<p>My D is planning to audition for next summer's Tanglewood Institute. We'll go to the live auditions at Boston U next Feb, and (obsessive as I am) I want to nail the hotel arrangements NOW. Any suggestions for hotels near BU? Any experiences w/how hotels feel about musicians practicing in their room?</p>
<p>BTW, we'll be driving. I don't know Boston at all, and hear it's like one of Dante's circles of you-know-where for driving and parking. We'll probably do a little sightseeing while we're there (after the audition's over LOL), and a tour of BU, but probably no other schools, since it will be a weekend....</p>
<p>I believe the Hotel Commonwealth is very close to BU (as is any hotel in the Kenmore Square/Fenway Park area). This hotel, though, is pretty expensive. There's also the Howard Johnson Fenway Park that may be more reasonable. You can also try the Doubletree Guest Suites Boston, or just across the river (easily accessible by bridge) the Hyatt Regency Cambridge.</p>
<p>Boston is a driver's nightmare, because streets are poorly marked. It is best to stay as close to BU as possible, although depending on the size of your D's instrument, you probably have to drive to the audition anyway. If she has a portable instrument, it is best to rely on our very good public transportation system, which is pretty easy to navigate.</p>
<p>Are you planning to drive? If so, there is a very nice Holiday Inn in Newton (about 12 miles Boston), just off I-95, that is located right beside a subway station. If your daughter has a portable instrument, this is a great option for price and convenience. We stayed there for several days for sightseeing in Boston while my son was at Tanglewood and didn't have to move our car at all the entire time.</p>
<p>Also, since trumpets are pretty loud, we usually ask at the hotel desk if there is a room available for my son to practice. I don't ever remember the request not being accommodated, and he has practiced in unused conference rooms, a fitness room, and once even the laundry!</p>
<p>I've stayed at both the Commonwealth and the HoJo Fenway. The Commonwealth is very nice but costs $195 a night. HoJo's is a dump by comparison and they charge $155. If you can afford the extra $40, go for the Commonwealth. </p>
<p>If you want to save a few bucks, consider the Holiday Inn Brookline, which is a lot nicer than HoJo's, not much farther away and about $140 a night. The Hyatt Regency just over the bridge in Cambridge is also pretty nice and just $120 a night. Note that all of these rates do not include parking (usually about $20 per day, but an outrageous $30 at the Hyatt) or taxes.</p>
<p>There are also a couple of B&B's on or near Beacon Street, not too far away and generally ranging from $100 to $120 a night. The Beacon Inn is one and I don't remember the names of the others off the top of my head, but a quick internet search should turn them up if you are interested. I was a little hesitant to go the B&B route because they were a bit vague about the parking situation, not having their own parking lots.</p>
<p>We never had a problem with practicing in the rooms, but then again the bass is not that loud an instrument. We found it very handy to be within walking distance of the school on audition day.</p>
<p>Fortunately we had relatives in Boston...but we did stay in many other hotels. We also inquired at the desk when we checked in and in every case, they were able to find a room for DS to practice in. I will agree with others...park your car and take the T...although my son's BU/BUTI audition was on a Sunday and the parking was plentiful along Commonwealth Ave right in front of the College of Fine Arts.</p>
<p>Thanks everybody for great suggestions! I think I will start by first investigating the Commonwealth, it seems closest to BU and maybe even walkable with a violin case. W'll definitely plan to let the car stay parked once we get there!</p>
<p>The Cambridge Hyatt Regency, Brookline Holiday Inn, and several BnBs on Beacon Street are all closer to the College of Fine Arts than the Hotel Commonwealth, which is near BU, yes, but on the other end of campus.
All are in walking distance, though, violin case or no. (From current BU violin student) The Commonwealth is a trek in the snow or rain.</p>
<p>We drove into Boston, stayed in a nice hotel (name brand, but I don't remember which) right next to the airport that we got pretty cheap by priceline.com, and took public transportation everywhere - which was really easy. This was 3 years ago, and we weren't visiting colleges, but I remember passing many of them enroute to other places. We were giving our car to relatives, and we flew home, which is why we wanted a place next to the airport. I do remember being charged quite a bit for parking at the hotel - like $20 per day. Wherever you stay, ask about parking fees!</p>
<p>Bet my daughter would sub-let her room at the Hyatt to you for ..lets say...$100 bucks per night....parking not included. Annoying roommate free of charge. JK</p>