La Quinta Somerville

We%26#39;re considering staying at the La Quinta Sommerville. Has anyone ever stayed there and if so, what were its strengths and weaknesses. Thanks,

La Quinta Somerville

Here%26#39;s what I know. It%26#39;s sort of a hit or miss place as far as cleanliness goes. Some people say it was fine while others say it was not so clean. I guess it depends on the particular person%26#39;s standard of clean and maybe what time of year you go. They may add additional staff in the busier, warmer months. One problem that seems to plague the property is it%26#39;s shuttle service. If you plan to stay out late in Boston, you may want to consider staying elsewhere. The shuttle shuts down early contrary to what they claim. I have heard of people having to walk the mile or so from the closest T stop at 10PM at night after the hotel claimed the shuttle would be available. Most shuttle hotels suck you in with the promise of shuttle service, but in reality, it%26#39;s more of a daytime service. The good side is the price. It%26#39;s certainly more cost friendly than staying in the city. Somerville itself is a blue collar working class city with mostly good areas and people. The hotel itself is very near the main highway, 93, and there%26#39;s probably not a whole lot happening there. That%26#39;s all I can tell you. Maybe someone else knows more in depth info on the hotel and where it%26#39;s located.

La Quinta Somerville

Pros: free parking, complimentary shuttle to nearby T stops, much less money than downtown hotels, good proximity to the highway for day trips

Cons: can%26#39;t walk out your door and walk to tourist sights, no quality restaurants nearby, feeling of detachment from downtown Boston

Stick to the hotel reviews here please, and don%26#39;t make uninformed comments on a neighborhood you obviously don%26#39;t know at all (except maybe to drive through)-- although no one seems to be giving first hand experience at the hotel either, just repeating what others have said and this poster could find on his own.

Cabs are easy enough to get from the Sullivan or Wellington stations or any other area station.

Somerville is NOT any longer a blue collar working class city any more than any other gentrified parts of the Boston area. There is, in fact, a lot going on artistically, musically, in terms of theatre, etc., etc. which might interest ';even'; a tourist.

And, as mentioned in a previous post, the restaurants are great, in particular the nearby Brazilian ones. I would rather have a piece of flavorful picanha sliced onto my plate right off the grill at Gauchao (quite nearby that hotel) than any pricey steak at Ruth%26#39;s Cris, Morton%26#39;s, Bonfire, or anywhere else!

Get to know the place before you knock it.

cantarelli, you seem a bit upset. The poster asked about the hotel in general and advice was given. Do you have anything more to add about La Quinta other than the nearby brazilian restaurants? You seem to know alot about Boston with an address of Brazil. Please share all of your knowledge without trying to put others down. :)

Florida Boy,

Look into both the Harborside Inn Boston or the Midtown Boston to be in a good location in the city to see all you want to see. The Harborside is right next to Fanueil Hall, while the Midtown is well, midtown close to the Back Bay and Downtown. Both are very reasonable and worth it money wise. Best of luck.

I%26#39;d rather be downtown...

Yes, Will, it%26#39;s one of the joys of the aviation age and telecommuting isn%26#39;t it -- but which TA%26#39;s software has not caught up with to allow acknowledging.

TA%26#39;s strength, though, is the first hand reports from folks who%26#39;ve personally experienced a hotel, for instance, or a restaurant, and the ease with which they can access that archived information without help.

It seems flaboy1 was still asking about this hotel after other posts where he was informed that it was not downtown. I myself enjoy exploring city neighborhoods on a trip, rather than just trekking around the tourist sights, so maybe he does too.

I do hope you have a pleasant stay in the Boston area wherever you end up, flaboy1.

However, when posters put something down without having direct knowledge (';The hotel itself is very near the main highway, 93, and there%26#39;s probably not a whole lot happening there.'; %26amp; ';no quality restaurants nearby';), you might expect a response from someone who knows the area other than from Google. The presence of the elevated Route 93 is not any better or worse than the elevated highway that ran through the tourist areas of Boston until recently. The hotel faces a vibrant, predominantly Brazilian neighborhood, so exploring it might be one thing to do, hence the restaurant recommendation. Culture through food.

What Google might have a harder time telling you is that also, within a few hundred yards of the hotel, are a pretty good pizza place (maybe better than the truck that serves the folks watching Little League at the park next door), a Spanish convenience store, a Salvadoran restaurant with great pupusas and yet another Brazilian store with fresh tropical juices and an assortment of savory snacks. In other words, the hotel is close to neighborhood life.

I also did a short summary of Somerville%26#39;s lively music, art, and restaurant scene in nearby Union Square and accessible Davis, on a couple of recent posts asking about Davis Square. The info%26#39;s out there on TA%26#39;s archive in case anyone--tourist, the recently transplanted or longtime resident-- feels like exploring the city with feet instead of fingers or tires.

Thanks to all who replied to our question about the La Quinta Somerville. Yes, we do understand that it is not in downtown Boston but the price for our 5 nights was very good..in fact, too good to pass up. We can pay for a cab in the evening if we return too late from the T to the hotel. Flaboy1

If you want any more specific info on the %26#39;hidden jewels%26#39; of the immediate neighborhood than already mentioned, I%26#39;d be happy to help. The major Boston area sights are pretty well covered by other posts. Have a great trip!