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Summary of reviewsPorter Square Hotel in Cambridge has received widespread praise for its excellent location, modern facilities and high standard of cleanliness, making it a top choice for various types of travelers. Situated right across from the Porter Square T station, the hotel provides easy access to central Boston and local attractions. Surrounded by a pleasant neighborhood filled with shops, cafes and restaurants, the hotel's location is ideal for exploring the area. The proximity to Harvard and MIT adds an academic charm that visitors find both stimulating and convenient.
The cleanliness and condition of the hotel are frequently highlighted by guests, who note the rooms and common areas are immaculate and well-maintained. Despite their compact size, rooms are efficiently designed with modern fixtures, soundproofing and great water pressure in bathrooms, making them ideal for solo travelers or short stays. Beds, described as very comfortable, contribute significantly to a good night’s sleep with clean and crisp linens.
Porter Square Hotel is also recognized for its exemplary staff. Many guests commend the friendly, helpful and attentive team, including the front desk and housekeeping staff, who contribute to a welcoming atmosphere. This high level of hospitality enhances the overall guest experience.
However, the absence of an on-site breakfast service has been a common point of disappointment. While the hotel does not offer breakfast, guests have found excellent alternatives in the surrounding area, including a French pastry shop and Café Nero. Similarly, the on-site French restaurant, Colette, is highly praised for its exceptional dining experiences, although the dinner and local dining scene nearby also offer diverse options.
Although the WiFi has received mixed reviews, many guests found it to be fast and reliable with some experiencing occasional connectivity issues. The hotel offers convenient on-site valet parking for $28 per night, touted as a stress-free option despite some guests wishing for more upfront clarity regarding parking fees.
For business travelers, Porter Square Hotel presents an excellent choice, providing a quiet environment, a well-equipped business center and easy access to public transportation. The hotel is appreciated for its good value, particularly in comparison to higher-priced options, meeting and exceeding expectations for a typical three-star hotel without extravagant extras.
In summary, Porter Square Hotel has established itself as a reliable and comfortable choice in Cambridge due to its prime location, cleanliness, friendly staff and efficient design, making it suitable for business trips, academic visits or leisurely stays. Show more
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Hotel near Ski Resorts
This hotel offers a comfortable stay and convenient access to transportation, making it a viable option for those wanting to visit ski areas while staying in Cambridge.
Business Hotel
Porter Square Hotel's suites have a separate living area with an additional 48 inch flat-screen Smart TV, comfortable couches or chairs, a desk, and closet. It also offers complementary Wi-Fi. The suites are perfect for business travelers.
Hotel with Parking
Offering on-site valet parking in a dedicated garage, this hotel ensures a convenient parking experience upon arrival and throughout your stay.
3-Star Hotel
The Porter Square Hotel is close to the metro station, providing easy access to Boston. It offers amenities suitable for a comfortable stay and is well-regarded for its location.
Hotel for Honeymoon
Room Types
Petite Double Twin The petite room has two single beds, a private bathroom and a 48-inch Smart TV.
Deluxe Double TwinSlightly larger that the petite room, this deluxe room has 2 twin beds, a private bathroom, a work space and a 48-inch Smart TV.
Deluxe Queen RoomThe Deluxe Queen Room has a queen bed, a private bathroom and a work space with a 48-inch Smart TV.
Queen SuiteThis one-bedroom suite comes with separate living and bedroom areas. The suite has 1 queen bed, a private bathroom, a sofa, a 48-inch smart TV and a closet.
Guest Reviews
8.5
Very Good
Location
Porter Square Hotel in Cambridge boasts an enviable location that has received high praise from numerous guests. Situated right across from the Porter Square T station, the hotel offers seamless access to both central Boston and local attractions, making it an ideal base for exploring the area. The convenience of the Red Line means that Harvard University is just a short walk away and downtown Boston is easily reachable in about 20 minutes by train.
Guests have lauded the neighborhood for its pleasant atmosphere and the abundance of amenities. Porter Square itself is home to various shops, cafes and restaurants, all within walking distance from the hotel. There’s a shopping center directly in front of the property and grocery stores, pharmacies and even an ATM and web shop are nearby. The proximity to both Harvard and MIT adds an academic charm to the area, which visitors find both stimulating and convenient.
The hotel is also noted for its cleanliness and modern facilities, contributing to a comfortable stay. The friendly and helpful staff further enhances the overall experience, making guests feel welcome and well cared for. Despite being located on a busy street, the rooms are reported to be quiet, particularly those facing the back, allowing for a restful sleep.
In summary, Porter Square Hotel's prime location, combined with its excellent services and comfortable amenities, makes it a top choice for travelers seeking both convenience and comfort in Cambridge. Whether visiting for academic purposes, business or leisure, guests consistently find the hotel’s position and surroundings perfectly suited to their needs.
Breakfast
Porter Square Hotel offers a pleasant and modern stay in a great location; however, guests have consistently noted the absence of an on-site breakfast service. Despite the hotel's amenities and prime situation, the lack of breakfast options within the hotel was a common point of disappointment. Previous options, such as a breakfast at Colette's, have not been reintroduced after Covid, leaving guests to seek alternatives outside.
Fortunately, the surrounding area is peppered with a variety of breakfast venues. Guests frequently mention excellent nearby spots such as a French pastry shop and Café Nero, where delicious croissants and coffee are available. Additionally, a large Star Market is just minutes away, providing further convenience.
While the hotel excels in various aspects, reintroducing or adding an in-house breakfast service could significantly enhance the overall guest experience. In the meantime, providing guidance on nearby breakfast options may help fill this gap for future visitors.
Dinner
Porter Square Hotel boasts a culinary scene that has left many guests impressed, particularly with the on-site French restaurant, Colette. This establishment, located conveniently on the ground floor, has been praised for its exceptional dining experiences, featuring dishes like a memorable steak and chips and a standout creme brulee. The restaurant is also noted for being a pleasant spot for an evening drink.
Beyond Colette, guests have appreciated the complimentary water, coffee and tea provided by the hotel, adding a nice touch to their stay. The local dining scene around the hotel is vibrant with several good restaurants, bars and shops within close proximity. Notable mentions include an excellent Asian restaurant called Soup Shack and a must-try Thai restaurant across the street.
Despite some mixed reviews about specific experiences at Colette, the overall sentiment reflects a high quality of food and service. The neighborhood offers a variety of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, ensuring guests have plenty of choices during their stay. Additionally, the popular restaurant in the lobby and the nearby diner, Andy's, enhance the hotel's appeal to food enthusiasts.
Rooms
At the Porter Square Hotel, guests have consistently highlighted the exceptional cleanliness and comfort of the rooms. Despite being compact, the rooms are praised for their efficient and modern design, making optimal use of space. Many visitors found them perfect for solo travelers or short stays, appreciating the quiet ambiance and the soundproofing from street noise. The bathrooms, although small, are well-equipped with modern fixtures and have great water pressure in the showers.
Some challenges noted include the limited room size with certain rooms described as extremely small, affecting comfort for longer stays or for those sharing with another person. Additionally, the lack of amenities like fridges, microwaves and sufficient closet space was mentioned, although fridges can be requested. Housekeeping services are also not daily unless specifically asked for.
Overall, the hotel offers a clean, comfortable and efficiently designed stay with a great location, ideal for business trips or short-term visits, but might feel a bit cramped for extended stays or for those looking for more spacious accommodations.
Beds
Porter Square Hotel's beds have garnered a reputation for being notably comfortable with many guests praising them as very comfortable, comfy and super comfy. The mattresses are frequently described as excellent, new and supportive, contributing significantly to a good night's sleep. Cleanliness and hygiene are also highlighted with numerous mentions of clean beds and comfortable, crisp linens. While some reviewers noted minor issues such as the beds being a bit too hard or too soft, overall, the positive feedback overwhelmingly outweighs the negatives. However, there were comments about the beds being tiny or small in size and some guests also mentioned scratchy bedding. Despite these few concerns, the general consensus is that the beds at Porter Square Hotel are a major plus, enhancing the overall comfort of the stay.
Cleanliness
Porter Square Hotel is widely praised for its outstanding cleanliness with many guests highlighting the immaculate condition of both guest rooms and common areas. Reviews consistently note the hotel as being extremely clean, tidy and well-maintained. Guests found the rooms to be clean, modern and comfortable, despite their small size. The cleanliness of the rooms is described as perfect with spotless and pristine conditions that make for a very comfortable stay.
The rooms boast a modern and sleek design, contributing to a sense of freshness and newness. Additionally, many visitors mentioned the hotel has a pleasant, clean air, adding to the overall comfortable experience. The property is described as bright and modern with a cozy ambiance that guests appreciate.
The hotel's location is another positive aspect, as it is conveniently situated for transport, making it easy to access key areas such as Harvard, MIT and downtown Boston via the Red Line subway. Guests also appreciated the friendly and helpful staff, adding to the satisfaction of their stay.
Overall, Porter Square Hotel stands out for maintaining exceptional cleanliness standards, making it a reliable and comfortable choice for travelers seeking a neat and modern environment.
Staff
Porter Square Hotel has garnered significant acclaim for its exemplary staff. Guests repeatedly highlight the staff's friendliness, helpfulness and attentiveness throughout their stays. The front desk team is often noted for being exceptionally welcoming, responsive and accommodating, ensuring a seamless check-in process and consistent customer service. Housekeeping staff also receive praise for their efficiency and promptness, especially in addressing specific requests such as organizing a mini fridge or providing extra blankets.
Many guests point out the professionalism and courtesy exhibited by all hotel employees, contributing to an inviting and comfortable atmosphere. The staff's readiness to assist, coupled with their approachable and kind demeanor, makes interactions enjoyable and stress-free. Travelers appreciate how the staff often goes the extra mile with special mentions for their support in retrieving lost items, exceptional valets and commendable housekeeping.
The positive interactions extend beyond mere professionalism; some guests feel as though they've made new friends during their stay. This unique blend of friendliness and competence helps make the Porter Square Hotel an appealing choice for visitors with staff frequently described as one of the hotel's standout features. The high level of hospitality and service remains a consistent theme, reinforcing the hotel's reputation as a welcoming and efficiently run establishment.
Wi-Fi
Porter Square Hotel receives mixed feedback on its WiFi with a significant number of guests praising its performance. Reports describe the WiFi as fast with quick internet speeds and good overall connectivity. Many guests found the WiFi to work well, perfectly even, contributing positively to their stay. However, some visitors experienced problems, citing bad or very bad WiFi connections and instances where the internet was not working despite being connected. There were also mentions of the WiFi being challenging or needing to be faster and more stable. Overall, while the WiFi generally garners positive remarks, there are occasional lapses in performance.
Parking
The Porter Square Hotel offers convenient on-site valet parking for $28 per night, which many guests find to be a reasonable and stress-free option. The valet service from the lobby is well-organized and quick, allowing easy and swift car drop-off and pick-up. Some reviewers appreciated the straightforward and visible nature of the valet service, which simplified their stay. The inclusion of on-site parking is a definite plus, as it allows guests to pick up their car after check-out to enjoy their day in the city.
However, some visitors were disappointed by the lack of clarity regarding the parking fees and wished these charges were disclosed upfront. A few also felt that the $28 nightly fee was too high and suggested the hotel might benefit from offering a self-parking option or utilizing nearby spaces for free parking. Despite the critique on cost and transparency, the overall sentiment points toward a positive experience with the hotel's parking services.
3 Star
Porter Square Hotel in Cambridge offers incredible value, standing out among similar nearby properties. Visitors have found it to be an excellent choice, describing the hotel as very nice and praising it for good value for money. Despite its three-star rating, the hotel has been appreciated for providing a fair price and maintaining good quality, making it one of the better-priced options in the area.
The hotel is conveniently located, clean and well-managed with polite and helpful staff. Many guests felt that the hotel delivers a solid three-star experience, consistent with their expectations for such a rating. It offers standard 3-star amenities and comforts and while it may not have luxury features like a gym or spa, it compensates with its cost-effectiveness and overall quality.
Though some reviews mentioned that it was slightly expensive for its offerings, many visitors found it to be a cost-effective choice, particularly in comparison to other higher-priced options. It's described as a good mid-range hotel, well-equipped for its category and an average yet satisfactory choice for those looking for basic accommodations.
Overall, guests were pleased with their stays, noting that while it may not offer extravagant extras, it meets and exceeds the expectations of a typical three-star hotel. The affordability and quality make it a recommended option for those seeking comfortable, no-frills accommodations in Cambridge.
Business
Porter Square Hotel offers excellent facilities and services tailored for business travelers. The business center in the basement receives high praise, offering an efficient work environment and comprehensive facilities, including free access for printing tickets swiftly. The hotel is ideally located in a business-friendly area with well-connected public transport, making commuting to the city center quick and convenient. Guests commend the quiet location, conducive for both work and rest. The value for money is notable with guests appreciating the overall cleanliness and well-maintained surroundings. Additionally, the hotel strikes a balance between business and leisure, making it a pleasant stay for those combining work and pleasure. Overall, Porter Square Hotel provides a reliable and cost-effective choice for business stays.
No, Porter Square Hotel doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Porter Square Hotel.
No, Porter Square Hotel doesn't allow dogs.
Yes, parking facilities are available at Porter Square Hotel.