I really lucked out getting to spend the weekend at Nanette's home! She and her husband are very thoughtful and engaging. They provided everything from maps to coffee to airport rides, and were often around the house, happy and available to chat about anything. Their home is in a great location - I never needed public transport (the weather was perfect for a 2 mile walk to Boston!) and found it was easiest to call Uber if I was in a rush. Bear in mind that there are two other rooms posted on Airbnb as well; I didn't mind, but it's good to know it will likely be a pretty full house. That said, you can definitely hear creaking footsteps from the rooms upstairs, but I didn't find it bothersome. And Nanette will brief you on all of these things when you arrive. Another thing I noticed was the frequent smell of smoke. It was not overpowering and the bedroom was totally free of any smell - but if you're sensitive to the scent of (different kinds of..) smoke, don't expect to be lounging in the living room too much. Not that you'd want to when there's so much to explore in Cambridge!
Definitely a wonderful first experience in Cambridge, and I would absolutely do it again. Thanks, Nanette!