The Farrington Inn

Truly Disgusting. I had two asian friends visiting who stayed here and couldnt make it through the night– they said they were afraid and the girl was in tears. When we went back to get the remainder of their nights back (made them pay in cash, up front?) we had big issues trying to cancel thier stay.
Please don’t try to «brave» it– I’m telling you it’s honestly not worth it. I’ve stayed in many grunge hostels around the world but this isn’t that.
My holiday inn express was the same rate, and worth the 20 minute drive.

This is a cute old little house on a street of houses turned apartments in a college and post college age population. Let me comment on these two points (old house & pop. age) first in case you might find that to be important. Yep, the house is old. It looks and smells old. As other reviewers stated, I didn’t smell urine or anything horrible. It smelled like an old house… not a deal breaker. It was dark and a little creepy in the hallways going to the room, but not really a deal breaker. There were a few drunk screamers wondering outside Saturday night, but I expected it. If you don’t want to be in an area with kids who are just out of college and aren’t ready to join the world of slumber at 10pm, 11pm or even at midnight, then just be forewarned and bring something to help you sleep.
I selected the room without the bathroom to save about $ 25 bucks. Room was quite large and included a kitchenette. Not modern at all… any of it. But the sheets were clean,…no beg bugs (I checked the mattress seam and all over and around the bed, and not a bug in site. Flat screen tv, with several cable channels. Hardwood floors, with faux fireplace and small area rug. No closet, but there was a hanging rack if I needed.
Last but not least, EXTREMELY nice staff! So accommodating and made me feel welcome. The cost was good for a Saturday night, and the bathroom was across the hall.
The house is in a great area with tons of restaurants, coffee shops, and shopping within walking distance in both directions on Harvard. Neighborhood is nice and not once did I feel unsafe as a solo female traveler.

I needed a cheap place to stay overnight while in Boston. I knew what I was getting into when I looked at the reviews. I didn’t mind because I just needed to get some sleep before getting back on the road. I paid $ 80 cash for the room, but I was told there would be a hold placed on my credit card. No problem. I expected it to clear in a few days. Why the hell did I see a CHARGE one week later for $ 100 hit my account!!! I promptly called the inn. The nice gentleman at the desk tried to tell me it was the hold I was seeing a week later. Then he tried to berate me and say «Do you know the difference between a charge and a hold?» I was about to say, «Look mf’r…», but I kept my cool and I explained to him for the third time I paid for the room in CASH. I still have my receipt and I want the CHARGE taken OFF my card!!! He said it happens sometimes and there have been other customers complaining of holds turning into charges by accident. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR BANK STATEMENTS!!! BTW, I woke up the next morning with a huge red welt mark on my thigh. Bug bite… I should have just parked and slept in my car.

Does not look at all like an inn. Situated in a residential neighborhood, had to park 3 blocks away in an area with no parking signs all over.
The owner banged on my door at 6am to come out, has no perception of hospitality or manners.
Bathroom is shared, toilet could not flush smelled bad had to call service. Shower has no soap
Bed bugs in the bed would never sleep there again beware

It get’s job done. You won’t find anything cheaper in Boston anyways.

DO NOT STAY HERE! EVERYTHING SMELLS LIKE URINE AND SMOKE (which is supposed to be a nonsmoking room) there is no restroom it is a common bathroom shared by ALL. disgusting and not clean. we paid 189 dollars said and done and it was not worth it.

Not a great quality inn, but I guess its not terrible. The staff was really friendly, the room and bathroom were clean, and there’s WiFi and a TV. However, I expected more for the price ($ 120 for 2 full beds, 1 night), but I guess in this location its more expensive.
The wifi is either really slow or does not work at all. I could access poor WiFi for about 15 minutes, and then it completely stopped working. On Expedia it advertised free breakfast, but there is none.
The building is kind of old, so its creaky, there is some peeling of paint, and the lights are dim. (So its a bit creepy). There is a random door in the room with a lock but no handle, which made it significantly more creepy. Also a couple of the ceiling tiles were slightly misplaced. Don’t come here if you are a wimp (like me. thank goodness I came with a friend).
In addition to that, the bathrooms are in the hallway, so you have to share with other people living there.
So I don’t think I would stay here again

Room 419 had bed bugs during August 2014. I was fully refunded very promptly.

Wer es rustikal und dreckig mag, ist hier genau richtig!
Die Geistervilla von Boston, fehlen nur noch sie Spinnenweben… Geister gibt es wahrscheinlich wirklich.
An der Wand unseres sehr bescheiden eingerichteten Zimmers aus dem letzten Jahrhundert (1 kleines Kopfkissen für 2 Personen in einem gar winzigen Bett), befanden sich undefinierbare rot braune Flecken, die Tagesdecke hatte mehrere Brandlöcher und welche Geziefer sich in dem Teppich getummelt hat, wollen wir gar nicht wissen.
Das Bad war die reinste Katastrophe und dazu hatten wir das Pech es mit einer Gruppe Mädchen zu teilen die überhaupt keinen Wert auf Hygiene gelegt haben. Das Klo war regelmäßig verstopft und überschwemmt und in der Dusche, sowie dem Waschbecken befanden sich haufenweise Haare und andere menschliche Rückstände. Geputzt wurde an 4 Tagen nur ein mal. Für den Preis, den wir gezahlt haben, die reinste Frechheit.

Wifi too slow. Bathroom not clean. Sheets dirty, really dirty. The mattress and pillow are such cheap and inferior things. Totally overpriced. Won’t come again.

I am a 19 year old who rented a room from abercrombies farrington inn. First off the person who I spoke to (his name was bob) was extremely nice to me. I wanted to change my room to another because I didn’t want to share a bathroom with others. He changed my room for only $ 10 more a night. The room is beautiful and is unique because of it’s old interior. What a wonderful place this is. I highly recommend this hostel to anyone with or without a partner. Plus it’s walking distances within great places including Fenway park. I hope this helps when choosing a hostel.

Avoid this place at any cost. The place isn’t clean, nice or even safe. It is the worst hotel experience I’ve ever had in my life.

I read the reviews extensively here and was reticent, even a bit nervous to book but being in a bind and needing lodgings right away went ahead. Fortunately, it was definitely nowhere near as bad as the dreaded reviews mentioning bugs, rodents and police visits! It is a quaint if you are being generous or dingy if you are being bleak accommodation in a very thriving part of a part of Boston that is a bit on the edges of the city.
There are two buildings and that surprised me because I thought of it as just a small place with a few rooms or one floor or something. it has many rooms. The one negative I can say is that I was quoted a better price than was given a bill for when checking in! I read this happened to someone else in another review and would encourage whomever pays attention to these to be prepared with the name of the person who gives you the price when making a booking and then having that all firmly in hand when attending to the check-​in and pay part of the process. The concierge was otherwise very friendly and efficient.
The rooms themselves are the opposite of modern and corporate– they have old locks, it’s an old building that’s not been renovated, it’s all kind of vintage. The bed was clean and neatly made for me with a towel on it (I was in a private single bed room for $ 75 per night with a $ 10 tax on that per night). It has a big flat screen TV with a few channels on. There was just a nightstand, lamp and a chair in the room besides a dresser the tv was above.
The bathroom was clean and there was no problem for me being able to get in when I needed to. There was no noise problem outside or from visiting hostelers.
Here’s the interesting aspect that really took me aback– there is a HUGE bar scene there. It’s not teeming with drunks on the avenues but it’s got 30 bars in the vicinity. It also has a fabulous Shawarma right around the corner which was open until 2 a.m. then lots of ethnic noodle houses and groceries. The McDonald’s there was open at 5 a.m. I noticed when boarding the subway on the morning I left.
To clarify about the subway, I will take the time to write directions because it would have spared me a bunch of angst and time spent on my smartphone googling directions.
To get there; Take the «B» train on the Green Line toward Boston University. You get off about 8 stops in once you are outdoors (the subway goes from the tunnels to the outside and rides on the street for a few miles there). It’s about 10 minutes and a busy line. You stop at Harvard Ave. and go up Harvard Ave. (passing the McDonald’s). You walk about 5 minutes and a block or two past Gardner St. is Farrington where you make a right. There is a late hour convenience store on Harvard Ave. across the street from where you turn right to get to the Farrington Inn. That store has some good health bars and is not too bad price wise. Anyway, then the Farrington Inn is about 5 houses in on the right. You have to go in the red door on the right. There is a big sign saying it is the Farrington Inn.
The people who worked at the stores I visited (there is an excellent Eastern European grocery just off the subway) were all friendly and there is a very collegiate vibe from all of the BU students walking around but it’a also got a lot of cultural influences and stores (like a music store and a used item store) around which were memorable.
Checking out was as simple as depositing my keys in a chute and leaving without any paperwork. That was definitely a good way to do that.
That’s my two day review of stuff I wanted to know. Hope it helps and you have a safe and excellent trip!

Super friendly staff, clean room. Would totally stay there again!

Don’t go here despite the cheap price. Terrible service over the phone.

Unless you are content to sleep on mattresses with old blood stains with all the springs bursting through, sheets that come from hospitals, comforters that have cigarette burns and bathrooms blanketed in grime for 120 dollars a night, DON’T STAY HERE! When the staff (who are actually very amiable) tell you they would never sleep at the inn, that the owner is a cheap ass and are both embarrassed and guilt trodden when they have to take a customer to their room– this staff confession was of course after a restless night at the Farrington– something is seriously wrong.

I would definitely avoid this place if you can… it’s really not worth what they charge and the most basic of amenities are not provided. Here’s my story:
I was moving from Allston to Chicago and needed a place for my mom (who flew in to help me drive my U-​Haul) for one night since my bed was gone. The Farrington Inn is literally a block from my apartment and, we figured, the cheapest option. But not really: the room was $ 150.
When I first checked in, they brought me to a room and I immediately noticed a large swarm of mosquitos. I asked if they could do anything about that. An employee disappeared, only to return to say that he couldn’t find the bug spray and our best bet was to try to use a wet towel to kill them. I was like, dude, I’m paying $ 150 to stay here, I’m not going to play exterminator. FIX THIS or put me in another room. We were moved to another room.
Now, room #2 was fine, bug-​free and clean. But:
–There was no soap of any kind in the bathroom. I wasn’t expecting mini shampoos, but soap? Not even hand soap? Come on.
–There was one not-​full roll of toilet paper. No kleenex/​tissues of any kind.
–Despite there being a full kitchen, there was no coffee maker. There was a bunch of other appliances and dishes, but no coffee maker.
For this kind of basically-​hostel experience, I did not expect to pay $ 150. If the room had been like, $ 75, ok. But $ 150? It’s not like it’s a prime location, it’s not in central Boston, it’s in Allston.
So yeah, if you’re going to pay over a $ 100 anyway, might as well stay someplace with soap. That’s my recommendation.

Great place to stay. Newly renovated key drop, so checking out is easy and quick. No lines to drop your key off. Sinks are nicely finished.

Stayed here overnight in Boston. Received fabulous customer service. The building I stayed in was like an old New England house with little renovation, but the room, bed, sheets, and bathrooms were all clean. Don’t expect stellar accommodations, but for an accessible and affordable place to stay, the Farrington is fabulous.

I came up to Boston last week for some meetings, to look at apartments and to do some interviews, and needed an immediate place to stay (but I didn’t want to pay a ton of money).
It is definitely a «budget» inn — there is no exercise room, there is wifi (but it goes up and down), there is a shared bathroom (it’s not as bad as some hostels and apartments that I have been in, however), and the TV only had a few basic cable channels. Also, it is a bit of a walk from the Green «B» line train and also a few blocks from the 66 bus line. The plus is that there is a decent coffee shop down the block (which I will review) and it is very close to Common Ground and also to some decent stores and restaurants.
The staff of the inn were nice — when I asked for an extra blanket they brought it (and, no it did not have bugs or holes) and they let me keep my bags in the inn while I went out for meetings even after I checked out (I came back later to pick up my suitcases).
Don’t get a room in the back of the inn or on the first floor if you can help it — if there is construction in the building/​neighborhood it is very loud at all hours, and it will keep you awake.
If you need just a bed, a warm shower and someplace in Boston for a few days, then the inn is OK. I didn’t have a horrible experience, but I am trying another budget inn on my next trip.
I do recommend making a reservation if possible, as it may/​can lower the rate of the room and also it will lock in the lower rate. They do take credit cards as well, in case there is a problem with the room.

Like others have said, it costs too much money for what it’s worth, but if you need a last minute non-​hotel option (like I did), I think the place is acceptable for one night. The location is okay, as it is near the green line as well as near several buses.
I didn’t have any horror stories about my room– it came with a small kitchenette and air conditioning, and the staff member who showed us around was very nice and helpful.

My partner and I stayed there for one night in Sept. 2009. The cost was about $ 126 for a private room with en-​suite bathroom. Staff was friendly and even called around 11pm to check on our arrival (we were running late). That’s the good news. The room was not cleaned properly and there was only one towel on the bed. It smelled like someone had been smoking in there and the airconditioner made a lot of noise and didn’t work well. There was only one sheet between you and the mattress. The kitchenette was dirty and it would have been nice if there was a tea bag or way to make coffee in the morning. The couple yelling in the room next door didn’t help the ambiance.
Next time we’re in Boston we’re going to look around for something else. This is poor value for the money. Although it has the potential to be a nice place, they need to start with the basics, like cleaning and providing sheets and towels.

I had to stay here for about a month before when I was having some housing issues. The place was so grimy, dirty, and severely overpriced. I think most of the other residents were crackheads and hookers. Ugh. I would much rather sleep on the streets then to ever spend another night at this hellhole.

After reading a few dozen reviews on
, I decided to brave my luck and try Farrington. I mean, I’ve schlepped my way across the globe so how bad could a Boston hostel really be? I was only in town for one night and needed an inexpensive place to stay last minute. Plus, Farrington is in Allston right in the middle of my fave Boston bar scene, so I decided I’d give it a try.
Pros:
— Staff was very quick on the phone the few times I called regarding reservations and directions.
— You get a set of keys when you check in so no need to worry about night staff keeping track of how many times you go out on the front porch nor potential embarrassment as you stumble in after a few drinks at the bar.
— Keys are returned by dropping them into a slot by the door — no need for locating elusive staff to get on your way.
— Girls dorm room had 4 beds, two of which were full-​size. No bunks!
— Girls dorm room also had a dresser, microwave, TV, and functional window that allowed some air into the room.
— Bathroom was surprisingly clean — as in I didn’t feel the need to wear flip flops inside the shower
— Paid $ 54 (including taxes) for one night. My next best option on such short notice was going to be $ 130 in the ‘burbs, so I was happy.
— Great location if you’re into Allston. 2 short blocks from Sunset and White Horse, and even closer to O’Briens and Common Ground. Also only about a 10 minute (or less) walk to the Harvard T stop on the B line.
Cons:
— No AC = HOT 3^rd floor sleeping rooms on 90-​degree days
— Each bed had a towel on it, mine had been chopped up and was only about ¾ there. Fortunately I’d brought my own.
— Because it was so hot, I slept on top of the blankets (which looked fine). HOWEVER, I woke up the next morning with EIGHT bug bites on my face and neck. Bed bugs from the pillow? No clue, but gross and very disturbing.
— Downside to the clean bathroom was the shower door that is nearly impossible to move
— If you can point out negatives by comparison with other hostels, I’d say also that this one rates about a 0 of 10 on a fun scale. There is no common area, no kitchen. Not even cups for water! I saw 3 other people the entire time I was there.
— They supposedly have wireless available, but I had better luck with a neighbor’s network than with theirs.
— No lockers in the rooms. While you can lock the entire room with a key, it IS a shared room so you’re trusting all your stuff with strangers.
If you’re desperate for a place to crash, it’s not all bad. Also, if you’re booking for only one night you’ll have to call the hostel directly. Hostelworld and Farrington’s own website require 2+ nights. Buuut you’d probably do better just finding some random place on Craigslist that rents rooms by the night instead. At least it might reduce your odds of being eaten alive by bugs!

What a vile hellhole! To be fair, there are a couple of decent things about this place, so here goes: Only three beds to a room, and my room had a t.v. and a microwave. Encounters with employees are rare, but when you DO meet them, they’re pleasant enough. And the neighborhood — Allston — isn’t that pretty, but at least there are bars and restaurants nearby.
But these modest pros are far, far outweighed by the cons.
The place is filthy. When you walk in, there’s so much dust in the air, it almost appears misty. The bedrooms are rarely cleaned, so garbage piles up in the can — and, since the cleaning crew isn’t that diligent, under the beds as well. Everything’s run down and falling apart. There are bed bugs. The sheets — some of which once belonged to Massachusetts General Hospital (it’s printed on them) — have cigarette burns and stains that I’m pretty sure are blood.
The bathrooms are no better. Some reek of cigarette smoke. One even lacks a doorknob. If you get stuck using that one, be prepared for people walking in on you when you’re stepping out of the shower (fun!).
Due to the low prices, some of Boston’s less wealthy citizens take up residence here. The woman in the room next to me was apparently living there. She could be heard screaming obscenities at her son (and neighbors) at any time of the day or night (and we’re talking LATE night). One time, cops were called. A few days later, she was served a warrant.
No kitchen. No lockers. No laundry facilities. No lounge areas. No WiFi (though you might be able to leach off a neighboring building).
The previous poster wondered how this place can keep its business license. The answer, apparently, is that they can’t: As of my stay there (fall 2007), the posted license and inspection certificate were both expired.
If you’re doing research for a short story or play set in the worst hostel in the world, I would totally recommend staying here. Otherwise, stay away. Stay far, far away.

This place will give you the f**ing creeps. I’m not a picky person when I just need a cheap place to crash, but this establishment has the honest to God, «Bates Motel» hair-​raising aura of lurking evil… or something.
It’s an ANCIENT, decrepit converted duplex house in a residential neighborhood, and the staff have to be summoned up from some unknown depths in the basement, or somewhere, via phone or intercom, as if they were Igor coming to help Master with his nefarious plans. Meanwhile you are under the glassy, watchful gaze of a deer head mounted above the fireplace (it turns out, that there is a camera in this deer head). Go ahead, sign the… guest book… while you wait. Hair on your neck standing up yet?
Rates, even last-​minute during the holidays, weren’t too bad, but they’re not rock-​bottom discount rates either. For your not-​that-​cheap fee you will get a room that feels like you are borrowing some poorly-​employed friend’s shabby room. Like, an ordinary twin bed with worn-​out sheets and blankets that may not have been changed recently. (There was massive pizza sauce smeared on one of my sheets.)
You might have a few random pieces of assorted Goodwill-​type furniture in there too – just try not to touch any of it, or at least wash your hands if you do. As a courtesy to the reader, I will not even mention the decaying bathrooms – which, for most rooms, are *shared*.
How this place can maintain a license to operate, I do not know. Unless, like me, you arrive on short notice with no other options at a time when everywhere else is booked, do not even consider this place.