife Brook Parkway, Cambridge

Freepoint Hotel in West Cambridge is also close to Alewife Station on the Red Line - about a 10-minute walk. 

Located in a strip mall, the Freepoint looks rather non-descript on the outside, but inside has a bright modern vibe and large comfortable rooms. 

In addition to an onsite restaurant, a Whole Foods is located almost next to the hotel in the shopping center, and several small restaurants are across the street. 

AC Hotel Boston North in Medford near Wellington Station

95 Station Landing, Medford

You can usually find attractive rates at the AC Hotel Boston North in Medford, especially considering it's location only a block away from the Orange Line's Wellington Station, about a 10-minute ride to Downtown Boston. 

You can also enjoy the indoor saltwater swimming pool, the hotel's location on the scenic Mystic River (look for the swans that inhabit this part of the river, especially in the fall), and most treasured of all Boston hotel amenities:  cheap parking!!! 

Studio Allston Hotel - Walk (Or a Short Uber or Lyft Ride) to Harvard T Station

1234 Soldier's Field Road, Boston's Allston neighborhood

Studio Allston Boston is a boutique hotel overlooking the Charles River and Herter Park - close to Harvard Stadium (site of Boston Calling music festival) and the Head of the Charles Regatta, as well as Harvard University, Harvard Business School, and Boston University's West Campus, and is about 3 miles from Downtown Boston.

You can expect affordable rates (usually), spacious rooms with vibrant art by local artists, a Cuban-themed restaurant and bar with music, and a fun vibe. 

No public transportation nearby (unless you walk about a mile to the Harvard Square subway station, which is actually a pleasant walk), but assuming you avoid rush hour traffic, a car service ride such a Uber or Lyft to central Boston and back will cost a lot less than parking in the city for the day.

Cambria Hotel in South Boston - Near the Broadway Station on the T's Red Line (& the St Patrick's Day Parade)

Rooftop deck overlooking the Boston skyline at Cambria Hotel
Rooftop deck overlooking the Boston skyline at Cambria Hotel

6 W. Broadway, South Boston

With a seasonal rooftop bar with fantastic views and a convenient location across the street from the Red Line's Broadway Station (less than 5 minutes to Downtown Boston, although it's also an easy walk), the Cambria Hotel offers lots of value in the newly trendy South Boston neighborhood (a.k.a. "Southie"). 

You're also near the Boston Convention Center, and all the Seaport restaurants and nightlife along the Harbor.  

And if you're coming to Boston for St Patrick's Day, you're directly on the route of the famous St Patrick's Day parade.

The hotel's 159 guestrooms offer floor-to-ceiling windows and upbeat contemporary decor. 

If you're visiting Boston before or after a cruise, you'll appreciate the shuttle from the hotel to the cruise ship terminal on the waterfront - no need to even take the T!

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Compare with other South Boston and Seaport Hotels

More Boston hotels:    All Boston Hotels   -   Newest Hotels   -   Deals & Discounts   -   Theatre District Hotels   -   Boston Marathon  -   Hotels with Fireplaces   -   Seaport/CruisePort Hotels   -   New Year's Eve Packages   -   Inexpensive Hotels   -  Discount Hotels  - Back Bay Hotels   -   Hotels near Fireworks   -   Hotels with Outdoor Pools   -   Faneuil Market Hotels   -   Valentine's Day Packages   -   Downtown Boston    -   Park & Fly   -   Airport Hotels  -   Waterfront   -   Seaport   -   Historic Downtown  -  Suburban Hotels  -  Fenway Park Hotels  -  TD Garden Hotels  -  Gillette Stadium Hotels  -  Financial District 

How to Save at Boston's Airport Hotels

Concourse at Boston Logan Airport
Concourse at Boston Logan Airport

Did you know that Boston Logan Airport's location just across Boston Harbor from the city means you can get Downtown in only 7 minutes by water taxi? 

So if you're looking to save money by staying outside of Boston, airport hotels are a good option to consider. 

The water taxis stop at a variety of points around the Boston waterfront, including CruisePort, so even though they cost a bit more than the subway, they can be a very convenient option.  (Find out more about water taxis here.)

Logan's onsite Hyatt and Hilton hotels usually offer significantly lower rates than those you'll find at most Downtown hotels.   Find out more

Hotels a mile or two from the airport are even cheaper.  Getting to Downtown Boston from these hotels is cheap and easy:  take the hotel shuttle to the airport and then hop on the water taxi or the subway (Blue Line to Aquarium, or Silver Line to various Seaport stops and South Station). 

Alternately, take an Uber, Lyft, or taxi - it's a short ride unless you hit rush hour traffic. 

Find out more about how to save at Logan Airport hotels

Brookline Hotels near the Green Line

In case you're not familiar with Brookline, it's a small city adjacent to Boston's western edge near Boston University and Boston College (which is actually in Newton). 

Brookline is a middle-class-to-.1% type area (Tom Brady and Giselle Bündchen lived here for awhile) with lots of excellent restaurants, small shops, and leafy neighborhoods.

Although the Green Line "trains" (actually trolleys) are notoriously slow, Brookline is close enough to Central Boston so that you don't have to cover much distance. 

These Brookline hotels and inns are near Green Line stops, but depending on the weather and how you feel about walking, Brookline is close enough to the city so that walking is also a good alternative if the Green Line's lazy pace makes you impatient.  

We list the hotels in order of proximity to the city, with the first one being the closest:

  • Arcadian Hotel Boston (corner of Beacon and St Paul Streets) - easy walk to Boston University, Longwood Medical Center area, and even Fenway Park and the Museum of Fine Arts
  • Courtyard by Marriott Boston Brookline - near Beacon Street, and right in the heart of Brookline's Coolidge Corner neighborhood, which is filled with lots of terrific restaurants, boutiques, and the well-regarded (by film fans) Coolidge Corner Movie Theatre
  • Beacon Inn - Near Beacon Street and the Washington Square area - near several good restaurants and the highly regarded Barcelona Wine Bar
  • AC Hotel by Marriott Boston Cleveland Circle - As you can guess by the name, in the Cleveland Circle area on the western edge of Brookline near the Chestnut Hill Reservoir and Boston College

Find More Cheap Hotels In & Near Central Boston

We're going to move on to hotels farther outside of Boston in the next section - but first, use this hotel map to find more cheap hotels near subway lines near Central Boston.  For example, check out prices for small inns and B&Bs in Cambridge. 

While some are pricey, others are more affordable.

Enter your travel dates to find cheapest rates for available hotels, apartments, and inns:

Booking.com

More about how to save on Boston hotels

When Hotels in Boston's Suburbs Make Sense

Sometimes, you may be planning a couple of Boston activities plus other excursions outside of the city. 

At other times, hotels in Boston and Cambridge book up due to conventions, graduations, or even seasonal events such as fall foliage.  This is when looking for inexpensive hotels in Boston's suburbs may make sense, especially if you can find one near a T (subway) station or just a short Uber or Lyft ride away. 

Good areas to try are Lexington, Waltham, Newton, and Needham.  They're reasonably close to the Mass Pike (which comes into Boston from the west), Route 128 (which circles Boston), and Route 2, which goes to the Alewife subway station on the Red Line. 

Here are the trade-offs you should know about:  The Lexington and Waltham hotels are not within easy walking distance of the Red Line, but once you get to Alewife Station (the closest to all these hotels), you'll typically be downtown at Park Station within about 20 minutes because the distance is short and the Red Line is (relatively) fast. 

Although you can fairly easily reach various Green Line stations in Newton (more about that below), but the Green Line "trains" in reality are above-ground trolleys and are considerably slower than the Red Line trains.

Here are several attractive hotel choices in each of these areas:

Lexington Hotels

Co-located at the same site, both of these Marriott hotels feature cool design and great amenities. 

Element targets the extended stay market by providing fully equipped kitchens in each studio and suite, whereas Aloft goes for a trendier, higher-tech style. 

Both will take you about 12-15 minutes to drive (or uber) to Red Line/Alewife station, assuming normal (non-rush hour) traffic:

Waltham hotels:

Perhaps 12-15 minutes to Red Line/Alewife station, assuming normal (non-rush hour) traffic:

Newton hotels:

These Newton hotels are close to the Massachusetts Turnpike, and to Green Line subway stations. 

Although the Green Line is notoriously slow (it's really just an above-ground trolley on rails), it is still faster, easier, and of course much, much cheaper than driving and parking downtown.

Needham hotel:

Not too far from Mass Pike, but you'll need to take an Uber or Lyft to a T station:

Is Staying Outside of Boston Worth the Savings?

Is the savings worth the time, inconvenience, and cost of having to commute into town by subway or Uber, or worst yet, drive in and park? 

That's a question that only you can decide.   

But if you aren't sure, take a look at these options for finding cheap hotels in central Boston:

Whatever you end up deciding, enjoy your time in Boston!


More Articles about Hotels in Boston

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