Need help from Boston FBG's (1 Viewer)

[playin4beer]

FIL was diagnosed with mesothelioma a few weeks ago.. News is as good as can be expected. It's not into his lymph nodes and he's scheduled for surgery to remove the lung. The surgery is at Brigham's Womens hospital in Boston on may 10th. The problem we are having is finding accommodations for the family. Everywhere close is $250+ per night. Need some advice on hotels maybe a little bit away that would be cheaper or info on houses to rent. We would be coming in on May 7th and staying through the 14th.

 

[John Bender]

If you're not going to be going in and out of the city during rush hour, I recommend The Courtyard Marriot in Westborough, Ma (a 20 minute drive and right off of the Mass Pike.). I've stayed there dozens of times and the town is nice, safe, quiet with plenty of places to eat.

It's just a hair outside of 495. Everything inside of 495 starts to get very pricey.

 

[HellToupee]

I'm about 7 miles north of Boston and the Hyatt here is $175-200. Woburn, about 10-12miles N of Boston, offers a lot of choices -Red Roof,Marriott,Courtyard,BW etc. But coming into Boston by car from the north is a P.I.A. up until about 930AM.

Have you reached out the B&W about accommodations recommendations?

 

[HellToupee]

http://www.brighamandwomens.org/Patients_Visitors/accomodationsMain.aspx

Local Accommodation Information

Patients and Visitors

Overview

Find a BWH Doctor

Request an Appointment

Locations and Directions

Phone Numbers

Information and Resources for Patients

Visitors

Frequent Questions

Hotels with Hospital Discount Rates

These hotels provide hospital discount rates to family members of BWH patients:

Holiday Inn Boston at Brookline – 617-277-1200

Cost: $149.00 + tax per night

Address: 1200 Beacon Street, Brookline MA 02446

Distance: 1 mile

• Free Shuttle to BWH 7am–10pm

• Parking: $15 per day

• Free Internet and local calls

Inn at Longwood Medical (Best Western) – 617-731-4700

Cost: $169.00 + tax per night

Address: 342 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115

Distance: .2 miles, within walking distance of BWH

• Free Continental Breakfast

• Parking: $17 per day

Courtyard by Marriott at Brookline – 617-734-1393

Cost: $149.00 – $179.00 + tax per night (seasonal rates)

Address: 40 Webster Street, Brookline, MA 02446

Distance: 1.7 miles

• Parking: $24 per day

• Free Shuttle to BWH

Hampton Inn & Suites – 617-445-6400

Cost: $139.00 + tax per night

Address: 811 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02118

Distance: 3 miles

• Free Shuttle to BWH

• Parking $10 per day

• Free WiFi, pool, and fitness center

• Complimentary breakfast

 

[johnnycakes]

Might want to check out the Best Western TLC on Winter Street in Waltham, too.

 

[Rohn Jambo]

A couple more options

Longwood Inn

Beech Tree Inn

 

[Rohn Jambo]

http://www.brighamandwomens.org/Patients_Visitors/accomodationsMain.aspx

Make sure to ask for the medical rate.

 

[Murph]

Hotel Buckminster. Good budget hotel that's a 20 minute walk from the Brigham. But as others have said, if you have access to a car you might do better staying outside the city though.

 

[playin4beer]

Thanks guys.. My wife said she's been checking into the hospital rates and getting nowhere. I told her I had some "friends" in the Boston area. She said "your fantasy football website " and rolled her eyes. I'll show her..

 

[Furious Styles]

Call the Intercontinental, book a room and say you work for Bank of America. Rooms normally run 400 a night but BofA's corporate rate is 160 and change. Same thing at the Four Seasons, I've been doing it for years.

 

[Jefferson the Caregiver]

I'm about 7 miles north of Boston and the Hyatt here is $175-200. Woburn, about 10-12miles N of Boston, offers a lot of choices -Red Roof,Marriott,Courtyard,BW etc. But coming into Boston by car from the north is a P.I.A. up until about 930AM.

Have you reached out the B&W about accommodations recommendations?

Woburn is not a bad call, not too far. The Comfort Inn is $99 a night.

 

[southeastjerome]

Woburn isn't a bad call. Waltham is another area to look. Again, traffic would be bad until after 9am, but lots of hotel options and about 20 mins to Brigham.

 

[GregR]

Hope your FIL does well. Thumbs up to those giving advice.

 

[pittstownkiller]

Hope your FIL does well. Thumbs up to those giving advice.

Ditto.

 

[Rohn Jambo]

More ideas:

Link

Link

Link

Link

 

[HighBeams]

Stay away from north/south of Boston and look west along I-90.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Woburn might be the weirdest place I have ever stayed in all my travels.

Can't stand while you drink.

Only one pitcher of beer on the table at a time. (So you can't have two different brands of beer at once )

You can't buy beer with an out of state license if you're under 30 or some other weird restriction. (It's been 10+ years since Ive been there)

If you are form out of state they make a photo copy of your license if you order beer.

Other then that the place if fine, just some weird laws. I guess you guy were beyond raging alcoholics at one time or something.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Good luck playing 4 beer. You're a good man and I wish your family the best.

 

[johnnycakes]

One handy tool you may want to consult before making your final decision is the MBTA Trip Planner. Pop in the address for your point of origin and your destination, and it'll tell you how to get there from here. Depending on where you stay, it may eliminate the need for a car rental. Or not. Note that taxis can get expensive, so that would be Plan "B". B&W is not plumb-dab right in the middle of the city, though... if you're driving, you have to deal with the usual M***holes, but if you're staying along the route 128 corridor, you can can totally avoid downtown Boston, Back Bay, etc., where it can get hairy for foreigners. Otoh, if you're staying closer to the city, you may find the MBTA will suit your needs just fine, and you may not need a rental car.

 

[johnnycakes]

Call the Intercontinental, book a room and say you work for Bank of America. Rooms normally run 400 a night but BofA's corporate rate is 160 and change. Same thing at the Four Seasons, I've been doing it for years.

I used to do the same thing at Copley Plaza Hotel, only I would give the name of The Firm. Problem was, I really was with The Firm, working 18 hours per day, and just needed a place to crash next to the Hancock Tower. Got a room for $140/night and billed it to my clients. The regular hourly rates were so outrageous, the $140 went totally under the radar.

 

[playin4beer]

I'd just like to thank everybody again for all the help... My wife is understandably pretty worked up and worried about the surgery. Trying to find a reasonably priced hotel is not helping her.

She's called quite a few right around the hospital and asked for the medical rate. Seems like all the prices are triple what the were when they went there a few weeks ago for my FIL's consultation for the surgery. When she asked why the prices were so much higher, she was told "Graduation time".

I was looking into the Comfort Inn in Woburn that was mentioned. My only concern is driving through Boston to get to the hospital which is south, by Fenway. Would I be better off checking places south of the hospital and avoiding Boston all together?? Just looking at the map (and remember I know NOTHING of the area) should I look around Weymouth, Quincy area??

 

[southeastjerome]

Waltham hotels, 20 mins west of Boston:

Best Western averages around $115/night for that week you are looking: http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/US/MA/Waltham-hotels/BEST-WESTERN-TLC-Hotel/Hotel-Overview.do?propertyCode=22009&cm_mmc=PTI-_-local-_-feed-_-22009

Holiday Inn Express around $150/night: http://holidayinnwaltham.com/

Hilton Garden Inn around $150/night: http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=BOSWAGI

 

[southeastjerome]

If you're not going to be going in and out of the city during rush hour, I recommend The Courtyard Marriot in Westborough, Ma (a 20 minute drive and right off of the Mass Pike.). I've stayed there dozens of times and the town is nice, safe, quiet with plenty of places to eat. It's just a hair outside of 495. Everything inside of 495 starts to get very pricey.

Westborough would not be a bad place to stay, but it is NOT 20 mins to Boston, more like 40 mins to Brigham from Westborough.

 

[johnnycakes]

I'd just like to thank everybody again for all the help... My wife is understandably pretty worked up and worried about the surgery. Trying to find a reasonably priced hotel is not helping her.She's called quite a few right around the hospital and asked for the medical rate. Seems like all the prices are triple what the were when they went there a few weeks ago for my FIL's consultation for the surgery. When she asked why the prices were so much higher, she was told "Graduation time".I was looking into the Comfort Inn in Woburn that was mentioned. My only concern is driving through Boston to get to the hospital which is south, by Fenway. Would I be better off checking places south of the hospital and avoiding Boston all together?? Just looking at the map (and remember I know NOTHING of the area) should I look around Weymouth, Quincy area??

No friggin' way would I stay in Weymouth or Quincy. You'll catch some of the most horrendous traffic imaginable. Will you be driving? If so, and you stay in Waltham, you just go down I-95 South to Route 9 East. Route 9 east can get a little congested, but it's manageable, especially if you avoid rush hour. That drive isn't all that bad.

 

[playin4beer]

I'd just like to thank everybody again for all the help... My wife is understandably pretty worked up and worried about the surgery. Trying to find a reasonably priced hotel is not helping her.She's called quite a few right around the hospital and asked for the medical rate. Seems like all the prices are triple what the were when they went there a few weeks ago for my FIL's consultation for the surgery. When she asked why the prices were so much higher, she was told "Graduation time".I was looking into the Comfort Inn in Woburn that was mentioned. My only concern is driving through Boston to get to the hospital which is south, by Fenway. Would I be better off checking places south of the hospital and avoiding Boston all together?? Just looking at the map (and remember I know NOTHING of the area) should I look around Weymouth, Quincy area??

No friggin' way would I stay in Weymouth or Quincy. You'll catch some of the most horrendous traffic imaginable. Will you be driving? If so, and you stay in Waltham, you just go down I-90 South to Route 9 East. Route 9 east can get a little congested, but it's manageable, especially if you avoid rush hour. That drive isn't all that bad.

Ok.. Thanks. That's the kind of local info I'm looking for. It's looking like Woburn right now. We will also have some days to sight see, so any "must do" suggestions would be great.

 

[HellToupee]

Waltham hotels, 20 mins west of Boston:

Best Western averages around $115/night for that week you are looking: http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/US/MA/Waltham-hotels/BEST-WESTERN-TLC-Hotel/Hotel-Overview.do?propertyCode=22009&cm_mmc=PTI-_-local-_-feed-_-22009

Holiday Inn Express around $150/night: http://holidayinnwaltham.com/

Hilton Garden Inn around $150/night: http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=BOSWAGI

Waltham is also a good choice. My office is in Waltham and it offers a lot of great places to grab something to eat at night .

 

[johnnycakes]

Waltham hotels, 20 mins west of Boston:

Best Western averages around $115/night for that week you are looking: http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/US/MA/Waltham-hotels/BEST-WESTERN-TLC-Hotel/Hotel-Overview.do?propertyCode=22009&cm_mmc=PTI-_-local-_-feed-_-22009

Holiday Inn Express around $150/night: http://holidayinnwaltham.com/

Hilton Garden Inn around $150/night: http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=BOSWAGI

Waltham is also a good choice. My office is in Waltham and it offers a lot of great places to grab something to eat at night .

Holy crap. You're not in the Bay Colony Office Park, are you?

 

[John Bender]

If you're not going to be going in and out of the city during rush hour, I recommend The Courtyard Marriot in Westborough, Ma (a 20 minute drive and right off of the Mass Pike.). I've stayed there dozens of times and the town is nice, safe, quiet with plenty of places to eat. It's just a hair outside of 495. Everything inside of 495 starts to get very pricey.

Westborough would not be a bad place to stay, but it is NOT 20 mins to Boston, more like 40 mins to Brigham from Westborough.

Yeah - good call. NM

 

[Rohn Jambo]

If you're not going to be going in and out of the city during rush hour, I recommend The Courtyard Marriot in Westborough, Ma (a 20 minute drive and right off of the Mass Pike.). I've stayed there dozens of times and the town is nice, safe, quiet with plenty of places to eat.

It's just a hair outside of 495. Everything inside of 495 starts to get very pricey.

Westborough would not be a bad place to stay, but it is NOT 20 mins to Boston, more like 40 mins to Brigham from Westborough.

Yeah - good call. NM

30 miles. 44 minutes.Link

 

[wilked]

Embassy Suites in Waltham, no brainer. They have cooked-to-order breakfast, great value. Rooms are enormous, every room is a suite. Right on highway.

 

[playin4beer]

Embassy Suites in Waltham, no brainer. They have cooked-to-order breakfast, great value. Rooms are enormous, every room is a suite. Right on highway.

Except for the fact that it's $180+ per night.. we are staying 7 nights... really didn't want to spend $1400 on a hotel.

 

[mr. furley]

some of the hospitals around here (not boston, clearly) have rooms on the top floors for family. steeply discounted from local hotel rates.

maybe check in to that?

 

[Mr.Pack]

Good luck playing 4 beer. You're a good man and I wish your family the best.

This

 

[playin4beer]

Good luck playing 4 beer. You're a good man and I wish your family the best.

This

Thanks guys... I really do appreciate it..I don't post a lot, but I'm pretty much here every day. I get my news, daily entertainment and comic relief from this board. The funny thing is that this place has been pretty much a secret from my wife. If no other reason, just because I knew she'd at me chatting with a bunch of ifriends everyday. Between the failed lotto experiment and this thread, she now knows about FBG. And no, there won't be a Mrs. Playin4beer showing up on the Board... well unless one of you jackwagons started another new alias.

 

[playin4beer]

Anybody have any info or advice on Candlewood Suites/Boston-Burlington

My wife just wants to know if it's "clean".. also wondered about the area itself...

Thanks

Edit to add... not very good reviews on Tripadvisor....

 

[johnnycakes]

Anybody have any info or advice on Candlewood Suites/Boston-Burlington

My wife just wants to know if it's "clean".. also wondered about the area itself...

Thanks

Edit to add... not very good reviews on Tripadvisor....

Don't know anything about the hotel itself. According to the map, it's right next to the Burlington Mall, so the area itself isn't a bad area. You'll have a little longer drive to Boston than if you stayed in Waltham, but if you're saving $30 to $50 per day, that's a good trade. It appears they may not have much competition in that area, though (unlike in Waltham, where, if your hotel is slacking, they won't last long because travelers have lots more options), so that could explain why they aren't getting reviews as good as the Waltham hotels.

 

[playin4beer]

Hotel is booked for May 10th - 14th close to the Hospital... got a GREAT deal via PM from a FBG, MANY thanks.

The surgery date is the 10th, so my wife wanted to be close by on that date and after. Now we are looking for somewhere

to book for the 7th-10th.. These days will be used for driving her dad around and taking in the sights when he doesn't have to be at the hospital for pre-surgery testing.

For these dates we don't have to be "close" to the hospital as we won't be there much. Does anybody have any suggestions on place to see, things to do?? I love seafood, we'll have our four girls (6 through 14) with us, so something kid friendly...

Thanks again for all the help so far...

 

[Mr. Ected]

Heading to see grandparents this week for Spring Break with 3 kids 5-9. We are headed into Boston to hit the Children's Museum and the Museum of Science. I have been told by old friends with similar aged kids to avoid the NE Aquarium. It is in the middle of some renovations and thus is a hard trip.

Will post results when I get back.

 

[johnnycakes]

I was going to suggest the Golden Banana, but you'd want to leave the kids behind.

 

[playin4beer]

I was going to suggest the Golden Banana, but you'd want to leave the kids behind.

Looks like a place for me and the BIL's ...

 

[Deepster]

Take a Duck Tour. It's touristy, but your kids will absolutely love it and you learn/see a lot of the city. When the Sox won it in 2004, their victory parade was in Duck Tour boat/cars. It's a good time.

http://www.bostonducktours.com/

 

[mr. furley]

Hotel is booked for May 10th - 14th close to the Hospital... got a GREAT deal via PM from a FBG, MANY thanks.

to whomever did this playin4beer is a solid dude.

 

[playin4beer]

Hotel is booked for May 10th - 14th close to the Hospital... got a GREAT deal via PM from a FBG, MANY thanks.

to whomever did this playin4beer is a solid dude.

Thanks bud.. I appreciate it. And my "great" deal, turned into an UNBELIEVABLE deal. If this guy didn't wish to have it remain anonymous, I'd start a thread and show how incredibly awesome of a deal he hooked me up with. I'm speechless right now.... The burden of where to say and the cost of it are now taken care of. All of the focus can be on my FIL and helping him with this surgery.

 

[mr. furley]

sometimes this place is full of balloonheads and sometimes it's a really great community

 

[Rohn Jambo]

Hotel is booked for May 10th - 14th close to the Hospital... got a GREAT deal via PM from a FBG, MANY thanks.

to whomever did this playin4beer is a solid dude.

Thanks bud.. I appreciate it. And my "great" deal, turned into an UNBELIEVABLE deal. If this guy didn't wish to have it remain anonymous, I'd start a thread and show how incredibly awesome of a deal he hooked me up with. I'm speechless right now.... The burden of where to say and the cost of it are now taken care of. All of the focus can be on my FIL and helping him with this surgery.

whoever it is gets a big wet air kiss from me.

 

[BustedKnuckles]

Hotel is booked for May 10th - 14th close to the Hospital... got a GREAT deal via PM from a FBG, MANY thanks. The surgery date is the 10th, so my wife wanted to be close by on that date and after. Now we are looking for somewhereto book for the 7th-10th.. These days will be used for driving her dad around and taking in the sights when he doesn't have to be at the hospital for pre-surgery testing.For these dates we don't have to be "close" to the hospital as we won't be there much. Does anybody have any suggestions on place to see, things to do?? I love seafood, we'll have our four girls (6 through 14) with us, so something kid friendly...Thanks again for all the help so far...

Head over to Faneuil hall , lots of options and the kids will love it, then you can walk to the famous north end for some great food and pastries.

 

[playin4beer]

Been at the embassy suites in Waltham for two nights. Tonight is our last night there and then we go to the Hampton Inn in Boston. So far so good. FIL has surgery tomorrow. We've done quite a bit so far. Did the duck tours today, girls got to drive the boat. Looking at the freedom trail on Friday. Thinking about taking a drive to cape cod this weekend. Good idea or not? Once again thanks for all the info and help. And huge thanks to the unnamed FBG for the hotel hookup.

 

[playin4beer]

On a side note.. You people drive like lunatics! I've gotten beeped at and flipped off numerous times. I feel like Joe dirt at the oil pump. "I'm new here! I don't know what I'm doing!! "

 

[johnnycakes]

On a side note.. You people drive like lunatics! I've gotten beeped at and flipped off numerous times. I feel like Joe dirt at the oil pump. "I'm new here! I don't know what I'm doing!! "

Just cut people off and flip 'em the bird yourself. Don't take it personally. And it's kind of tough to get a traffic ticket around here on the highway, too. About the only things they'll ticket you for are (1) Driving down the breakdown lane, and (2) Driving way too fast WHILE cutting in and out of traffic. Things like turn signals... that's just providing information to the enemy. But take it easy on the local roads... they do run radar on the local roads from time to time. And the Lexington police will ticket you for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, fwiw. Not so much in Boston will they do this... but in the 'burbs, depending on how hoity-toity the town is... yeah, they will. BTW, the Embassy Suites is about 1.5 miles from where I work in Waltham.

 

[johnnycakes]

Been at the embassy suites in Waltham for two nights. Tonight is our last night there and then we go to the Hampton Inn in Boston. So far so good. FIL has surgery tomorrow. We've done quite a bit so far. Did the duck tours today, girls got to drive the boat. Looking at the freedom trail on Friday. Thinking about taking a drive to cape cod this weekend. Good idea or not? Once again thanks for all the info and help. And huge thanks to the unnamed FBG for the hotel hookup.

I'm not a huge Cape person, myself... but as no. 16 would say, things aren't crackin' there until after Memorial Day. If you wan to take a longer day trip, I'd go for Newport (RI) and the mansions.