Where to Stay - Boston 2009 - page 81

element as seamlessly as the Four Seasons. If I were traveling with someone else's credit
cards, I'd head straight here. Overlooking the Public Garden, the 16-story brick-and-
glass building (the hotel occupies eight floors) incorporates the traditional and the
contemporary. The spacious accommodations feel more like stylish apartments than
hotel rooms, with lots of plush fabrics, elaborate moldings, and marble bathrooms.
The best units overlook the Public Garden; city views from the back of the hotel aren't
as desirable but can be engaging, especially from the higher floors. The staff is
famously accommodating to businesspeople, families, and celebrities. Larger accom-
modations range from executive suites with parlor areas to luxurious deluxe suites with
sweeping views.
200 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116. & 800/819-5053 or 617/338-4400. Fax [phone]. www.fourseasons.
com/boston. 273 units. $475-$600 double; from $750 1-bedroom suite; from $1,225 2-bedroom suite. Weekend and
family packages available. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $41. T: Green Line to Arlington. Pets under 15 lb.
accepted. Amenities: Restaurant (Aujourd'hui, p. 125); bar (The Bristol, p. 238); 44-ft. pool and Jacuzzi overlooking
the Public Garden; newly renovated health club and spa; concierge; tour desk; limo to downtown; business center;
24-hr. room service; in-room massage; babysitting; laundry service; same-day dry cleaning; rooms for those w/limited
mobility. In room:A/C, TV w/pay movies, high-speed Internet access ($10/day), minibar, hair dryer, iron, safe, robes.
Taj Boston Better known as “the old Ritz-Carlton,” Taj Boston is quickly mak-
ing a name for itself. The legendary hotel overlooking the Public Garden became part
of the India-based luxury chain in 2007. Completely restored for its 75th anniversary
in 2002, the lovely property is undergoing regular upgrades and updates. The ele-
gantly appointed guest rooms have dark-wood furnishings, feather duvets, crystal
chandeliers, three phones (one in the marble bathroom), and windows that open.
You'll pay more for a room with a view. The best units are the suites, which have
wood-burning fireplaces. One of the most traditional lodgings in town, The Taj is
competitive with other top-tier hotels—especially the archrival Four Seasons, 2 blocks
away—on cachet alone, but state-of-the-art fitness facilities help the InterContinental
and (eventually) the Mandarin Oriental mount a serious challenge.
15 Arlington St., Boston, MA 02116. & 877/482-5267 or 617/536-5700. Fax [phone]. www.tajhotels.com.
273 units. From $325 double; from $425 Club Level or suite. Children under 13 stay free in parent's room. Extra per-
son $20. Weekend, family, and other packages available. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $42. T: Green Line to
Arlington. Pets accepted. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; lounge; exercise room; concierge; courtesy car; airport shuttle;
business center; 24-hr. room service; in-room massage; babysitting; laundry service; same-day dry cleaning; club-level
rooms; rooms for those w/limited mobility. In room: A/C, TV w/pay movies, high-speed Internet access ($11/day), mini-
bar, hair dryer, iron, safe.
EXPENSIVE
Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers A Boston mainstay—it was built as the
Statler Hilton in 1927—the Park Plaza does a hopping convention and function busi-
ness. It's the antithesis of generic, with an old-fashioned atmosphere and a cavernous,
ornate lobby, yet it offers modern comforts in the guest rooms, where the design is
more contemporary than in the elaborate public spaces. The latest round of renova-
tions, upgrading the technology as well as the appointments in the guest rooms, was
completed in 2005. The least expensive units here are small; if you're not a crash-and-
dash traveler, the extra space might be worth the extra money. Don't expect personal-
ized service in a hotel this large and busy. The lobby of the 15-story building is a little
commercial hub, with a travel agency, pharmacy, currency exchange, and Amtrak and
airline ticket offices.
64 Arlington St., Boston, MA 02116. & 800/225-2008 or 617/426-2000. Fax [phone]. www.bostonparkplaza.
com. 941 units, some with shower only. $175-$399 double; $375-$2,000 suite. Extra person $25. Children under 18