The Westin Copley Place, Boston Rating: 3.5 Pearls

Back Bay, Boston, Massachusetts

Skybridge connects three hotels and the convention center

The Westin Copley Place, like the Sheraton and the Marriott Boston Copley Place is part of a massive complex that, in addition to the three hotels, includes the Hynes Convention Center, the Copley Place shopping mall, and the Prudential Center, all of which are connected via the indoor mall and a series of skybridges. As you might suspect, the hotel attracts business travelers and large groups, as well as some leisure guests on the weekends. But, as you might not suspect, the 803-room Westin feels cozy and personable despite its large size and connection to the complex. (The same cannot be said of the Marriott, with its constantly crowded elevators and lobby that doesn't feel distinct from the mall.)

A smattering of thoughtful touches make the Westin feel like more than just another large, midlevel chain hotel. The dimly lit lobby is soothing; there's a hot apple cider station at the front desk; the hotel bar is stylish and serves interesting Mediterranean fare; and, when called upon, the professional staff goes above and beyond. Having been renovated in 2011, the guestrooms feel refreshed and modern in design.

Prices at the three hotels in the complex are typically comparable, though they can fluctuate greatly with the ebb and flow of large groups and trade conventions. They're also fairly comparable in terms of the range of amenities -- all have pools, for example. The Westin has better restaurants than the Sheraton, and its rooms are larger. The Sheraton has a bigger, better pool and fitness center and its rooms have better views and more style, at least until the renovation. Both are better choices than the dated, impersonal Marriott.

With a professional, accommodating staff, service at the Westin bests that at both the Sheraton and the Marriott Boston Copley Place. It's not a full-on luxury hotel, like the Four Seasons, with a house car and ever-present pool attendants, but it's quite good. Check-in was quick and painless, and a special request for a children's amenity for a friend was dealt with promptly and with care.

• Turndown service is optional but when requested it includes bottled water and chocolates. (Turndown is also available by request at the Sheraton.)
• Porters stand at the ready at the bell station in the second-floor lobby.
• Phones have a "service express" and a "concierge" button; both are typically answered promptly by a helpful, knowledgeable staffer.
• Concierge on duty daily, and they're helpful and available despite the hotel's size. I didn't find myself constantly waiting for the concierge, as was often the case at the Marriott, which is bigger but has fewer concierges on duty.

View on a Larger Map

The Westin is part of a massive complex that includes the Hynes Convention Center; Copley Place, an upscale shopping mall; the Sheraton; and the Marriott Boston Copley Place. They're all connected via the mall and skybridges, such that you can travel between them without ever stepping foot outside (a good thing during chilly Boston winters). The hotel's 2nd-floor lobby can be reached either via a skybridge from the Copley Place mall or by taking an escalator up from the street level on the other side of the hotel. It's a highly convenient setup, and while the Marriott feels like a part of the huge mall, the Westin feels a bit separate from it, lending it a cozier, classier feel.

The complex sits in the Back Bay, an upscale commercial and residential area where skyscrapers tower above centuries-old churches and expensive brownstone homes. It's a popular area for business travelers, with the convention center, and also has some of the city's best shopping, from quaint Newbury Street boutiques to the massive Prudential Center and Copley Place malls. Major attractions like the Public Garden, Boston Common, and the start of the Freedom Trail are within a few blocks; other tourist hot spots, like the North End and Faneuil Hall, are 15 to 20 minutes away via public transportation. The area is filled with midrange and upscale restaurants, many of them chains; the South End, a more lively bohemian area with trendy bars and eateries, is a quick 10- to 15-minute walk.

• Logan International Airport is about 15 minutes by taxi with no traffic.
• The nearest stop on the T (Boston's subway system) is Copley station on the Green Line.
• Faneuil Hall, a historic tourist marketplace with more than 150 shops and cafes, is 15 to 20 minutes away via public transportation.
• The Boston Common and the start of the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile path that leads to 16 historic landmarks, is five blocks away.
• Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox, is 1.7 miles away, about a seven-minute drive.
• Harvard Square is across the Charles River, about 20 to 25 minutes via public transportation.
• Newbury Street, a lovely brownstone-lined shopping and dining corridor, is just two blocks away.
• Copley Square, the endpoint of the Boston marathon and a beautiful public square with an interesting mix of architecture, is half a block away.
• The Hynes Convention center is a 10-minute walk away, through the Copley Place mall.

The Standard Room

With spacious standard rooms (392 square feet), clean contemporary furnishings, and the signature Westin "Heavenly Beds," the hotel's accommodations are quite comfortable, though not downright luxurious. They easily best the dated, smaller rooms at the Marriott Boston Copley Place. And while they're bigger than rooms at the Sheraton (which are 225 to 300 square feet), they don't have the Sheraton's floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic views. However, thanks to renovations in 2011, the rooms are now much more stylish. The modern design and rich fabrics have definitely improved the spaces, brighening them and making them more comfortable.

• Westin Heavenly Beds with pillow-top mattresses, 230-thread-count cotton blend sheets, and down alternative pillows and duvets.
• Bathrooms have marble counters, dual showerheads, and Heavenly Spa by Westin toiletries.
• Clean, contemporary decor -- cherry woods, sepia-toned photos -- isn't thrilling but it's soothing, and it's aged well.
• Desks have a convenient outlet strip.
• 37-inch flat-screen televisions have about 30 TV channels, including HBO and HBO family, but the selection is fairly limited. You get more variety at the Marriott.

• Dozens of movies and just-missed TV available for purchase via LodgeNet, but they're presented in standard definition, not HD
• Terry robes, a nice luxury you don't get at the Marriott or the Sheraton unless you make a special request
• In-room coffeemakers with Starbucks coffee and Tazo teas
• Both wired and wireless Internet available for a daily fee

Fitness Center is narrow, and windowless

With a variety of good-but-not-great features, the Westin's amenities don't quite compare to those at the Sheraton.

• The heated pool is open daily and features a Jacuzzi, but it's not nearly as big and breathtaking as the pool at the nearby Sheraton.
• The long, narrow, windowless fitness center is, again, fine but not likely to inspire that extra mile on the treadmill. (Both the Sheraton and the Marriott Boston Copley Place have better gyms.) The Westin's features eight Life Fitness treadmills, two stair climbers, five bikes, and four elliptical machines, all with individual cable televisions, as well as half a dozen weight machines and a decent selection of free weights.
• The business center is just outside the hotel lobby within Penfield's pen shop in the shopping gallery. It's a bit of an odd setup, and it's pricey -- $6 for 15 minutes of computer use, and $1.50 per page for printing. Shipping, copying, and collating services available.
• The Grettacole spa offers massages, facials, mani/pedis, waxing and salon services in its five treatment rooms, but it doesn't offer the sort of big, grand spa experience you get at the pricier Mandarin Oriental.
• The hotel website lists an evening food and drink "ritual" called "unwind(SM)." Don't get too excited. It's not a free wine reception like you get at the nearby Copley Square Hotel. Rather, it's just a happy hour at Bar 10 with a few snacks and a too-sweet-for-my-taste white wine sangria.

Beds and bowls are provided. Animals cannot be left alone in the room when it is being cleaned. The concierge will provide phone numbers for dog-walking services but they cannot arrange for it directly.

Heated indoor pool

With huge standard rooms, accommodating service, a pool on-site, and a variety of dining options, this is a great pick for families. For a large hotel with over 800 rooms, the hotel feels cozy and small, not open and bustling like the nearby Marriott, making it feel safer and more secure for families. The indoor pool is also great for families, though it's not as splendid as the pool at the Sheraton.

• With the Westin Kids Club, kids get to choose a toy from a wagon at check-in.
• Standard rooms with two queens or two double beds available
• Adjoining rooms are available, and can be requested but not guaranteed when making reservations.
• Cribs and rollaway beds available for a nightly fee; rollaways can fit in any standard room
• Room service has a kids' menu with options like chocolate chip pancakes and kids chop chop salad.
• Turner Fisheries has a kids' menu, but Osushi does not. The Huntington Room welcomes kids for breakfast, and the buffet is quite cheap.

Freshly prepared sushi at OSushi

With a trendy bar and breakfast restaurants of its own, plus a sushi bar, a Starbucks, and an upscale fish restaurant, the Westin offers far better eating and drinking options than both the Sheraton and the Marriott Boston Copley Place. While the majority of the hotel's eateries are actually just outside of the hotel, they're in a cozy shopping gallery. You don't have to walk out into the cold or a huge open mall to get to them, as you do at the Marriott or the Boston Park Plaza. All accept room charges (save for the Starbucks), making them feel like part of the hotel.

• Within the hotel, the elegant Bar 10 serves Mediterranean fare, signature cocktails, and interesting beers on tap, like Magic Hat Number 9. It's open for lunch, dinner, and drinks. Options include seared salmon, grilled flatbread and pizzas and sandwiches and burgers.
• The Huntington is an elegant dining area behind Bar 10 serving breakfast only. There's a better-than-average buffet and delicious a la carte options like steel-cut oat brulee and salmon benedict with organic eggs.
• Turner Fisheries attracts business travelers looking to splurge with its pricey seafood, acclaimed clam chowder, and well-stocked bar. Entrees range from vegetarian paella to surf and turf. Preparations, like hooked gulf of Maine haddock with blue crab skin on yam hash and fennel beurre blanc, are fairly inventive. Dinner only
• Osushi serves moderately priced sushi for breakfast and lunch.
• Starbucks just outside the hotel lobby within the indoor shopping gallery
• 24-hour room service features an extensive menu, including sushi from Osushi and Turner's clam chowder.

Guest rooms were renovated in 2011; they feel clean and fresh, thanks to their simple, contemporary decor. Common areas are also well maintained.