A Wicked Nice Place to Stay in Boston
Written: Aug 25 '01 (Updated Jun 15 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Ainsley Bed and Breakfast, The T, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Cons: Cold winters, and Ugh! Those accents!
The Bottom Line: There is so much to do in Boston. I have to come back and see the rest of it...including the Hasty Pudding.
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| miselainis's Full Review: Boston |
[Updated November 12, 2001 & June 9, 2002]
[Unfortunately, the Ainsley's web address has been deactivated. I don't know if this means the B & B is no longer running, or if they are having a real page developed. Make sure to call first!]
I planned a trip to Boston this past March (2001) for a class for my job. Unfortunately, the class was canceled the day before I left, but I decided to go ahead with my trip because I had never been to Boston before.
I was flabbergasted when trying to book a room. I knew it was expensive, but I found very little below $150 a night, and was getting pretty fed up looking online. Finally, I happened upon bbonline.com that listed a small b & b called "The Ainsley Bed and Breakfast." My room was about $130 a night.
According to my friends and every guidebook I looked at, I was advised above any circumstances, DO NOT DRIVE IN BOSTON!! My friends told me the drivers were all psycho, and the guidebooks told me about "The Big Dig." If you are unfamiliar with this phenomenon, let me tell you. The JFK Expressway (I-93) is in the process of being moved completely underground. And since it cuts a large swath right through the heart of Boston (and you have to go through it to get out of the airport area) this is a PAIN. A major construction project rivaling The Building of Rome. (And it wasn't done in a day, right?) People were telling me it was going to take 10 to 20 years to finish, I think? So do yourself a favor and take the T.
The T is Boston's metro system, and coming from Texas, where you have to drive everywhere (and never having been to New York), I was enthralled with the subway. I researched ahead of time and got myself routes for all the lines (red, orange, blue & green), and checked on fares. I got a 7 day Boston visitor pass for $22.00, which seemed like a great deal. If you want to do some research, check www.mbta.com (for Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority).
I loved everything about the Ainsley. It was impossibly close to the Back Bay T station (a block and a half away!), and convenient to everything-- Newbury Street, Boston Common, and the Copley/Prudential mall were all a short, pleasant walk. And it was a good thing because I landed in a pouring rainstorm, and at the time I had two amazingly heavy cheap old suitcases with no wheels. I ended up drenched by the time I reached the place anyway, but it could have been MUCH worse!
The smaller room that I stayed in was charming. Decorated in lovely beige and cream linens with a matelasse' coverlet and Egyptian cotton sheets, the sheer luxury of the bed was palpable. The mattress was a teeny bit soft, but the rest made up for it.
It had a typically Boston bay window w/a drop leaf table where I could eat my breakfast and watch the neighborhood. An armoire held the cable TV (tons of channels), and below it was a small refrigerator where I could keep my constant supply of leftovers from Bertucci's. I loved the bay because it was exactly the way I pictured Boston, and the neighborhood was exactly what I had hoped to be staying in. And although there was slight street noise (passing cars, folks walking right by the window), it wasn't loud, and the neighbors tended to be quiet and kept to themselves.
The bathroom had been renovated with black and white tile and a shower enclosure. Everything was spotless. It looked like someone had cleaned with a toothbrush, for goodness sakes. Since it was March, the room was initially a bit chilly because of the beautifully polished hardwoods, but the small wall heater finally began to work the room into a nice cozy warmth. The drop leaf table held a supply of Boston guides with shopping and restaurants listed, which turned out to be really handy.
The Ainsley has two other rooms (unusually for a bed and breakfast-- they have no names!). The first is larger than my room, and is decorated in blue toile wallpaper, antiques, and Oriental rugs. The other room is actually a garden apartment with its own terrace. All of the rooms have their own telephone/fax units and dataports. I'm not sure about any handicap access. There is a small walk-up of probably 5 or 6 stairs at the front of the building. I'm not sure if there's any type of back entry.
Breakfast was set out on the hall table for me in the morning, and consisted of a carafe of fresh coffee, a croissant and scone, a hunk of banana bread, fresh fruit, and orange juice.
You get a key to the front door to come and go as you please here. And from the front door, you enter a small vestibule before unlocking the door of your room. It felt almost as if this was my personal apartment.
Because I was here alone, I had to promise my husband I'd be in before nightfall every night. Although I desperately wanted to sample the Italian in the North End, I searched for a spot for some takeout and found the nearby Bertucci's. I fell in love with their food and became a regular during my stay, becoming highly addicted to the Tortellini Boscaiola and the Lemon Tartufos!
Although I felt completely out of my element in Boston (I didn't feel ethnic enough- seeing all the Irish bars and Italian restaurants, and witnessing a Greek parade down Tremont Street), I never felt unsafe or in danger. This area of town is a good one for travelers. The only time I felt a mite nervous was when I heard & saw some obvious Southie-type characters hassling someone on the T nowhere near my lodging. Being alone and knowing no one, I just looked the other direction and tried not to make eye contact so as to not irritate the folks in question.
One word of caution--practice climbing stairs for a few days before you plan for a T-heavy traveling/sightseeing experience. My second full day here my shins ached so badly I was really in pain. I'm talking the dull, heavy ache of true exercise. They throbbed for hours after my museum walk Saturday. But I did get a pleasant surprise when my husband (albeit a newlywed of 8 months, giggle) flew up and surprised me! And even though we could have gone to the North End during his visit, I literally couldn't limp that far I hurt so much.
The owner of the Ainsley, Bill Amidon, was very helpful and friendly. I'd feel great sending him some more business, especially since larger hotels lack the charm of this little South End spot. Definitely a bargain in high-priced Boston!
I was supposed to go to the Hasty Pudding in Cambridge on Sunday for brunch. I'd made an early reservation and everything. But because my husband was there, and really wanted to see the Paul Revere House (and he had to fly back that day). I agreed to go with him and skip brunch. Although everything I heard told me that the Hasty Pudding is wonderful. They've since moved from their original spot.
But Paul's place was a real glimpse into history. The house is almost hidden among all the little squares and clustered tiny streets of the North End. But they have filled it with furnishings that really reflect the mid-1700s and let you see what it might have been like. To think they almost tore this thing down years ago. What a loss that would have been!
The North End was really a revelation! All these little Italian men grouping outside HUNDREDS of little Italian restaurants and saying "Va Bene" and "Hey..Paisano.." I've seen that in the movies, but had never been anywhere that it actually happened. That's why I love traveling so much. Really getting to see things that are completely new to you!
The Ainsley Bed & Breakfast
72 Chandler Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
(617) 338-2193
Fax: (617) 426-4097
email: wamidon@prodigy.net
website: http://www.bbonline.com/ma/ainsley/
Bill & Pam Amidon, Innkeepers
Nearby Bertucci's:
39-45 Stanhope St.
Boston, MA 02116
Ph: (617) 247-6161
Fax: (617) 247-6162
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Singles
Best Time to Travel Here: Jun - Aug
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Epinions.com ID:
miselainis
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Member: Laini
Location: Rowlett, Texas, USA
Reviews written: 60
Trusted by: 15 members
About Me:
"Chagrinned and Bewildered"
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