First the good:

Staff at front desk was great! Very helpful and professional. Breakfast was decent. Location was good for a walk into Medford. The shuttle to the "T" train into Boston was always available and on the pick-up back to the hotel, always prompt after we called for a pick-up.

The room was fine, but we were given a "physically impaired" one, which was a little awkward with the room layout not being as nice as that of our friends who got a regular room. This situation might have been because it appeared that the hotel was full due to Tuft U. parents' weekend and maybe some other events.

Which brings me to my only serious complaint- the price! We were charged $300/night, (through Expedia), and this was the "rack rate" posted on the back of the door. The price is way too high- should have been in the $150/night range. Another slight problem was our trying to use the "T" system into Boston- the staff should explain to everyone being shuttled to the transit system how to use the automated vending machines with the "Charlie" cards, etc. Would have saved us a confusing time at the Medford station which is unmanned.

That is why I am giving this only 3 stars.

Food Sniffer

This place is a bit expensive, but it's a bargain compared to most others in the area. The rooms are enormous, and there's a free shuttle that will take you anywhere in Somerville/Medford anytime you want, which was extremely convenient. The breakfast leaves something to be desired - there are a lot of options, but everything on the hot side looked downright gross. That said, the more conventional continental breakfast items were fine. I'll definitely stay here again.

This is a great option if you want to avoid the out-of-control Boston hotel prices. FREE and plentiful parking, free wifi, 10 minutes drive to Logan airport, spacious rooms, walking distance to some decent restaurants and pharmacy - perfect! If you don't want to drive into the city, the hotel shuttle can help, or you can easily take a bus from very close by into Davis Square and transfer to the subway.

My double room was enormous by Boston standards, with a nice comfortable lounge area, huge TV (swivel to either beds or couch area was handy), desk, and small kitchenette with mini-fridge and sink. Plenty of room to spread out and I liked the throw blanket to use on the couch. Beds were clean and comfortable, really nice pillows. The only thing that needs some work are the bathrooms - there was some mildew on the tiles, rust/poorly repaired bits in the shower, etc that were below the standard of the rest of the room. Road noise from the highway could also be a problem for some - they really need soundproofing on the windows. If you are a light sleeper, bring earplugs because even with the fan going, traffic was still audible throughout the night. Breakfast was nothing to write home about - there is inadequate seating and the whole thing was so cramped that I decided it wasn't worth the effort just for an English muffin and skipped it the rest of my stay to eat elsewhere. Finally, I would suggest adding the security feature of making elevators accessible only to keycard holders. The hotel is very busy and has access from adjoining parking lot that can't be monitored - keycard access to elevators would provide an additional level of security, although I stress I didn't feel unsafe at any time.

On the positive side, staff were extremely friendly - lots of young, energetic people who made a great impression! Overall, I think this hotel is a gem - rooms are at least 1/2 the price you would pay in downtown Boston, and much bigger. Throw in the free parking and this is a great choice!!

TIP - for inexpensive and delicious Mexican food, try Tenoch. It's a 5 minute walk down the same side of the road as the hotel - excellent food, dinner for under 10 bucks!

We were looking all over for an affordable Boston-area hotel to stay at for our nephew's wedding. We had tried several of the consolidator sites and even tried bidding for our 3-night stay, but nothing came to fruition until we started poking around on actual hotel sites. We came across the Hyatt Place in Medford and we were pleasantly surprised at what our nightly rate was going to be by pre-paying for our stay. We read other consumer reviews of the hotel and decided to give this hotel a try.

We were flying in late and needed to make sure that we wouldn't encounter any issues with the hotel by checking in so late. When we arrived at the hotel, the man at the front desk (we think his name is Steve), was very cordial and helpful with great sense of humour.

Our room was pleasant, with a kitchenette - something so many hotels lack. The only "weird" part about the room was that the bathroom vanity and sink were part of the sleeping area.

The bathroom did need some attention: The floor tiles were separating from the grout; the tub had wear in the enamel and had a granular substance on the bottom; mold appeared to be growing in the corner of the shower stall. The wallpaper was beginning to peel as well. Also, it didn't appear as though the toilet paper holders had recently been cleaned as there was a lot of old dust build-up on the toilet paper holder. But overall, it was better than it could have been.

The Hyatt Place promises a hot breakfast included with the room rate, and it delivers on that promise. Guests can choose from the standard continental breakfast items to the hot skillet offerings. There's always someone from the staff keeping a close eye to ensure that guests are not without. Because breakfast is served buffet-style, the kitchen area can become crowded, but, again, overall it was better than what I've experienced at other hotels.

The only down-fall of the Hyatt Place is that they don't offer an airport shuttle. It's definitely something that I think could be of great service to guests when flying. They do, however, offer a shuttle to the subway which is available to guests between 7am - 9pm.

The Hyatt Place is a quick and easy drive into downtown Boston. The location of this hotel for the price makes this a smart pick for any traveler who is looking for a clean and comfortable hotel. For those traveling by car, the hotel offers complimentary onsite parking. Another plus.

Enjoy your stay in Boston!