Boston University Orientation - lodging and general info

We will be visiting BU for orientation this summer. My son will be staying at the school, but my daughter and I will do the parent orientation and stay at a hotel. We will have our car, but are not real ';city smart'; What is the best way for us to get around and any suggestions for hotels? The hotel Commonwealth is supposed to be within walking distance of all BU things, but it is really expensive. I suppose we can do that, but perhaps someone else has a better idea.

Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.

Janet

PS... Anyone familiar with the area - is it safe for us to walk around (day and or night?) Thanks

Boston University Orientation - lodging and general info

I have an office directly across the street from BU, and it%26#39;s a very safe area.

You can book a hotel in almost any downtown location, since the subway Green line ';B'; trains run in front of BU on Commonwealth Avenue, making access really easy if you don%26#39;t book a ';walking distance'; hotel.

Don%26#39;t be deterred by your lack of city smarts, the subway is pretty easy to learn.

Boston University Orientation - lodging and general info

First, you%26#39;ll have to ';ditch'; the car. You won%26#39;t need it. You can walk or take the ';T'; everywhere in the city.

Boston is very compact and you can get to most areas very easily. Given that, you don%26#39;t have to stay in the otel Commonwealth. If you want to still be within walking distance of BU, then try hotels in the Copley Square Area. That will give you many more options. If walking isn%26#39;t your thing, then you can take the ';T'; even from Copley, but you could include the rest of te city as well.

And yes, it is safe to walk around. I always state here to use your ';city smarts'; like you would anywhere. Since you%26#39;re lacking these, here a few key points you should use no matter where you go:

- Be aware of your surroundings. Look around.

- Walk only in areas where there are other people

- Stay on well-lit streets

- Keep valuables, like cameras, out of sight until needed

- If a person or people look suspicious to you, cross the street or go into a store

- Know where you are and where you are going

AlanM

AlanM gives very good advice, but I do want to reassure you that the BU/Commonwealth Avenue area is very safe, among the safer areas you might visit in Boston.

I guess you are driving to Boston, which is why you will have your car. You might be best to stay a bit outside of Boston, so that you don%26#39;t have to pay to park it.

You could try the Hampton Inn on O%26#39;Brien Hwy in Cambridge. They have free parking, reasonable room rates, and it%26#39;s two blocks from the Green Line at Lechmere station, so it%26#39;s pretty easy to get to BU from there. You%26#39;d just have to get off the train at Government Center and wait right on that same platform for a B-Boston College train instead.

And as others have said, although it is excellent advice to always be careful wherever you go, the area around BU is very safe and usually full of people at all hours of the day and most of the night, too.

There is a Holiday Inn on Beacon St. in Brookline (an urban, yet very safe city). It is right on the Green Line, a short ride to BU. Parking is only $15 a day which is a bargain. Downtown hotels will charge $30 to $40. It would be worth looking into for your purposes:

ichotelsgroup.com/h/鈥elcome

I have a small question about BU.

Is there a store that sells BU merchandise around there somewhere? I have a Boston Terrier, so it would be pretty cool to get a Boston Terriers T-shirt, or something.

Thanks.

Yes. the Barnes and Noble/BU Bookstore is right in Kenmore Square.

Check into availability at Abigayle%26#39;s Bed and Breakfast. Beautiful building, reasonable rates, very close to B.U. and the Kenmore T stop for exploring the rest of the city. It%26#39;s a self serve, expanded contintinental breakfast of fruits, muffins, cereals, etc. No hot breakfasts. Parking for 1 car. It would be an ideal spot for you and your daughter to stay. Here%26#39;s the website if your interested.

www.bnbboston.com/boston-bnbs/b%26bs_4c.htm

If you stay in Brookline (which is a good area and good choice), I%26#39;d suggest finding a local B%26amp;B instead of that Holiday Inn, which is pretty rundown and in need of renovation.

Another couple of excellent B%26amp;B options to consider:

http://www.samuelsewallinn.com/

http://www.bertraminn.com/

You can park the car, walk to BU on a nice day, or take the subway if it%26#39;s raining.

Thank you ALL for your information! Any thoughts about the south end? Brookline next to copely square is a b%26amp;b - the Clarendon Square. It looks lovely, I think they can take my car. I am just nervous about the whole train thing. I know that sounds silly, but my husband is the ';map guy - navigator'; and he will be at home. They said that BU is just a few stops along the green line (whatever that actually means)or a short cab ride.

Can you get cabs easily? We would need to be at BU at 7am.

I appreciate everybodys help! This sight is always the best.

Any other tips would be appreciated.

Janet

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