The Colonnade Hotel Back Bay

We had a comfortable 4-night stay and would definitely choose the Colonnade again for future Boston trips. The hotel’s location is fabulous, with a train station just steps from the lobby. Staff were friendly and attentive, and Alexandre was especially helpful at checkout. The rooms were nice and clean, though the bathroom was a bit small and ventilation was lacking. Food and drinks at the attached restaurant were good, and room service was quick. The covered parking connects conveniently to the hotel and lets you come and go, but $70 night is a bit steep. I also found the $30/night “resort fee” deceptive, since it added no value during the off season with the pool closed.

We chose this property for its outdoor pool, one of only a few available, but the pool could use a deep cleaning. The liner had stains at the water line, and it’s on the small side. We got chairs when we arrived around 9am each morning, but by 9:30 they were all taken and people were waiting for someone to leave. It seemed like many visitors from the local area had bought a Resort Pass for the day. I was also told that if our room wasn’t ready, it would cost $55pp to use the pool, which is absurd. The rooms were spacious and well kept, the staff welcoming at check-in and at the pool. Beds were comfortable, though the pillows went flat as soon as you put your head down. Pool food and drinks were good but a little pricey. The complimentary coffee and snack spot was a lovely touch.

The location is the one good thing, close to the convention center and subway. Otherwise, the quality was very poor for $400+ per night after taxes. They wouldn’t replenish my towels unless I asked, especially the bath towels. That felt very cheap. They should look at what towels are on the floor to be cleaned and replace that many. The bathtub drain couldn’t keep up with the water coming in, so water started to pool around my legs and feel icky because I didn’t know if it was clean. The downstairs restaurant was overpriced. They gave coupons at check-in, but only let you use one per visit, so for a $20 bill, the price of a proper breakfast, you couldn’t use two coupons to cover it. Very annoying, and I lost one coupon. The clock was also off by several minutes.

We slept really well here, thanks to the amazingly comfortable beds. The room was spacious, bright, and clean. The front desk staff were amazing, super helpful and friendly, and we felt welcome and cared for from check-in until after checkout. My daughter left something in the room, and they were great about helping us retrieve it. The hotel is in a great location in backwater Bay area, close to all amenities, a fantastic shopping mall, and restaurants. I’d definitely return on my next visit to Boston.