Comfort, Convenience, Boredom
Written: Jun 27 '09
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Hyatt reservations, amenities and good conference facilities.
Cons: Food, ambiance and physical plant not up to Hyatt standard.
The Bottom Line: There are many better options in Boston today.
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| ulysses4's Full Review: Hyatt Regency Boston Financial Dist |
It has been nearly two weeks since my overnight stay at this hotel in conjunction with a fairly intense seminar. I had better get some thoughts together before the bland experience fades even more from view. In this economy, I hesitate to say anyhting negative about a business where good people are trying hard. Still, when you pay a discounted conference rate of $289/night before taxes, it is reasonable to expect more than this Hyatt delivered.
Living one hundred miles west of Boston, I don't find myself staying there overnight as often as I do in New York and further destinations. Still, over the years, I have stayed at a dozen or so local establishments, perhaps double that if you count the near in suburbs. I have also had lunch, dinner or attended functions at another dozen. I even stayed at this hotel in its prior and original life as a Swissotel.
It was dreary then, and while Hyatt has made upgrades, it is still not a leader in charm, value or originality.
The hotel's location is somewhat convenient for the business district, for tourism or for whatever other reason you have to be in town, but it is in a dreary section that hasn't quite decided if it is on the way up or down. Driving to the hotel will take some fortitude. Since the valet and self parking rates are quite steep, I recommend parking at 60% of the price under the Boston Common and then walking to the hotel (or taking a cab in inclement weather). Of course, that is your first inconvenience.
Check in is courteous and swift, and there are computer terminals to do so if things are particularly busy, or if you don't want any human contact. There are two sets of elevators: one that goes from the street and parking levels to the upstairs lobby and some meeting rooms. Another group accesses the lodging rooms. Count on some delay at both elevator banks.
With a two day conference on a Monday and Tuesday, I arrived around 9AM and was pleasantly surprised that I could have access to my room even though regular check in time is at 3.
The hotel has 500 some odd rooms and a "modified" (stunted) atrium. Clearly, this hotel was not built by or for Hyatt, so it doesn't have the Buck Rogers/Bladerunner inside cavern architecture. The result looks more suburban than urban hotel landscape.
Hall carpeting, fixtures and public areas are neat, well maintained and totally interchangeable with hundreds of other hotels. I did not utilize the hotel's spa and 24 hour gym facilities, nor its business center. The hotel purports to be pet friendly, but I didn't have any of my four footed friends along for the trip.
My king sized room had all the usual Hyatt amenities, a well tailored beige, brown and gold decor, a dedicated work area, plenty of decorator pillows on the bed, several lamps and end tables, a separate easy chair, an alarm clock, a few pieces of furniture store reproduction prints, armoire and a small closet. The hotel has been upgrading to flat screen TVs, 27 inch standard, and some with 64 inch screens. The well lit bathroom had a marble sink counter, nice toiletries and a fairly spacious shower tub combination with a convex shower curtain. The usual additional amenities: hair dryer, iron and ironing board, coffee maker, wi-fi access. Room service dining was available, but I did not use that feature.
On a high floor, it was extremely quiet. The view, towards the harbor, was obstructed by a dozen or so office buildings of varying sizes and ages.
Because of the nature of the seminar, I spent very little time in the room. I did have two lunches, one in a large group and one in the main dining room, in a smaller group. Both meals were marginally better than typical U.S. hotel fare, but not of the distinctly better quality which I had previously expected and experienced from Hyatt. The service was unobtrusive, a little slow, what you usually find in the banquet world.
I had attended two prior sessions of this seminar in Boston in other hotels. The Hyatt was the best of the three for its conference facility, and my room was certainly quite acceptable. Having, of necessity, been staying at more hotels recently at a lower price point, I was not impressed with the price to value ratio. Over the years, I have stayed at a number of top of the line hotels. It wouldn't be fair to use that measuring stick. But, in comparison to many other Hyatts, Sofitels, Best Western Premiers and their ilk this was not an entirely thumbs up experience.
A number of new hotels have been built in Boston in recent years. Other older hotels (not all) have maintained their character and many have more convenient or desirable addresses. With considerable competition, this hotel does not stand out from the pack.
There is a certain empty feeling about the place, even when it might be fairly full. Blame it on the architects. Having checked out early, I checked a bag to be retrieved in the afternoon. When it was time to do so, it took nearly twenty minutes for someone to find it. I was left, awkwardly standing at the place where valet parking is retireved and then in the downsairs corridor. While clearly not happy about the delay, I still wanted to give the porter a tip. He refused it, and apologized, knowing that others had dropped the ball. I respect and salute that porter. Perhaps, the experience would have been better overall if he were promoted to assistant manager.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
ulysses4
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Member: Alan R. Fridkin
Location: Westfield, MA USA
Reviews written: 235
Trusted by: 21 members
About Me:
Mediator;attorney;retired Navy Captain;avid traveler;bon vivant.
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