Hotels

The search for a hotel turns some travelers into the human equivalent of the dog in the "Far Side" cartoon who hears only her own name ("blah blah Ginger blah blah"). Faced with a detailed description of a potential lodging, they see only what they care about: "upstairs from the meeting that starts at 7:45am," "awards me frequent-flyer miles," "across the street from the wedding reception."

Others shop by price alone. If that describes you, be aware that the average room rate in the Boston area in 2007 topped $200, occupancy rates are high and getting higher, and just thinking about hotel parking rates can cause a nosebleed. Nevertheless, bargains are out there, particularly at slow times.

Keep Boston's relatively small size in mind, and check a map before you rule out a location. Especially downtown, the neighborhoods are so small and close together that the borders are somewhat arbitrary. The division to consider is downtown versus the Back Bay versus Cambridge, and not, for example, the Waterfront versus the adjacent Financial District.

With enough flexibility, you probably won't have too much difficulty finding a suitable place to stay in or near the city. Year-round, it's always a good idea to make a reservation, and the earlier you book, the better your chances of landing a (relative) bargain. Definitely book ahead if you plan to travel between April and November, when conventions, college graduations, and vacations increase demand. During foliage season, the busiest and priciest time of year -- even more expensive than the summer -- plan early or risk staying far from Boston, or staying home.

Every hotel in this area accommodates both business travelers and families. That's not to say that you'll trip over a stroller in the elevator at a Hilton or a corporate takeover in the Hampton Inn lobby -- you'll find a mix of guests wherever you stay in Boston. But you may feel more comfortable at the Hilton while you're executing that takeover, and more comfortable at the Hampton Inn if the stroller goes with you everywhere.

The area's lodging options reflect Boston's random geography, with properties built from the ground up in the 21st century competing against hotels in business for a century or longer. Different establishments emphasize different features; don't assume that a certain hotel, even one that's part of your favorite chain, has every option you expect. If you must swim a mile every morning or order food at 4am or hold a meeting in a conference room with Web access, always check to see whether your hotel can accommodate you. If it can't, a comparable property almost certainly can.

Most of the major hotel chains have a presence in the Boston area. Many of the larger establishments share a certain sameness, but even that comes with a potential bonus: Hotels with a common corporate parent may offer some flexibility. For instance, if one Starwood (Sheraton, Westin, or Le Méridien) property is overbooked, management can whisk you off to an affiliate and save you the trouble of calling around.

Besides Starwood, other chains operating in and around Boston include leisure-oriented Best Western, Holiday Inn, Radisson, and Ramada; boutique-hotel pioneer Kimpton; luxury operators Fairmont, Four Seasons, InterContinental, Jurys Doyle (an Irish chain), Mandarin Oriental, Ritz-Carlton, and Sonesta; and business-traveler magnets Hilton, Hyatt, and (in all its incarnations) Marriott.

The scarcest lodging option in the immediate Boston area is the moderately priced chain motel, a category almost completely driven out by soaring real estate prices. And brands that are bargains elsewhere may be pricey here -- twice what you're used to paying, if not more -- especially at busy times.

Rates are for a double room; if you're traveling alone, single rates are almost always lower. The rates given here do not include the 5.7% state hotel tax. Boston and Cambridge add a 2.75% convention center tax on top of the 4% city tax, making the total tax 12.45%. Not all suburbs impose a local tax, so some towns charge only the state tax. These listings cover Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline.

Tips for Last-Minute Planners

You waited until the last minute and you can't find a room. What to do?

• Call the Hotel Hot Line (tel. 800/777-6001). A service of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau (tel. 888/SEE-BOSTON or 617/536-4100; www.bostonusa.com), it can help make reservations even during the busiest times. It's staffed weekdays until 8pm, weekends until 4pm.
• If you're driving from the west, stop at a Massachusetts Turnpike rest area in Natick, Charlton, or Lee and try the reservation service at the visitor information center.
• If you arrive at Logan Airport without a room reservation (you daredevil), ask the staff at the Visitor Service Center in Terminal C for help.