Description: I have found a B&B in Boston that is going to change me from a day-trip only visitor to a weekend guest: the
Irving House at Harvard.
As much as I love Boston, I rarely stay there overnight because hotel rates are so high - to find economical rooms, you usually have to go out to the suburbs, which then requires use of a car. My favorite part of Boston is Cambridge, anyway, so I was delighted to come across this guesthouse, close to Harvard University and with easy access to public transportation.
Located at 24 Irving Street, this inviting B&B has all the basic amenities a traveller could want: hearty breakfast, daily newspapers, wireless Internet (and a common room computer if you didn't bring your own), free local phone calls, coin laundry facilities, central air, museum passes, guest refrigerator. (Not all rooms have TVs, however - only those with private baths.)
With over sixty years' experience, the staff here make you feel warmly welcomed - it felt more like staying in somebody's home than a hotel. The inn is clean, bright, and warm, making it a lovely and cozy place to come home to after exploring Cambridge and Boston. The neighborhood it is located in, on the northeastern side of Harvard, is away from the noise and bustle of Harvard Square, but within 10-15 minutes of easy walking distance from the restaurants and shops.
Irving House has earned a spot among my favorite B&Bs, and I look forward to returning here on my next trip to Boston.
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Irving House is part of the Cambridge Inns group, which also includes Harding House (288 Harvard St., Cambridge), and for those looking for longer-term accommodations, Turner House. The Irving offers several types of rooms, ranging from single twins with shared baths, to queen/twin combos with private bath that can accommodate up to four. Rates range from $75-255 for most of the year, with peak rates (Commencement Season in mid-May/early June; Head of the Charles Regatta in mid-October) of $190-375. Check their website for possible specials. Front desk is open 24/7.
Limited parking is available. Note: parking is tight, so if you have a larger vehicle, you will want to park on the side slots, and not in the back.
Irving House is HCP accessible.
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