The Royal Sonesta Boston

Reviewer: Not provided on Mon 12 Sep 2011 rated 5 out of 10.

The room was very nice. The hotel's location on the Charles River was very picturesque. However the front desk staff were cold and unhelpful and the location of our room made sleeping difficult.

Positives: The room was spacious and well decorated.

Negatives: The view was awful. The noise from the ballroom below kept us awake and when we asks to switch rooms we were told that we should have asked earlier.

Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 21 Jun 2011 rated 9 out of 10.

The hotel is well-located along the riverfront and offers a clean, contemporary atmosphere. The staff is very professional. The location is right across the street from the Cambridge side Galleria, which offers a food court as well as Starbucks, cheesecake factory, and PF Chang's. I found myself going there when I didn't feel like paying the expensive prices for food at the hotel. I would definitely stay there again. Great job, Priceline!

Positives: Contemporary feel, good location near retail stores, great shortbread cookies available for free at check-in.

Negatives: The room was a bit cool and I could have used a comforter/blanket on the bed.

Reviewer: Not provided on Fri 15 Apr 2011 rated 3 out of 10.

While this hotel was well located near shops, the Charles River, the Museum of Science, an park, and not far from a T-stop the experience of staying in the hotel over a weekend was terrible. The third-floor rooms are above the ballroom and the bar. These are the last rooms to go, which you're likely to get, and if there is a party in the bar (according to staff) or a wedding in the ballroom (the Saturday night we were there), you're not going to get any sleep until they are over. The wedding had a live band and it felt like we were in the ballroom. When I heard AC/DC pounding through the floor at 12:30 am I knew that I had to say something. The staff was very nice. This apparently is a very common complaint for them on weekends. They could not do anything about it but told me that the wedding ended at 1:30 am. They gave us a free breakfast. I definitely needed the coffee the next morning.

Positives: The evening front desk people were very friendly. It was a great location.

Negatives: The third floor rooms are above the ball room.

Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 04 Jan 2011 rated 10 out of 10.

Interesting modern decor and art in public spaces, great bar and room service.

Positives: Competant staff.

Negatives: Walk through lobby to pool.

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 23 Sep 2010 rated 9 out of 10.

Staff was extremely friendly, and the food was good. Location is great as it is across the street from a trolley stop to Boston and Cambridge. View of Downtown Boston and Charles River were awesome.

Positives: Beautiful view of Boston and Charles River.

Negatives: No free shuttle to the airport.

Reviewer: Not provided on Sun 30 May 2010 rated 7 out of 10.

The hotel is not a 4 star, maybe 3.5; however Cambridge is a great venue and the hotel is on the Charles River.

Positives: The cookies at check in were a hit. The lobby area and gym were good.

Negatives: Room was probably one of the worst in the hotel.

Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 21 Oct 2009 rated 7 out of 10.

The hotel was clean and the staff were very accommodating. The room was just average compared to other hotels I have stayed in.

Positives: Cleanliness.

Negatives: The location in relation to public transportation.

Reviewer: Not provided on Fri 24 Apr 2009 rated 6 out of 10.

I would not recommend this hotel. Its located across Charles from downtown Boston, and next to a mall. But its a long walk to usual Boston sites. Furniture in room looked like it had been left outside in the rain. TV didn't work properly. And shower was really weak.

Positives: OK location, next to a shopping mall.

Negatives: Furniture looked like it had been outside, shower was really weak. Heating system was sporadic.

Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 05 Nov 2008 rated 9 out of 10.

The indoor pool provided an opportunity for the kids to relax after a long day of sightseeing in downtown Boston and a 5-hour visit to the nearby Museum of Science. The staff were friendly and familiar with the neighborhood shopping and dining and sites to be seen.

Positives: The hotel is near the Museum of Science and MIT.

Negatives: The hotel is near the Museum of Science and MIT. The windows, which overlook the Charles River, were quite small.

Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 24 Sep 2008 rated 8 out of 10.

Location was very nice, walking distance to shopping, restaurants, and some local attractions. The view from my room was amazing, I watched the Harvard crew team each day at 5 pm. The location was safe and clean.

Positives: The view from my room was fabulous. I was 50 ft from the water.

Negatives: It was pricey.

Reviewer: Not provided on Sun 14 Sep 2008 rated 7 out of 10.

Good location.

Positives: Great NY type bar.

Negatives: Size of room was small.

Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 02 Sep 2008 rated 10 out of 10.

Clean, attractively decorated, upscale. Convenient for business travelers and/or college visits. Beautiful location by the Charles River, conveniently located across front a mall with a varied store population. Service, first rate. I would highly recommend this hotel to all my friends.

Positives: All of the staff, no matter what their job is, treats patrons with extreme courtesy.

Negatives: None.

Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 05 Aug 2008 rated 9 out of 10.

Excellent view, clean modern rooms, friendly staff, good location. I would love to come back.

Positives: The view, the rooms.

Negatives: Nothing.

Reviewer: Not provided on Sun 27 Jul 2008 rated 10 out of 10.

Ideal location, beautiful rooms and attentive staff. This is truly a wonderful hotel.

Positives: They upgraded me to a marvelous suite and the concierge was outstanding!

Negatives: Nothing!

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 17 Jul 2008 rated 10 out of 10.

Overall a great stay! I would recommend this hotel to anyone looking to go to Boston.

Positives: Great location and great views!

Negatives: No one ever told us there was hotel transportation to the city!

Reviewer: Not provided on Sun 29 Jun 2008 rated 8 out of 10.

Excellent room, beautify view close to most sites. Great room service, however, stay out of bar and dining rooms. We visited each and had horrid service. We had to get up to find our server twice in the restaurant. Additionally, we went into the bar on two occasions and got completely ignored! Never got served! Finally, we went across the street to another hotel to use their bar.

Positives: Excellent help from front desk and room service.

Negatives: Bar and dining room were very poor service! Ignored us!

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 19 Jun 2008 rated 3 out of 10.

Concierge gave bad advice. Told us that a cab ride would be $12 and it turned out to be $26. No hot water the morning I was checking out. Maintainer came and took the shower apart but left to get a part. By the time he came back it was too late and I had to check out without a shower.

Positives: Close to subway and mall.

Negatives: No hot water on morning I checked out; bad advice from concierge.

Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 30 Apr 2008 rated 5 out of 10.

When we contacted the hotel security of the situation that happened with the money, they seemed to make every excuse possible as to why the maid took our money. They said they "assumed" she thought it was left for a tip, yet no note was left by us saying such, as well as we had 3 days left in our stay. They were terrible at following up and never did resolve it with me before I left.

Positives: Great location and beautiful view of one of the rivers.

Negatives: Our maid stole money from our night stand.

Reviewer: Not provided on Mon 28 Apr 2008 rated 8 out of 10.

It seemed like it needed a face lift. No tub and just an ugly room.

Positives: Location.

Negatives: Not worth the price.

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 27 Mar 2008 rated 7 out of 10.

I was looking forward to staying here, but I was greatly disappointed with my stay. First I asked for a quiet room due to some recordings I was going to have to do, so they said absolutely, we will upgrade you to this room at no charge. Well it was between the elevator and the end of the hall with a family suite. It doesn't get any noisier than that, and it was a box tiny! So I called them and told them my dilemma and asked if they had another room, something bigger maybe I could upgrade to? Well the woman said, well I see you have already been upgraded, and all our rooms are this size! As if I wanted another free upgrade, I said that I know they have suites and if any were available I would be happy to pay for the upgrade. She abruptly told me they were full, and basically rushed me off the phone, because she had someone in front of her she needed to take care of. So not so good on the customer service part. The food was good, and it is right across the street from a very nice mall, and a exhibit museum. So location is really good. But definitely not a 4 star in my opinion!

Positives: The view was great.

Negatives: The rooms are tiny!

Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 26 Mar 2008 rated 9 out of 10.

Upscale modern hotel, convenient to MIT and Harvard with beautiful waterfront view. Nice indoor pool.

Positives: Modern rooms. Nice indoor pool. Lovely shoreline view.

Negatives: Rooms were on the small side.

Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 19 Mar 2008 rated 10 out of 10.

I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone traveling to Boston or Cambridge.

Positives: This hotel was terrific and very convenient to all points in Boston.

Negatives: Nothing at all except expensive parking.

Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 12 Mar 2008 rated 7 out of 10.

This hotel was alright for a night, but certainly didn't feel like it deserved four stars. luxury was not a priority, but it was better than a motel. Nice swimming pool deep in Cambridge.

Positives: Oranges at the desk in the health club.

Negatives: Bad television reception, unattractive interior, poorly lit rooms.