We found Dennis's place to be a great launch pad for a week in Boston including a half-dozen college tours. It provided the needed space for our family of three. No-contact entry was easy. Beds and linens were comfortable. The living room gave us a nice place to stretch out when needed, and we used the dining room table to take a few work calls.
The condo provided excellent access to the T, which we used every day. As other reviewers have shared, it truly is a three-minute walk to get to the train. (FYI, in case you are stair-averse, there are 36 stairs to get to the station - that got our blood pumping first thing each morning.) The red line was great - it goes through many of the major stations so you can get almost anywhere very quickly. We took the train to a game at Fenway easily with one transfer to the green line - it took about 40 minutes door to door. If you are going to be in Boston for a week and plan to use the T, we highly recommend getting a Charliecard - about $22 for unlimited rides. I couldn't tell online on the MTBA site exactly where to buy them, but it turned out we could buy them right from the machine at the JFK/U Mass station. Easy and a good value for us.
The condo is in a neighborhood that is residential and quiet. We always felt safe walking around, including at night. There is a lot of home renovating happening in the area (including next door) but it didn't bother us in the least. Dennis provided great suggestions for places to eat both within walking distance and in Boston, but I can add that one night when our feet were tired from walking, we came "home" early and went to an Irish pub (The Banshee), which is about two blocks away from the condo. We sat in their outdoor parklet and it was a nice, relaxing evening with reasonable pub fare when we wanted something easy. We also discovered Sugar Bowl Ice Cream & Coffee (857 Dorchester Ave), which was an easy walk to pick up breakfast sandwiches, bagels or muffins and delicious iced coffee. They open at 7. Glad we could support local small business several mornings.
Other general tips and suggestions (as of July 2022), if you are going to the JFK Presidential Library, be aware that it is only open Thursday through Sunday. If you are interested in the history of Massachusetts or politics, take a tour of the Massachusetts State House, it's is beautiful inside and out and I love seeing government at work. We enjoyed dinner at Euno in the North End - it's small so reservations are recommended. The food was delicious and the proprietor, Richard, was lovely. We highly recommend a Mikes Pastry's vs. Modern Pastry cannoli-off / competition. (Our family was split on which was best.) As you are leaving the North End, enjoy the bench swings at the Rose Kennedy Greenway (Hanover St & Cross Streets); it's a nice way to relax on a warm night. Boston has so much to offer - we look forward to a return visit.
Thanks, Dennis, for the great stay in your lovely condo and your impeccable communication. It was a great home base for our week in Boston.