InterContinental Boston – Massachusetts
InterContinental Boston / 510 Atlantic Avenue / Boston, MA 02210 /1-617-217-5190
I recently enjoyed my very first stay at an InterContinental property and I can say it will definitely not be my last.
Stepping into InterContinental Boston was like meeting a celebrity. Over the years I have booked many clients at InterContinental properties around the world. I was no stranger to the brand. I knew to expect a luxurious experience.
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts have 160+ hotels in 65 countries on six continents, reflecting the character and color of their surroundings.
I was truly taken aback the second I stepped inside the grand lobby of InterContinental Boston. It is truly a “contemporary masterpiece”.
InterContinental Boston is a 4 Diamond AAA rated hotel and has been named one of the “Best Hotel int he World” by Condé Nast Traveler magazine.
This chic waterfront hotel opened in November 2006. It is the first InterCotinental hotel in Boston and New England. And, at the time, it was the first hotel to open on Boston’s waterfront in more than 25 years. There are 424-rooms and 130 private residences, parking facility and a stunning two-acre waterfront garden and promenade.
The lobby is vast, has soft lighting, comfortable seating (with a gorgeous fireplace that I can only imagine is quite popular in the wintertime) and an overall soothing vibe. It is indeed elegant with its reflective blue glass architecture and sleek polished granite.
The check-in process was quick and friendly and before I knew it my wife Jennifer and I were heading up to our waterfront, deluxe king room.
Honestly the first thing that hit us was the absolutely breathtaking view of Fort Point Channel & The Boston Tea Party.
Wow. Stunning.
Our room was handsome with its dark wood and soft lighting. I also loved the pass through window to the bathroom! Always a nice touch.
I found the bed to be very comfortable and loved the Origami work chair. There was a flat screen TV, a fully stocked mini bar and Agraria toiletries.
A couple of features that I really enjoyed were the lights on the pass through window to the bathroom. The provided a nice glow in the room at night.
I also liked the doorbell on our room and the water pressure n the shower! The best pressure I have ever experienced (and possibly my longest shower ever – lol!)
Since Jennifer and I were only there for one evening, we wanted to go and explore the hotel.
Everything about InterContinental Boston is exceptional. They have an absolutely beautiful 2,500 square foot indoor heated swimming pool, steam rooms, a 24-hour state-of-the-art Health & Fitness Club (2,200 square feet with a vast wall of windows that make you feel as if you are outdoors), SPA InterContinental which encompasses 6,600 total square feet and offers six dedicated spa treatment rooms and an extensive collection of healing spa services, including massage therapy, body treatments and facial care.
InterContinental Boston is also home to an international array of chic restaurants and bars that reflect a journey around the world!
Miel “Brasserie Provencale,” is an AAA four Diamond-rated establishment and celebrates the organic wonders of Provence highlighting the area’s indigenous products. Miel is opened annually from May-September and offers Cote d’Azur-style outdoor dining (weather permitting) overlooking the waterfront.
RumBa is the hotel’s sexy, popular rum and champagne bar that pays tribute to the historic New England rum trade in a sophisticated rum-themed cocktail bar serving an international collection of 100+ distrilled rums, appetizers, and hip-moving mixes of Latin, Caribbean and Pop music.
Rumba has two bars, offers bar, lounge and high top seating and sits 112 indoors. In 2013 Rumba added a new outdoor terrace area seating 30. In the summer season, Rumba offers Rumba on the Waterfront, a 360 outdoor full bar with a combination of bar, lounge and cocktail seating (seats 72). Rumba has become one of Boston’s HOTTEST waterfront bars.
Adjacent to Rumba (indoors) you will find the Champagne Lounge, an exclusive and discreet champagne bar that serves selections of bubbly in an atmosphere inspired by the Moulin Rouge. Rumba was named among the ‘Top 100 Bars in the U.S.’ in Food & Wine magazine’s Cocktails ’09.
InterContinental Boston is also home to Sushi-Teq, the first sushi/tequila venue of its kind in the U.S.
Opened in March 2007, Sushi-Teq is a tequila bar featuring a cultural fusion of sushi and nearly 100 premium tequilas. Both Sushi-Teq and Rumba were named among the “Best Hotel Bars” by Boston Magazine.
- COOL FAQ – The InterContinental Boston Gardens features a gorgeous, outdoor waterfront promenade along Boston’s Fort Point Channel waterfront. The garden area grows such aromatic herbs as rosemary, basil, thyme and lavender.
- COOL FAQ – Miel “Brasserie Provencale”, Sush-Teq and Rumba offer seasonal outdoor dining overlooking Boston’s waterfront.
- COOL FAQ – In June 2010, InterContinental Boston launched Boston’s first hotel apiary with 10,000 bees on the fifth-floor roof deck. By September 2010, the bees grew to a colony of more than 40,000 pollinating an area of approx. 4 miles! The bees survived the first winter and in April 2011, two new bee hives were added to the apiary. By fall 2011, the colony had grown to 150,000+ bees. The hotel’s first honey harvest took place in August 2011 when 120 lbs of honey was collected and a second harvest took place in October 2011 garnering 105 lbs of honey. In 2012, more than 75 lbs of honey was harvested in August. Approximately 300 lbs of honey has been harvested to date! The honey is used in Miel’s cuisine, hotel cocktails and in select SPA InterContinental ‘apitherapy’ treatments.
Jennifer and I enjoyed walking along the waterfront, taking in the sites and absolute beauty of the hotel’s all-glass exterior which gives the building the sense of soaring height and reflects the sky, the water and cityscape!
I also loved the close proximity to downtown Boston as well as South Station / Amtrak. InterContinental Boston is also one of the closest luxury hotels to Logan International Airport (accessible via water taxi directly to/from the airport from the hotel’s private dock or via surface roads).
The hotel sits at the base of the financial district and is the closest hotel to the Boston’s Children’s Museum and the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum.
You are walking distance to other attractions including The Contemporary Art Museum, Boston Aquarium, Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market and the Theatre District.
GOOD TO KNOW:
- The hotel offers overnight valet parking for $44 per night.
- Wi-Fi costs between $12-16 per day.
- Room service is available 24 hours (I ordered the grilled cheese which was served with homemade chips and was extremely good and a good value at $10!)
- Check-in time is at 3:00 PM / Check-out is at 12:00 PM.
- There is a 24/7 business center located onsite. The business center is staffed between 8:00 AM and 11:00 PM.
- Airport transfers are available ($)
- There is a gift shop and ATM located onsite.
- Limo and town car services are available.
- There are three onsite restaurants.
- Bar/lounge.
- Dry cleaning / laundry services are available.
- The hotel has an indoor heated pool, 24 hour gym and spa.
- Water taxi service is available.
- Foreign money exchange is available.
- Tours of Boston etc., can be arranged by the hotel’s concierge service.
- Weddings – I could think of no better place to celebrate your special day than InterContinental Boston. For more information please click HERE.
- Business Meetings / Events – InterContinental Boston features 32,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting & event space that can accommodate up to 1,200 guests in 11 beautifully designed function rooms, including 9 meeting rooms and two grand ballrooms. Click HERE for more information.
GAY & LESBIAN FACTOR: I found InterContinental Boston to be a truly luxurious, accommodating experience from the moment we checked in to checkout. My wife and I were treated no differently than anyone else. We both felt extremely comfortable and welcome. Stephanie Loeber, media contact for the hotel, took great care of us and made our experience memorable. This is the type hotel you want to escape to and enjoy all the amenities. Yes, you are close to all that Boston has to offer, but my personal advice would be to make plenty of time to truly indulge in all of the hotel’s offerings.
It is also a great place to meet up with friends of have a romantic dinner / drink with your significant other. I found all three of the onsite restaurants to classy & hip with an energetic vibe. They should all be experienced! Especially during the summertime when you can sit out by the waterfront and take in the fabulous view of Fort Point Channel. I most definitely “OUT” InterContinental Boston as LGBT friendly and worthy of our business.
As with most great things our visit had to unfortunately come to an end, however, the experience is something I will take with me and share with others. I anticipate my return and love that I can now offer a personal insight to what so many already know, that InterContinental is by far one of the best hotel brands around.
Best,
Desiree Sousa
Owner / Editor in Chief
Out & About Travel / Gay Travel Information
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