not so special after all
For a boutique hotel, there is not anything remarkable about this venue. The front lobby is attractive, but not inviting for a little lingering. Too small and overheated, all marble and hard surfaces, and really nowhere for a cozy conversation. The rates are quite high, and the Deluxe Double room very small. The bathroom was very tight with little space to spare for one's toiletries, constant juggling, and I am not a "product" hog. It was a nice marble lined room, but the toilet was tight up against the wall. The floors in the bedroom were slanted and there was a queer feeling of a change in the subfloor, as though one was walking on a grate just below the carpet. The worst part was the never ceasing street noise. Situated on the corner of Commonwealth and Mass. Aves, it is not the place to try to get a good night's sleep if the sound of buses, accelerating motorcycles, and loud late night party goers might disrupt your slumber. Wifi is an extra $5 a day!!! Shouldn't a luxury hotel include that in the price of one's stay? Really, should anyone be inconvenienced to login to AT&T and dish out their credit card after paying over $320 a night?! "Nickle and diming" leaves a bad taste in one's mouth, and therefore, it is not on my list of hotels I would want to revisit. Much more friendly boutique hotels in the vicinity: Copely Square Hotel and Back Bay Hotel. Copley Square has a "Wine Down" hour with a complimentary glass of wine in the spacious, yet cozy side lobby, and Back Bay has a morning coffee bar (free of charge) in their bright and expansive side lobby. These very small gestures make a guest feel truly welcomed and valued. The management of the Eliot should consider that people spending at this level are accustomed to the little extras which keep them coming back.