Travel Guide

Travel in Baker Park is easy and safe due to the modern mass transportation infrastructure that the country has built over the last 60 years. Connections to major cities are available via rail, road, plane or ferry. Rental cars are available at relatively modest rates, as competition is fierce among rental firms; almost any type of vehicle you might wish to hire is available, as the Commonwealth automobile market is made up of about 35% imports, so you'll find about any make or model you could imagine here.

Within the Greater City of Belle Haven area, public transportation is widely available across several platforms; CARTA (Capital Area Rapid Transit Authority) provides for public buses, a modern light-rail network, a clean & efficient subway system and connections to commuter and interstate rail lines.

Transit fares are equalized across all types of accommodation; 1 day, 3 day and 7 day passes each offer discounts off the regular single ride price, and the system is fully integrated; one price allows you to access to any CARTA mode of transport along with transfers. Several other cities throughout the country have initiated or improved their commuter rapid transit systems over the past several years as people move farther away from core city areas.

A monument to the extensive public works initiatives introduced in the 1950's and 60's, Baker Park's limited access expressway grid connects all areas of the Commonwealth with the capital; our citizens take great pride in the quality of our highways and their upkeep.
On major 'A' highways, the speed limit in less populated areas is 75, but that drops to 60 where the road goes through town and city centers.

The inter-city river ferry system is a popular option for travelers on day trips or weekend visits. There are vehicle and passenger-only options that operate on hourly schedules or dedicated point to point trips.

The engine that drives the country's economy is the industrial conglomerate that was founded by the family that established the nation, the Baker International Corporation. Known by citizens as "The Company" or "the International" or just BI, at one time it was responsible for close to 50% of the nation's GDP; over the past 35 years it has divested itself from many of the companies that dominated the economy, opening up opportunities for more investment and growth for both those entities and competitors alike.

You'll probably notice that we have a bit of Victoriana fetish here in Baker Park. You can't miss it even if you're only halfway paying attention. We have parks, buildings, bars, restaurants, streets and anything else you can think of named for Victoria, or some kind of reference to her; almost every adult over the age of 35 in this county knows some arcane trivia fact about the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Not because they necessarily want to.

People in Baker Park tend to be formal or deferential to strangers when you first meet them; this is something of an ingrained relic of the values and lessons of our ancestors, as 'propriety' is a word that every child & teen has drilled into their head from an early age. Many of our citizens are only a couple of generations removed from the behavioral and social norms of our Victorian era European fore-bearers. Generally, once the ice has been broken, people are for the most part extremely friendly; we are a curious nation and eager to learn about people and cultures from across the multiverse.

What to do in Belle Haven
Visitors to Belle Haven have a wide variety of activities to choose from; free tours of Baker Park's national capitol building, Parliament House, are available 7 days a week when Parliament is in session and 5 days a week during recesses; call ahead to find out the hours as well as restricted times & dates. Other major government buildings open for public tours include Treasury House and St John's Palace, the residence of the Head of State of the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth State Museum is the country's most visited museum site; it's actually three museums in one—The State Museum, which covers history and the development of the Commonwealth; the Museum of Commerce & Industry, which tells the story of Baker International, the Northern States Company and the other business entities that were key to the growth and stability; and the Museum of Science & Culture, geared to a younger audience, with plenty of interactive displays and multimedia presentations.

The National Gallery of Art, behind Parliament House and next door to the High Tribunal of the Commonwealth/Ministry of State for Justice Building, showcases a variety of domestic and classic styles of artistic works.

In downtown Belle Haven, there are many points of interest for the visitor; Historic Charter House was the country's first legislative building, Belle Haven City Hall is a beautiful architectural landmark and the Baker Park Museum of Modern Art & Design highlights the influences that have transformed the country's tastes over its history.
Also of interest are the Church of the Trinity, Company House Landing on the riverfront, the Commonwealth Stock Exchange and the Belle Haven Arena and the adjacent Casino Square. There are also 2 zoos, an aquarium, and plenty of green space dedicated to parks.

Further afield, the other cities hosting matches all have a myriad of options for the visitor; except for a couple of venues, all matches will take place in the state capitals of our nation, so museums, zoos, and other activities for the entire family are widely available.
A trip between cities via our extensive river ferry system might make for a change of routine, or maybe a day trip via the train to our northern areas of the country, where the natural beauty of our own largely undeveloped "frontier" is strenuously preserved.
The Lake District in northeast Endover is a popular summer getaway for families (approx. 1 hr 40 min from Endborough by rail), and in the other corner is The Old North, formerly a large holding of the Northern States Company that was heavily cleared of its forests for use in building the railways, but has been reclaimed by conservation and is becoming a popular resort area as an alternative to the Lakes (approx. 2hr 10 min from Oceana by rail).

Alternatively, the southern part of the country has its' own attractions; although not a substitute for warm water beaches, the villages and getaways along the coast in both directions from Newport are popular with boaters, fishermen and vacationers. The higher elevations in the southeastern corner of the Commonwealth have become the center of the nascent winter resort industry in areas formerly used for deep mining of coal, iron ore and bauxite, as well as gas and oil drilling.

Elsewhere

Although we don't detail each one, all cities in this guide have districts in proximity to the stadiums that are full of restaurants, pubs, & bars; that ubiquitous Commonwealth phenomena, the lunchette; and shops and boutiques.

West/Southwest—Oceana, Ezriquay and Newport
While Atlantian Oceania has its "Glorious Southwest", Baker Park's southwestern corner, the State of Ezra, has much to offer and it has been an active hotbed of the sport from the earliest years of the Commonwealth. In fact, these are heady times for the area, as the National League Champions from two seasons ago, Midtown AC, hail from the capital city of the state, Ezriquay, and were chased through that season by their regional rivals, who finished 2nd, 4th, 5th and 10th in the final table.

Ezriquay is the country's fourth largest city, situated on a peninsula formed by the last major bend in the Belle Haven River, it's often referred to as "The Thumb". Much more industrialized than the first three cities, it has more blue-collar feel to it.

The venerable Queen Victoria Stadium will be hosting matches in Ezriquay, following an 18 month program of improvements and renovations, including replacement of all seats and a new pitch.
Both MAC and Ezriquay United FC have state of the art training facilities, as does 2nd division Meadowdale FC.

The Museum of Industry highlights the development of the manufacturing and innovation in the Commonwealth; the Ezriquay Zoological Gardens in University Park house an excellent collection of species from both the animal and plant kingdoms; a ferry trip around "the Thumb" to Hampton Borough or up the Stillwater to Middletown is a way to see a bit more of the area.

Travel to and from the nation's 4th largest city is probably as convenient as any city in Baker Park; The Josiah Peter Moore—Ezriquay International Airport, across the river in Collinsville is short trip from downtown via taxi, bus or train. Inter-city rail links Belle Haven via Hamilton and joins the Trunk Line running north & south to Oceana and Newport, via Southend.

Southend is home to Ezra State University, and is a perfect alternativr for those visitors who seek quick travel to both Ezriquay and Newport, as well Oceana. The local side, Southend AC, also have a modern player academy and team headquarters.

Newport is the country's major seaport and also home to the Naval Service of the Commonwealth Fleet Command, but it also has plenty of other things to see and do. It was the home of the Western & Southern Company, another BI rival in the early years and is a leader in transport and shipping of both imports and exports. It is accessible by air via Ezriquay's airport (40 minutes).

Matches will be held at the Newport City Stadium, which has undergone a $37 million expansion for the World Cup, raising the capacity to 35,000. Newport City FC, charter members of the FAC, play their home matches at the ground, in addition to Newport Broncos of the Professional Football Division, and the Naval Academy football team.

A visit to the Commonwealth Naval Officers Academy, on the west bank of the river across from the city is an option for an off day activity, and definitely don't miss the chance to take a tour of the NSC's oldest active commissioned ship, NSC City of Belle Haven, a turn of the century battleship that saw action in two wars. Also the Commonwealth Aquarium is a great trip for all ages.

Travel guide summary:
Ezra is really a traveler's paradise for several reasons:
a) there are plenty of accommodations to fit every budget, with a college town (Southend, well 2 if you count University Park, a suburb of Ezriquay) that is easy to get to and sure to have plenty of short term rentals available to supplement hotel/motel vacancies, and a city where short term occupancy options also abound (Newport) in addition to traditional rooms
b) direct flight access and a well run public transportation system, and
c) generally temperate weather due to its location near the ocean.

Oceana is the capital of Osheana, and the third largest city. It has always had a reputation as being the "anti-Belle Haven", due to its more traditional outlook; it was the home base of the former Northern States Company, who were the second largest business venture in the country. Today it is a sprawling metropolis and headquarters to several major corporations.

The venue here is Collins Park, often called The Park Stadium by locals. Rebuilt on two previous occasions at the site of the former State Stadium, it also has gotten a makeover ahead of the World Cup, and has reclaimed its place in the main rotation of home venues for the National Team.

The State Legislative Building is close by to Collins Park, and there are several museums and attractions nearby. There is a amusement park, LeSourdesville Lake, approximately 15 miles south of downtown (24-28 mins by car), or you could head out to Llewellyn Borough to see the Oceana Ship Canal, which connects the area to the Belle Haven River via the Stillwater River.

Oceana International Airport receives direct flights from many of the major cities to the west of the Commonwealth in AO, and was one of the two major departure points (along with aforementioned EIA) for the relief efforts during the Banija drought crisis.

Travel guide summary:
Oceana gets a bad rap from other people in the Commonwealth, because it is generally a bit more buttoned up and conservative overall. But there are plenty attractions, it is clean, safe, and compared to some other places in the country, laid out in a straight forward way that makes finding where you're going a breeze.

Belle Haven/Springfield/Newmarket

The terms "Baker Park" and "Commonwealth" are generally interchangeable when talking about the nation, but among the citizenry, Baker Park, or BP ('beep', not to be confused with our friends & rivals from BOF 67, Beepee!), is usually more used when discussing the State of Baker Park, the Commonwealth's largest and most populous political division.

Newmarket will host matches at the Prince William Stadium, which will be temporarily boosted up to 30,000 seats. In the spirit of total disclosure, there isn't all that much to recommend the place to a visitor looking for a base camp. "Provincial" could be defined in a dictionary by a picture of Newmarket, although Saxons, the local club, do have excellent training facilities, as does New Bremen, about 45 minutes north by car. NB's main advantage over 'Market is the fact it's on the rail line. But if you're looking for big city excitement...

The PWS will be grouped with the three western venues for group stage matches, so as a day trip don't miss out, as the stadium is one of the best atmospheres in soccer in the country.

There is a re-created settlement camp from the early days of the country before it gained self-government at the Wagnerfield Reserve State Park, approximately 20 minutes southeast of the city. There is also the City Museum downtown, in the former Newmarket High Court building, and the Market Hall itself, which still operates 7 days a week.

Springfield would probably not be the bustling city of over 300,000 if a simple decision had not been made to route one of the east-west cross country railway lines through it instead of further south.

The city—BP's 8th largest--is the nation's agricultural hub, as the food processors & packagers, the farm commodity markets, the agri-business companies are all based here in the heart of "farm country".
The Baker Park State Fair began here in 1919 and has grown through the years to become the de facto national Agricultural Fair of the Commonwealth.

The State Fairgrounds Stadium has gotten another deserved facelift and expansion, bringing it up to 44,000 seats. Unfortunately for the out of town visitor, the Fair doesn't happen until later in the year, but there is usually something taking place at the Fairgrounds across the road; for the World Cup, expect a lot of carnival like activities suitable for all ages on match days.
There is also a museum dedicated to the various elements of the agricultural sector in Baker Park, located downtown near the A-75/A-49 expressway junction.

On the main cross country rail line—although that does you no good if you're trying to get to BH—the city does have a lot of decent, cheap hotels and accommodations. There is a public bus that connects the city with a passenger & auto ferry port on the river (110 route, 25 mins one way from downtown), so that also is an option. As far as airports, the Mansfield Airport is considered Belle Haven's "second" hub, and is an excellent choice for anyone wishing to cut down travel time from one of the other options (approx 75 mins by car/bus).

Belle Haven could take up a guide by itself (and it does, see above), but the capital dominates life in the Commonwealth to the extent that it almost would do you well to experience the nation from some other point and plan off day activities in the "hinterlands".

But there is more than enough to do if you have almost any kind of non-sporting interests. The city itself is really a living history tour of the Commonwealth. Anything you have in your major cultural or destination city, we've probably got some decent representation of. We're one the most visited nations in AO (and the multiverse), and research has shown that a lot of that tourism doesn't even involve a trip to Belle Haven.

This would be a good place to mention that if you have thing about getting from one place to another in as short a time or distance as possible, you might want to stay home (or at least stay somewhere outside the Metro area). There is a subtle difference here between excellent service with efficiency, and "what makes sense". Straight lines? Who needs them?

There is no shortage of top tier clubs in the capital, and most of them have first class training facilities. Clayton City to the west and Riverside City to the east are good alternatives further outside of the Metro area, as well as Salisbury City to the north of Belle Haven. Asbury Park, Hillsborough and Corinthians FC are situated in a triangle relative to one another in the northeast suburbs, convenient for teams who will be playing matches at Gleason Field on the University of the Commonwealth campus.

Travel guide summary:
We make it sound like there is something wrong with the outlying cities, but in reality, both are substantial metropolitan areas of over 450K, not out of the way backwaters. If you want 24/7 action, Belle Haven is the place you want to be. If you want a place to spend a few nights to see your team in action and don't care about much else, don't pass Springfield or Newmarket by.

Northeast/Southeast
Endborough is the Commonwealth's Second City, located in the northeastern part of the country. It is the state capital of Endover and the home of the nation's top institution of higher education, the University of Endover. Matches here will be played at two venues.

Rogers Stadium will be busy throughout the World Cup, as it will stage a group match, a round of 16 match and a quarterfinal. Located in West Endborough, across the White River from Endborough City, it is accessible to the central downtown area by a relatively new subway line that runs under the river near where it flows into the Belle Haven River.

Scotland Stadium, on the edge of campus at the University of Endover, doesn't detract from the predominantly Gothic Revival architecture of the campus and surrounding area of North Park.

We would be remiss if we didn't mention a visit to the Commonwealth Military Academy, training young men and women to be officers in the Army, Air Force and the National Guard. There is also the House of Representatives Building; Old City Hall; the Schroeder Collection of Wildlife Art at the State Museum, and ferry rides along the White & Belle Haven Rivers.

Monmouth Park and Brentford are the main rivals in this neck of the woods, and both have adequate team facilities.

Endborough Airport is a bit out of the way when compared to other cities in Baker Park, but it is easy to get to & from, capable of handling the largest passenger & cargo jets and high volume air traffic.

Travel guide summary:
Mentioned above, as population shifts towards suburban living, mass transit has had to work to keep up, and the poster child is the Endover state capital; it is honestly a place that could use some sprawl, because it is 3.5 million people crammed into a metro area just a bit bigger than your living room (we kid. Just barely). However, in less than 30 minutes, you can be in an area of the state that is lush green forests, gentle rolling landscape and clear blue skies. If you have the slightest pretensions of being an outdoorist, you'll want to find someplace near here.

Coolville and Shirley are the other two host cities, and the strong regional rivalry between them tends to color all discussion involving most things sporting.

Coolville is the capital of Midalia state and the fifth largest city in Baker Park. The citizens have a bit of an identity crisis, with the other main towns in the state (St Warren & Kellerville) and their down-river neighbors Shirley all having less than positive feelings for them. One of the two major cities (Lima being the other) in the Chemical and synthetic products industry. Can be reached by air via Shirley's airport (45 minutes).

Carrollton is the home stadium of Coolville United FC, who ply their trade in the Third Division well aware that they have never had the same success of their down river nemesis. They do have top class academy and training facilities, the stadium has finally been completely rebuilt after years of slow progress.

Activities away from the game include tours of the State Senate Building; the Midalia Exhibition Center, a mass appeal museum; or a trip out of the city to the east, where the mountains that hug the entire southeastern border of the nation provide a backdrop to natural beauty.

Belvedere Course is a short 15 minute train ride south of the city, and hosts thoroughbred horse racing, as well steeplechase in the fall, 5 days a week (Monday/Tuesday excluded). Home to the second leg of the Commonwealth's Triple Crown, the Victoria Plate (the others being the Commonwealth Derby and the Prince Regent Stakes), first post is always at 1:27 pm.

Shirley is the capital and largest city of St Leon and sixth largest in the country. It was the third of the primary hubs of the Baker International (after Belle Haven and Endborough) established by the Baker family. It is the headquarters of the Commonwealth Mining Corporation, whose office tower is known as "Black Rock". It is the center of the oil, coal and gas industry.

Another city, another government building, the extravagant House of Delegates is a lesson in excess. There is also the Museum of Mining east of downtown, near the University of St Leon; take a tour of an abandoned mine in nearby Shirley Heights; Mountain Circus, a modern amusement park is approximately 25 minutes southeast of the city in McIlroy Borough (have no fear, it's not a real circus!), and a ride on the elevated tramway through the city is a must.

Historic President's Park in Shirley is a stark contrast to Carrollton, with mix & match grandstand arrangements, situated amid dense, high rise residential neighborhoods on the edge of central downtown. In an age of modern stadiums with boxes & club seating, wide aisles & comfortable chairback spectator areas, President's Park is a step back into the 1920's. For 2 hours, you could do worse.

Shirley Metros FC have their base in the eastern suburbs, away from day to day action of the city.

Both cities share the Shirley International Airport, approximately 20 miles northeast of the city. There is fast transportation to and from both cities via rail and expressway.

Travel guide summary:
The Commonwealth has gone to great lengths through history to keep the Belle Haven River from being a dumping site, which is why you'll be surprised to not see factories and industrial activities along the banks for nearly its entire course. Coolville and Shirley have the seen the area between them grow substantially over the last 15-20 years, to a point where many think there will a single conurbation of the two before long. That's not to say you should discount a stay, but you might be well advised to look towards the outer margins of both areas to find a bit refuge from the masses (almost 2 million out of the combined 3.2 mil population of both cities live within a 15 mile circle of the central business districts).

Hotel guide
The FAC have a policy that it will provide first class accommodations to all visiting teams and their official travelling party, as well as make arrangements for families of players and officials to stay within the same facility or a nearby (within walking/short driving distance) hotel of comparable quality.

In the Commonwealth, there is an official rating system for hotels as designated by the Tourism & Trade Advocacy Council, a department of the Ministry of Industry, Trade & Commerce.

Tier 1 is assigned to the top 10% of all public accommodations available for nightly rental at market rate. These are properties that would be considered Five Star, First Class, or Premium Grade or equivalent in other nations. Requirements include:
--They have at a minimum 100 guest rooms
--offer single & double occupancy rooms and suites
--have on site dining room and bar/lounge facilities (possibly multiple)
--offer 18 or 24 hour Room Service
--and that they offer amenities such as conference rooms, business centers, swimming pool, workout facilities, spa, concierge service, in house laundry or dry cleaning with pickup & delivery, other complimentary services and offers.

Tier 2 is generally assigned to between 15-20% of properties below Tier 1. In many cases they are similar in quality to those in the top rating, but provide fewer amenities listed after the first 4 requirements. Generally this is the only difference, and in many cases among different hotels owned by the same group, you will find a mix of both. Room rates are also capped at a lower point due the differences in service offered.

Tier 3 is not a huge drop in quality, but it encompasses a different type of lodging. This a category for "boutique" or specialty hotels, Bed & Breakfast operations, facilities open to those who have membership, and pretty much any other type of property that doesn't fall into Tier 4. Another 7-10% of the business falls into this category, which doesn't have as many required elements.
--There is no minimum number of rooms
--They generally do not offer suites, or single occupancy, or some other specific option.
--there is no or limited Room Service
--they can have a single dining room/lounge combination, or either one or the other.
--amenities can vary and the ability for the owner to charge for certain ones is greater.

Tier 4 is really only different from places that are unrated under this system in that they have interior door room access. Otherwise, this is a category where many properties are called "Motor Inn/Lodge", "Economy Hotel" or similar. Often they serve as extended stay or long term residence hotels. The amenities are bare, although places frequented by long term guests often have self service laundry facilities and possibly a snack bar. Generally it is about 25% of rated properties.

Any unrated property is considered a motel, or a budget hotel. That said, there are many excellent examples of popular, well regarded chains specializing in this style, especially in remote areas. About 35-40% of for-rent overnight sleeping accommodations in Baker Park fall under this description.

Baker Park is a bit of a self-correcting society; it really doesn't take much effort to get a negative word of mouth campaign going, and that has been true long before 'social media' ever existed; an example:

In 1977, a group of college student activists across the county--that numbered fewer than 6,000--forced the sitting Prime Minister, who was the leader of the party that had been democratically elected continuously for 30 years at that point to lead the government, to resign abruptly after losing two recorded votes on legislation in the House of Assembly--on the same day--in part because around 8-12 of his own party members either abstained or voted against him. The "Revolution of '77" led to one of the largest upheavals in society, by changes in government policy, in the history of the Commonwealth. (learn more about the Fall of 1977 here.)

Businesses that get caught up in a wave of bad word of mouth about their reputations generally don't survive in this country. So the travel/hospitality/lodging industry works overtime to ensure that they maintain standards that keep people coming back.

Belle Haven Hotel Listing
(numbers correspond to the Belle Haven City map above, #7-9 coming soon)

1)Intercontinental Hotel Belle Haven--451 Second Street (390 rooms/32 suites/18 deluxe penthouse suites)
The I/C is considered the finest hotel in the Commonwealth not called the King George V for a reason—it is one of the largest, has the highest level of quality service, and is accessible to nearly anyone, with a rate structure that will satisfy any budget. It has 6 banquet rooms and 14 meeting rooms that can be adapted to welcome the largest crowds, along with 3 in house restaurants and 2 bars. A rooftop pool, sauna room, spa, exercise facility, fully equipped business center, free WiFi, 24 hour room service, and complimentary shuttle to & from Belle Haven International or the Central Station doesn't exhaust the amenities available.
Most of the larger cities in Baker Park have Intercontinental properties, but the former Baker Park Plaza is heads and shoulders above the rest. It hosted the Banijan Royal Family on their State Visit to Baker Park with barely a disruption to the rest of the clientele.
Transportation: Midtown Transit Center, 1 block East by foot

2)King George V Hotel—441-447 Second St (166 rooms/12 suites/10 deluxe suites)
Undoubtedly the standard by which luxury hotels are measured in this country, "the King" is Old World elegance at its finest; even their neighbors admit this is their goal as hoteliers.
Originally the Duke of York Hotel when it opened in 1906, the G5 changed with the times and updated the marquee 4 years later. Some would say that was the last change they made until the 1970's, but even when more than 1/2 of the rooms didn't have en suite bathroom facilities, people still parted with hard earned money to spend a night or two here. A major renovation in late 1980's brought it up to standards fit for a queen; in fact, fit for The Queen, who stayed in the top floor Royal Suite during her 1992 State Visit (you can too, for a king's ransom). Not to mention nearly every other famous, prestigious or important personage who has visited the country were guests here, also.

The Dining Room can host up to 175 guests and the wood paneled "salons" (conference rooms) will transport you back to an earlier time. The restaurant is one of the very best in the country and the Gentleman's Bar (ladies are welcome, too) is another throwback to more class conscious times.
The only drawback here—no swimming pool, although guests are welcome to use the pool across the street at the I/C if they care to.
Transportation: Midtown Transit Center, 1/2 block East by foot

15)Renaissance Hotel Westminster Street—289 Westminster St (148 rooms/6 suites)
The Ren doesn't try to be something it can't be. It's relatively new (built in 1987) and has a business class feel, which is the clientele it aims for. It's one of the unsung gems in Belle Haven's hotel marketplace, in that it offers Tier 2 comfort & amenities, but their room rates are towards the lower end of other Tier 2 properties nearby. They have an aggressive marketing strategy with plenty of discounts and sales on rates aimed at families and tourists, a big factor in their high occupancy rate on weekends and off peak times.
Transportation: Midtown Transit Center, 1/2 block South by foot

3)Danbury House Hotel—385 First St (290 rooms/16 suites)
The DH has a decent reputation, as their restaurant is affordable enough that it does bangup lunch business among the Stock Exchange and financial services crowd that is close by, and their lounge attracts a similar trade on weekdays at quitting time. They have a lot of available extras that also help them draw decent weekend traffic—an indoor pool, a "family concierge" that can recommend & arrange activities for parents and kids. They aggressively market to weekenders and sightseers, as well as discounts for events at the nearby Belle Haven Arena. It is clean, and service is great, but it still has a 1970's vibe in the decor.
Transportation: Midtown Transit Center, 1 block North by foot

4)Fairlaine Hotel/Market St—359 First St (140 rooms/12 suites/4 Deluxe suites)
The Fairlaine Group is one of Baker Park's "specialty hotel" chains, that cater to specific demographics and interests. They took over this property next door to the Danbury after the original owners failed to take advantage of the modern structure (built in 1995) by not figuring out who they were trying to appeal to. Now the hotel does excellent business on a model similar to their neighbors, as an upmarket option in an advantageous location for their usual more budget conscious audience.
Transportation: Midtown Transit Center, 1 1/2 blocks North by foot

5)The Stafford Hotel on Front Street—383 Front St (312 room/28 suites/20 deluxe suites)
This is the flagship of the Stafford Hotel chain, and the only one that has Tier 1 recognition. It's not as old as the G5 or the I/C but most people consider it the third best hotel in the city. You'll pay a premium to get a room on the river facing side, but a view is all that gets you, as the rooms are spacious and well appointed (tip—a multi-night stay that includes a Sunday or Monday will get you a deep discount on river facing rooms!). 2 restaurants work both sides of the price spectrum, one a bit fancier and costly than the other, while the bar is nothing special; it's about on par with the many pubs and bars in the pedestrianized Old Uptown District across Westminster Street, so for a hotel bar that serves food, it's competitively priced.
Transportation: Midtown Transit Center, 2 blocks North by foot

6)The Stafford Hotel at Queen Victoria Square—484 State St (184 rooms/20 suites)
Critics of this reasonably modern hotel say it really should be considered as 'Tier 2.5', because it's not really much of an example of top end lodging. But the Stafford Group doesn't make an attempt to market it the same way they do the Front Street or Hyde Park properties. It's a serviceable business class hotel, with meeting/conference rooms, exercise room, business center, indoor pool, an underrated restaurant and attentive, friendly service (the chain send their management trainees here to learn the ropes working as clerks, porters, wait staff and other jobs). For tourists/travelers, it's not in a hustle & bustle area with nightlife options within walking distance, but one can get a bus, the subway or the trolley with a short walk (~10 mins.) Also within walking distance—three Tier 4 properties that a quick stroll by will convince you the extra $60 per night is worth it.

14)River City Gaming, Casino & Entertainment Hotel—1002 Front Street West (434 rooms/32 suites/16 deluxe suites)
It's a casino hotel. Everything and anything you could want to have is at your command here, and it is surprisingly not as tacky or gauche as you might think. It has 4 restaurants, 6 bars/lounges, a comedy club, a 600 seat showroom, conference rooms and sports book; the casino has 2 floors of all forms of gambling, 24/7/365, plus there's an indoor/outdoor pool. It has everything possible to be listed in Tier 1, but by its own request, it's considered a Tier 2 property. Room rates here are considered the floor for Tier 2 hotel rate schedules, so obviously you get much more than you pay for.

12)The Beaulieu Hotel—84 Deauville High Street (132 rooms/16 suites)
Pre-dates the George V by 3 years, making it the oldest continuously operating hotel in the city. Another example of Edwardian luxury and taste, its Beaux-Arts exterior and mahogany paneled lobby sweeps the visitor back to another era. Many of the double rooms are a bit small by contemporary standards, but the rooms with river facing windows have spectacular views of the city skyline.

11)Deauville Tower Hotel—204 Lawrence Street (116 rooms/32 suites/16 deluxe suites)
Another Beaux-Arts facade—face it, a lot of buildings in this part of town are styled as such—with an all together different interior feel than the Beaulieu, the Tower is more like a beachside resort hotel from the past (river, ocean—we work with we have!). Brighter, airier, and fewer units per floor, this is a high end property that doesn't flaunt luxury. Indoor rooftop pool and a moderately priced restaurant on site.

10)Huntington Plaza Hotel, Central Station—11 Grand Avenue (220 rooms/22 suites)
Originally known as the Charbonneau when it first opened in 1912, this was a classic railway hotel, with 2 bars, 3 dining rooms and a host of other traveler oriented services that operated in sidewalk-front shops on the first floor (snack bar/coffee shop, barber, haberdashery, newsagent/tobacconist, etc) along with clean, affordable, utilitarian rooms. As part of the Huntington Plaza chain, it retains a feel of that past, but with decidedly mod cons and a total updating of the decor (yes, it's another BA exterior). The connection to downtown via the light rail Trolley and a major bus stop are a short walk across Grand Ave, and the shops and tourist attractions of Deauville are another short walk across Commonwealth Ave.

13)Fairlaine Hotel/South Bank Galleria—318 Commonwealth Ave. (203 rooms/12 suites)
Like the Market St location, this is an outlier in the Fairlaine Group chain, but it does tick off all the right boxes to make it a popular weekend stay for families and travelers alike. Its proximity to Sportsmen's Park means that is it usually sold out when there are events taking place at the stadium, and other times there are groups taking advantage of special rates (bachelorette/bachelor parties, family reunions, school reunions, group excursions) and the proximity of shopping mall associated businesses.
Modern, well kept and room rates at the lower end of the Tier 2 spectrum.

We also include the descriptions of two mass appeal chains that are nationwide:

Camp Road Inns—Tier 4 chain
In the early days of the Commonwealth, new immigrants were given a variety of choices about where they wanted to settle within the country, presented with options in towns, unsettled areas or already established rural communities. If they chose to leave their entry port—often Belle Haven, but also at Newport and later Middletown—they were transported to temporary settlements near where they chose to settle, until their land claim could be arranged and titled. These settlements were centered around a group of buildings that served the needs of the temporary inhabitants—a store, the survey office, church, a dispensary, a miller, a blacksmith—who lived in hastily built flatboard cabins.
The paths taken by wagoneers and coaches to these remote boom towns were called camp roads, and they eventually became among the first permanent, and paved, thoroughfares in the nation.
This large hospitality group, one of the Commonwealth's oldest and largest hoteliers, provides straightforward, affordable accommodations with few frills but excellent service. They don't skimp on basic amenities—most locations offer free WiFi, complimentary Continental breakfast, a pool, coin operated laundry room for guests, mini-fridge/microwave/coffeemaker in every room—which has made them a popular choice for overnight stays on long road trips for families. There are over 280 locations across the Commonwealth, in city centers, along major expressways and everywhere in between.

Welcome Inns—unrated chain, with some Tier 4 properties
The nation's largest chain of lodging accommodations, Welcome Inns is mainly franchised, so sometimes the standards are not uniform across all properties, but the company is not hesitant (or complacent) about cracking down when they receive complaints.
There are scant few expressway interchanges where there is not a Welcome Inn close by, and several are located in downtown areas, that are generally slightly more upscale than the usual roadside property (hence the qualification above), which makes the chain's 362 locations a ubiquitous presence across the Commonwealth. It is spartan and inexpensive—plus very clean and well maintained--but they won't try and con you that it is anything else.