Cheap extended stay in Cambridge

September 19, 2009 11:13 AM

(Very) Cheap places to stay in Cambridge, MA, for about 7 nights?

Inbetween some conferences I'm spending a couple of weeks in Cambridge, and while I am sleeping on friend's couches for part of that time, I'd rather not infringe too much :). It really only needs to be a bed and a shower (but clean, quiet preferably).
For mid-Oct, places near MIT ideal. And I'd rather not couchsurf, thanks!

posted by paulesque to travel & transportation (12 comments total)

Are you at all flexible with the area in which you'd stay? Somerville, Everett and Medford would be much cheaper, hotel-wise, than Cambridge proper. If you don't mind taking a bus to where you need to go (or if you have alternate transportation) there are motels that aren't all that bad just as crash places.
posted by xingcat at 11:51 AM on September 19

Sure, anywhere reachable by bus or the T would be great.
posted by paulesque at 12:09 PM on September 19

The Econo-Lodge in Malden is right off Rte 1, the bus goes by, and I know you can get a room for $40 or less per night if you go through Priceline.
posted by xingcat at 12:20 PM on September 19

What about a hostel?
posted by Pants! at 12:49 PM on September 19

What about a hostel?

How about Boston Hostel. A 15 minute walk from MIT.
posted by Xurando at 12:52 PM on September 19

MIT has some suggestions.
posted by oinopaponton at 2:28 PM on September 19

You can stay in Cambridge at the Cambridge Gateway Inn, which is within walking distance to Alewife T stop, for about 80 bucks per night. I mention it because it shows up in Internet searches and the price is right.

It seems clean enough, and it's a good price. However, it's on a busy highway and it's currently housing a number of otherwise homeless families through a state program. That doesn't mean it's a bad idea, but you should be aware of those two points if you stumble across a listing for it.
posted by Mayor Curley at 3:50 PM on September 19

In your planning, you should check when the Head of the Charles regatta is (which usually coincides with MIT parents weekend); it's sometime in mid-October, and prices go up for that weekend.
posted by madcaptenor at 4:06 PM on September 19

There are several motels by the Alewife T which tend to be cheaper than anything else in Cambridge.
posted by paultopia at 9:07 PM on September 19

There are several motels by the Alewife T which tend to be cheaper than anything else in Cambridge.

The Gateway is cheap, and shabby, but the guys who run it are good eggs. The Best Western at the Fresh Pond shopping center is not cheap, even by Cambridge standards (you can almost always get a better deal at the Sheraton Commander and always get a better deal at the Harvard Square Hotel).

I don't know what other motels you're thinking of here?
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:43 PM on September 19

I've stayed at A Friendly Inn, which is just off the Harvard campus, near the Peabody Museum. Good rates and really cute. I don't know if it's cheap enough for you, but it's definitely between hostel and hotel in both quality and price.
posted by The Michael The at 4:26 AM on September 20

Great, thanks for the suggestions everyone!
posted by paulesque at 8:51 AM on September 20