We stayed at the XV Beacon for 5 nights and were really impressed with this hotel. I have to admit I wasn't a huge fan of the "pre-check-in" emails because they were actually checking you in and although checking in online doesn't bother me, I'd rather have that knowledge up front. However, when we arrived and collected our keys, I was able to speak with the front desk person, who was extremely lovely, and have all the things I needed settled. The entire staff here is friendly and accommodating. We spoke with the concierge about a restaurant we were going to, she gave excellent recommendations. The people at the door, greeting us, were so happy and friendly. We did take the house car out one night to get to a dinner reservation. We weren't going to use the car at first, because this hotel is situated in a very great location and everywhere we were going was within a 15 min walk, but our first day was filled with rain, so house car it was. Our first night, we got room service and kind of regretted not making a reservation at the restaurant downstairs because if the room service was this excellent, I can't imagine how delicious it was dining in the place itself. The person taking care of us was also super friendly and nice. Breakfast at the restaurant (which we did twice) was very good, with the service being top notch. Our room itself was absolutely gorgeous, with extremely comfortable furniture and a nice comfy bed. I loved how you could control the temperature with no limitations. The bathroom was a good size and the water pressure was so good. The rest of the hotel was well appointed, with lovely touches, like ice tea available (and cookies on Sunday game days.) The elevator is a bit on the smaller end, but the hotel isn't huge so we only rode with someone else once in our entire stay. Overall, I'd recommend this hotel to anyone and will absolutely stay again when in Boston. read more

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First class service and amenities highly recommended. They put out slippers for U after u get Back To Your room for the night read more

Where do I begin? Our stay was INCREDIBLE! The impeccable service began even before we arrived! I have horrific allergies to dogs and cats, not just sneezing but the throat closing, eyes shutting, and can't breathe allergies. Hotels are all becoming pet friendly and that's great, except for people like me! XV Beacon to the rescue! They have dedicated floors that are pet-free for people like me (YAY!!!). I booked my room online, the reached out to reservations and sales to secure a room on the pet-free floor. I was immediately contacted by Mathew C. who made sure it was noted in my reservation that I needed a pet-free floor. Although it wasn't a guarantee, I made sure to book our room 6 weeks in advance and giving plenty of notice for help. When Mathew asked if there was anything further we needed help with, I asked about a car rental for a day. He immediately connected me with David, their in-house concierge. It was our first trip to Boston and we were celebrating our wedding anniversary early! David A. really made this trip beyond memorable! He not only helped us with securing a rental for the day, he provided me with a well curated list of restaurants and arranged dinner reservations for us and arranged for us to be driven by the hotel's Lexus and dropped off at various locations. He even arranged a surprise treat to be delivered to our room celebrating our anniversary. I'm an I Prefer member and XV Beacon is one of their hotels. I was able to get an early check in. Upon arrival at the hotel, we were greeted by the wonderful staff and quickly checked in by Patrick. Our room was so spacious and as promised, on a pet-free floor! Our 3 day stay felt like it was a week away because the staff at the hotel made our stay so relaxing and welcoming! The room was impeccable and the service was top-notch. We had daily housekeeping and turndown service. We had a spectacular dinner at Mooo... and it was delicious! Being from Chicago hubs had to have steak and no better place to enjoy steak than a highly rated steakhouse right in the same hotel we were in! Check out my review of Mooo... read more

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If anyone has read my reviews, I rarely will give 5 stars out. But this little gem of a hotel earned every bit of my respect. Now, to be clear, I do have small criticisms that are so minor, I would not even care to mention them here, but there star of the show is the service. Whomever is at the helm of this ship has sold each and every team member on board a vision of what customer service is, and how it should oozes from every person from the person opening the front door, to the people changing our towels every night. Everyone was friendly. Although that should be the very minimum standard off customer service, sadly this day and age, that isn't the case. XV is the exception. They instinctually knew our needs and planned accordingly, without us even expressing those needs, we in a rush to see several schools in the Boston area, as my daughter is interesting in Boston after she graduates. We had a short window of time to do this, needless to say, our room suffered the mayhem of running from one place to another. The housekeeping staff kept our room clean, and beautiful and took the added steps to fold our clothes, arrange our toiletries, wrap our device cords, and arrange our suitcases so they were neatly put away. Each time we left the room, the doormen, the front desk clerk, the concierge greeted us,, going out of their way to insure we were well taken cared of. We used the house car for dinner reservations and we were armed with umbrellas, just in case we caught rain. We were given cell phone numbers to make sure we had a contact to come pick us up after a night out at the theater. And in the middle of the night, when we each wanted to wind down with a hot shower, the dropped of aroma therapy bath scents for us to use, and didn't blink an eye or complain, when we asked for two more (which required them to go downstairs an return in the middle of the night ) we were in an extremely tight budget and dint expect such a high level customer service and genuine care that we wished we could have tripled our tips for such a sincere group of people. In an industry that is quickly becoming a race to minimal customer interaction and minimal effort, XV stands out as a true standout. Thank you for being so patient with us and treating us like a million bucks . We are already planning another visit. And to the female concierge width whom I shared a wonderful conversation with about my daughter, thank you for your suggestion for the theater group in Maine. She is now researching that in a very serious manner. Hats of to XV! read more

This is a really great hotel. I had an amazing stay for my birthday weekend. In addition to being in a great location in a really pretty area, the hotel itself is lovely. The decor is warm and inviting. Lots of special touches making this a luxury experience. I loved the room, decor, space, comfy bed and the fireplace just took it to a different level. We chose to do room service from the Moo restaurant and the food was delicious and arrived promptly. It was the best steak I've had in a long while! If staying in Boston, I highly recommend this hotel. read more

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Best hotel in the world. Service is peerless and personal. Best staff catering to every guest request.

I liked XV Beacon very much. The hotel is well staffed and there were men at the curb and the desk all the time. The staff were polite and definitely on the upper scale of service compared to other American hotels in a similar category. The hotel itself has been renovated splendidly and is quite stylish and luxurious. The location is excellent and they have a nice drive up in front that allows car to pull up out of the traffic. I did not use the hotel car because the only opportunity I had was a Saturday evening when it was already in demand. However, in that location a person can get an Uber in literally 1 or 2 minutes. The only annoyances I had was that the hotel pestered me by email to "pre-checkin" and the coffee machine had no real cream, but just the very small tubs of artificial creamer. Moreover, there was only a small supply of them, so we had to ask the maid for more and it took them a long time to get more little tubs. I have no idea why creamer is supplied in these tiny little thimbles so people have open like 15 of them to cream one's coffee. Another minor annoyance was that the shower had only a sunflower overhead shower which gave a copious supply of water, but only in a downward direction, so it was impossible to avoid getting your head wet. Also, the controls are right under the head, so getting hit with a blast of cold water when diverting the flow to the shower head is unavoidable. Overall, however, it was a 5-star experience. read more

XV Beacon exemplifies comfortable luxury. This boutique hotel is well located by the Boston Commons and the beautiful Beacon Hill neighborhood. It was easy to walk to the main tourist sites, great dining, and felt historic and safe. Our room was a nice size, the bed and frette sheets provided the best sleep, and the many touches like the good lighting, plenty of storage, big robes and towels, huge windows with proper darkening drapes made the stay feel special and so comfy. But what really stood out was the warm and above-and-beyond service. The whole XV team (especially Shawna at reception) was friendly and thoughtful. Post checkout they even offered to store our bags in our valeted car allowing us to effortlessly tour the neighborhood prior to our late night flight. Other amenities that stood out included turndown service, 24-hour room service, concierge, and complimentary car service. We will definitely stay again next time we are in Boston. We booked through Amex fine hotels and resorts and the perks including upgraded room were appreciated. read more

XV Beacon - Hotels Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

XV Beacon is a comfortable hotel. Seemed like the nicest in the area. The beacon neighborhood is central and perfect. Unfortunately the fireplace didn't work. I didn't bother reporting it because we weren't in the room a lot. Everyone was friendly and helpful. The regular Rooms are cozy not large but big enough. Good sized bathroom. The bed was very comfortable and had wonderful bedding It had a nice little gym . It had the amenities you expect for the price. The restaurant in the hotel moo is great but pricey. I would return. read more

XV Beacon - Bed area - Hotels Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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My favorite hotel. Absolute favorite. I went with my granddaughter who was 9 for her birthday and we had a beautiful suite. The in room dining is superb fabulous amazing. Five star. The service is impeccable. Conceirge helped us put together the most memorable itinerary. It's a beautiful boutique hotel with a wonderful location. The rooftop is fun for relaxing and having a meal. read more

XV Beacon - Surprise birthday cake. - Hotels Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The staff, location, and property were great. We were expecting to see a few historical artifacts from the 1700s but instead the towels and carpets were preserved from the late 1900s. We stayed here in 2001, and twenty years later nothing has changed. Overall good experience but a refresh of the towels first (rough!) and soft items - phones, carpets, etc. Maybe a refresh of the look and feel is warranted. Saw another review that said it's a bit "tired" which seems on point. read more

Exceptional. Don't look any further when considering which hotel to stay in when in Boston. We looked at so many options, read all the reviews and I feel like that we chose the XV Beacon. Perfect and beautiful location. Beacon is a great, central and walkable neighborhood. The room- I wanted to move in and live there. The bathroom was so wonderful that I took a shower every chance I got. The bed, linens and pillow, oh my. Slept like a baby. High ceilings, every amenity and detail, perfectly attended to. They even placed a pillow topper on our mattress when we asked. The staff was wonderful- We really enjoyed and appreciated the service from all the front desk staff. David, the concierge for all his help with reservations. Frank and his kindness. Mark, the house driver was exceptional. Took us to dinners and picked us up with all the information we could ask for in the city. They all made us feel at home. I truly didnt want to leave. I cant wait to stay there again in the future. The hotel has an in house car service to drive you 2 miles around the hotel, a rooftop deck to catch incredible sunsets, a gym and every comfort you would want in a room. I highly recommend the hotel. read more

Overall, the benefit of this hotel is its location. It's central to everything. Boston is an incredibly walkable city, and having a home base in the heart of it is worth something. So from a cost-to-location perspective, it's worth a few extra ducats to be in the center. I'll break down everything else. I'll start with the Staff/Service (4.5 Stars): The people are lovely. Kind, friendly, and will work to accommodate you as best they can - more on this later. There is a valet who is quick and with 10-15 minutes advance notice will have your car front and center. That being said there is a parking garage right next door. But if you want that service, it's there. The Room (3): While our room was the biggest hotel room I've ever been in, it is dated and dark. Lots of muted colors and rich wood tones and silly furniture. The lighting is dark, but thankfully there are huge windows (at least in our room). When the shades are pulled back it lets tons of light in. The drawback is that's when you can see the datedness of everything. The room had a fireplace - which was romantic. It keeps the room in a warm glow. It should be noted that it had a little bit of a mind of its own. I get the sense that it was battling the thermostat for control of the room. Ultimately the thermostat won out. The sitting area is fine. Though again the furniture felt very 90's. And in general the hotel feels that way. The hotel TV station was running footage that felt extremely dated and most of the channels on the TV were in SD. The View (3): It's in the center of a city so unless you're actually on the park, the views are of buildings. But we could see the old state house down the block. Generally, I wouldn't complain, it just wasn't anything to write home about. We weren't expecting much. Just don't get excited that you'll get a view in any room in the house that's super meaningful. The Bathroom (3): The shower is really nice (5 Stars). Heavy rain shower, like being in a waterfall. I loved it. The sink and the pipes squeal. So, open all the way. The Sleep (4, but see the next section): The bed is comfortable, and inviting. The sheets, a hair rough. But generally we were quite comfortable, and getting into bed we quickly fell asleep. The Night (2): Terrible. This is really where you have to weigh your options. We stayed a Friday and a Saturday night. Both nights starting at about 3-4 AM we had garbage trucks. Actually that's an understatement. We had what sounded like garbage trucks being tossed into a wood chipper. And then tossed down a flight of metal stairs. It was not good. At all. Follow that up with cars "cruising" Beacon street. To be fair to the XV, there is little they can do about this. And when I had foam ear plugs in, I was able to muscle through. I have to imagine that the back of the building would have significantly less of that, so given the earlier "view" discussion, I would opt for that. But buyer beware. I did go down to the lobby the next morning to discuss the night before. The staff was apologetic, but clear that there wasn't much they would/could do. I was hoping that the next night would be better. It wasn't. I know they can't control the cars, but to not offer some concession was a little odd to me. I've stayed at other hotels on and around The Common and while the searing hot metal twisting that happened was unique to my experience at the XV, the racing cars and motorcycles wasn't . Whether it's the Four Seasons or the Boston Park Plaza or the hotel formerly known as The Taj, I guess that area is a cruising zone where people live their lives a quarter-mile at a time. The Lobby (3): Also small, dark, dated. Needs a sprucing. Other amenities: We didn't use the restaurant, but it was jumpin' and seems like a solid place to eat. We *did* use the free car service. Which was great. The driver was engaging and friendly. The ride was smooth. They will take you from the hotel, anywhere in the city, up to 2 miles (which is basically the whole city). The Price: We paid a lot. It was a holiday weekend and the Boston Marathon. So disproportionately high. But overall for our experience, way too high. All in all, I would not stay here again. The friendly staff, notwithstanding, and the room size being what it was, when you pay a premium at a hotel, location can't be the only amenity that you're paying for. Sleep counts. Recommendations for the hotel: 1) Speed bump/Stop sign in front of the hotel. I would work with the city to create that. It would make that area less of turn around point for cruising. 2) City Windows. I don't get the sense that people open hotel windows all that much. Seems like a solution like City Windows would really cut down on the sound issue. 3) Updating the AV/Electrical - The speaker system and stereo in the room is nice, but everything feels like it needs updating. The light switches feel flimsy. 4) Brighten and update the look. Hope this helps. read more

Great stay last night, front desk person helped us with everything. Rooms were very clean & high end. Will be back for special occasions! read more

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Concierges great. Room nice and comfortable. Service top notch. Moo restaurant and bar very good. Rooftop terrace a nice surprise

Old world charm. This hotel is in a great location to enjoy historic Boston, especially if you plan to walk the Freedom Trail. Located doors from the State House and a skip to Boston Common. Walk to the waterfront, Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, North End, and of course Beacon Hill. Park Street T is down 1 block. The hotel itself is small boutique type. The room was small but comfortable. The towel warmers in the shower and fireplace were comfortable touches. Lexus car service to get around town was an added bonus. The staff are friendly and always ready to help. They arranged to have some lovely champagne and strawberries to help celebrate our anniversary when we arrived. There were a few small hiccups. Mostly with the cleaning staff. My husband is a neat freak but there were oddities even I couldn't overlook. One example is when they neatly placed our toothbrushes side by side on a towel; then the following night, they placed BOTH toothbrushes together in the same cup--since these were plain toothbrushes there was no way to tell which belonged to whom. Eh, we just asked for new toothbrushes. The room decor exudes Boston charm. The elevators were quaint but sluggish. The gym is small but functional and the rooftop deck is a great place to enjoy the summer breeze with a beautiful city view. There is no pool but since you're mostly out and about in the city, you wouldn't miss it. We had a room facing another building. Not the best view but the blackout curtains did its job. The sheets were soft and comfortable. I'd imagine the fireplace would be the coziest spot during the Boston winters. Overall, it was a lovely hotel in a wonderful location. Would recommend for its location and overall very comfortable. read more

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The desk staff was rude and not at all accommodating ... the advertise feee car service but did not go past a two mile radius which is why I choose to stay there also advertised airport drop off did not do that too early !! My wake up call never happened nor did the help for luggage early morning read more

Don't spend hours looking at hotels if you are visiting this area, just book this place! It was truly a wonderful experience every step of the way. This is old school service with modern amenities. Jeffrey and Myriam will greet you with a smile and take care of any questions you have. We were in a Contemporary Classic room and it was very spacious. First room I've ever seen with a Harman Kardon player and a fireplace! Small details that really make a difference - towel warmer, umbrella in the closet, doorbell to the room. It is a great location - you can walk for shopping, Chinatown, the park, etc and if you want something within 2 miles, you can schedule a house car to take you! The drivers are so courteous and helpful - they have a lot of knowledge of the area and are happy to give suggestions. Trips are on the house except there is a $40 fee to the airport. Make reservations as early as you can so you can get your preferred time. There is a steakhouse attached that we didn't have time to go to but we did order room service from them. This is the first hotel since lockdown that room service was available and it was very convenient. Can't wait to come back to town and stay here! read more

Great location for this boutique style hotel. One block to Boston Common and Public Gardens which is a must to visit. Walking distance to famous Charles street and Newberry street that are both lined with nice stores and restaurants. The hotel itself is small and cozy, only 6 rooms on each floor. Rooms are contemporary and nicely appointed, bathrooms are on the smaller size but adequate with nice towels and bathrobes. Staff is super friendly and accommodating. Try to stay in the rooms that face the street not the alley, otherwise you won't get much sleep from 3am to 5am since big trucks come in at that time of the night either for deliveries or garbage pick up for several building s that surround the hotel. That was a major problem for us and we had to switch the rooms. I personally did not think that the room was worth $500 a night but hey it's Boston and the hotel prices are high here so is the real estate ! It's a beautiful beautiful town though with so much history so it's all good :)) We did not try the restaurant on site but the menu looks good. Well... you are up to date now ! read more

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Right in the heart of old town Boston. So many historic places and food places within a mile. Kind folks at this hotel and very helpful. If you plan it right you can schedule to be driven to many places all service free( be sure to tip) read more

Well, it's been about 6 months since I wrote my original review, so I thought I would add an update here regarding any follow-up from XV Beacon on my concerns addressed directly to hotel management, and the lack of a final bill of our stay from them. But alas, there has been no contact whatsoever from XV Beacon, and no bill of our charges either - absolutely nothing from them at all. Instead of making any editorial comment, I'll let their complete silence speak for itself. read more

My girlfriend and I stayed here for 2 nights. The location is key to experiencing Boston from a central location. The hotel was both welcoming and extremely clean. The hotel has a Lexus that will bring you to local restaurants etc.. I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for an upscale stay in Boston. read more

Returning to Boston is always a pleasure and staying at XV Beacon is the highlight of every visit. My most recent visit was a surprise trip that I welcomed graciously, especially when I was told we would be staying at my favorite Boston Hotel. Over the years I have had the luxury (in most instances) of staying at some rather lovely hotels in Boston, all the luxury names that come to mind. They all pail in comparison against XV Beacon. The level of attention begins before you even approach the main entrance of the hotel as I had to enquire about a couple of special requests to accommodate an impromptu overseas conference call. That out of the way and the entire stay was sheer delight. Restaurant reservations for lunch and dinner were arranged and confirmed, car service made available and every necessity attended. Just a delight! read more

We absolutely loved XV Beacon. This luxury boutique hotel is on Beacon Hill and in the best possible location. The gold-domed Massachusetts State House is right next door. The Boston Commons and Boston Garden is right across the street and this is the beginning of the Freedom Trail. (So many cool historic sites.) We walked everywhere - to the North End (a fantastic Italian neighborhood with tons of great restaurants) to Back Bay (trendy restaurants and great shopping) to the Boston Public Library, to the Charles River, and to Fenway. We loved Boston and it's a great place to end your New England leaf-peeping trip. (Aim for the second week in October and book your hotels and restaurants early.) They also have a great subway and you can always get an Uber in just a few minutes. The concierges were outstanding and Mark, the Lexus courtesy Car Chauffeur is a wealth of information. We stayed in room 602 and the views down Beacon were lovely. Our room was fantastic, loved the fireplace and the bed was so comfortable we didn't want to get out of it! Posh and perfect for an anniversary celebration. The Room service breakfast was excellent. Website photos are 100% accurate. read more

Located in Boston's historic Beacon Hill neighborhood, this landmark building is grand and sophisticated. Modern amenities and furnishings await you. I stayed in one of the hotel's executive classic rooms (#903) which was very private and intimate. The decor of cream and taupe colors created a serene and luxurious environment. Service was very accommodating and attentive. This was a splurge for me after being in the hustle and bustle of a thriving historic city. Room Tip: request a room away from the alley (and higher floor) as there are city street noises very early in the morning. read more

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This is one of Boston's best hotels! Walking distance to Boston Commons and the North End, as well as Ruth's Chris nearby. We've now stayed here a few times and always enjoy the visit. read more

Just checked out of this beautiful boutique hotel and we were sad to leave. Great service and food. Steve Schlesinger was so accommodating and made our stay a pleasure... read more

Excellent location for exploring the Boston Commons and the near by historical sites. A really beautiful entrance and cozy lobby. The rooms are small and make for a real challenge in bringing large luggage into them- I think the hotel is primarily for a weekend duffle bag stay for its perfect local. The Steak house (Moooo restaurant) at the bottom floor is just that - steaks galore. The bar is a mix - this is Boston and the staff are proud and loud, but not necessarily well staffed for service. The lead bartender lacks charm and warmth - should I excuse this for his being an Bostonian - nope. The two other bartenders are working twice as hard and have that much more ability. read more

Wonderful hotel ~ location was amazing. Right in the heart of old Boston. The staff was exceptional. Jonathan (front desk) went out of his way to get me something to drink as I was leaving at five AM! My room was very clean and comfortable and room service was outstanding. I can't say enough good things about this hotel. read more

Have stayed here a few times now and love it! Excellent customer service, friendly and always a door person to open the front door for you as well as a driver to take you to a local destination compliments of the hotel. Rooms are very nice, clean and well appointed. We also love that you don't have to leave the building to go to Moo Restaurant which is also 5 stars! read more

By and large the best hotel stay I have ever had. The attention to the smallest detail do not go overlooked here. The service is beyond perfect as your every need is taken care of. To find any fault with anything, you would need a microscope with a high power lens...so this place gets a 15 out of XV. True gem in middle of Boston. Every hotelier needs to visit XV Beacon to learn the standard in how it's done. I cannot wait until my return visit. Thank you staff of XV. You all rock it read more

Meh. I wasn't at all impressed and for roughly $600/night- I expect to be at least mildly impressed. The lobby was tight and seemingly under staffed though they did their best to ensure our place in line was honored as several people attempted to jump to the front of the queue. Our assigned room didn't have a functioning fireplace or bathroom door (it was literally missing a piece that prevented it from staying closed at all). When I called the front desk they were concerned however there weren't any more rooms in our "room category". He chuckled when I finally suggested they were free to upgrade our room. Frankly, something they should've done without my suggesting. Once in our new room most of the amenities were available and in functioning order. Though we ended up having to call the front desk to adjust the thermostat and fix the fireplace, which stopped working the following morning. On a positive note, the shower was lovely and I loved the bathroom tv. The bed was comfortable and the staff was very sweet and tried their best to accommodate us and make our stay a good one. The location is excellent for proximity to both sightseeing and highway/airport. I really wanted to love XV Beacon, I imagine I'd look elsewhere for my next visit to Boston. :( Not sure the readers of Conde Nast can be trusted. They ranked this hotel number 1 in Boston. Crazy! read more

Things that I loved about this hotel: Location! Location! Location! This hotel is located in Beacon Hill right next to a fantastic park and a short walk from shops and restaurants on Newbury Street. It's cool. The hotel room and lobby were very sleek looking. The attached restaurant (Moo...) had a cool lounge singer and a yummy meal (see separate view). The room was very modern, decorated in greys, white, and black. It also featured some upscale electronic amenities, such as flat screen TVs in the room and bathroom, as well as, a sound system with speakers throughout the room. The girl at the front desk was nice and offered to upgrade us to a larger room. We gladly accepted. What I hated (deliberate choice of wording because there was no middle at this hotel): We were upgraded to a room on the 4th floor which overlooked the alley. I'm not one for views (I can take them or leave them), but the alley combined with being on the 4th floor was not good! There was about 45 minutes of insane noise in the alley as a garbage truck did who know what out there as I'm assuming it doesn't take this long to empty a dumpster. I lay there listening, and fuming, wondering how this room could hand been considered an "upgrade". The room service here is abysmal. I ordered pancakes and my husband ordered a bagel with cream cheese (not exactly high difficulty level for the average cook) and both were inedible. My pancakes had a texture that reminded me of the sponges you might use to clean your kitchen countertops. My husband's bagel (untoasted-what's up with that?) was hard as a rock. We had free breakfast both days but, after the experience the first day, we opted to pass on the second. Keeping in mind we were supposedly upgraded to a larger room, the bathroom tiny, cramped, and the outlet didn't work. I will say that the towels and bathrobes were super nice. Very high quality. I had to watch my husband to make sure he didn't make off with any of them! This place has nice features but, we were not wowed. With every thing else in this area, we probably won't stay again. If we do, I will be certain to request a higher floor to eliminate some of that alley noise. read more

What a difference a year makes! We had such a great time last Feb spending the night here, we decided to make it an annual event. It's sort of a Valentine's thing for us but on a weekend, not the actual day. Well, this was our second and final year at XV Beacon. I suppose I should have known things weren't the same at XV Beacon when I saw them on Rue La La. We were planning to go again this year anyway, and this place isn't cheap, so I was happy to see the Rue offer for a discounted Corner Suite (which is the same kind of room we had last year). The discounted rate still cost $300 for the night. Well, I don't know if they snubbed us because of the Rue La La offer or if service has just gotten worse over the year but for a place this expensive, known as a premier "Boutique" hotel, there were too many errors. 1. We arrived at 4 and were told our room was not ready yet. Check-in time was 3 but the room was still not ready at 4? They then told us it would be about 15 minutes and offered to give us a drink in the lobby while we waited. But, we didn't want to sit in the tiny dark lobby so we decided to venture to the shops outside and asked them to call when the room was ready. They didn't call us until 5pm so we would have been sitting in their lobby for an hour! 2. The Rue La La La promotion came with "a complimentary bottle of wine, valued at $50". When we finally got into our room, the wine was not there so I had to call to ask about it. They then sent up a bottle of Genesis Merlot, which retails for about $12 - so even with a mark-up there's no way that it's valued at $50. 3. When we came and went, no one held the front door for us or even greeted us. Last year, there was always someone at the door and they always greeted us by name. Not that that is necessary, but it's a nice touch that we missed this year. 4. We were told the complimentary hotel car would take us to our dinner destination. But, we were later told that the car was already booked and there was nothing they could do for us. We weren't going far anyway but after the late check-in fiasco, I thought they might offer to cover the $10 taxi ride. But, no. 5. At check-in, we were specifically told they would deliver complimentary newspapers in the morning and we were offered to select up to 5 different papers. We opted for two: the New York Times and The Boston Globe. All we received was the New York Times. Again, not catastrophic, but why tell us we'd receive both and then not deliver them? 6. When we were ready to leave the next day, we called 15 minutes ahead for our car, as we were instructed to do. Well, when we arrived downstairs about 15 minutes later the valet told us that he was sorry but they had 2 cars marked with our room number and the wrong car was brought up. I know mistakes happen but as my husband said to me, "This isn't the Sheraton. How does that happen in a hotel this small, known for it's service." 7. After waiting for our car for an additional 15 minutes, it finally arrived. At the same time, a bellman came up and took our bag and put it in our car. We only had one bag and didn't really need the help, but it was nice of him and he was friendly and helpful. Probably the nicest person we encountered at the hotel the entire time we were there. So, my husband tipped him a little more than he tipped the valet. And, here's the kicker! Right there, in front of us on the sidewalk before we drove away, they had a conversation about their tips and then traded with each other (most likely because the valet thought he did more and thus deserved more!) It was extremely rude behavior. My husband chose to tip according to what he felt they deserved and they should never have done that in front of a guest. Basically, it's still a beautiful hotel but it was extremely disappointing that we weren't treated better, especially after our expectations were set so high by our visit last year. Next year, we're going to try somewhere else. read more

I rest my head nightly about two blocks from the XV Beacon, yet I had no idea that it existed until a few weeks ago when I was shepherded there by a very special person for my birthday. Where to begin. . . From the moment we entered the cool library-like lobby I felt like I'd left the nightmare of Boston service and style behind. This hotel is ultra vogue without being showy or pretentious. The staff was super friendly and ready to meet our every request, desire and demand. Constant coffee cravings were fulfilled with alacrity, and in-room dinner was delightfully presented and equally delectable. The wall operated fireplace was a nice touch as was the whirlpool tub with perfectly located "champagne" shelf. In the morning, we had breakfast at the hotel restaurant, Moo. I can't say much about the restaurant other than that the lobster eggs benedict were awesome! The XV beacon is the ONLY hotel in Boston to appear in multiple international publications about the sweetest spots to spend a night in all of America. Treat yourself to a night at the XV, and, for a moment, you'll forget that you're in the wicked sick nasty city of Bahston. read more

Usually go for the big chain luxury hotels, but went with this on the recommendation of American Express ... and definitely did not disappoint. The staff and service were wonderful, and we had a lovely 3 night stay here. They even have a hotel car to drive you around the city, which was nice and the driver who works in the afternoon/night was awesome - he usually is off at 11 pm but one of the nights, he waited until 11:30 pm for us and took us back to the hotel! Highly recommend this boutique hotel and would definitely come back next time I'm in Boston. read more

Nice Hotel but not wowed. Rooms were beautiful with high ceilings, fireplace and upscale decor. My turnoffs were that the room was too dark, little to no common space and a staff that didn't feel genuine. There is such a thing as overkill hospitality. I've had better stays at other Boston Boutique Hotels such as Hotel Nine Zero which is just around the corner from XV Beacon and The Colonnade Hotel in Copley Square. read more

I was very excited to finally get a chance to stay at the XV Beacon. Both of my brothers have stayed here and it was my turn now. We arrived on a Saturday afternoon after a long train ride, and wanted to relax for a little bit before hitting the town. As soon as we walked into the hotel, we were warmly greeted by concierge and the front desk. Everything went smoothly and our room was ready as soon as we arrived. The room: Ahh it was amazing!! A great and comfortable queen sized bed with a flat screen above the fireplace. Fireplace?! Yes! The fireplace was awesome. I haven't had a fireplace since I was a kid so this was a perfect addition to a great bedroom. The bathroom was beautiful with a great rainforest like shower head. It was just a perfect Valentine's Day weekend and that was mainly because how great the XV Beacon is. One of the best accommodations was the house car. They have two Lexus cars that will take you around the city to restaurant reservations, bars, or even site seeing. Our driver was so friendly and he was always on time and quick to pick us up as well. There is no question that when visiting Boston, there is no other place to stay then the Beacon. I'm already looking forward to and planning my next visit. read more

I rarely come to Boston, but when I do, I always stay at XV Beacon! And you should too. The hotel consistently makes the top 50 list in the world. Stay here and you'll understand why. From the instant you walk in your experience is transformed from ordinary traveler to highest end luxury guest. The concierge staff is awesome and the doormen are ultra professional and always on top of their game. The rooms are so comfortable. Every attention to detail is thought of for your comfort. The heated towel rack to the rain shower in the bathroom. The old products were Fresh, but they have recently switched over to private label exclusive for XV B. Bring back the Fresh! Each room has a fireplace which operates with a flick of a switch. The lighting is soft and not harsh on your eyes. The mini-bar has high-end half bottles of wine and liquor if you want to imbibe. And the bed is so comfortable, you'll be dreaming while your dreaming. The over all experience is worth it. The luxury Lexus house cars are ready to drop you off anywhere in the city. Just prearrange with the concierge. read more

Just returned from a fantastic 3 night stay. The service was impeccable. Note to hotel guests: this is a very old building and the lobby/guest rooms reflect that in size ONLY. It is a BOUTIQUE hotel. If you aren't looking for that, I am sure there are many other places you can go. I for one would pick XV over a hotel with a larger room. All of the employees were amazing and basically bend over backward to make your stay as comfortable and convenient as possible. Other fun things: rain shower, toasty fireplace, unique furnishings in each room, and a chocolate covered strawberry waiting for us on our arrival. Also - go to Mooo downstairs and eat the Kobe dumplings. I did, at least 4 times. read more