I figured I'd start in a city I'm very familiar with: Boston. A college town as packed with students as it is with historical significance--a great place to party and explore, but often expensive to do either. Here's my first list of places to snack and sleep...for cheap as f#$%. So you can save your money for the nightlife. I'm a cheap bitch, and I've learned how to work with that when I travel.
Good Food
Bukowski's Tavern is incredible. A rare scruffy place that you almost miss in sparkling prissy Boston (hiding in the shadows of the Pru Center and Berklee's campus) or Cambridge. It's unbeatable if only for taking its name from a liquor-guzzling poet, Charles Bukowski. Weekdays before 8 p.m. get a foot-long hot dog for $1.69.
First Wednesday of every month from 5 - 7 p.m., Faneuil Hall Marketplace food shops give free samples!!! Rad. Bring the downloadable flyer from the website to the Old Town Trolley info booth and get the “passport to savings” pack for places like McCormick and Schmick's where after buying two drinks, you can get a $2 cheeseburger. C'mon, you'd buy those two drinks anyway...
The Wine Gallery is great for the over-21 crowd. You can sample from 16 white wines, 32 red wine for FREE. No lie. Yeah... Now, it's probably not the classiest thing to get trashed on the cute 'burb streets of Brookline or Kenmore Square, but hey, no one says you can't start there and keep going elsewhere. The Kenmore Square location has beer tastings 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, wine 6 to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Sunset Grill and Tap (not the Cantina, it's other branch closer to Kenmore) is not the cheeeeaapest thing in Allston, but it's worth the extra few bucks (about $8-$15)...IF you can make a decision among the seemingly innumerable burgers, nacho concoctions, and various TexMex/American plates. HUGE huge beer selection--everything in the world I think. Pretty sure nothing was left out.
Anna's Taqueria is a local chain of good Mexican shtuff. I say good because, as a picky California who gets the cream of the crop of REAL Mexican food, the east coast stuff doesn't cut it. But people here love this stuff. I'd trust them. Even the SUPER burritos are under $5. In fact, everything is!
Personally, I prefer Boca Grande's mex. Just tastes better, in my humble opinion. They have a few locations, very convenient, such as at Kenmore and Coolidge Corner in Brookline.
Le's is a college fave in "Allston Rock City", though it appeals to more mature crowds, too. Great food of decent proportions, and low enough prices to fit within your budget.
Red Hat Cafe is a little-known place outside of Suffolk crowds. However, for those who do know it, you know it's THE place for burgers and beers around the Suffolk 'hood.
India Quality is just across the Mass. Pike from Fenway Park in Kenmore Square, and serves some of the best Indian food in Boston. The friendly service adds to the experience at this tiny restaurant. Lunch costs around $7-8, dinner around $12.
Dok Bua is a GREAT Thai restaurant AND very cheap. It's in a nice Brookline neighborhood, so I'd encourage a little exploring before/after you nosh here.
And I have to include my favorite local cafe-- 2nd Cup Cafe--on Brighton Ave in Allston. Not only are the prices decent (about $6-$7 for awesome sandwiches and Mediterranean plates), but the owner, who is always around, essentially forces you to try samples of everything from the soup he's cooking to the honey mustard sauce they make from scratch. The only great independent cafe in Boston.
Of course, I can't leave out local favorite, Spike's Junkyard Dogs. With hot dogs starting at $2.99, burgers from $3.99, the prices can't be beat. And the food, considering that it is all meat, is filling and satisfying, perfect fuel for thorough exploring of Allston or Back Bay areas. And for those of us who are strict veggies, they have veggie dogs too (along with chicken in various forms for the meatheads).
Sleep for CHEAP
The Beacon Street Guest House is no doubt the cheapest sleep spot in Boston, in a prime location no less. Right on Beacon at Massachusetts Ave. (Back Bay, near Berklee College and Newbury Street), it has a quite home-y feel with proximity to all the tourist must-sees. Double rooms from $79
The Caj House rents furnished apartments for week-long periods, for prices ranging from $390 to $550 depending on the rooms. Their beautifully furnished, comfortable rooms at affordable prices are great for anyone visiting Boston for a week.
The Coolidge Corner Guest House is an adorable "bed and bagel" in the suburb-like Brookline, at Coolidge corner, which is a mere 5 stops from Kenmore Square (and the stops are far too close to each other to make any sort of sense to anyone who isn't too lazy to walk 2 blocks). In other words, it's probably 1 mile from Kenmore, at most. Rooms are $79-$189, but February and March prices go down to $79-$99 for all the rooms.
The Farrington Inn has single rooms with a shared bath for $55-$65 and double rooms with shared baths for $75 ($37.50/person). Good deal, in nice location near Commonwealth Ave around Boston University.
The only hostel in Boston is the YMCA, with the Huntington Ave location being the most convenient. Single rooms are usually $50, but two twin beds costs $35 per person, 3 costs $30 per person, and 4 is $25 per person. Not bad, although for a few extra bucks per person, you'll find the guest houses provide you with a lot more comfort, convenience, and friendly assistance.
The Constitution Inn is yet another cheap local place--rooms with two double beds go for $99 online.
Lastly, for the unadventurous, the Comfort Inn has rooms with two double beds for $99 in April, but prices rise in July when the same room becines $139 (minus tax). Great deal for four people, but if there are two of you travelling, I'd go for the more authentic, local businesses.
Other Cheap/Free Boston Stuff:
Cheap Thrills Blog
Bostonist Blog
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