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Charlesmark Hotel: Traveler Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating:
  • A summary score based on quality, quantity and age of traveler ratings.
4 of 5 stars 252 reviews
252 Reviews
5.0 of 5 stars
130
4.0 of 5 stars
82
3.0 of 5 stars
15
2.0 of 5 stars
16
1.0 of 5 stars
9
TripAdvisor Popularity Index:
  • Measures overall traveler satisfaction based on ratings, reviews and other sources.
#11 of 72 hotels in Boston
Show Hotel DetailsHide Hotel Details
  • Hotel class: 2 of 5
  • Rooms: 33
Description: European styled boutique Hotel set in former private residence dating from 1892; situated in the Back Bay neighborhood. This description is based on information provided by the hotel.
Address:
655 Boylston St
Boston, MA 02116
Check Rates: $269 Avg. Price
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TripAdvisor Traveler Reviews

Reviews of Charlesmark Hotel

( 17-21 of 252 )
“Reminded me of a 'European style' hotel... and not in a good way”

Charlesmark Hotel

2 of 5 stars
houston, tx
Apr 1, 2008
2/3 found this review helpful

The hotel is located in the Back Bay area, almost right across the street from the Boston Public Library and about two blocks from the Prudential Center Shops. A block in the opposite direction from Copley Square and a stop to catch the "T" train.

My room was located on the third floor, facing Boylston Street. Noticeably noisy throughout the day, particularly in the morning and evening rush hour times.

The room interior had high ceilings, and was sparsely furnished with light wood accents. There was no closet but instead a mini-clothesrack. There was an iron with a miniature ironing board in the room. The work desk area is a pullout shelf but is decently lit. There is a folding chair tucked away in the the mini-closet area for seating.

The mini-fridge is restocked daily with 2 complimentary bottles of water; don't plan on keeping any food in the mini-fridge as it barely has room for the two bottles of water.

Completing the room is a large TV with DVD/VHS player, Stereo receiver, Direct TV and surround sound. The hotel offers a complimentary VHS library.

No fitness center - you have to buy a $15 day pass to the Boston Sports Club.

No swimming pool - you have to buy a $20 day pass to the Sheraton Hotel Health Club.

No room service - if you want to dine in your room you have to order in from a neighborhood restaurant or use the suggested diningin.com option - it takes 45-60 minutes to arrive and although you can order from several restaurants, there is a $6.75 per restaurant charge for delivery and a $10 minimum per restaurant. There is also a decent thai restaurant next door that delivers entrees and appetizers to the hotel bar/lounge. The bar can get noisy but the lounge in back is nice with plenty of comfortable seating.

I was not able to access the internet via their wireless service, despite numbeous calls to the front desk. I was asked if I used Mozilla or Firefox and when I replied that I used Windows Internet Explorer, I was told, "Oh, that could be part of the problem". There is a Starbucks about 2 blocks away with Tmobile Hotspots as well as the public library right across the street.

Not a great hotel for the business traveler, but okay for tourists looking for a decently priced hotel in the Back Bay area. It was almost $100 less per night than the nearby Marriott and Westin brands, but I will not be staying here again.

  • This TripAdvisor Member:
    • Liked — Close to Copley Square
    • Disliked — Service, accomodations, street noise, lack of amenities.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
hou77019's Summary
Date of Stay: March 2008
Traveled with: Solo traveler
Visit was for: Business
Age group: 35-49
Member since: June 03, 2007
  • My ratings for this hotel are:
    • 2 of 5 stars Value
    • 2 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 2 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 2 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 2 of 5 stars Service
    • 1 of 5 stars Business service
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Check Rates
Average price*: $269 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-454-6835 from hotels.com
“Romantic Weekend”

Charlesmark Hotel

5 of 5 stars
Chicago, IL
Mar 23, 2008
1/1 found this review helpful

Spent the weekend in Boston in mid-February. Check in was quick, then up to our room on the 5th floor, front of the building, looking across to the public library. Rooms were decorated nicely, mood music playing. The view at night was nice as well. Getting to the hotel was easy, parked out front to register, then just a few blocks away to the recommended garage. The walk back is not bad, just stop at either a Dunkin Donuts or Starbuck along the way. The room was nicely appointed. Good bed, sheets, furniture. After a night on the town, got back to the hotel around 10pm, bar was busy, but could have found a seat if we wanted. We needed dessert, so doorman recommended the Cheesecake factory just a short walk away. Felt completely safe walking around at night. They offer coffee, juice, and donuts in the morning, just enough to get you moving. Room was quite, could not hear neighbors or street traffic. Overall, great stay, would stay there next time in Boston.

  • This TripAdvisor Member:
    • Liked — Great Location
    • Disliked — Small rooms
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
blackstar9's Summary
Date of Stay: February 2008
Traveled with: Spouse / significant other
Visit was for: Romantic getaway
Age group: 35-49
Member since: March 23, 2008
  • My ratings for this hotel are:
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
    • 3 of 5 stars Business service
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
absolutely!
I recommend this hotel for:
Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, Older travelers, Tourists
I do not recommend this hotel for:
Families with young children, Families with teenagers
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:
Museums / Cultural / Historical sites
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Check Rates
Average price*: $269 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-454-6835 from hotels.com
“Great location + great price= fantastic hotel!”

Charlesmark Hotel

4 of 5 stars
Boston, MA
Mar 13, 2008
1/1 found this review helpful

I was in town for a conference and all of the conference hotels were booked- since I used to live in Boston, I remembered the Charlesmark and was very pleased to not only find that they had rooms available, but to find out that their room rates were almost $100 less than the other area hotels!!
We arrived early in the day and they let us check in early. It's true that the rooms are on the small side, but I found the space to be more than ample for just me. The room had a queen sized bed and a small pull out sofa. My bathroom was smaller because I was next to the elevator, but I was very happy with the slate tile and the large shower stall. My co-worker's bathroom was about 3X the size of mine, and he had a bathtub, but the trade off was that I had 2 huge windows overlooking the Boston Public Library while he had a window to the alley. Since I was right next to the elevator, I expected it to be loud throughout the night but was very surprised when it was quiet all night long. I love city noise, so I wasn't disturbed being right on busy Boylston St., but if you're not used to nighttime city noise, it might take some getting used to!
I think one thing that we all loved was that the room is wired with surround sound and besides the Direct TV channels, it also has all of the music channels, so showering with music playing was a big hit for all of us!
The hotel serves a small continental breakfast in the morning with fruit, bagels, muffins & donuts & instant oatmeal. There is also coffee & juice. Since I'm familiar with the area, I opted to grab breakfast elsewhere but I did bring it back and sat in the hotel's lounge to eat. The lounge is really nice and at night, turns into a very hip bar. It got pretty busy on the weekend but was still a nice chill place to relax.
The Charlesmark's location can't be beat. You're right across from the Copley T stop and within walking distance of pretty much the entire city.
I highly recommend this hotel. I know that when I come back to Boston, this is definitely where I will stay!

  • This TripAdvisor Member:
    • Liked — Fantastic location!
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
UM1997's Summary
Date of Stay: March 2008
Traveled with: Business colleagues
Visit was for: Business
Age group: 25-34
Member since: October 30, 2003
  • My ratings for this hotel are:
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
    • 4 of 5 stars Business service
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
absolutely!
I recommend this hotel for:
A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, Tourists
I do not recommend this hotel for:
Families with young children, Families with teenagers
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Check Rates
Average price*: $269 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-454-6835 from hotels.com
“The Charlesmark ROCKS... literally!”

Charlesmark Hotel

5 of 5 stars
Indianapolis, IN
Mar 10, 2008

Do not stay at the Charlesmark Hotel if you are NOT a fan of impeccable service, an unbeatable atmosphere, great interior design, surround sound XM radio throughout your room, incredibly convenient location, and an ultra-chic lounge that also manages to be lots of fun at the same time.

This hotel has thought of everything, from satellite radio in your bathroom, to two free bottles of water in your room everyday, free wireless internet access, and of course the complimentary continental breakfast. While you're there, make sure to say hello to Jefferson and Justine in the lounge, and tell them Travis sent you. The Charlesmark truly is a hidden gem in Boston.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
dissident19's Summary
Date of Stay: March 2008
Traveled with: Business colleagues
Visit was for: Business
Age group: 25-34
Member since: March 10, 2008
  • My ratings for this hotel are:
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
    • 5 of 5 stars Business service
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
absolutely!
I recommend this hotel for:
Young singles, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, People with disabilities, Older travelers, Tourists
I do not recommend this hotel for:
Great pool scene
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:
Business meeting / Event
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Check Rates
Average price*: $269 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-454-6835 from hotels.com
“This hotel missed the mark”

Charlesmark Hotel

1 of 5 stars
Ft. Lauderdale
Feb 26, 2008
1/4 found this review helpful

Upon arrival at the check-in desk I was told to move my luggage to the bar area and wait.

Five minutes later, the receptionist, a young latino, told me he was ready.
He checked me in, and told me my room was on the 1st floor (a euphemism for the basement).

I took the elevator to the basement and found my room in a warren at the end of the hall.
After an inspection of the room, the closet was one-foot wide and there was no storage for clothing,
I decided to return to the receptionist and ask to visually inspect another room.

I was taken to one of the upper floors, to a room overlooking Boylston Street and the Boston Public Library. It too, was postage stamp sized, but the view was better than the basement.

I was informed (even though the room was made-up) that I would have to wait for them to ready the room. I waited in the lounge for about forty-five minutes, when I was told the room was ready.

Up to this point, the receptionist was indifferent at best and at worst seemed as though he was being extremely taxed by my room change request. This seemed odd since I had seen no one else enter or leave the hotel since I arrived.

The room was visually well-appointed, but to say it was small, is an understatement. There was a queen bed, a one-person sleeper sofa, a wall unit and two night stands. The clothes closet (3 feet high by 1 1/2 feet wide) was part of the wall unit. There was a storage cabinet in the base of the wall unit for suitcases, but there were no drawers at all. Shelving was part of the unit, so we put our toiletries and other non-clothing items on the shelves. If you want to take your clothes out of your luggage, you will be hard put to do so. The only other possible places are the night stands or two-coat hooks behind the entrance door.

To give you an idea of how small the room was, when the sleeper was extended there was less than a foot between the end of the sleeper bed and the wall mirror. This made moving from the queen bed to the bathroom extremely difficult and one can only be amazed no one has fallen or been seriously injured with this set-up.

The view from the room was excellent, but the only caveat is the noise factor. With the window facing the street one hears everything going on below. The hotel has patio in the front where chair and tables from the lounge spill out. When the lounge is in full swing at night, you can hear the music and the din of the revelers. In addition, we had a noise problem with the cleaning staff who always seemed to be chatting every morning outside our door.

At check-out, I needed to leave my luggage while I went to lunch. Their luggage storage area is in the lounge under a counter, in full view of anyone passing by. They do put a cable through the straps, but since a divider separates the reception desk from the lounge, the security of the luggage is limited.

In summary,

The receptionist at check-in was apathetic and not very pleased to be of assistance. We felt his behavior was unprofessional and set a poor tone at our arrival.

The rooms are postage stamp sized and not recommended for families or people with any physical limiations.

The proximity of the lounge is problematic at night since noise is a major problem.

The luggage storage is in an open area so security is limited.

The location is good and very close to the Copley station on the Green Line.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
LauderDale12's Summary
Date of Stay: February 2008
Member since: February 18, 2008
  • My ratings for this hotel are:
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 2 of 5 stars Service
    • 3 of 5 stars Business service
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Management Response
markhagopian9, Mark Hagopian Owner
(Management representative)
Feb 27, 2008
Get the Truth then go!

This reviewer is mean spirited, prejudice and not truthful:

Here is the truth:

This older man in a bad mood arrived 3 hours before check in time.

He was completely aware that his room was first located on the first floor with out a great view.

After going out of our way to get him checked in early, He didn't thank us but instead he complained that he wanted a better room.

He also showed up with a second guest that he informed us needed their own bed. Our rooms only have one bed ( which he knew). So in emergency cases we have a pull out sofa bed which he complained about in the review.

Our rooms are about 18 x 14 feet plus the bathroom. N0t postage size. You can view them on line. Same as a lot of major city hotels.

We do not have a noise problem from our patio whatsoever. As a matter of fact the patio is not open in the winter and never after 11 pm.

We have a perfect record for free luggage storage. Never a problem in 6 years.

We have full size closets and rooms with drawers as well as some smaller closets which 99.9% of the time are large enough for guests.

Our seasoned housekeeping team has never had a complaint about talking in the halls. See previous 200+ reviews.

This reviewer stated himself that he felt his request for an early check in was not taken well by the desk agent, After that he just criticized the heck out of the hotel out of revenge.

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Check Rates
Average price*: $269 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-454-6835 from hotels.com

Reviews of Charlesmark Hotel

( 17-21 of 252 )
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Charlesmark Hotel Address

655 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116