Question: I'm looking for some recommendations for a hotel in Boston for
the marathon next April. Something in reachable from the finish
area by subway. Any hints for a nice place to stay? It would be
nice with a price below US$ 100 per night. The flight from
Sweden is expensive enough.
I'm applying for the 2003 marathon and realize that I may not be
selected in the lottery. I've decided that I would like to go ahead and
take the trip to New York even if it's just to watch the race. I've never
visited the city before.
Does anyone have any recommnedations on hotels? I don't really want the
least expensive place. Good location in regards to the race is important to
me, but I'd rather not stay in the most expensive spot either. If there's
anything else that I need to know about this event I'd love to hear from
those of you who've done it.
Answer:
I booked my room two weeks ago at the Hilton (usually okay) in Dedham MA.
The hotel is only 20 minutes from downtown Boston, maybe 30 minutes by
train, BTW, the train stop is within walking distance from the hotel. I got
a good deal, $67.00 a night, I'll be there three nights.
If you are interested, the hotel's phone number is 781-329-7900 tell 'em
your friend (moi, Bernard Leveille) got that rate, ask if you can get it
too, you should get it, unless it's sold out.
Consider going to priceline.com or one of the other such net services. My
girlfriend has to be in NY for the marathon (she is working not running) and
got a hotel room for $120 USD per night in downtown near Central Park. You
could get lucky. Hotels are a bargain right now although on a special
weekend like Boston, you might be harder up.
I ran the NYC Marathon last year (2002) and I stayed at the Hilton New York,
about 1/2 mile at the most from Columbus Circle--I stayed here because they
offered a military discount on the room that was cheaper than the * marathon
rate* advertised by the marathon organizers. I also wanted to be relatively
close to the race finish in Central Park, so that I wouldn't have very far
to walk in case I had to walk home after the race.
I'd stay there again the next time I run NYC--the place also has *very
reliable* room service, which was also important for me the evening after
the race when I was recovering, and at the same time packing to return home.
There are also others closer to Central Park, but by and large they are more
expensive and did not offer a military discount.
That said, I won't be running NYC (or any other marathon) until I'm able to
finish under 5 hours--the long wait at Fort Wadsworth before the race,
coupled with a long time running, makes for a very long day. I think
Chicago is a better course (no hills at all to speak of) for a slower
runner, and since it starts/stops in the same place there's not the
transportation hassle as in NYC, a point-to-point race.
