Hilton HHonors - Hilton Boston Back Bay Trip Reports and Reviews

Check-in: August 06, 2001 about 08.00 PM ET
Check-out: August 10, 2001 about 07.00 AM ET
Room Number: 2414

I had called the hotel earlier in the day to say that I will be arriving at about 9 or 10 pm and that I am Gold VIP and I just want to make sure my room will be ready. They said yes, and made a note of my arrival and said I had been upgraded. (I was soon to find out his was not a true upgrade.)
I actually arrived at the hotel early as their was not much traffic after picking up my Hertz rental car at the airport. Check-in went just fine. I asked if this was on the Executive Floor (the website for the hotel states that there are executive rooms with robes and lounge and other upgraded amenities) and he stated that we do not have a Towers or Executive Floor, but it is an upgraded room. Then he proceeded to count out Bounce Back breakfast certificates for me for my stay. He stated that they could be used in the restaurant just around the corner in the hotel. Later when I looked on the certificate it stated that they could be used in the Coffee Shop (which happened to be closed for the duration of my stay) only for eggs any style, bacon or sausage, toast, milk, juice, coffee or tea. Well the next morning I went to the restaurant and asked my waiter if I could use this and she said yes and stated that we have a buffet and she asked me what I would like to drink. You have to be sure to tip/give a gratuity to the waiter or on the table as it is not included. I had the buffet which consisted of oatmeal with all the toppings, cereal, French toast, waffles, eggs, potatoes, cut fruit, pastries, bacon, and sausage. It was all very good, but ultra filling for that early in the morning.

Now onto my room. Well, I was on the only side of the hotel that had corner windows. I faced to front of the hotel which faces inland and to the Christian Science Center. Actually they way it is situated, there are 4 corner rooms in a fan like set-up so we had a mini-balcony and a separate window, but then the two rooms to our left (facing the window) had big floor to ceiling tinted window and nothing else. So what was this upgraded room? I had requested in the notes of my reservation a corner room, which is what I would consider this, as well as a high floor for a good view, but there were no other special amenities. We had all the basics plus a mini-bar, maybe that was the special thing. Nevertheless the service was just fine. The hotel is right across the street from the Sheraton, and there seemed to me to be more action there and more limos/town cars/car service cars. But that place is soooo huge, I did not want to stay there. The Hynes Convention Center( not in use while I was there) was right next door, and the ultra fashionable Newbury Street was very close by as well as Boylston Street. If you want a Hilton and a mid-size hotel not near the downtown business area you should go for this Hilton. Overall it was a on par experience with other Hilton’s I have stayed at, and now I am looking forward to the points and miles to post. Now only if those Hertz miles would post!

Thanks.

Found this while doing a search.
Now, has anyone recently been upgraded to the "Executive level"? And is there a lounge there? This seems to be a property where one often is told they have an upgrade, but the room is "nice sized, but not large." Makes one feel there really has been no upgrade. I will try this site again in August. Not too many HH options in Boston.

To be clear, the Hilton Boston Back Bay does not have an Executive Level according to my last stay. I was give a supposed "upgraded room" (just a partial corner) and the breakfast certificates.

Hi,

When I was a HH Silver I stayed at the Back Bay over New Year 2001/2002. I was put on the 16th floor which had a Hilton HHonors floor sign.
The rooms were standard but did get newspapers daily ( including the Boston Globe on Sunday) which was very good ($2) free.
Overall quite a good hotel. ( There was no buffet breakfast served when I was there so I walked across the street to the Sheraton)

Regards
TBS

STAM and TBS, thanks for your comments.

The Hilton Boston Logan Airport is a new hotel, and it does have an executive level, full health club, high speed ethernet access and web tv, etc. I have stayed at the hotel many times, and am pre-blocked in to an executive room 99% of the times both as Gold or Diamond. The hotel recently began to offer a complimentary van shuttle from the property to about 5 stops in downtown Boston. The shuttle runs early in the morning for the rush hour, and then again in the afternoon. While this hotel is at the airport it is very nice, and if you can use the shuttle, etc. to get in to Boston that may work for you. You should check with the hotel regarding hours of the shuttle, etc. The regular shuttle which operates 24x7 will take you to the blue line airport subway, as well as all locations with in the airport i.e. terminals, water shuttle, etc.

We recently returned from a weekend stay at the Hilton Boston Back Bay. By checking my online account, I knew before we arrived that we had been upgraded (as Diamond). There was a strange new reservation entered and when I called the hotel to find out about it, they said that the Manager had upgraded us to a two-room suite. :) :) Sweet! Alas, when we checked in, the suite was not available (last guest was extending his stay) so we were down-upgraded to a mini-suite. I had no complaints, as it was still an upgrade, and to a larger room than we had reserved.

The mini-suite appears to have originally been two regular rooms that were changed to one room by knocking down the dividing wall and replacing it with a 4-foot high room divider. The room divider held two good-sized TVs, one facing into the sitting room and the other into the sleeping area. The sitting area had two loveseats with an end table between them, a coffee table and a small round dining table with 4 chairs. The sleeping area held a king bed, two end tables with lamps, and a work desk. Strangely, there was no dresser in the sleeping area and no place (drawers, shelves in a closet) in the entire suite to store clothing, unless you count the wetbar cabinets. The area in one of the rooms that would normally have been the bathroom and closet was turned into a large wetbar complete with faucet and two bar stools. The minibar and coffee-making equipment were here as well. The bathroom was very small but it was adequate for a short stay.

Wi-fi was available in the room, although the use fee was not displayed anywhere. The front desk said that it was $9.95 for up to 7 days -- a very good deal for a long stay. However, it is advisable to check the rates when you arrive just to be sure.

The swimming pool and fitness center facilities are currently closed for a $1.7 million renovation. The renovations are supposed to be completed in May 2005. There is a temporary fitness area on the second floor, but I did not check it out. There was a note in the room stating "Should you require the use of a swimming pool during your stay, please contact the front desk for assistance", so apparently arrangements can be made.

The Hilton Back Bay does not have an executive lounge; thus, we were given coupons for breakfast in the restaurant. The coupons had a $15 value and could be used toward anything on the breakfast menu. The buffet just happened to be $15. It was a large spread, with several hot dishes (scrambled eggs, blintzes, pre-prepared waffles and pancakes, link sausage and bacon, potatoes) in addition to fruit and cereals and a large selection of breads and sweet rolls. You could also order eggs prepared to order from the waitperson as part of the buffet. Very nice. We did not try the hotel restaurant for dinner, as we filled up on seafood from Legal Seafoods, in the Pru Center - yum!!

The hotel is located across the street from the Hynes Convention Center, the Sheraton and the Prudential Center. The Prudential Center and Convention Center are accessed by entering the Sheraton and then turning left and up the escalators. The Prudential "T" (subway) stop (Green line) can be accessed from inside the Prudential Center just past the Barnes & Noble bookstore and across from The Cheesecake Factory (equal to about a long block of walking from the Hilton). The Convention Center T stop is about 1 to 1-1/2 blocks away from the Hilton in another direction.

Although it is a bit out of the way, all in all we enjoyed our stay at the Hilton Boston Back Bay and will likely return.

Thanks, that was a great report! Did you have a view of the Charles River? We are thinking of booking this hotel for July 4th weekend, a view of river is a must for us!

hi,

have been there two weeks ago in a corner room (diamond upgrade).
i like the cheap wifi and the breakfast coupon solution as their full breakfast is really good.

but for everythingelse, i did not like it: the hotel feels run-down, my rooms was not renovated since lets say 1985, not bathtub and a showe with only little water coming out.

service attitude: minus.
-- i asked at check-in for a european power adapter, they did not have that. i was in a hurry and asked to get one for me (of course against charge), but they said "we do not provide those services".
-- also i emailed before my stay about airport transport, and they just suggested to use a taxi. no limo offer. no contact number for limo available.
-- room service closed until 6:30a. i just came from HKG so my body clock was totally out of control i dont like the hotel operator to tell me that is not "good for you to eat so early"
-- room maids were having a party in front of the hotel rooms every morning or at least it sounded like this. you know it when somebody intentionally bumps into your door with the vacuum all the time to see if you would wake up and your room would be ready for cleaning

next time in boston i will not go there, even if i cannot use my hilton priviliges at the four seasons.

Thanks, that was a great report! Did you have a view of the Charles River? We are thinking of booking this hotel for July 4th weekend, a view of river is a must for us!

No, our mini-suite was only on the 7th floor and faced the Sheraton. No great view, to be sure. I don't know if any of their rooms have a river view; if so, they would have to be on the highest floors. My suggestion would be for you to contact the hotel directly and ask them about view and about reserving a specific room with the view (if they have it).

They do indeed have river view rooms. I had a corner room there with a great view of the Charles River a couple of years ago. Think it was on the 23rd floor.

I stayed there last Sept and was also upgraded to a Jr. Suite. The room was fine but there was a huge bus tour (or several tours) staying at the hotel so that there were lines for breakfast.

The wifi was good and not that expensive for longer stay but I was only there over night. The location is not bad but I can also see it being full of convention traffic sometimes.

Mary

The location is not bad but I can also see it being full of convention traffic sometimes.

I suspect convention traffic is a problem for all the large chain hotels in Back Bay (i.e. the Hilton, the Marriott and the two Starwood properties).

Maybe the new Mandarin Oriental that they are building will be the exception.

Thanks, that was a great report! Did you have a view of the Charles River? We are thinking of booking this hotel for July 4th weekend, a view of river is a must for us!

A river view might be the more tidy alternative to rumbling down Mass Ave with thousands of Bostonites...But, if you don't get that coveted river view room, you might actually find it a blast to get out with the crowd heading down to the Charles for the spectacular fireworks show. I wouldn't stress about it...just bring running shoes for the 8 block walk.

IMHO, H Back Bay is a so-so prop that often seems overpriced for what you get. Boston has many better options.

This was my second four-night stay here. Terrific! They put me in a peaceful upper level Hilton Honors room with a beautiful view of the river. Very friendly and helpful front desk staff, spacious room with a sitting area, very comfortable bed, quiet AC, mini-bar, functional wireless internet which was only $10 for a week of use; everything worked (I hate it when things are broken at hotels!). Breakfast buffet coupons (2 coupons given for 2 people for each day of the stay) or apply $15 per coupon off the menu for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Beautiful new fitness center with pool, terrific location.

It's not a cheap place, and has no executive lounge (your room is like a little lounge!), but I definitely recommend this hotel (at least for a Gold or Diamond)

Absolutely agree. I've stayed there twice also and I think it's great.
The only thing that lets it down is the charge for Internet access. There's just no reason for it. And the fact that you can't use existing accounts (T-Mobile, BT Openzone, etc.) is annoying - you just have to go round the corner to Starbucks.

Great location.

Would an Exec Lounge just make it more popular and therefore more difficult/expensive to get in to ?

The only thing that lets it down is the charge for Internet access. There's just no reason for it. And the fact that you can't use existing accounts (T-Mobile, BT Openzone, etc.) is annoying - you just have to go round the corner to Starbucks.

I find this especially amusing considering the free community-run wireless provided by NewburyOpen.net (http://www.newburyopen.net/) just a couple blocks away on Newbury St. I'd definitely patronize one of the places (http://www.newburyopen.net/locations.html) on NewburyOpen.net rather than give my beverage dollars to Starbucks and Internet dollars to T-Mobile. :)

(Completely OT, but I worked on Newbury St for a while and love the area so I thought I'd chime in... And if you're staying in Back Bay and don't make it over to Newbury St, you're doing something wrong!)