Where to Stay - Boston 2009 - page 78

were under construction at press time); lounge; coffee shop; indoor pool; state-of-the-art health club; concierge; busi-
ness center; 24-hr. room service; laundry service; dry cleaning; rooms for those w/limited mobility. In room:A/C, TV
w/pay movies, high-speed and wireless Internet access ($10/day), minibar, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron, safe, robes.
EXPENSIVE
Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel In the rapidly evolving Seaport Dis-
trict, the Renaissance stands out: It's a hotbed of bleeding-edge tech. Lightning-fast
DS-3 Internet access (the equivalent of 28 T1 lines) makes each guest room a media
hub, with the capability to run everything through the 37-inch HD TV. As you'd
expect within walking distance of both the convention center and the World Trade
Center, the style is familiar business contemporary, all sleek silhouettes and vibrant
colors, with comfy, well-appointed beds. Weeknight guests tend to be in town on
business; on weekends, expect more leisure travelers and correspondingly lower
prices—which seems only fair, given the distance from most attractions and dining.
The glass-clad 21-story building opened in 2008, and higher you go, the better the
views of the harbor, a block away, and the downtown skyline.
606 Congress St., Boston, MA 02210. & 800/HOTELS-1 or 617/338-4111. Fax [phone]. www.renaissance
boston.com. 471 units. $169-$459 double; from $459 suite. Children under 19 stay free in parent's room. Weekend,
family and other packages available. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $39. T: Red Line to South Station, then Water-
front Silver Line to World Trade Center or 20-min. walk. Or water taxi to World Trade Center. Pets under 50 lb.
accepted. Amenities: Restaurant (modern American); lounge; coffee bar; indoor pool; health club; spa; concierge; 24-
hr. business center; room service until 10pm; massage; babysitting; laundry service; dry cleaning; rooms for those
w/limited mobility. In room:A/C, TV w/pay movies, high-speed and wireless Internet access($10/night), coffeemaker,
hair dryer, iron, safe, robes.
Seaport Hotel The independent Seaport Hotel was a pioneer on the
South Boston waterfront and remains a sophisticated, eco-conscious presence in the
emerging, construction-intensive neighborhood. The hotel, which opened in 1998
and was renovated in 2006, was designed and built (by Fidelity Investments) with
every feature pampered, techno-savvy business travelers might dream of. The well-
appointed, decent-size rooms have thoughtful features such as pillow-top mattresses,
Logan Airport flight information on the TV, and fog-free bathroom mirrors. The
views (of the city or harbor) from higher floors of the 18-story building are breathtak-
ing. Across the street from and affiliated with the World Trade Center, the hotel books
up unpredictably depending on the schedule there and at the nearby convention cen-
ter. The kid-conscious staff, pool, weekend packages, and proximity to the Children's
Museum make this a good choice for families, too.
1 Seaport Lane, Boston, MA 02210. & 877/SEAPORT or 617/385-4000. Fax [phone]. www.seaportboston.
com. 426 units. $189-$399 double; $450-$1,700 suite. Service charge $3 per room per night. Children under 17 stay
free in parent's room. Weekend and family packages available. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $39; self-parking
$29. T: Red Line to South Station, then Waterfront Silver Line to World Trade Center or 20-min. walk. Or water taxi to
World Trade Center. Pets under 50 lb. accepted. Amenities: Well-regarded restaurant (contemporary American); cafe;
lounge; 50-ft. indoor pool; well-equipped health club; spa; bike rental; concierge; car-rental desk; shuttle to South Sta-
tion, North Station, and State Street; 24-hr. business center w/professional staff (7am-8pm); 24-hr. room service; mas-
sage; laundry service; same-day dry cleaning; rooms for those w/limited mobility. In room:A/C, TV w/pay movies,
high-speed and wireless Internet access, minibar, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron, safe, robes.

Kids

7 Chinatown/Theater District
VERY EXPENSIVE
The Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common This plush, ultramodern hotel is a magnet
for visiting celebrities—the state-of-the-art Sports Club/LA is a powerful draw—but