**General:
I stayed here for my first month after moving to Boston for a new job, to give me time to search for a long-term apartment lease.
My goals were proximity to public transit and modest accommodations for a reasonable price. This stay met my goals., and I look forward to booking with Marie again in the future.
I lived out of two suitcases for a month with no space issues and cooked my own food multiple times a week using the provided utensils. Two or three bus routes stop across the street or a half block down on Bowdoin. The Fields Corner Red Line station is a 15 min walk down the street, but some of those bus lines connect there within 5 min. I work at Mass General Hospital and my commute was very reasonable (15 min walk, 15 min Red Line, 10 min walk to the building).
**Hostess:
Marie was kind and quick to respond to questions and concerns. One Sunday night the heater went out and Marie came over immediately and fixed it within one hour. She was timely in restocking supplies after I informed her we were low. I look forward to booking with her again in the future. When I inquired in January about booking, she asked if I was vaccinated for Covid, although I don’t believe a strict policy on this was included in the listing - keep this in mind and message Marie if you have questions about this, as she responds very quickly.
**Accommodations:
This room is on the third floor of a typical Boston house; the building is very old but perfectly functional. The third floor suite has three bedrooms (this room being one of them), a small main living/dining area with a couch and table; a small (full) bathroom; and a kitchen with gas stove/oven, sink, refrigerator, and microwave, cabinet space (one row in one cabinet section or each of the three tenants - probably 2x1x1 ft. Each). along with a few glasses, cutlery, knives and utensils (spatula, cheese grater, etc.), assorted pots and pans (including a kettle), and a large trash can.
The main area closet has several portable A/C units and fans for summer use. The kitchen closet contains cleaning supplies, a broom and dustpan, and several mops.
Everything in the kitchen is functional. Everything in the bathroom is functional, save the cold water tap of the sink (hot water works perfectly fine), which is a very minor inconvenience.
The bedroom contains a rolling chair, a small desk (comfortably fit my laptop, a dinner plate, and a drink cup), a standing lamp (with a flexible side lamp and a stationary top lamp, both very bright), a large air mattress, a 3-drawer dresser/nightstand, and a small trash can. There is also a small closet with a coatrack (and hangers provided), and a top shelf. This was useful for storing empty suitcases, dress shirts and coats, and my shave kit on the top rack. The bedroom is very large (10x11 ft.).
The air mattress was comfortable for sleeping (I have no problems with sleeping arrangements) and remained completely inflated for 3-4 days. Two sets of bedsheets are provided, along with a medium-thickness comforter and five or six pillows of various size and firmness. I could fit 7+ days of clothes (including thermals and hoodies/pants) in the dresser drawers.
Marie provides general house supplies, including toilet paper, paper towels, Clorox wipes, trash bags, bathroom cleaning solutions, and even band-aids. Tenants are responsible for bringing all trash down to the bins out back on trash day (Tuesdays), which is very minor.
The main thermostat is set at 74 but the temperature hovers around 62-66 (I was there in February). Each room has an independent radiator that can be adjusted.
There are three keys: one for the front door to the house, one for the door into the 3rd floor suite, and one for the private bedroom.
**Neighborhood and resources:
Regarding the neighborhood, it is a typical neighborhood although it is a poorer area in Boston and witnesses a greater frequency of car break-ins, but everyone is courteous and minds their own business. I never felt concerned or suspicious of anyone or at any time in the area, but I did remain aware of my surroundings. I carried a backpack down the street to and from Fields Corner station at varying times (7-10am, and 5-10pm) every day for a month and never had problems. My roommate was followed on one occasion from the bus, likely because he was carrying several bags, but this was the only questionable event he experienced in his 5 months living there so far. It is a typical neighborhood: there are individuals, parents with young kids, and kids coming to and from school during sunup.
There are two laundromats nearby: I used only Geneva Maytag as it was a 5-7 min walk down the street. They have huge washing machines that cost $7.50 per load (drying is $0.25 for 7 min; 28 min worked for my large loads), but I could fit a full two weeks of clothes (including winter layers) in one load with some room to spare. They have a quarter dispenser and everyone, including the couple who run the place, is helpful and respectful of your clothes (as long as you take them out when they’re finished!).
The neighborhood has many grocery stores and a few places for general goods. Coming from the house toward Fields Corner station, there are several convenience stores and supermarkets, and near Fields Corner is a strip center containing Price Rite, Target, Dollar General, and other similar stores. These were more than sufficient for daily/weekly groceries and various general-use items. There are many places to eat, especially in the area near Fields Corner station. There are many Vietnamese restaurants down the street, and there is a pizzeria and a new empanada shop a few blocks from the house.
**Overall:
This is exactly what I needed for my first month in