Please help plan our college tour this summer. We are in California and planning to visit schools in Boston and maybe we can also include NYU. Plan to visit Northeastern, Boston College, Boston University and Babson. We’d also like to go to NYU. Planning a second trip at the end of summer for UMichigan, NotreDame (any other school close by that has a good Business program) Any help is appreciated. Hotels etc…We are allowing ourselves one full week in Boston/NY.
Thank you!
What sort of accommodations do you prefer… higher end, budget, etc? I just toured NYU with D20 and we stayed at the Lombardy. It was comfortable, roomy, and well-located. Decor on the ‘genteel but aging’ end. Breakfast included. Not cheap but on the lower end for Manhattan. It’s just 3 short blocks from a subway line that goes straight to NYU, and also to Grand Central. (I also stayed at the Sheraton Times Square as part of a tour group right before that. More modern, probably pricier but I wasn’t paying directly. It’s right on top of a subway line but I think that one you’d have to transfer, or take an Uber to NYU).
@washugrad great question- we are looking for mid price. Courtyard pricing or something similar. Thank you for sharing 
My daughter is a student near Boston so we have visited regularly. Consider using Airbnb rather than hotels- we have found prices to be more reasonable and accommodations more fitting to our family’s needs.
The micro hotels, my son’s girlfriend’s family stayed at Pods and thought it was great, can give good value for NYC visits.
If you can schedule a visit to Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus, also in NYC, it might be a nice addition to your trip.
Be honest with yourself can you afford the COA at those schools. If you can’t I wouldn’t bother visiting. Student can still apply but spending $$$ on visiting places you can’t afford isn’t helpful.
But if you go to Boston then Brown is not a long drive to visit.
Amtrak is a nice way to and from those cities, Bolt bus is an inexpensive way (we live in the NYC area and my oldest’s boyfriend went to college in Boston). I have another daughter whose boyfriend attends Fordham in the Bronx, another school you might want to check out. NYU is known to be pretty frugal with the funds, Fordham is more generous. DH got his MBA from NYU on his company’s dime 15 years ago, a real benefit we didn’t truly appreciate at the time. Take time to check out both cities, both are great.
We are doing a similar trip next week and are staying at the Courtyard by Marriott Upper East sid and then taking the Amtrak Acela (3.5 hours) to Boston and staying at a serviced apartment by Stay Alfred. They have 5 or 6 different options in Boston. We needed 2 bedrooms so this worked out great for us.
for business schools in the Boston area have you looked at Bentley?
Hotels at both Boston and NYC are more expensive than most of other US metropolitan areas. I’d recommend that you use your employer’s corporate rates if available. From my experience they are better than those online prices.
Hilton midtown is generally very reasonably priced for NYC. Great location for touring and on a bunch of subway lines including for NYU and Fordham Lincoln Center.
We just did a college trip to Boston and stayed at the courtyard in backbay/Fenway. It was great - right next to BU. There is also a restaurant called Yardhouse across the street which was convenient.
I was going to ask about Bentley too.
We stayed at the Beacon Inn in Brookline when we visited Boston. It’s a restored brownstone, very convenient to BU, fun area, depending on your price range was more affordable than some other options. If you’re looking at UM and ND, consider visiting Indiana U and Kelley business school.
@cellomom2 Do you remember if the Beacon Inn Brookline charged for parking? We tried to get closer to BC but so many places charge extra parking. We stayed in Newton (or Needham) Homewood, parking and breakfast. But we’d like to try closer location next time.
I’m always surprised by how expensive the amtrak is from NY to Boston. The acela is more expensive, and supposed to be faster but look at the times when booking, it’s often similar.
I love both cities, and the subway and T are both easy and convenient. Both cities are great for uber, too, even if you’re in the suburbs.
Both cities have so many hotel options, I’d just pick whatever had the best price the time I was going on Kayak.
I would not rent a car in Boston – or for this trip. Uber and Amtrak are your friend – as well as the T and the subway.
For a cheaper option for NYU you can stay in NJ. Look into hotels in Secaucus, they have frequent bus service into Manhattan. It’s a quick trip. You’ll lose the NY vibe but save money.
@3sonsmom Yes, we paid for parking at the Beacon Inn, it was either $15 or $25 per day.
Look for a hotel close to NY Penn station. Our friends have stayed at the Marriott Courtyard, a 5 minute walk from Penn station. It is centrally located,very walkable to Sixth and Fifth Ave stores and many bus and subway lines directly to NYU and other NYC highlights. Extremely convenient if you are taking the train to/from Boston and to NYC airports.