Arrival/Check-in: After a delayed but scenic Amtrak ride from New Jersey, my colleague and I arrived in Boston with just a little bit of time to grab some necessities, freshen up and hit the road. Luckily, the hotel was a short walk from the train station. When we arrived at the hotel after the official check-in time, our room was not yet ready. The front desk clerk told us it would be available within the hour, so we ran out to a nearby mall, picked up what we needed and went back to the hotel. We checked on our room status again, and the desk attendant was quick to remind us it hadn’t yet been an hour, but grudgingly double-checked. Unfortunately, our room was still far from ready. We had an evening engagement and needed to do a quick change, so the attendant offered to let us use another room for the time being. When we returned later that night, they had moved our luggage to the two-bedroom we had been expecting. (26/30)

Guest Quarters: The entire hotel has been completely renovated, reopening only a few months before our visit. The Copley Square Hotel is the second-oldest continuously operated hotel in the city, dating back to 1891. Our Family Premier Suite featured a short entry hall. Directly ahead was one bedroom with a king bed, large windows, a couch, two nightstands, a desk and TV. To the left side of the hallway was a second bedroom, slightly smaller but with similar furnishings. One minor drawback: The bathroom was so small it was difficult to maneuver. We had to close the door to access the sink — or even turn on the light. The room décor was soothing, with champagne, cream and chocolate accents and nice city views. The comfortable beds assured a good night of sleep; and the bathroom wallpaper, featuring famous quotations from history (think “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere”), was different and fun. A definite plus? Complimentary WiFi. (27/30)

Services/Amenities: The Copley Square Hotel offers guests a touch of history and a great location near the Boston Public Library, Newbury Street, Copley Square and more. Xhale serves breakfast and dinner as well as in-room dining. The lobby Minibar is a great spot to enjoy cocktails with friends. While the lobby and bar buzz with an active nightlife, the guestrooms are relatively quiet, with only a bit of residual noise making its way to within hearing distance. (28/30)

The Experience: Despite some initial bumps, the remainder of our stay went off without any hitches.

Total Score: 91/100

Copley Square Hotel

47 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA 02116
tel 617 536 9000