Well Located but Tired
After having moved out of Boston a year ago, I went back and stayed at the Taj for two nights. The location is great, but the hotel itself is rather tired, and the service leaves a lot to be desired.
The Taj is well located on the quieter end of Newbury street, down by the Commons. Access to the subway is very easy, with the Red Line close by. Getting to any restaurant, shopping area, or any college campus is no problem from the Taj, whether you want to catch a cab or take the subway. The location is also convenient for going out in the evenings - public transportation shuts down relatively early in Boston, and it can be difficult to get a cab, so having a centrally located hotel is key.
I had a pleasant enough corner room with windows on two sides, as requested. The view was great, as I could see onto Newbury Street and look out to the park. The room was understated - I liked the simplicity and the yellow furnishing. It was, however, worn, and seriously in need of freshening up. There were chips in the paint, and the bed springs were on their last legs, with the mattress especially plush in the center. There was dust on the tops of lights and behind the curtains. I called about switching rooms but the staff said that the same view or any other street view on another floor would cost significantly more and be "difficult," as nothing was available at the time (afternoon on a Friday). Earlier I was told that the hotel was quiet that weekend, so I was surprised to hear this.
The bathroom in the room was very small, with only space for one person to stand in there at a time. The water pressure was strong and the bath products (Molton Brown) were nice.
I was most disappointed with the service, or lack there of, at the Taj. The doormen never opened the door for me or my mother, who visited for an evening. My mother is over 60, and even when she was rolling in a suitcase and carrying a shopping bag on her arm, the doormen stood outside motionless. This was especially tough because they were often blocking the regular door so one had to use the revolving door. When your hands are full this becomes tough. At one point a woman was standing waiting in the revolving door with full hands, and turned to yell at me because I wasn't pushing it for her!
The Taj has a lot of potential, but its current state is simply tired. Given the other hotel options in Boston, I'm not convinced the Taj is worth its 5 star luxury rating or its price.