For anyone considering a weekend in Boston, one of the first things to think about is what hotel to stay at. There are a bunch of great hotels in the city, and Virtuoso is lucky to partner with six of them. Over the last few months, I’ve made a few trips to Boston and had the chance to visit with five of my reps at five hotels. I also stayed at a few and will disclose that in the individual posts! For now, let’s talk a little about Boston, what to do there, and what Boston hotels to consider!
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston… the birthplace of the revolution, the pulsing heart of New England, and a great city for all sorts of people. Love history? There’s a ton of history in Boston, from the American Revolution to Industrial Revolution. Fancy yourself a salty sailor? Explore the maritime culture of the seaport and harbour. Rather stick your head in a book? Head to Cambridge, where Harvard and MIT both reign supreme. Prefer shopping, wining, or dining? There is excellent luxury shopping on Newbury Street, fantastic restaurants in all the luxury hotels, and tons of great little bars (or big bars) scattered across the city.
If you’re an outdoor fan, there’s both Boston Common and the Charles River right in the middle of the city, easy access to nature trails just outside of the city, and Cape Cod on the doorstep. Need seclusion in the form of spa treatments? Wheatleigh and Canyon Ranch Lenox are near the city, but some of the luxury hotels have amazing city spas. And for sports fans, there is no better city than Boston. Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins, and Celtics all have massive, enthusiastic fan bases.
Boston hotels
There’s a huge variety in Boston hotels, from the Crowne Plaza that spans I-90 in Newton to the Four Seasons in the Back Bay. In any city, though, it’s a good idea to vet the hotels. While there are great, beautiful, and luxurious hotels in the city, there are also some not great ones. Since Virtuoso vets all hotels in the portfolio, it’s a solid bet that any of them are excellent. Which hotel you choose depends, of course, on why you are in the city and what you plan on doing here. Businesspeople may prefer to stay near the financial district while theatregoers might prefer to be near their evening activity.
Luxury in Boston
Of the Virtuoso partner hotels in Boston, most are in the heart of the city, near or on Boston Common. The Four Seasons Boston looks out on to the public gardens, while the Ritz-Carlton is just up the hill past the Central Burying Ground. It sits atop the Loews Theatre and around the corner from the theatre district. Also, some suites at the Ritz-Carlton have absolutely stunning views of the Common! Fifteen Beacon, which I have not yet visited, is on the far side of the park from Four Seasons. It’s across from the Massachusetts State House on Beacon Hill.
Two hotels, the Mandarin Oriental and the Fairmont Copley Plaza are in the heart of the Back Bay. Fairmont Copley Plaza, as the name suggests, overlooks Copley Square, while the Mandarin is around the corner, at the Prudential Centre. The Mandarin has easy access to the shopping mall at the Prudential – there’s a back door into the mall! If you’re a fast walker (like me), getting from, say, the Ritz to Back Bay is about a twenty minute (fast/leisurely) walk.
Lastly, the Boston Harbor Hotel is across the city at the seaport. It’s about a twenty minute walk from there to the eastern edge of Boston Common, so it’s not an ideal walk to the Bay Bay. Again though, doable if you like to walk! However, it’s right near the North End and financial district. The seaport, too, is a short walk and a really awesome dining and drinking area.
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This is a brief synopsis of the Virtuoso Boston hotels! Stay tuned for an individual post about each one!
