DoubleTree by Hilton Boston - Downtown

The one problem was that all the elevators were out of service. One was fixed by the next day, and when my husband needed special accommodations to get upstairs, they offered to let us use the employee elevator if necessary. We stayed ahead of a big snowstorm in January and had booked a deluxe king room with a courtyard view. It was spacious and quiet, at the end of the hallway, with a large mini fridge, microwave, and Keurig machine. They gave us warm cookies at check-in.

We were hoping for a restful night, but our room was next to an extremely loud club. The police were called to shut down the party next door, so bring earplugs if you're staying on a weekend. I know the noise wasn't under the hotel's control, but I wouldn't recommend this location if sleeping well matters to you. Our room wasn't ready when we arrived, because staff said many guests had late checkouts. They offered an upgrade, but the front desk team's lack of hospitality put us off. We booked a double queen and ended up sharing one bed because the suite's sofa bed was uncomfortable. Phone manners were poor too. They had no slippers when we asked. Before arriving, I called to ask if I could have a package sent to the hotel and got an attitude. When we asked about late checkout, the woman immediately tried to charge extra before discussing the time. Some front desk staff seemed overwhelmed, and some were actually rude.

The location suited us well, right by the T and near lots of restaurants. The front desk helped us find a nearby bike path and suggested places to eat. At the bar, the bartender was friendly, efficient, had a great personality, and clearly cared about his craft. The bar was well stocked. I'd read a bunch of bad reviews on my way there after making the reservation, so I was nervous, but the room was a pleasant surprise: spacious enough, very clean, and with a comfortable bed. I'd definitely return.

The room was a good size, and the pull-out couch worked for our teenager. Staff were friendly, so it wasn't a bad spot. My main complaints were the TV and the pipes. Fox News was on constantly instead of a local channel. When I asked the restaurant waiter to switch it, he seemed nervous and handed me the remote to do it myself. The pipes also seemed to clunk in the morning when the heat came on.