- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Hyatt Regency Cambridge
Rating Details »
- Nearest Transit:
-
Boston University Central (Green)
- Price Range:
-
$$
Sponsored Result
You Might Also Consider
Boston Marriott Cambridge
- 21 reviews
- Neighborhood:
- Kendall Square/MIT
"It's a pretty decent Marriott. We were way up on high, so our view of the Charles and beyond was fantastic. My main complaint was that the…" read more »
34 reviews for Hyatt Regency Cambridge
I booked the Hyatt Regency Cambridge through Priceline, for a stay this past Saturday 11/28. I read the negative reviews but didn't think outdated decor would bother me very much, and you know what--it didn't, I felt our stay was satisfactory and would stay there again if I had to...but there are other hotels in Boston that I like better.
When I got to check in, there were a lot of people in the lobby, probably waiting for a party or something. There were probably 5 groups in line-so I went to the electronic check in kiosk, which would have been incredibly convenient except it said my room wasn't ready yet. At 8pm on a Saturday. Seriously. After driving up in Thanksgiving traffic from Connecticut, I wanted to relax for a few moments before we went to a birthday party so I was disapointed. I got in line to see what the live employees could do, the woman who checked me in didn't mention that my room was not available, instead she did a lot of work on her laptop, probably switching things around and was thus able to give me a room right away--Thanks! The room she gave us had a full size bed instead of the king we reserved-but I didn't dare say anything-I just wanted to take my shower and get outta there. The bed was pretty comfy, just small...even smaller than my bed at home.
My room was at the end of a hallway and was oddly shaped, the bathroom was at the end of a little hallway inside the room...it was quirky but interesting, I liked it. We didn't have much of a view, but it was dark the entire time we were in town anyway, so that didn't bother me. At one point I was waiting for my husband to come up from parking the car and left the door somewhat open, a hotel employee came to check on it to make sure someone was in the room--I appreciated the security.
I read a lot of reviews complaining about the parking, yeah it was a bummer to pay $35 dollars to park overnight but at the end of my drive I felt it was better than searching for somewhere else to park and then perhaps being towed...I bet thats exactly what the hotel wanted me to think. Parking costs just as much at other hotels in Boston, so it didn't shock me that much actually.
Also in other negative reviews I read ahead that they charge ~$14 for internet, and on http://tripadvisor.com the manager responded to that saying that the fee was "on par" with other hotels in the area---BZZT WRONG!! Charging for wi-fi in 2009 is just WRONG. And any excuse they have for that is rediculous. I have stayed at many hotels in Boston in the past few weeks and never had to pay for wi-fi.
Ok so, our room came with the breakfast buffet included. After finally figuring out where it was we went down to the 2nd floor. I found it peculiar that there was no information about this buffet in the hotel info binder in our room, and even the check in employee and concierege had very limited information about it. I kept trying to find out if I needed a coupon or something since it came with my room, but all they could tell me was "You'll need to sign on the paper when you get there" What paper?! The paper ended up being the check we got at the end, when I asked the waiter to explain what I was supposed to do-he got defensive quick--I'm sure he gets yelled at about it a lot. Maybe if the hotel didn't leave everyone in the dark it would be better for everyone, you'd think they'd boast about their free buffet-it had good food!
The restaurant was poorly organized and after being quoted "10 to 15 minutes" and being shuffled away to a couch (which was in the middle of the dining area...very cruel) we ended up waiting 28 minutes (This is not an over-exaggeration, I timed it with my phone), during which several other parties were seated before us (that came several minutes after us, they were not there waiting previously). Even the people who were directly behind us in line were seated before us (and there were the same number of people in their party).
At about 20 minutes into our wait, an elderly couple was seated at another couch right next to us and I said to myself "Oh no, they're stuck on the couch...its going to take forever for them!" But no, they were seated before us too. Maybe if the hostess had a better system to keep track of waiting customers and wasn't keeping track of names on the back of an envelope it wouldn't have been such a disaster. There were a lot of people working that day too, I couldn't understand why it took 10 minutes + to clear and reset a 4 top...I was horrified to learn later that the hostess was actually the manager of the restaurant (unless there are two Melissas). Wow dude.
The food was actually quite good though. Might want to put name cards out by the warming dishes though, everyone had to lift the lid on every single dish to see what it was, not too smart during flu season.
I have definitely experienced better for far less. First and foremost, if you're going to stay here--bring your car. It's in the middle of nowhere and walking is not an option unless the weather is cooperative. And even still... it's quite the trek to anywhere (even the T.)
The room was large... perhaps too large. The kingsize bed looked miniscule in the empty space which also had a desk, ottoman and 27" tube TV that was strangely placed near the window with no seating in front of it. The decor was lacking and some pictures were missing from the walls. The bathroom was standard and the light flickered for 10 seconds before it finally stayed on. The carpets were stained and the old fashioned windows let in a chilly breeze.
I had my thermostat set at 80° and it was still cold in my room. The air vent was extremely noisy and woke me up several times during the night. Luckily the bed was comfortable and the sheets were luxurious so falling back asleep was effortless.
I had the Cambridge view which was basically the rooftop and some parking lots. I'm sure the Charles/Boston view would have been worth the extra cash.
The room service ends at 11pm which was annoying because I arrived in the middle of the night and was absolutely starving! I almost ordered from this place: http://www.yelp.com/bi... (thank the heavens for yelp.) I ended up staying up for another couple of hours and heading down to Zephyr on the Charles for breakfast at 6:30--which I also reviewed.
Overall, I didn't think this place was up to par with other Hyatt locations that I've stayed at. It could definitely use a major face-lift and offer a better shuttle service to those without vehicles.
Using our good old friend Priceline, we "lucked" into this Hyatt at a cheap rate. I say "lucked" because I'm really wondering why anyone ever stays here given its location.
Anyways, it's not a bad hotel. The front desk was friendly and efficient, the lobby and restaurant were decent looking, and our room was sizable enough and had a great view of the river.
The only issue with this Hyatt is its ridiculous distance from public transportation. We came to/from South Station via taxi, and it runs about $20 each way. You can walk across the river to get to the green line (about 15 min. walk) or through MIT to get to the red line (probably about 30 min., although we never tried this one). They also offer a mythical shuttle service that takes you to Harvard Square or either of the T stops, although both times we asked for it, we were told it "just left and would take 20 minutes, if you want to stick around." Umm, forget it, we'll just walk to the T, thanks.
If you're looking to tour Boston at all, I'd recommend a different hotel. If going to Harvard and MIT is your thing, then the Hyatt isn't a bad option.
The staff at the Hyatt was wonderful, especially Madison. He gave us excellent suggestions on where to eat, what to see, etc. The rooms were pretty spacious and we got a great view.
The hotel is not near a t-train station, but the hotel offers a shuttle service that takes you to Kendall Square (t-train station) and to the Cambridge Galleria. It's not too far of a walk from the Boston University t-stop either.
The common areas are nice - neat architechure. My room was kind of gross - the carpet was grimey. The room was loud - the laundry and/or trash chutes were actively banging a lot, waking me up. Not my favorite hotel. And I agree with the others about the inconvenience of being here with no car. You have to walk everywhere - at least it's on the river and the walking path is great!
I've stayed here three times for work already. I figured third time is the charm but this is going to be the last time I stay here. The only thing they have going for them is the restaurant, asides from that there are better hotels in the area for your money. The rooms look old, the internet connection is 12 bucks and S L O W! If you have 2 people staying in the room, they don't allow you to share the connection either...just not an overall hotel I would stay at again for work.
May I recommend the Kendall Marriott for your next hotel stay in Cambridge? Or the Charles Hotel, if you can afford it, and don't mind not having a coffee maker in your room.
Warnings for those visiting this Hyatt Regency:
It is NOT near the T. Or any tourist destination. Or restaurant. Or convenience store. Your options are driving, taking a cab, waiting for a shuttle, walking across the river into Boston, or walking ~25-30 minutes through MIT to Kendall or even longer to Central (you have to walk both short edges of a right triangle, because the hypotenuse is impassable). If you intend to walk through MIT and you don't know MIT, you'll need a map.
I believe that the previously famous (or infamous) rotating restaurant is no more.
The "aquarium" is not an aquarium. It is a room that previously contained a fish tank.
If you attempt to smoke outside the hotel, but on the grounds, you may be herded into the "smoking area" by the valets. The "smoking area" consists of 2 ashtrays and 1 bench in a roughly 8 ft x 16 ft covered area between the entrance and the parking garage. It comfortably accomodates up to 4 smokers and one conversation. If you believe you are the last smoker left in this country, visiting this hotel might quickly and cruelly disabuse you of that notion.
Pepsi only. No Coke. If hunted down and asked, the hotel staff will inform you that Boston is an "all Pepsi town." This is not true.
The gift shop is intermittently staffed while open.
Any sweet cocktail at Zephyr (the restaurant/bar) will probably be 3x sweeter than you might expect.
If you're there for business:
If your event involves seating more than 150 people in the ballroom, get there super-early for a decent view of the screen.
The "Riverside Pavillion" is a big white tent adjoining a small outdoor patio from which you can see the river. The tent is climate controlled, but it's still a big, plastic tent.
Lobby bathrooms are inadequate. Not totally disgusting, but not cleaned or ventilated sufficiently for large meetings.
Pluses include nice river views from some rooms and XLerator hand dryers in the lobby bathrooms. And the Charles View Ballroom offers some gorgeous views. The Empress room is also quite nice, if somewhat weirdly shaped.
I've stayed here twice before, and both times it wasn't too bad. For one thing, it was a Hyatt, so I had pretty high expectations. The place, for the most part, did not disappoint. I feel like it could use a LOT of renovations though, because the lobby looks ancient.
I really enjoyed the Friday night seafood buffet in the restaurant! $45 a person. See my review of the restaurant for details. I love the banisters, where you can see all the way down on each floor.
The rooms are standard. Nothing to write home about. A little more cramped than most Hyatts.
The major con for this place is its distance from everything. Whether to Cambridge or Downtown Boston, Cab fares were pretty high. But the place wasn't too expensive to stay in.
The view of the Charles is excellent!
Elevator, parking garage, 16th floor ballroom. This review is based on those three specific parts of the hotel... And they rock!
Parking garage - we got a spacious space right on the second floor! Now WHERE in the greater Boston area can you achieve parking that close to the ground level? NOWHERE. Boom - four stars. Also, there's a really cool enclosed bridge leading from the parking garage (level 2) to the second level of the lobby. It's curved glass and makes me mark it down as a future hobo camp for myself if I go totally broke from my CA money pit of a house.
Elevator - Yeeeeeeeee! That's the sound my heart made as it thrashed against my ribcage - the glass lets you watch the floor zoom away as you're shooting Willy Wonka style up up and away! I rode it twice to get my adrenaline pumped. Going down is fun too (double entendre!). Four stars.
The 16th floor has pimp daddy views of the area below, with rivers snaking away to bridges, lawns running through grand buildings, and cars slinking like ants along streets that seem tiny below. The food was great, the dj was hawt, and the bartender poured MANY a stiff drink. The service was stellar, with our waitress taking the time to learn our names and make sure we were content. Note to self: Big birthday venue, anniversary surprise party, or other big hall celebration type event. FIVE stars.
When we arrived at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge, there was nobody working at the front desk, or front door, or outside, or anywhere for that matter. We had to call 411 to get the hotel's phone number and call them to say, "Hi, I'm inside your hotel right now trying to check in, but it appears that nobody is working here."
I wasn't very impressed with this hotel for a Hyatt, as the others I've been to were much nicer. It's kind of old, and the carpets looked gross, like that permanent kind of gross where they cleaned it as well as they could, but it still looked nasty. The room had kind of a funky smell to it, so much that we bought some Febreeze Antimicrobial to spray down the beds and carpet. The towels were pretty small and not soft or fluffy at all.
The location is really inconvenient for tourists, and it takes about 20 minutes to walk to the nearest subway station, which is about a mile away. On the plus side, their free toiletries smelled really good, and the pillows were nice.
It wasn't a horrible hotel, but for this kind of service and room, we could have stayed at a Holiday Inn for less. If I return to Boston, I'll definitely stay elsewhere.
Stayed here one night, will not stay again. One of the worst hotel experiences I've had at a hotel. A few lowlights:
- Restaurant fumbled on trying to execute on a simple lunch order. After an hour and three attempts, I had a correct lunch and utensils.
- Electrical socket at desk wasn't working. This left me with a choice of powering either my PC or the lamp.
- Used bath cloths, presumably from the prior guest, hanging on the shower rod.
- Called room service...no one answered. Called again...no one answered. Called the front desk and asked to be transferred to room service....someone answered. Order explained. The person says, "do you want this delivered to your room." "Yes," I say. He says, "this is the restaurant, I'll need to transfer you to room service." No one answered.
The carpet in my room is absolutely gross. I only came here one night for work, and ran around all day anyhow, so I was only in my room for about 8 hours.
The water pressure in the shower was not good.
But the bed was good.
The location was very inconvenient, there are no Ts nearby, and I hate the cabs in Boston.
Front desk is not helpful at all.
Oh, and I think there were a total of 4 outlets in the entire place?! and three were already taken by lamps/clock. Where was I supposed to charge my phone/ipod? I mean, what is this 1920?
Beautiful hotels, with great views of Boston.
Great views of Boston, because it is not IN Boston. It is across the Charles River from Boston. If you are going to be in Cambridge, I'm sure it is a great location, but if you plan on doing Boston-y things, you are looking at a very expensive cab ride. Also, as someone else said before, there is literally nothing within walking distance. No shops, restaurants, or even gas stations/convenience stores.
The hotel itself is great, but be sure it fits your needs location wise, before shelling out the $$$ for a Hyatt.
Definitely not worth the price. Only stayed here really because the conference I was attending was here.
First off, it's not really near anything. Except the Charles. You're pretty much looking at adding 30 minutes of walking to get anywhere. It desperately needs a good shuttle service to a nearby T stop that runs until midnight. It's also in a state of some disrepair. Our doors didn't entirely work, the window shades were broken, the carpet was heavily stained.
On the plus side, the bed linens were clean and comforable and there were ample pillows. And the staff was awesome. Say what you will about the building, but the people running the place were always friendly and helpful.
Only the manager's kindness saves this review from being lower. We were supposed to stay here during a trip to Boston. With the hotels downtown about $300, we decided to save some money and stay in Cambridge. We called to double check our review about 4pm, they said no problem they would see us that night. We got into Cambridge late from Cape Cod. Once we arrive, they tell us they are booked and would pay for our room at the Marriott Courtyard in Cambridge.
I asked if they had we could stay downtown and the desk clerk summoned the manager. Thankfully my wife has amazing negotiating skills. The manager called in a favor and we wound up at the Westin at Copley Square. If you ever need help at this Hyatt, ask for Gadiji. He was great to work with and we were ecstatic to be staying in a more desirable location.
Not the worst hotel I've stayed at by a long shot (I've had my fair share of 4am last minute super 8 check-ins and those are usually very bad). But for a Hyatt, this hotel is disgraceful. The rooms are small and poorly ventilated. The carpet is shabby around the edges of the room and the air conditioner does not work. (Coming from CA, especially during an East Coast heat wave, I expect the air conditioner to work.)
The restaurant is poor quality and their website is false advertising to the max! You might think that you're walking distance from Harvard Square and a metro station, but you're so not close at all! The nearest metro station is across the river, and Harvard Square is about 2.5 miles away (now that I"m in college, it's totally walking distance but 3 years ago it so was not a reasonable option). There is nothing around this area of Cambridge...everything shuts down by 8pm and you're left taking cabs to get anywhere at all.
There are much better hotels everywhere. This is a shameful excuse for a Hyatt, and though the view may be nice from some rooms, it's utter crap from others.
got stuck staying here since the Doubletree was all booked. I stayed here w/ 2 colleagues this wk and we were not impressed, esp. considering it's a Hyatt and the amount of money we paid. we got 1 large suite ($419/night) and 2 standard rms ($298/night). the rooms were ok but ive stayed at nicer Marriott's and Sheratons. the bathrooms are tiny and the shower had a little mold crust at the corners. the room is also very damp, esp. the carpets.
the worst part about this hotel is the food; it's a total rip off. I know it's not cheap to eat at hotels but come on, for the prices they are charging, it should be way better. I ordered rm service 1 night and it was $52 for crappy fettuccine alfredo w/ salty fishy grilled shrimp and a lemonade. wtf. the next night, knowing better to eat outside of the hotel, I got the seared tuna app. at the hotel bar while waiting for my colleagues and it was terrible - fishy, dry, stale, BLEH - $20! I was annoyed so we told them to send it back which they thankfully did and did not charge us for it. I will admit the egg cheese sausage biscuit they offered at breakfast was pretty yummy.
rip-off #2 is the parking - $35/night - CRAZY! terrible. that is the most I have ever paid for parking at any hotel and ive stayed at alot, esp. in Boston.
I am def. never coming back here. you get nothing for the money they are charging you.
Expensive and crappy at the same time. The rooms feel dirty. The only part of the hotel I liked was shower. The only nearby place to eat was the "hotel restaurant" which was insanely overpriced. They do have a breakfast buffet but be waned that you will have to pay $21 for one meal. I'd have rather stayed at a motel with free parking and cleaner rooms.
B U M M E D
As the cab took me from the airport to my hotel, I watched as objects of historical significance swept by me.
Harvard.
MIT.
Hyatt.
Uh, this is Hyatt??
I've been growing up with Hyatt's and Hilton's my entire life. My parents, typical Japanese style, were into brand names, so even our hotels were branded. Holiday Inn? Never heard of it. A Motel 6? What's that, a sex stop?
This Hyatt reminds me of a Holiday Inn that was taken over. The carpet was a rippling green in some areas and the furniture needed to be upgraded, but I'm not complaining because I had a huge king-size bed I had to hop on and the down comforter was so fluffy and warm, that I fell asleep immediately sitting upright. Yes, I was reading a book and propped up by 6 of their very nice synthetic-goose down pillows (I'm a sucker for lots of pillows!) not to mention pure exhaustion from the day's frustrations.
They charge for WiFi access, but I had no issues logging on and catching up on work items. The shower was hot and comforting as it blasted away in three turns to offer a H2O massage.
The two drawbacks is that there is a lack of transportation other than procuring a taxi from here to downtown and they have no shuttles running from the airport. The taxi cab was a $31 fare.
But then again, for the avid walker, Harvard and MIT are right down the street. If I wanted to, I could technically walk my big butt down to Harvard Square, but I had an work dinner to go to tonight. And if it seduced you enough, the pretty Charles River was right in front of the hotel and the trail running alongside it pretty cool.
The elevators are interesting, however, as they are open, and since I was on the 7th floor, the view from within was neat. The staff here are kind and efficient, and giving the doorman a $5 tip ensured that my taxi would be out front and that he was nice to my friends who came to pick me up.
"Miss, you tell me anything you want, I'll get it for ya. Taxi? Done. Food? Done. " He brought up my suitcase and hollered at the counter clerk.
The boys were taking me out to dinner and a little Boston night sightseeing so I prepared myself for the onslaught of cold weather and spending time with good friends who knew all about Suffolk nights.
John and Steve were all smiles from the curb, the big silver car smoking in the cold.
"Hey, cutie, how you doin'?"
If you're looking for a job in a hotel and you are intelligent, don't work here, they won't hire you.
If you like nasty food, come here.
If you like taking the T come here. It's only over the river don't worry. haha....You will get to the T in a half hour. Hypothetically, you can walk to Harvard Square, but it's very far. This place is basically in the boomdocks if you walk deeper into Cambridge. There is nothing going on.
It's really nice if you walk by the Charles River though and it really is a cab ride away from anything, just not the ideal Boston location.
I am in the room right now and it isn't bad. I like the bed, and I asked for a free upgrade of course and the nice lady gave me a harborview room for free. She just said that next time it will be $20 more. I also asked for a king bed instead of the two double beds that I had originally booked, on the phone before I came, and they gave it to me, so these two things were helpful.
I loveeeeeeeeeeeeed the pool, sauna, and steam room. Great work out room. All really well lit with natural light with big windows. Nice outdoor balcony for people to lay out in the sun.
The restaurant was pretty crappy though. The 35$ buffet looked like very unappetizing. I at first ordered the crab sandwich and it was small and gross with way too many olives. Luckily, the waiter returned it for me and gave me a cheeseburger.
There is also the 80s decor everywhere. And it's not the good 80's. Old carpet, a huge weird picture that looks like ancient Rome hanging over the lobby, weird indoor balcony's (haha), and no privacy because anyone can see you wherever you stand because everything is open.
I figured this may be because back in the 70's Cambridge may have been dangerous, so they built it like that so that they can see really easily if crazy people get into the hotel. I may just be too creative though, maybe the architect was just tacky.
This hotel seems to hit both sides of the spectrum with me.
It was good in the fact that it has a great view, good decor and the rooms are nice. I forgot to bring my toothbrush and the gift shop was out, but the concierge was able to hook me up from a stash he keeps for emergency. When i requested a wake up call, they asked if I needed a second one a few minutes later (it was like they knew me)
The menu for the restaurant and room service looked really good, but was pretty pricey.
These three things however each took a star away for me though.
1 - The bed. I asked for a King, and this was in no way a King bed. Either my queen-sized bed at home grew or this one shrunk. I don't mind a queen, but don't ask me if I want a King and give me a Queejn instead like I won't notice.
2. Room service - In addition to being pricey, they charge you for each piece of flatware ( knife, spoon, fork) ... are they expecting we eat with out hands? Okay for a burger, but soup and a salad?
3. Thy gym. It is 24 hour which is nice and has a nice changing room BUT.... it is not clearly marked how to get there, so it took me 2 attempts and eventually directions to get there. the card scanner doesnt work so if no one is there, do not expect to get in. Also, as it is so removed from the hotel (through a walkway and above the garage) that if something were to happen, no one would know. Normally, i fell very safe on my own. I have walked through bad neighbrhood and odd hours by myself without a problem, but the idea of being alone, so removed from everything, over a garage (which is a good area to be attacked) really crept me out. I went back to my room because I was too uncomfortable to work out
I went to attend a baby shower lunch here and give my buddy support. The banquet room was on the 16th floor and the view is top notch. One can see from Boston University all the way to the Financial District; through another window there are unobstructed views from Kendall Square eastward - the quality of your eye site will determine the endpoint.
The staff was very polite and seemed to appear whenever you needed them. I was very impressed with the food as I find most banquet food to be mediocre. The cuisine was vegetarian Mexican. The guacamole screamed, "FRESH" but loses points for no jalapenos but it did have olives. The jicama and mango salad was light and flavorful and I wish I was still eating the southwest corn salad with tomato, red pepper, red onion, scallion, cilantro, lime and vinegar. Surprisingly, the chile relleno was the best I've had - very crispy and fresh.
If I plan a banquet, I would consider the Hyatt Regency Cambridge.
Old, worn, musty, third rate for a Hyatt. The food is overpriced and sub-mediocre.
The views are great, but you DON'T get what you pay for in this place. If at all possible, stay at the Sonesta instead, at least until Hyatt commits the sorely needed effort to renovate and upgrade this place.
This isn't the worst place I've stayed. Frankly, that is the most positive thing I can say. Our room was noisy, old, and sticky (more on that later).
I stayed here a few weeks ago with my wife when we were looking at schools, and the only reason I'm not still kicking myself is that it was free with our Hyatt points. Our room was on one of the lower floors, and all the lobby noise could be easily heard through the door. With three sets of conventioneers in the place, there was plenty of lobby noise. The thin walls meant that when the lobby finally quieted down, our neighbors' sneezing, talking, etc was enough to provide the ambient noise.
The location is good, but since there is no easily accessible choice for food if you are in a rush, hotel fare becomes a more likely option. That's a shame, because the food is neither very good nor very cheap. My oatmeal was Quaker Oats, not steel cut, and at $9.00 I want the latter. The fruit in my wife's yogurt parfait was still frozen, and the frozen goodness was also $9.00.
The rooms are in desperate need of a rehab. Ours looked like something from a Charlie's Angels episode, complete with a gold, brown, and orange color scheme. The thermostat kept conking out on us, and something was dripping down the wall onto the carpet. I found out about the mess the hard way when walking to the bathroom in the dark: I stepped in something squishy and sticky on the carpet, and I couldn't get if off my foot. Nasty!
For about the same price, you can stay at the Marriott Kendall Square. It is nice, clean, has a Starbucks in the lobby, and is across from the T. Much more bang for your buck there than at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge.
Good location if you've visiting MIT or BU. It sits right on the Charles River and has two dining locations. Their rooms are fairly standard, with the cable and video games, movies and high speed internet for a price. Unless you have a car it's a little difficult to get around just by walking and there isn't a T stop located nearby.
Boston University often uses this hotel to house surplus students (they don't have enough dorm space...) during the fall semester, and sometimes into the spring. So be aware of college students running around underfoot.
The food is standard hotel fare, overly priced for what it is. They do charge you for silverware, which is totally ridiculous. You're much better off getting takeout or eating anywhere else but there. They do have a gym and a pool, although I never used them. Both of which are somewhat isolated from the hotel, so personally I'd only go when there's someone else using the facilities.
They have not one but two restaurants, and I must admit I liked the one on the second floor better. The one on the top floor actually spun around, giving their guests a view of Boston, and was used for dance nights.
That said, I've had so-so service from them. I had been called down because I was told my credit card had problems, and it was confusion as to whether or not it was my card or my roommates. I had been assured it had been taken care of earlier in the day, but obviously it wasn't and the staff member behind the desk rudely demanded I put down another credit right immediately. I talked to my credit card company and it was settled, but without any sort of apology from the hotel staff.
Went here for a post-New Year party last night and had a great time. The views from the 16th floor are beautiful. The Charles...The Boston skyline...the band which played jazzy versions of celebration tunes...The free wine and beer...The tasty buffet of spicy shrimp diavlo and beef tenderloin...scallops wrapped in bacon...figs wrapped in proscuitto...skewers of tender, marinated beef...cheese, cheese, and more cheese...chocolate cake, cheesecake, petit fours galore, mini-eclairs, chocolate fondue, fresh fruit...all good in my belly and I was home before 10:00pm.
not terrible... the rooms were pretty good. They offer a workout room, which was sufficient.
The service was great though, the encounters with the desk associates were all good.
I have been a frequent guest at this hotel. It is close to both MIT and Boston University. The hotel is the standard Hyatt experience.
It loses a star because it is either a long walk or a cab ride to restaurants or the T station (Mass Ave or Kendall Square). Not really that convenient to the downtown area.
If you are in shape it is not difficult to do some fun exploring. I walked over to the Back Bay neighborhood or over to Harvard Square on a regular basis. Fenway is within walking distance as well.
Good spot to stay. My home away from home!
A hotel that isn't sure what it wants to be yet. Doesn't seem to train employees much more than if they had jumped off the LaborReady van that morning. Seems to like to try draining your last nickel with outrageous add-ons and ridiculous prices for necessities. But for proximity to MIT and BU it's not too bad.
Pros: Nice (remodeled) room with damask theme (though apparently some are still unremodeled), nice view of Charles River if you care ($20 extra), 5-10 minutes walk from western MIT dorms. Free shuttle to the Kendall "T" or other areas in Cambridge - only during the day and by arrangement. CT2 bus line comes right to the front, extremely convenient if you manage to catch it.
Cons: They tack on an extra $33-35/night if you want parking (around the rest of MIT area it's about $18-24/day, cheaper over the river), Restaurant (there's only one) is outrageously expensive (about $30-40/person plus drinks) and the food was not very good. I didn't partake in room service, but the bad comments here seem to align with what I observed.
It is probably a circa '70s hotel, in the midst of slow remodeling. On the outskirts, but convenient enough to the colleges for our needs. Many of the "guest services" staff as well as restaurant staff ("Zephyr on the Charles") seemed very untrained and/or new - they muddled through their tasks and managed to eventually print bills or bring food, but the level of service was certainly far below what one expects at a "Hyatt Regency" (and for the prices they are posting).
It should be said that Boston U was using *at least* one floor as an adjunct dorm. Apparently they attempt to isolate these rooms from the usual guests, but you still get the stupidity that 19-21 year olds can do. Vandalizing the pool area, bothering other guests still seem to be in vogue (my partner had to interrupt her swimming to play "mommy" to a 20-year old who thought emptying out the pool was "funny").
*If* you get a remodeled room, avoid eating or parking there and interacting too much with the staff and dorm rats you can have a pretty decent stay without being gouged too badly. But there are several other (better) hotels in that area run by Marriott and others that will probably get our business in the future.
For what this hotel presents itself to be, it's at 1-2 stars for me. Would rather have stayed in a Days Inn with free parking and not had the expectation that the extra $100 or so a night and closer proximity would equal a better night's sleep...
The room was damp, the walls were dusty, and the odor was questionable. The desk staff were friendly. If this had been a hotel under any other name, I could have given it two or three stars. However, I have never been disappointed by Hyatt until this stay. People, sell it, change the name, do something! It is a dorm.
Great location if you're kid goes to MIT and lives on West Campus. It's a little far to walk to MIT campus though - about 20-25 min. Beautiful large hotel. There used to be a rotating restaurant on the top which had horrific service, but I believe they've changed it now.
There are amazing views on this hotel because it's right on the Charles RIver. It's easy to get to as well. The rooms are nice, cable and great beds, overall just a typical Hyatt. Still, worth the view and the location. It's right by the Cambridgeside Galleria as well.
This was my first encounter with a Hyatt so admittedly I'm not quite as knowledgable as others might be. However, I was quite impressed with most everything. The staff was very helpful. We arrived in Boston around 9:30ish AM and wanted to drop our luggage off so we wouldn't have to lug it all over town. The concierge was very helpful with that. The beds were absolutely heavenly and I can honestly say I have never slept in anything so comfortable in my 23 years of existance. The decor was a little outdated but it didn't really bother me that much. We had a balcony room on the 12th floor with a view of Cambridge, which was really nice. The doormen weren't as knowledgable as I thought they would be. We asked them what would be the best way to get to the Museum of Science and they told us to walk. Later we found out that we would probably be walking 5 miles which didn't make me happy. Other than that...my stay was great!
