New England's largest convention hotel boasts a health club, a restaurant, 2 lounges, and an indoor pool with a retractable dome. Guests can stay in one of the 1215 rooms, including elegant suites with king-size sleigh beds dressed in down comforters. Rooms cost $159-400; discounted student and corporate rates are available. Reservations accepted up to a year in advance. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard. Nestled in charming and historic Back Bay, the Sheraton Boston Hotel is well-situated for visitors to Boston. Four miles from Logan Airport, the Hotel is close to the Financial District, Downtown Crossing, the scenic Charles River, many of Boston's favorite shops, restaurants, and museums, and only one block from famous Newbury Street. The hotel is also conveniently connected to the Hynes Convention Center and to 200 shops at the Prudential Center and Copley Place. The lobby of the hotel is the finish area for the Boston Marathon®'s Wheelchair Division. Volunteers will assist the official wheelchair entrants from Boston out to Hopkinton and then assist them again in Boston, once they finish the race.
Special room rates for the Boston Marathon® available through Marathon Tours and Travel.

Pricey for supposedly “budget” accommodations, the Greater Boston YMCA offers many perks including a swimming pool, a track, racquetball and squash courts, and coin-op laundry. Rooms are clean and equipped with TVs. Singles $46, with bath $66; doubles $66; triples $81; quads $96. 18+. $5 key deposit. Discount with youth hostel ID. No curfew. 10- day max. stay. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

A small-scale studio and 1-bedroom apartment complex in Back Bay, Copley House offers fully equipped studios for short-term residents, ranging from Queen Anne-style antique suites with oak floors and well polished furniture to more modern white walls and pastel carpeting. Conveniently close to the Copley shopping area and public transportation at the Prudential T-stop, this is an affordable option for visitors in the low season. Each of the 55 rooms includes a kitchenette, private bath, cable TV, DSL, and local telephone access. Parking is available for $35/week. Daily rates $80-135; weekly $475-825. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

Validated parking is available in the Westland Avenue Garage. This is a local grocery store with a difference. Formally the location of Bread & Circus - the Whole Foods company bought them up. Great produce and cheeses. Bakery turns out luscious items daily - try their vegan scones (I know sounds awful, but quite tasty). The store brand 365 is actually quite affordable. Whole Foods will also deliver your order (within a certain radius of the store). There is a enormous salad bar, sushi offerings and hot bar with daily specials so you can come in to pick up lunch then sit in the section with the tables in the front window or the outdoor tables. Large variety of prepared entrees and salads too.

Tired of Dunkin Donuts? Sick of selling out to Starbucks? Espresso Royale, with several locations around Boston, is a mini-chain in its own right, but doesn't feel cookie-cutter. The Gainsborough St location, uber-convenient to Northeastern and New England Conservatory, is the area's best spot for a caffeine fix, a bagel sandwich, and hours of free wireless and good ambience. There's delicious, well-made coffee and specialty drinks, a wide selection of iced and hot teas, and organic juices. Hungry? Bagel sandwiches, with bagels from Allston's Bagel Rising, come in lots of combinations, with plenty of options for the vegan and vegetarian crowd (don't worry carnivores, they still cater to you). Fresh pastries range from croissants to vegan cookies! The free wireless is pretty dependable, although if you don't log out and then back in before you hit 4 hours of time, you'll lose the ability to use the wireless the rest of the day, so if you plan on staying longer, keep your eyes on the time and log out before the end of that cycle. Waitstaff is usually young, pierced, tattooed, and generally friendly. Warning: if you're on your cellphone and get to the front of the line, they won't serve you and will most likely mock you. Music varies from shift to shift: world, punk, reggae, jazz--ask the baristas if you want to know what's on! Additionally, ERC (as its fondly known in the neighborhood) usually exhibits local art for sale--often overpriced, but great to surround yourself with while you hang out. It's a favorite spot for students, both undergrad and grad, musicians, local residents, and even families. If you go to NU or NEC, you're certain to run into at least half a dozen people you know if you stay longer than 10 minutes. During the week, there's little to no wait for food, drink, and tablespace, except for during finals. The lines and the wait for a sandwich can be terrifying after 11 or 12 on a weekend, however--come earlier, to revive after a night out or to start a day of studying, to grab a window table, coffee and a bagel, then let the peoplewatching and work (or distraction from) begin...

Several blocks from Newbury St., the Hilton features 385 clean, quiet suites, some with a breathtaking view of the river. Ask about weekend specials and Harvard discounts; the nightly $159-359 price is steep, but remember that most of it will bankroll the drunken antics of those delightful Hilton sisters. Roll-aways $20. Kids 18 and under stay free with parents. Small indoor pool and exercise room. There is also room for 10 bike spaces in the parking garage of this hotel. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard. Enjoy New England-style charm and sophistication at the Hilton Boston Back Bay. Ideally located in the heart of Boston's most picturesque area and historic Back Bay neighborhood - only 4 miles from Logan International Airport and right across the street from the Hynes Convention Center. Visit the website for more information. Special room rates for the Boston Marathon® available through Marathon Tours and Travel.

Titus Sparrow Park is in the South End between Huntington and Columbus Streets, next to the Southwest Corridor. It's a great family-friendly enclave secluded within the hustle and bustle of the city. They have tennis, basketball courts, a jungle gym and a grassy area that's perfect for a picnic. Also, the Titus Sparrow Park is a great spot to walk your dog (on-leash). Titus Sparrow Park was created in 1976, and after nearly 30 years of intensive use, the Boston Parks Department gave Titus Sparrow Park a major rehabilitation. Since reopening in 2005, the park is more heavily used than ever by all ages all over it -- sledding, rolling, sun-bathing, sitting, football and baseball games, and splendid children's programs and evening concerts in the summer. On a warm weekend the basketball courts, swings, play structures, and tennis courts will be packed. There's even a pet water fountain for all of the neighborhood dogs. Titus Sparrow Park is named for an active resident of the South End, Titus Sparrow. Founder of the Sportsmen's Tennis Club and the first African American umpire in the USTA, Titus Sparrow developed a progam that allows less fortunate children to learn the game of tennis for free. Today, the park is bustling with children and adults of all ages. The beautiful landscape and fun play structures make it a popular meeting place for nannies and parents alike. The South End is famous for it's parks, however, Titus Sparrow is definitely one of the nicest in the neighborhood. The park is primarily volunteer-maintained by the "Friends of Titus Sparrow Park." Currently, they need volunteers to help with gardening, graphic design, and public relations. For more details, see their volunteer page. There are 15 community gardens, open to residents of the four neighborhoods involved in designing the park.