Boston Common garage--monthly only?

Question

Just tried to park at the Boston Common garage. They told me it was for monthly parkers only. Has anyone heard anything about this? I just checked their website and it did not mention anything about this.

I'll leave my question up anyway, but I just thought of something while I was typing this: I wonder if what he meant was that only monthly pass holders were allowed in *at that time*, but maybe if I had arrived earlier there would have been spots available. Hmm... possible English as a second language communication issue.

So, I guess that's a different question: has anyone heard of the Common garage "selling out"? Obviously not including special event days like Marathon Monday, First Night, etc. Just an otherwise regular weekday.

Answer

The Boston Common Garage does typically offer both monthly parking and daily parking options, but it can sometimes be full, especially during busy periods. It's possible that when you visited, they were either at capacity for daily parkers or prioritizing monthly parkers at that specific time. The garage is a popular spot due to its location, so on some occasions, it might be harder to find a daily spot depending on the time of day and demand.

As for "selling out" or being fully booked, it is not uncommon for garages in high-demand areas like downtown Boston to have limited availability, especially during peak hours. However, outside of special events or holidays, it should not be a regular occurrence. If you arrive early in the day, you might have better luck finding a spot. It's always a good idea to check their availability ahead of time if you're planning to park during busy periods.

If you're visiting during a regular weekday, it is unlikely that the garage would be sold out unless there's a special event happening nearby or during peak times.
If you're looking for a spot, it might be worth trying to arrive earlier or later in the day to increase your chances of availability.
For future visits, you could also consider calling ahead to confirm availability or explore nearby alternative parking garages in the area.

If you experience this again, I would recommend asking the staff whether they are simply at capacity for daily parking or if there is another issue. And yes, it's also possible there was a misunderstanding due to language differences. It’s best to clarify the timing or parking availability with them directly.