Courtyard by Marriott Boston Downtown

The 315-room, 15-floor Courtyard Marriott doesn't offer rooms that you'd want to lounge around in, or a nightlife scene or a celebrated restaurant, or anything else that might qualify as a "hotel experience" -- nor does it purport to. The hotel knows exactly what it is: a budget option for business travelers looking to stay close to downtown, or leisure travelers who want to stay near Boston Common. If you plan on spending very little time in your room, and expect from your hotel only a comfortable place to crash, with a kind, efficient staff, then the Courtyard Marriott is a great option.The rooms have a sort of ketchup-and-mustard color scheme, and although they're quite small (ranging from 185 to 336 square feet) and have small windows that don't let in much light, they're well laid out, with just enough space where you need it. My bathroom wasn't cramped, the extendable desk provided plenty of workspace, and there was a big armoire (in lieu of a closet). The king-size bed was comfortable, with 300-thread-count linens. There are no minibars in the rooms, but there is a minimarket in the surprisingly large and theatrical lobby.Aside from the reasonable price, there are a number of other added values at the Courtyard: The hotel doesn't charge for Internet access (there is Wi-Fi throughout the hotel), whereas the slightly more expensive Doubletree across the street charges per day and the glitzy brand-new W Hotel next door charges even more. There's free coffee in the rooms and the lobby. And the breakfast buffet is free for kids 12 and under. Cribs and rollaway beds are also free, but one warning if you're traveling with kids: The standard king-size room isn't large enough to accommodate a rollaway; you'll need a room with two double beds.As far as budget options go in Boston, the Courtyard Boston Tremont is one of the best values you'll find. The location is great, as can be attested by its gleaming new neighbor, the W Hotel. And it's typically a good deal cheaper than the Doubletree across the street.- Free business center with two PCs and two printers

• 26-inch LCD flat-screen TV with CNN, ESPN, and HBO, but only a handful of other channels
• Basic fitness center with two treadmills, a stationary bike, and some free weights
• Daily fee for access to the YMCA next door, which has a pool
• Pricey valet-only parking
• King-size beds with 300-thread-count linens
• Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel
• Free coffee
• Minimarket in the lobby sells chips, sodas, Ben & Jerry's, and frozen dinners.
• Courtyard Cafe serves a breakfast buffet that's free for kids 12 and under; the full buffet includes eggs cooked to order.

The Courtyard Marriott has a phenomenal location in the heart of the Theater District, just over a block south of the Boston Common and the start of the Freedom Trail, as well the upscale shopping in historic Back Bay; the location is so prime, in fact, that a shiny new W Hotel opened just up the street (for a lot more money). Within walking distance are countless bars, some of the city's main theaters and concert venues, and plenty of restaurants and shops, including City Place Food And Shops, a sort of giant food court with P.F. Chang's, California Pizza Kitchen, Rock Bottom Brewery, Starbucks, and more.- Two nearby stops on the T (Boston's subway system): one directly across the street at the New England Medical Center, one a block North at the bottom of the Boston Common

• Just over one block to the 50-acre Boston Common, the country's oldest park and the start of the Freedom Trail
• 15 minutes via the T to Symphony Hall, the Museum of Fine Arts, and Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox
• Five minutes on the T or a 10-minute walk to the Financial District
• 12 minutes on the T or an eight-minute drive to TD Garden, home of the NHL's Boston Bruins and the NBA's Boston Celtics
• 15 minutes on the T or a five- to 10-minute drive to the New England Aquarium
• 15- to 20-minute drive to Boston's Logan International Airport