We will be visiting these colleges in this order and are not sure where to stay. We are traveling from NJ and will have a car. My husband is not very good at walking far. Here is our agenda for the week:
(1) Tufts (Medford, Mass)
(2) Boston University (Boston, Mass)
(3) Northeastern (Boston, Mass)
(4) MITT (Cambridge, Mass)
(5) Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester, Mass)
We were planning to stay somewhere near Tufts the 1st night (day before our tour there), but then are not sure where to stay when visiting BU and NE as it says you cannot park at the schools.
Any thoughts or recommendations?
Thanks.
Karen
PS. Also just realized that the week we are going (week of 4/9, its’ about a week before the Boston Marathan).
There are no hotels really near Tufts. For Northeastern, BU and MIT it would be best to stay in Copley Square and use the T subway. For Tufts you could drive out to Medford. Be aware that most of Tufts is on a hilltop.
@koliveri Disclaimer: I am not from Boston so my advice is based on having done a trip to visit Tufts, MIT and BU.
Is the order based on admitted students day schedules? The reason I ask is because if there is any flexibility in your dates and you are starting at Tufts, I would go to MIT next, followed by BU, Northeastern and Worcester. If you stay near Tufts you can stay at the same hotel two nights and go to Tufts and MIT. Move to a hotel in Boston for visit to BU and NEU. We’ve stayed at the Marriott in Copley Square. Plenty of options to choose from in Boston and you may want something closer to the schools. You definitely do not want to try to park near the schools. They are urban campuses so not going to have on-campus parking like a traditional college campus that has visitor parking.
You mention that your husband cannot walk far. I would check the box that asks if anyone will be in your group that will require assistance. I have a medical condition which can make a good deal of physical activity very difficult. I can comfortably walk 3 miles without any issue. I did have a difficult time at Tufts because it has a significant amount of stairs to climb.
I agree with recommendations to re-order your visits. BU and Northeastern are a good day’s worth, and taking public transport or asking the schools for parking accommodation for your husband is wise. MIT and Tuft’s are another day’s agenda, and leaving time to get to Tuft’s is key. We stayed at a hotel near the Common on our trip and did a lot of walking and subway riding to get a sense of the city, but I understand that might not be the most feasible option for you.
Driving separately to Worcester makes the most sense, of course, and Residence Inn on Plantation Drive in Worcester was nice and a decent deal when we stayed there last summer.
I mean no disrespect, but if your husband is not good at walking far, why is he visiting colleges.
A lot of good advice here. BU and Northeastern can be seen back to back. There is a 3 star La Quinta in Assembly Square Somerville, walking distance to the new Assembly Stop on the Orange Line so you would be able to get into Northeastern and BU that way. It’s also a short Uber over to Tufts from there too.
I can suggest that you ask the prospective hotel if they have a special lodging rate for XXX University that you will be visiting. I’ve done this in the past and received some pretty decent discounts.
I have a plan for you. I would recommend that you stay in only one hotel. One that is located on the T (Subway) and is fairly convenient to all things Boston. Free Parking is key. Easy access is too. Try not to drive in Boston when you do not have to. If you are close enough in town the T, taxis and Uber are not that expensive. I recommend the Hampton Inn Boston/Cambridge.
You can drive to Tufts quite conveniently. Otherwise, I would recommend public transport for the other schools. All except for WPI which you could visit on the morning of your departure before your drive back to New Jersey.
@ClassicRockerDad Just because someone has difficulty walking far does not mean they should have to miss out on the opportunity to visit the schools and help their child make decisions on what schools to apply to / attend.
I agree with MauraP’s plan and typed this similar one up but never posted it:
If you can afford $250/night or more, I would stay at the Boston Marriott Cambridge (which is at MIT/Kendall Square) for multiple nights. I’ve stayed there, it’s nice. You can park there. Be sure to check out the Microsoft NERD center as well, 11th floor (I think) has the best view of the Charles and it’s a great building with a lot going on your kid might be interested in. Free drinks from multiple refrigerators… From there I’d just take the T to BU and Northeastern, and it’s not a bad drive to Tufts, which you can do after you check out, tour, then head to WPI vicinity for the night .
Or, stay at any of the hotels near the Park Street T stop (I would try to Priceline it–Klimpton? Omni?). You’ll be right on the Boston Common and there will be plenty of great restaurants and non-school things to do (movie theater, real theaters, etc). From the Park St stop it’s very easy to take the red line to MIT, the green line to BU, or the red line opposite direction to a quick change to orange line to Northeastern. I say Orange line to Northeastern b/c the Ruggles stop comes out right in the center of campus–so convenient.
All of the schools have parking, it’s just a matter of finding it, actually (you’ll either be lucky or circle and wait, circle and wait), and the parking might not be anywhere near the admissions office, so T or uber/taxi is your best bet. Tufts is hilly with a lot of steps–your H might want to sit that one out. There is a set of intimidating steps from the parking garage to the campus as well. BU, NEU, and WPI are relatively flat. BC-- as long as you’re looking, may as well see that one too-- has some MONSTER steps, however, there’s an elevator somewhere there too if you do decide to see that school as well.
The week before and after the marathon is going to be hell for hotels. Book now. Prices will be very high right before and after Marathon Monday (if there’s even anything left) so you’ll probably want to be gone by the 15th at the latest .
We did this trip last spring. Side note, if looking at engineering, you’ll kick yourself if you don’t stop by Olin College. It is an amazing school and one many haven’t heard of. Parking at Tufts and MIT is super easy. Make time to visit the museum at MIT. We stayed in Waltham first night, got up and drove to Tufts, then checked into the Buckminster, walked to BU from there, drove to Northeastern and paid a lot to park by the art museum, so make time to go there too if you park there! Then stayed at the La Quinta to see MIT the next morning. Then visited Olin on the way out of town. Good luck!!
We stay at the Hyatt in Medford when we visit Tufts. Perfectly fine little hotel and not expensive by Boston standards. You will still need to drive to Tufts, which is 5 minutes away. I agree with trip plan suggestions above.