The Ritz-Carlton, Boston is located in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts' vibrant midtown, just steps from the theatre and financial districts and overlooking Boston Common. This modern 193-room luxury hotel features 43 suites and The Ritz-Carlton Club rooms. The most up-to-date technology includes in-room high-speed wireless Internet access for up to six devices as well as HD plasma screen televisions, meeting space with plasma display screens, and complimentary wireless Internet connectivity in The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge and the hotel lobby.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
Powered by AI
The Ritz-Carlton - Boston garners praise for its cleanliness and prime location in the heart of the city, with proximity to attractions like Copley Square and Boston Common. While the atmosphere is generally considered comfortable, and some guests appreciate the spacious rooms, others find the amenities outdated and the service inconsistent.
The hotel's value is questioned by many travelers, who feel the luxury experience does not fully justify the cost, especially when encountering overpriced amenities and underwhelming housekeeping.
Location
Central
Atmosphere
Unwelcoming
Rooms
Dated
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Mixed
Was this helpful?
Tripadvisor is not responsible for this summary or the opinions in it. For more information, please read the traveller reviews and learn more about how the site works.
Check in staff, housekeeping and bellhops were extremely attentive and responsive. So accommodating with every request and there were many. Room was fantastic. Stay very pleasurable, no real complaints just general feedback:
Generally very pleased with my stay but I do feel something was just a little off with the details and communication generally with the staff. Again, I had a lot of requests but it just didn't feel as "tight" as other Ritz stays. Not sure if there is central location where staff keeps notes/requests but it seems like I was always following up with previous requests. Seems like there has to be a better way for the staff to communicate, particularly with shift changes. To be fair, every time we followed up our request was immediately serviced.
Read more
Date of stay: February 2020
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from MrWilliamBunce, General Manager at The Ritz-Carlton - Boston
Responded Feb 10, 2020
Dear Charlfesq, It is good to hear that you enjoyed your visit to The Ritz-Carlton, Boston, and that our ladies and gentlemen were attentive and accommodating. Thank you for providing your helpful feedback - we truly appreciate you taking the time to comment and will look into making improvements based on your observations. We look forward to your return when your future travel plans include Boston. With sincere thanks, William P. Bunce, General Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We started our honeymoon with a stay in Boston and this was the perfect place for us. We booked on points which was brilliant value given the cash rates and 5 nights for 4, and thanks to my Gold status we were upgraded to a room with a view over the Common. We had been in email contact with the hotel before we arrived, and on arrival late at night we were warmly welcomed and found presents in our room from the hotel including a photo frame, bottle of wine, and chocolate covered strawberries. The staff were all friendly and remembered us by name throughout the stay, and we enjoyed some of the touches like the iced tea and biscuits served in the lobby. The location was great for us, in easy walking distance of all of the major points in the city, and it was also an easy Lyft ride to and from the airport. The room was really comfortable too, and having both a bath and shower was great. The only thing we didn’t try was breakfast in the restaurant as we were always out in the city in the morning with lots of good places within a short walk. We would massively recommend and it was a fantastic start to our honeymoon.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2019
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
We were checked in quickly and found a surprise gift in our room for our anniversary trip as well! Service was top notch and the room was lovely. Cozy bed too! Be aware the pre-authorization for incidentals is higher than many other (even other very nice) hotels at about $150 a day. That was ok just good to know. Would definitely recommend this spot in the theater district, we were able to walk or take the train everywhere we wanted to go quite easily.
Read more
Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from MrWilliamBunce, General Manager at The Ritz-Carlton - Boston
Responded Feb 12, 2020
Dear carlyseattle, Happy belated anniversary. We are so pleased you spent it with us! It is wonderful to hear that our ladies and gentlemen took such excellent care of you, and that you enjoyed your visit to our comfortable and convenient location. Thank you for recommending our hotel and we look forward to your many happy returns. Warmest regards, William P. Bunce, General Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I’ve had a good experience with Ritz before but this was poor.
1. Bed linens and towels were not changed overnight but instead refolded and beds made again.
2. Food service was not good. Breakfast toast was soggy. Come on.
3. Wifi is $13 per day. Seriously, this is 2021 not 1999.
4. Gym is via equinox and is big but $15 per day.
5. There isn’t any room service after 11pm. Moreover. You cannot buy anything downstairs because they do not have hotel concessions.
How is this a 5 start hotel when Hampton Inn has better amenities?
The people were nice, the rooms were clean, but entirely not worth the price especially with all of the above.
Oh, one more thing, no laundry on weekends! You cannot get clothes cleaned on Thursday and receive in a day or so. Nothing until next week.
Absurd
Read more
Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from William Bunce, Other at The Ritz-Carlton - Boston
Responded Aug 31, 2021
Dear malachyj, Thank you for providing your feedback following your recent visit. I am sorry to learn that your stay did not fulfill your expectations of value, but it is good to hear that our ladies and gentlemen provided friendly service and hotel cleanliness. Thank you for your understanding as we return to "normal" after our 15 month "hiatus" and we look forward to the opportunity to welcome you back once all the restrictions due to Covid-19 have lifted. Sincerely, William P. Bunce, General Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My wife and I had a terrible experience at this Ritz in December of 2019. The service was terrible, the food was average and the wait for a room was excruciatingly long (especially given my Lifetime Titanium Platinum status with Marriott.) I chose not to leave a review because I assumed it was a one-off.
Fast forward to yesterday. My wife's best friend is in town, they haven't seen each other for 3 years. They planned a girl's weekend and they planned to celebrate the news my wife is pregnant with our third child. They are also both frontline workers in healthcare, one seeing patients in urgent care every day and the other helping the sickest cancer patients. They have seen a lot of bad things since COVID started, so they needed a nice weekend together.
Two weeks ago, my wife asked me for help finding her a decent hotel in Boston for the weekend. Wanting to treat my wife and friend, I booked them a room at the Ritz with two double beds. My wife was leery given our last experience. I assured her that was an anomaly.
At 1 PM yesterday, I noticed online that the room had been upgraded to a suite with 1 King bed. Given my wife is pregnant, I knew she didn't want to share a bed with anyone. I called the Ritz and got Julia on the phone. I thanked her for the upgrade but shared with her the situation and that we would prefer that we get the room we booked with two double beds instead. She said she made the change and assured me there would not be an issue. I also added my wife's name to the reservation; that was done correctly.
My wife had hoped to arrive at hotel by 4 but she ended seeing patients for 3 hours longer than expected. They arrived at 8:30 to check-in. They were told that they had been upgraded to a suite with 1 King. My wife explained that I spoken to someone at 1 PM and they assured us we would get the room we booked. The staff member informed her that they had given away all the rooms but that they would change their room tomorrow. She also informed her they could check out late on Sunday. My wife said that the staff member made it sound like that was something they were giving her for their trouble. What my wife didn't realize is that is one of the benefits of the status I have earned by spending millions of dollars at Marriott properties the last 20 years.
It is now 4:30 PM the next day and they still have not had their hotel room changed.
Ritz Carlton Boston, you have let us down once again!
I hate even writing things like this because I know people are doing the best they can during these challenging times. Having said that, when you book a weekend at a place like the Ritz, you are spending a lot of hard earned money and deserve to expect more. I have stayed at Ritz properties throughout the world and never experienced a single problem. I guess the Boston Ritz has some fundamental issues that have not been addressed since our last stay in 2019.
If we decide to do a weekend away in Boston again or if I hold a meeting for work, we will not stay here. Thankfully, Boston has no shortage of better hotels to choose from!
Read more
Date of stay: May 2022
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ricardo verdan, Other at The Ritz-Carlton - Boston
Responded May 16, 2022
Dear Tom B, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback regarding your recent experience with us. We certainly appreciate your loyalty to Marriott Bonvoy, shown with your Titanium Elite Status. It is with the candid feedback of our valued guests, such as your self, that we are able to improve upon the services we provide. I have reached out to you directly, and would be delighted to speak with you further to resolve the concerns of your stay. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to accommodate you and your wife. Should your travels bring you back to Boston. We would welcome the opportunity to render to you the exceptional experience you deserve. Sincerely, Sarah Taylor Assistant Front Office Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed for a weekend in late March and went away very disappointed with our experience. The location is great but I'm afraid nothing else met the standard Ritz Carlton strived to set. The most striking point is how hygiene & quality standards were overlooked, and how our feedback was ignored by management. To list a few: 1) The room smelled stale when we first opened the door. 2) The bed was in bad shape. Both sides of the mattress crumble, and represented a mattress which was overused over many years, structurally collapsed and neglected from maintenance. 3)The shower room walls were not cleaned properly prior to our check in - there were multiple strands of hair stuck to the wall. 4) The pump in the hair conditioner provided is stuck and couldn't be pressed. We had to unscrew it to get to the hair conditioner and found strands of hair tangled onto the pump inside the bottle which was gross and disgusting. 5) The bathtub sinkhole plug leaks and the tub would slowly drain as a result, defeating its purpose. 6) The bed sheet was not pristine. We could tell it was laundered but there are multiple small dark spots on the bedsheet. Two of the pillowcase had print stains which resembled ink transfers from a piece of paper. 7) Our bed linen was not changed during room service on the next day despite the point above. Perhaps they have a linen policy or card but this wasn't clear to us.
NOTE we asked to speak to management, and Alberto (Assistant Rooms Executive) reached out to us via email. We passed the above feedback to him/her but have not heard back at all after almost a month.
Definitely not going again and would reconsider our future hotel choices of Ritz Carlton.
Read more
Date of stay: March 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Check your room carefully after checking in. Also rooms facing avery st will be facing a...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Patrick Fender, Guest Services / Front Office at The Ritz-Carlton - Boston
Responded Apr 22, 2024
Good morning Leidd, On behalf of the hotel and our leadership team, allow me to apologize for your poor experience with us during your stay in March. The quality of your room cleanliness standards and our lack of responsiveness to your inquiries has not been to our standard. I appreciate the detail you went into providing this feedback, and at your convenience, I would love to have a follow up conversation with you in order to formally take accountability for these misses on our part. Thank you again for taking the time to write to us. Kind regards,
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Patrick Fender, Guest Services / Front Office at The Ritz-Carlton - Boston
Responded Nov 8, 2024
Dear iheart2travelSY, Thank you for taking the time to share feedback from your October stay. We appreciate your loyalty to Marriott Bonvoy, especially as a Gold Member and I am very sorry that we did not meet your expectations. While I understand your concern with the positioning of electrical outlets and chargers, we do adhere to a policy throughout the hotel that follows corporate and state guidelines. I have made a notation regarding your preference for a refrigerator and a different room layout to prevent any issues moving forward. I am confident that when you return, we will be able to better accommodate your needs. Thank you as well for your kind words regarding your positive experience with our staff, with whom I will be sure to share your apprection. Again, I do apologize for not meeting your expectations during your first stay at our property. I also invite you to please reach out directly in advance of any future visits should you think of any ways in which we might elevate your stay or make the experience more memorable. Sincerely,
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This was the second Ritz Carlton we stayed at on this trip, and once again there were multiple service lapses. I'm wondering if the entire chain is losing it? First impressions were poor. We arrived at 3:45 pm (check-in time is 4), our room was not ready. They took my phone number and promised to call as soon as it was, which should be "less than an hour" (!). I asked that they put an extra dozen hangers in the room. We never got a call or text. We returned at 5 to be told we were already checked in and the room was available. They retrieved our bags from storage and handed them to us; nobody offered assistance with luggage other than pulling it out of the taxi trunk when we arrived. The requested hangers of course were not in the room. Nor was there a hot water kettle or cups. I tried twice to call Housekeeping, each time I got a “your call is very important to us” recording, and then it disconnected. Fed up, I started to go down to the desk, but ran into a staff member in the hall who asked if he could help me. He wrote my requests on his hand and promised to bring the items right away, which he did. The next day, I opened the refrigerator and found two partially-consumed beverages and a pint of blueberries left by a previous guest. I called the front desk, she apologized profusely and said she would have it removed immediately, and also inform the housekeeping manager. I said no rush, you can do it with turndown service. Well, they didn’t do it at all. The next morning, we tossed the garbage and I recounted our experiences thus far to the concierge. He also apologized profusely, took my name, and promised he would bring it to management’s attention. At breakfast, I ordered a chai latte. Took a sip, it was awful, tasted like when they make tea with coffee machine water. Our waiter said it should be made with clean water from a separate source, and he would remake a good one. Then he came back and said I was right, there was some problem and they had tried to “improvise.” I said just bring me a regular tea. Service overall was much slower than the previous day. And when we got the bill, we were charged $8 for the teabag and pot of hot water. Sigh. 🙄 I did get a call from a hotel manager that afternoon, apologizing for the service lapses and offering to comp our breakfast. The suite itself was very nice, spacious and comfortable. The location is great. It's a shame they can't execute better.
Read more
Date of stay: August 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Writing a review that does justice to this hotel is very difficult. On the one hand, most of the staff are fantastic (in line with the experience at other Ritz Carlton hotels), but then there are the very few other staff members…
We had booked an executive suite and an adjoining room (but this room only a day later as we were picking our daughter up from summer camp). When trying to check in for the second room on the second day, the receptionist told me that the guest in that room had a late check out at 4pm, so that the room would not be ready for quite some time after 4pm). I was not very happy about this as Check in time is 4pm. The receptionist offered to move us to a different suite with adjoining room, but we had already unpacked everything in our suite the night before. When I asked the receptionist to let her management know that this was not up to Ritz Carlton standards, she told me in a very moody tone that the other guest was an ambassador and had the right to s late check out (not that I understand why that would have to interest me), and that she had offered me an alternative. I complained about her to her manager, but am puzzled how they can let someone so poorly trained work at the reception desk.
After quite some back and forth, we finally got the interconnecting room at 6 pm. However, the interconnecting doors could not be opened. We asked reception around 7 pm to please send someone to fix this. To our surprise when we returned from dinner at 10:15 pm no one had fixed anything and the new shift at the reception didn’t know anything about the problem. This was just ridiculous.
The rooms are ok, but seem somewhat worn down, especially the bathrooms. There is a fridge, but no stocked minibar.
All in all, this hotel doesn’t have a Ritz Carlton flair. It rather feels like an ordinary downtown Marriott hotel, but one that has some outstanding staff (and some very bad staff).
Read more
Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Ricardo Verdan, Other at The Ritz-Carlton - Boston
Responded Jul 17, 2023
Dear petri1302 Thank you so much for sharing your feedback. We stand on the basis that we are "Ladies & Gentlemen serving Ladies & Gentlemen". What you have shared will be used as a teachable moment that will assist with the growth and development of our associates. Our Assistant Rooms Executive, Mr. Norman Hamilton, will follow up with you to ensure the remainder of your stay is that of your expectation.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I honestly have no idea how The Ritz brand allows their flag to fly on this property.
The service, aside from the doorman, was non-existent. The rooms were very dated. We had a suite overlooking the roof. Carpet was stained, pre-programmed buttons on phone did not work, calls were routinely dropped or unanswered. One room service of a bowl of soup and a soda took well over an hour. Mini fridge and snacks not stocked. Bath and shower amenities were so cheap that I have seen better at roadside motels. Even overheard another guest say their stay a few nights prior at a Courtyard property was better than their room at this Ritz.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled on business
Room Tip:Avoid this property if you appreciate real Ritz Carlton service.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Ricardo Verdan, Other at The Ritz-Carlton - Boston
Responded Jul 17, 2023
Dear nwwilcox, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience while staying with us. Providing the highest level of hospitality is our number one priority and we sincerely apologize for failing to meet your expectations. Your feedback will be shared with our leadership team to ensure the necessary guidelines are reviewed and in place. Our Director of Rooms looks forward to hearing back from you at your convenience (per his recent voicemail to you). With sincere appreciation,
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
There are more places to choose from in the Boston area.
PRICE RANGE
C$746 - C$1,163 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
ritz-carlton boston common hotel boston, ritz boston, boston ritz-carlton
LOCATION
United StatesMassachusettsBostonTheater District / Downtown / Downtown Crossing
NUMBER OF ROOMS
193
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
