Talk about a momentous occasion. Due to the pandemic, I had not traveled to the United States in one and a half years. As a result, I wanted this trip to be special. So, when it came to planning my week in Boston, I decided to check off a hotel “bucket list,” so to speak in the city by staying at The Colonnade.
Why The Colonnade?
1. Location
For the majority of my time in Boston, I lived in the Back Bay. Ask any city dweller (and perhaps any countryside or small town dweller), but there’s something incredibly nostalgic about going back to “your neighborhood.” I loved staying within walking distance of my favorite former haunts and reminiscing about the many years walking the streets of the Back Bay. And, The Colonnade happens to have a great location adjacent to the Prudential Center or “Pru” as locals call it, plus the Copley Place Mall. You’re also one long city block from a Shaw’s grocery store and CVS, plus a short walk from Back Bay Station.
2. Rooftop Pool
However, it wasn’t just the location that sold me. The Colonnade boasts a rooftop pool – which I believe is one of the only, if not the only rooftop pool in Boston. As someone who had lived in the Boston area for nearly 15 years, I had never experienced the rooftop pool. So, a visit in mid-June sounded like just the right opportunity.
3. Workspace
Last but certainly not least, I also wanted a bright and light hotel room that was conducive to getting some work done. Upon er, stalking, of traveler photos on TripAdvisor and Instagram, I loved how spacious and light the rooms looked. Each one comes with a lovely round table and chair setup. As someone who works a lot while traveling, a desk is not guaranteed in most hotel rooms, let alone one that is good to work from.
Also, as I know that I will be asked – the WiFi was perfectly fast and reliable.
4. Coffee & Mini Fridge
As a bonus, the room also has a Kuerig machine and an empty mini fridge. As breakfast was not included in my room rate, I went to Shaw’s and stocked up on some Greek yogurts, berries and granola – which was perfect for the morning’s when I didn’t have time to pop into the nearby Dunkin’ in the Pru.
It’s worth noting that the hotel now has a new restaurant called Lucie that is open for breakfast only. I didn’t get a chance to try it, but the space looks lovely. I would love to try it on a return visit.
5. Gym
Another perk of the hotel is that it has a great gym. It contains a range of treadmills, elliptical machines for cardio, plus some of the classic gym machines for arms, legs, abs. There’s also a section for free weights, with mats and exercise balls, plus small foam rollers.
How Was My Stay?
Overall, it was great. I loved the simple, spacious rooms. The bed was perfectly comfortable, the in-room AC worked well. I opted for a street view room which looked down on busy Huntington Ave but didn’t have any noise issues. I’m sure the AC helped!
I enjoyed lunch one day at the rooftop pool, a turkey wrap with bacon, lettuce, cheese, etc., which was really good but pricey at $18. However, given that it’s a gorgeous rooftop pool, I do understand the prices. Bonus – the rooftop pool has its own wifi network, so you can snag a table in the shade and work from there while you eat.
The rooftop pool is beautiful overall – it’s a special experience to lay out there, surrounded by some of Boston’s iconic skyscrapers. The pool is a good size too. Non-hotel guests can also purchase a day pass to the pool and they also host special events like yoga – contact the hotel for more information.
Were There Any Changes Due to COVID-19?
I’m so happy you asked. Notable changes include that you need to request housekeeping, even to just empty your waste bin. This was easy enough to do and given that I had to work, it was actually a perk to not be disrupted by housekeeping.
I also had to pre-book the rooftop pool and gym. The rooftop pool was bookable in specific hour blocks, 11-3 or 3-7pm daily. For the gym, there were set 1.5-hour blocks. You could only book 48 hours in advance, so it’s worth calling ahead if you want to go to the rooftop pool or gym on the day you arrive. When I arrived on a hot and sunny Sunday, the rooftop pool was fully booked.
Would I Stay At The Colonnade Again?
A resounding YES! The Colonnade Hotel ticked off a lot of boxes for me. The room prices were reasonable especially given the size and quality of the rooms, plus other hotel amenities.
If you want to see a more in-depth review with video footage of the above mentioned areas of the hotel, please watch my review on YouTube. If you like the video, I would love it if you subscribed my channel or at least liked the video or left a comment on the video or below on this blog post. It’s free and really helps me to keep growing on YouTube. Plus, I just love reading your feedback and comments!
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