The Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common

This plush, ultramodern hotel is a magnet for visiting celebrities -- the state-of-the-art Sports Club/LA is a powerful draw -- as well as the Ritz-Carlton brand. Let's just say that you don't have to be a movie star for the staff here to treat you like one. The luxurious hotel's guest rooms occupy the 9th through 12th floors of a building a half-block from Boston Common; public spaces are at street level. The good-size guest rooms and huge suites feel more residential than commercial, with indulgent amenities such as Frette linens, feather duvets, and three phones (one in the large bathroom). You'll pay more for a room with a view of the Common. The hotel's chief rivals, the Four Seasons and the Mandarin Oriental, are in the prettier, more interesting Back Bay.

Facilities:
Restaurant; bar; lounge; babysitting; concierge; club-level rooms; access ($15/day) to adjoining Sports Club/LA (100,000-sq.-ft. facility w/lap pool, complete spa services, salon, regulation basketball court, 10,000-sq.-ft. weight room, steam rooms, saunas, 5 exercise studios, 4 squash courts); room service

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.