Stephanie Y.
Yelp
If you're expecting the signature Ritz Carlton entrance, attentive customer service, and a room that leaves you in awe, you will find yourself disappointed. We arrived at the Ritz Carlton in Boston in October 2024 for a late birthday celebration for my mom, who was staying at a Ritz Carlton for the first time. I had hoped that the reviews I read two years earlier, which mentioned various issues with the property, were outdated and that improvements had been made. Unfortunately, it seems those concerns are still very much a reality.
While the room was spacious, the layout felt impractical. The towel hook in the bathroom is positioned outside the shower, which means that after drying your hands, it's easy for the towel to fall off. To make matters worse, the other towel racks are located on the far side of the bathroom, away from the shower. The marble sink was cracked, and the toilet seat was also damaged. Additionally, the bathroom features a handheld bidet spray, which is difficult to use--certainly not the proper solution for a luxury hotel. I'll provide pictures to follow. For over $800 per night, these amenities should have been updated to reflect the Ritz Carlton brand.
The room also had limited outlets for charging devices, which is surprising for a luxury property. You'd expect to find outlets near the bedside, but there were only two USB-B ports and two at the table, which are outdated considering most electronics now use USB-C. The refrigerator was partially locked, with one side completely inaccessible. It was frustrating since there were no snacks or refreshers stocked, and the locked section served no purpose. It made it difficult to store leftovers or refrigerated items we'd brought with us. When I called the front desk, they couldn't explain why it was locked, only offering to send a technician to unlock it. We decided to skip the interruption and just made do.
In the morning, we requested two bowls and spoons to make our own granola and fruit, only to be charged for the request. For the price we were paying, it's hard to understand why the hotel couldn't provide this without charging extra. A few dollars for the hotel wouldn't have been much, but it would have gone a long way in providing outstanding service.
I've stayed at multiple Ritz Carltons and St. Regis hotels, and this one has been by far the most underwhelming.
The only positives of staying at this property were the attentive and genuinely helpful room service staff, as well as its prime location in the heart of Boston, within walking distance to Copley Square, the Boston Gardens, Boston Common, and more.