Starwood Preferred Guest - Boston/Copley Place question

I'm looking for a Boston property with a decent gym/spa. Does this property have a real facility, or is it just an "exercise room"? Anyone know?

I remember they have a small pool and to the best of my recollection a small exercise room (a service I tend not to utilize). The Sheraton down the street from the Westin has a nice pool and what looks like a full-service gym.

The Westin has more than, say, a hotel room converted into an exercise room with a bunch of machines -- but it's no spa / health club. The room is self service, but the machines are spaced well, they're well maintained, there are towels, a water cooler, and TVs over the bikes. The hotel staff must use the facility because they leave behind hospitality industry trade magazines. The pool is from another era of hotel design -- cold water, small, slit windows, few chairs, not a place to hang out.

The Sheraton nearby is the largest hotel in the city and the health club reflects that fact. It's big, with a big pool in the middle. The facility is staffed, recently renovated, and well-maintained. I'm Platinum, so I don't pay, but this hotel seems to nickel-and-dime the customers, so I wouldn't be surprised if they charge regular guests to use the club. It gets crowded in the early a.m. if there's a convention at the hotel. Other times, mostly just airline pilots.

The Boston Sheraton is probably the best Starwood property O have ever used, excellent recognition of Platinum guests and fantastic service.

Do a search and you will find I am not the only one to rave about the property.

Thanks,
Richard

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by gsilliman:
The Westin has more than, say, a hotel room converted into an exercise room with a bunch of machines -- but it's no spa / health club. The room is self service, but the machines are spaced well, they're well maintained, there are towels, a water cooler, and TVs over the bikes. The hotel staff must use the facility because they leave behind hospitality industry trade magazines. The pool is from another era of hotel design -- cold water, small, slit windows, few chairs, not a place to hang out.

The Sheraton nearby is the largest hotel in the city and the health club reflects that fact. It's big, with a big pool in the middle. The facility is staffed, recently renovated, and well-maintained. I'm Platinum, so I don't pay, but this hotel seems to nickel-and-dime the customers, so I wouldn't be surprised if they charge regular guests to use the club. It gets crowded in the early a.m. if there's a convention at the hotel. Other times, mostly just airline pilots.</font>

i think non-platinums are charged is because the sheraton does not run the gym. it's an outside gym in the building that sheraton guests can use--for a fee (except platinums).

the sheraton is a fantistic property--particularly for platinums.

The place to stay for a top gym in Boston is at the Ritz-Carlton Boston Common. It is connected to the 100,000 square foot Sports Club/LA - Boston, and you just take the hotel elevator to the gym. No charge for use by hotel guests and it is open 5:30am-11:00pm during the week - shorter hours on weekends. It has everything - basketball courts, squash, pool, free weights, cardio, a top restuarant ("Blu"), cafe, bar, salon, spa, saunas, steam rooms, gift shop, fancy locker rooms, etc. The second nicest hotel gym is at the Boston Harbor Hotel, although they charge a daily use fee. Much smaller, but with a nice pool, and luxurious locker rooms. The Starwood facilities in Boston just don't compare.

It's not a Starwood property, but I believe that guests at the Boston Doubletree (on Washington St.) have access to the YMCA, which is in the adjacent building. (This is not an endorsement or recommendation of the hotel itself; just a comment on their exercise facilities.)

The Doubletree Downtown Boston is indeed connected to the big, new Chinatown YMCA. The upside of this facility is that it has a lot more than the standard fitness club (e.g. basketball court, aerobics classes). The downside is that it's a regular Y pool -- heavily booked with specific activities, so you can't, for example, take your kids down for a dip anytime you want.

The hotel is also 200 feet from a T station.