No matter where you stay, I would recommend you drive to Hopkinton, park your car at the office park just off of I-95, take the shuttle to the start (about 2 miles) and then take the shuttle back to Hopkinton after the race. It's really easy and you don't have to get up as early as you would if you took the morning shuttle from Boston. I think they close the exit to Hopkinton at 10am, but the traffic gets backed up a little bit, so shoot for 9:30.
As for race strategy, don't "take the bait" and start too fast on the downhills. Patience pays off big-time at Boston. Just enjoy the first 15 and then work the hills and beyond. The last 5 miles can be smoking if your quads have survived all the early downhills. You see, it's not the uphills that get you at boston, it's the downhills that tear up your quads.