Midrange
Kendall Hotel
350 main st., toll free: +1 866 566-1300, phone: +1617 577-1300, (http://kendallhotel.com/). an old firehouse turned into a cozy hotel.
Mary Prentiss Inn
6 prentiss st., +1 617-661-2929, (http://www.maryprentissin...). historic hotel with 20 furnished rooms serving made-to-order breakfast every morning.
Top end
Royal Sonesta Boston
A luxury 4-Diamond hotel on the Cambridge side of the Charles River offering city views, upscale accommodations, and fine dining. Also located across the street from the Cambridgeside Galleria mall and around the corner from the Museum of Science. During summer months, offers free shuttles around Cambridge and to Prudential Center and Quincy Market, free river cruises, free ice cream and free bike rentals.
Doubletree Hotel at MIT
20 sidney st., phone:+1 617-783-0090, (http://doubletree.hilton....). the doubletree hotel is no doubt influenced by the high technology around it and is one of the most state of the art hotels in the country. it features a distinctive, technology-influenced dã©cor, as well as high speed internet access and a well equipped business centre.
Le Méridien Cambridge-MIT
Le Méridien Cambridge-MIT is located along the Charles River on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Guest rooms include a collection of standard and suite accommodations with city or garden terrace views.
Bed and breakfasts
A Bed & Breakfast in Cambridge
1657 cambridge st., toll free: +1 877 994-0844, phone: +1 617 868-7082, (http://www.cambridgebnb.com). located just two blocks away from harvard yard, this b&b is noted for its simplicity and attention to detail. rooms are decorated in a charming colonial style and the room rates are reasonable. 5% of all proceeds go to the cambridge action fund, a nonprofit that helps the cambridge homeless.
Irving House Bed and Breakfast
24 irving st., phone: +1 617-547-4600, toll free: +1 877-547-4600 fax: +1 617-576-2814, (http://www.irvinghouse.com/). friendly staff ensure that your stay at the guesthouses here are comfortable and amiable. a full continental breakfast is provided each morning, as well as 24 reception and high speed internet access.
Antrim House Bed and Breakfast
16 antrim street, phone: +1 617-491-5677, fax: +1 617-491-4055, email: [email protected], (http://www.antrimhouse.com). family run guesthouse that offers a garden studio fit for two people only. innkeeper is also a reiki master, so be sure to ask her for a demonstration.
Harding House Bed and Breakfast
288 harvard st., phone: +1 617-876-2888 toll free: +1 877-489-2888 fax: +1 617-497-0953, (http://www.harding-house.com). this 1860's victorian house is a refreshing alternative to chain style hotels. offers 14 private rooms complete with full ensuites and kitchens. weekly and monthly rates available.
Lotus Place at Harvard
208 prospect street, phone: +1 617-504-5992 fax: +1 617-663-6284, e-mail: [email protected], (http://www.lotusplace.com). $120-$200. the location and price is unbeatable. the rooms are large and comfortable, and it's less than a 10 minute walk to harvard yard.
Budget
One budget option is to peruse craigslist.org Boston for temporary listings for people who are gone for a week or a month and trying to rent out their apartment. In the summer, you might find a bedroom for $200-300/week, which is a lot cheaper than a hotel.