The Inn At Crystal Cove

Pros: reasonable rates, proximity to Logan, nice views of the water, well maintained, nicely decorated both inside and out.
Cons: small room, NYC sized bathroom, aircraft noise from Logan, front desk not 24 hours.
I would book this hotel again, either for wanting to be close to the airport or for a vacation. There are a few restaurants within walking distance, and there’s a bus stop nearby that will get you to the T.
On my visit they weren’t busy so I didn’t have trouble parking, but I can see why some other people had parking issues. The lot is small and a tight fit. That’s common to New England in general; The fact that the hotel has any parking and doesn’t charge extra for it is a plus.
The front desk is closed from 11 pm to 9 am. You pay in advance and drop your key in a box if you leave before they open. There is a number to call for help after hours.
You will climb a lot of stairs at this hotel. If there are elevators I did not see them. I wouldn’t want to come here with a big heavy suitcase. But the place feels like it’s in a small town, you’re right on the water, it’s impeccably clean, and you’re still close to the city. Check the place out.

We needed a quick room for one night in Boston… found this little gem in Winthrop, MA which was about 15 mins from Boston. The lady at the front desk was very nice and helpful. She gave us some info on restaurants that were close by. The room was charming and quaint. Very clean and provided everything you needed in the kitchen. ie utensils, pots, pans, plates, glasses. The hotel itself looks like it was recently renovated. We got some use out of the pool during our stay too. We will definitely be back to stay for a little longer!

Cute little place. Kind of like a BnB without the other B. They have several places on their property; Big Larry stay in the «Annex». Nicely appointed room, albeit cozy. Large peeps might call it cramped. EASY taxi ride from Logan, but don’t fall for the seven buck surcharge. This place is not on that route. Be vigilant, friends.
Pretty much right on the water and a great view of downtown at night. Got the wonderful smell of the sea which Big Larry founds invigorating. They have a small lounge area with a kitchen so you can cook yourself if you are so inclined. Several «meeh» restaurants within walking distance, but if you need calories, you won’t be wanting for sure. Blue line for going into town is not within walking distance, but they will call you a cab and the cabbies do not whine about the short fare so be sure to tip well if you are so inclined. There is also a bus, but Larry did not try that route.
They have a few apartments, so Larry bees guessing if you have little ones, that’d be the place fo you. Oh, book on line. The office is paper based, and on line netted Big and his buddy a forty buck diminishment in da pricing. Really slow internet, which decreases the rating. If you need to work, find another place. No elevator, so if ‘ya got bad hips, ask to stay close to the ground.
Not the Taj Mahal by any means, but a solid place for a good night stay

The Good:
Reasonable cost.
15 minutes from/​to Logan Airport ($ 20).
Well maintained Inn.
Pool and its across the street from the bay.
Balcony.
Some restaurants nearby.
The Bad:
No elevator, at least in the annex building that has 3 floors.
No heat/​cooling thermostat.
LOTS of loud airplane loud noise from takeoff and landing.
No shopping within walking distance.
Cabs must be requested.
No Kleenex in the room

Needed a room for the night before an early morning flight. So lucky to have found the Inn at Crystal Cove! Nice room, incredible view and pleasant common area with cooking facilities (which we didn’t need but appreciated). The staff were very helpful in suggesting where to dine and taxi service. Close to airport but didn’t hear planes. If you have a choice, try not to be in a room next to the stairway. Other travelers were very noisy coming in later in the evening. Regardless, we’d go back in a heartbeat!

First, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and had no major issues whatsoever. I would recommend it to others other than few minor points below:
1. Parking is very limited. On 2 of the 3 days I got back to hotel after 11 PM and luckily had a really small convertible that could barely fit in last spot and I crawled out through top. So if you have a car be cautious.
2. We had a great room with kitchen and view if the bay which was awesome. The bad part was the bathroom was way too small. NYC small.
All in all great trip.

I have stayed at the Inn at Crystal Cove twice with my partner, and we love it there. The staff is super friendly and accommodating, and the rooms are always clean and comfortable. I would recommend this hotel to anyone traveling to the Boston area, as the subway is a quick cab ride away, and we never had trouble getting around. (Shout out to Patrick a.k.a. Kayla the best cab driver in Winthrop).
Rooms are modestly sized, and the price can’t be beat for a place to stay in Boston. If you plan to drive into the city, traffic can be a pain getting there and back, but it’s not horrible. The staff was very kind and welcoming, and took customer services very seriously. Also, when we stayed last (most recent was May 2014) they had just finished renovations to the building, adding a very cute living room area in the lobby of the main building.
The hotel offers a full kitchen if you chose to cook for yourself, or if you just feel like a cup of tea in the middle of the night. The area was always very clean (unsure if a product of the staff or if other guests were diligent about cleaning up their messes) which was a big plus for me.
Bottom line, I love this hotel, and would recommend it to any friends if they plan to stay in the Boston area.

I love this place. I only stayed one night, but I wish it could’ve been longer. I don’t understand why people only give this place 4 stars. if you compare hotel prices in the Boston area with what the room rate is for THIS place, there’s no contest. Most hotels in the city go for $ 250 – 400 a night. I got a deal on a room here for $ 109/​night through
. And it’s not that hard to get into the city from here! A cab costs about $ 6 – 9 to get to a blue line. Take the blue line right into the city. Easy peasy.
My room was pristine and lovely. I had a balcony overlooking the water. The Inn boasts a beach on one side, just a block away, and the marina on the other. The neighborhood, full of cute little Cape Cod-​style homes, is quiet and safe, with lots of neat, homey restaurants and diners just a few blocks walk away. Everyone here is super friendly. The people who work here are really nice. The only negative was that I couldn’t check into my room early. I had to wait until the official check-​in time because the maid had to clean 18 rooms. But hey, I have probably just been spoiled by the big chains who have tons of help and don’t mind if you check in early. That downside was really nothing, given all the wonderful things about this place.
They even have a swimming pool, although the weather was too cool to swim during my stay.
I will definitely be back! The woman at the front desk told me the rates don’t really change in the summer, which makes this place an even BETTER deal!!!

Unilocal isn’t the best place for hotel reviews but I wanted to reach out to those who arrive in Boston with a car and want to avoid driving into town or paying high parking fees. We stayed at the «Inn at Crystal Cove» (600 Shirley St.) in Winthrop-​by-​the-​Sea and paid $ 111 a night in mid-​September including all taxes. It was perfect for our needs. The little town of Winthrop is actually quite charming, a seaside village really, set on a narrow spit of land separating the Atlantic from Boston Bay. Completely safe, cute, quiet, and a world away from the madness that is Boston. In fact, we drove around the area and thought to ourselves that if we had to live in Boston, this would be the place to get a house. The local food options aren’t fancy, but they include the fabulous Belle Isle Seafood (an amazing lobster roll!) just as you cross the bridge into Winthrop proper as well as some locals’ spots that are friendly and reasonably priced.
The Inn is older, but it’s set up perfectly for travelers. In fact, most of the people we ran into were savvy Europeans who seemed quite comfortable there (the inn must be listed in U.S. travel guides in a lot of languages). There is a large modern and well-​equipped common kitchen for people to use (very European!) and the rooms, while decidedly not modern or large, are quite serviceable. The free Wi-​Fi connection is strong and stable, which was critical for us. The view across the bay towards Boston is lovely, especially at sunset. There is a small pool (which we never tried) and the staff is professional and helpful.
The Inn at Crystal Cove is perfect for someone with a car: It’s 20 minutes from the airport (all on side roads), parking is free (though the lot is a little tight), and the T subway Blue Line at Orient Heights or Suffolk Downs stations is 10 minutes away. Two people could spend the day in Boston for a total of $ 15 (two $ 5 round trip tickets on the subway plus five bucks for parking at the T station). We did meet a couple from British Columbia who arrived from Logan via a taxi and planned to use the Inn to visit Boston without a car. Certainly doable… the Inn is walking distance from the Winthrop Ferry (which is a very cool way to make your way into Boston) and though the Ferry doesn’t run at night, one could return via Blue Line to the Orient Heights station then catch the surprisingly frequent Winthrop bus that runs until midnight from the station all the way to the front of the inn.
Would it be more convenient to stay in downtown Boston? Absolutely. But if you are looking for the next best thing in order to save hundreds of dollars, this comfortable little place in Winthrop will do the trick. If I’m ever in the area again with a car, it’s where I’ll stay for sure.
Nick in Palm Springs