Stayed at the Commander about a month ago for a weekend stay. Interesting property and hard to compare to other Sheratons any other place I know of.......

The upshot is that if you have an interest in, or a reason to be central to Cambridge/MIT/Harvard, you'd be hard pressed to find a more centrally located hotel. It is very residential in its look and feel --- it could be 1944, for all I knew when we checked it.

The downside, for me at least, is that---with ALL older hotels---you give up some of the niceties like expansive bathrooms with good lighting and large, interesting public spaces. We had a corner suite (w 2 rooms) that had the new Sweet Sleeper bed. The parlor part of the suite was furnished with pieces that were to look like period pieces, but to my eyes just looked a little tired. In all cases, the furniture and soft goods were in good shape and couldn't have been more than a few years old. I just don't have a solid appreciation for the style of decor.

I guess I'm getting a little jaded. Since I travel literally all the time for work, I have gotten used to the swank and cleverness of the new hotels and generally get really nice rooms. The Commander was just fine, but doesn't match up to my personal preferences --- unless I need to be in Cambridge again, I'll always stay at the Westin Copley when in the area.

[Do NOT take this as a condemnation of the Commander. We were treated well and appreciated the Platinum breakfast in the restaurant over the weekend, since the lounge is closed.]