Tag: Boston Hotel Reviews
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InterContinental Boston, You're Our Home
The InterContinental Boston is a newer addition to the Boston waterfront, nestled between the Financial District and booming Seaport District. Looking for a room with a view during a recent trip to Fenway Park, we checked into the new kid on the block.
Boston Hotel Reviews / Hotel Review Updates / → All Tags
Checking In: Ames Hotel Boston
We like to check in on hotels a year or two after opening to see how they are aging slash maturing, and that is just what we did recently at the Ames. Back in November of 2009, shortly after it opened, we reviewed The Ames Hotel in Boston.
2011 Update
Our biggest gripe actually happened *before* we even checked in. The Ames has zero signage outside the property, which means id'ing the property can be difficult, especially from a moving car. Furthermore, anyone who has ever driven a car in Boston knows, downtown Boston was made for horses, not automobiles -- meaning if you miss the Ames once you could end up stuck trying to navigate Boston's one way streets for the next thirty minutes or so.
Luckily we have a cheat for you. If you miss 1 Court St the first time, don't panic, just take your next left, and keep taking your next left for three straight blocks. If you do that, voila, you should be back in front of the Ames hotels. Not quite the same as Up-Up-Down-Down-Left-Right-Left-Right-A-B-A-B-Start, but close. Want an easier solution? Take a cab. Seriously, the last thing you want to do is drive in downtown Boston, trust us.
The decor has not changed, you can still expect plenty of white, charcoal, and mirrors, and a very Morgansesque experience upon arrival. Internet is still $15.99, but it is free with
HotelChatter Rankings / Lists / Boston Hotels / Boston Hotel Reviews / HotelChatter Resources / Best Hotels in Boston / → All Tags
The 6 Best Hotels in Boston: Winter 2011
For over six years now, we've been chronicling, photographing and filming the best and the worst in hotels around the world. And now it is time to impart our PH.D-like hotel wisdom on you in rankings form. You wanted the best and you got the best, the hottest hotels in Boston...LIST.
Our one criteria? All hotels on these lists must be HotelChatter tested and approved and in no way have these rankings been bought or influenced by eager hoteliers and/or pr reps.
Now, the rankings can and will change which is why our aim is to let you know who is moving up and down the charts on a seasonal basis.
In this Winter 2011 Best Hotels in Boston edition, we looked for hotels worthy of putting up with wind chills and black ice where you could enjoy the wonderfully low tourist count that Boston possesses in the winter. Yet while the winter can bring easy access to excellent chowder and pubs, thanks to hospitals, colleges, and corporations, rates in Boston don't fall as much as we would like.
We found sample price quotes using the HotelChatter booking engine and searching for rates between January 14 - January 17. Of course, rates are not guaranteed and are subject to change.
Hotel Video Tours / Photo Gallery / Boston Hotel Reviews / Luxury Hotels / Mandarin Oriental / Boston Hotels / → All Tags
Inside the Mandarin Oriental Boston, The Tao of Back Bay
Big rooms that make you feel is if you have been beamed to the Far East
Top notch service
Located right across from the Apple Store
Attached to the Prudential Center
Priced too high
Does not feel "Boston"
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Hotel Veritas: Hope The Goddess of Truth Can Handle It
Check In @ the Hotel Veritas
The lobby was sophisticated and glossy. Forgive the obvious mothership reference, but the lobby looked like it stepped straight out of a Conde Nast magazine. As we arrived we were immediately offered coffee, juice, or water and told that all three beverages were free throughout our stay -- nice touch. The front desk folks were extremely friendly and helpful, asking us if there was anything special we needed during our stay.
We mentioned we had a conference call in 10 minutes and needed an early check in. Not only did the staff comply, but they also switched our room to a "quieter room with a desk." By the time we got in the elevator and headed to our room we *really* wanted to love this hotel.
However, the awesome staff and gorgeous lobby ended up being the highlight of our stay.
Video / Hotel Video Tours / Fairmont Hotels / Boston Hotel Reviews / → All Tags
Inside The Fairmont Battery Wharf Hotel in Boston
Last week we revisited our old stomping grounds in Boston and decided to shack up at the Fairmont Battery Wharf Hotel. With all these new hotels in town (like the Ames and the W), our Boston hotel standards have been ratcheted up quite a bit. Yet the Fairmont didn't wow us.
It wasn't that we didn't have a pleasant stay, we did. It isn't that we had a terrible view--watch the video to see our killer view--but if you are looking for a wow factor in a Boston hotel, move along.
Come to think of it, residence hotels hardly ever excite us, so this hotel is not alone. However, if you are looking for a quiet, comfortable place to stay with good, free connectivity (just sign up for the Fairmont Presidents Club) and service that feels more personal (think high end residence doorman type stuff) than big hotel brand, you will be happy with the Fairmont Battery Wharf.
HotelChatter Reviews / Boston Hotel Reviews / W Hotels / → All Tags
Should You Stay At W Boston?
Topline:
Clean crisp W rooms
Cool new interior room concepts (phone charger dongle station)
Friendly, Helpful Staff (yes at a boutique hotel)
Central Boston Location (if you don't drive)
Priced too high
Some in-room fixtures seem a bit low quality
Restaurant forget our mushroom side, gave us fries instead
Hotel Video Tours / Sheraton Rebrand / Boston Hotel Reviews / → All Tags
Sheraton Rebrand Now With Moving Pictures
Take that title both literally and figuratively. When HotelChatter readers saw our snapshot of the new Sheraton Boston Hotel room's, which just so happen to be the showcase rooms for the company's $6 billion renovation of their 86 North American properties, our readers had some burning questions. Why are the walls bare? Is that a green draylon couch? Just how do I watch the tv from my bed? Well hopefully those questions and more will be answered with this silent video.
As for the walls, you will see as we enter into the room there is a print of the Back Bay featured prominently and this theme of nearby location photography continues in the room. Oh, and just in case you aren't sure what you think of the rebranding, below is a photo of the view from the room we checked into. Yup, you can see Fenway Park. Killer views of Fenway kind of trump any and all room renovations anyway don't they? Maybe that is just our passion for October baseball in Boston talking. In any event, enjoy the rebranding show.
Hotel Openings / MTM Luxury Lodging / Boston Hotel Reviews / Hotel Video Tours / Jail Hotels / → All Tags
Movies From Inside Boston's New Jail Hotel
Approaching Boston's newest swank hotel, The Liberty Hotel, is not a simple proposition. The hotel is directly behind the new Yawkey Center at Mass General Hospital and you are bound to run into squealing ambulances, harried doctors and Charles St. Brahmans as you enter.
However once inside the old Charles Street Jail you are immediately blown away by the atrium architecture and escalator mural, which includes mug shots of actual former inmates. Our first impression is that MTM Luxury Lodging did a good job of shutting out the chaotic surroundings of the Charles St. T stop and turning this old jail into a 298-room hotel.
We know that if you are going to pay $300 to $350 a night (ouch) for a room here you want to know what it is like inside. Luckily for you this hotel video tour is a Friday double feature.
Check out moving pictures from room 430, one of 18 rooms in the jail (the other 280 are in the new tower) here.
Hotel Openings / Boston Hotel Reviews / Jail Hotels / → All Tags
The Liberty Hotel in Boston Actually Opens on Time
Last fall it was announced that a former Charles Street jail in Boston would be converted into a luxury boutique hotel. The hotel estimated a Summer 2007 opening date and guess what? The Liberty Hotel has opened today.
However, you can't stay overnight there until Sept. 7 but when you do you can expect room rates to start at $275 for a 400 sq.ft. Fantastic Double Double. A Ultra Fantastic King starts at $305. Looks like someone borrowed from the W Hotels room descriptions.
The hotel also has three restaurants/bars in the works including a "jail" bar in the lobby that pays homage to the building's former life. A casual restaurant and bar will be on the second floor and a fine dining restaurant is also expected.
Related Stories:
· Charles Street Jail to Become The Liberty Hotel [HotelChatter]
Kimpton Hotels / Stuart Emmrich / Boston Hotel Reviews / → All Tags
Nine Zero Gets NYT Stamp of Approval
The first line of Stuart Emmrich's review for the NY Times of the hotel Nine Zero goes like this:
Finally, a hotel for dog-loving, yoga-practicing, environmentally conscious history buffs.
If that's not enough to let you know it's a Kimpton Hotel, then we don't know what other clues you would need.
Nine Zero's been open for a while but in this day and age everyone seems to be look for a green hotel during their travels and Nine Zero definitely lives up to the expectations with its eco-friendly cleaning products and fair trade coffee.
Emmrich loved the place from top to bottom. This was actually one of the most positive reviews of a hotel we've seen from NYT all year. Not that they are too harsh on hotels in the first place but still, Emmrich only mentioned one thing to avoid: hanging out in the lobby during the hotel's daily wine-tasting hour.
However, judging from this picture we may make our own suggestion: Avoid the lobby during the week when business travelers of the male persuasion are hanging out in the lobby. Sheesh, where are the ladies at?
[Photo: Jodi Hilton for NYT]
Related Stories:
· Check In, Check Out: Nine Zero [NY Times]
Hotel Staff / Hotel News / Boston Hotel Reviews / → All Tags
Providence's Crook Mayor Gets a Luxury Hotel Job
Oh you gotta love the America. Where else can you be the mayor of Providence, head up a city racketeering scam, go to jail and then have a luxury hotel job awaiting you upon your release?
Vincent "Buddy" Cianci will get out of federal prison next week where he has been serving a five-year term for corruption during his term as mayor of Providence. Cianci will be released to a halfway house on May 30 but he is already set to assume a role at the Fifteen Beacon Hotel in sales and marketing, thanks to his part in revitalizing much of Providence. Said George Regan, a spokesman for hotel owner Paul Roiff:
"He's going to have an office right inside the hotel. He's obviously an expert in sales and marketing. Look what he's done for downtown Providence," Regan said. "We think he'll be a great addition."
Cianci will have a celebration party on his first day and should be a good candidate to understand Fifteen Beacon's luxury status (rooms start at $400 a night) since he was known to camp out in the Presidential Suite of the Biltmore Hotel during his term as mayor. Let's hope he doesn't force his marinara sauce on everyone.
[Photo: Riggenransom]
Related Stories:
· Cianic snags job at luxurious Boston Hotel [Boston.com]
