Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor: Bottom Line Review

In January, I had a couple of one-night stays in Boston that needed to be fairly close to Logan Airport. There were a couple of Hyatt properties that I had never been to and wanted to check out. I stopped at the Hyatt Place Boston Seaport first and had a lovely stay, very impressed with the new-ish property. For the second, I spent a night at the Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor, perched in a scenic location right across the harbor from downtown Boston.

Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor Bottom Line Review

I really enjoyed my stay at the Hyatt Regency (HR) Boston Harbor. It’s a bit of a stripped-down HR: there’s no pool and there’s really only one food and beverage option. Like many other HR’s, it’s starting to show its age and could do with a bit of renovation. However, it’s incredibly convenient to Logan Airport and close enough to downtown Boston to make it doable for an afternoon or evening. The smaller size makes it feel quieter and more laid-back than many of its convention-centered brethren around the US. Best of all, there’s non-stop views of the harbor and skyline throughout the hotel and its grounds.

• Price: A Hyatt Category 4, 12K/15K/18K points off-peak/peak/standard or bookable with a category 4 free night certificate. Cash prices range from $150-400/night throughout the year, averaging ~$200-300.
• Value: Varies quite a bit as an award value. Often, it’s right around our Reasonable Redemption Value for Hyatt Points of 2.1 cents each, but it can get much worse, especially in low season. When I was there, it was $130 or 15,000 points. I chose to pay cash and use a $50 credit from my Hyatt Business Card.
• Location: Very good…depending on what you’re looking for. Very convenient to the airport; there’s a free shuttle that runs every 15-30 minutes and stops at every terminal. From here to downtown Boston, there’s several options that are all relatively convenient. The Logan Airport Ferry Terminal is right in front of the hotel and is served by the Hingham/Hall Ferry 7x/day at $9.75 each way. It’s also served seasonally by Boston Water Taxi on-demand for $20 each way. Both can get you to Downtown Boston in about 10 minutes. The hotel shuttle will also drop you off at the MBTA Blue Line (or you can take the free bus #66 from the Ferry Terminal). From there, it’s a short ride to/from downtown. You can also take an Uber/Taxi/Lyft, of course. All that to say, it’s not the most inconvenient location in the world to get downtown, but there’s probably better options if your only goal is to explore Boston for several days.
• Room: I was upgraded to a ~750 sq ft Harbor View One Bedroom Suite with lovely views of Boston Harbor and the skyline. The suite is spread over two standard rooms (you have separate keys for each door), with one room just containing the couch, dining table, tv, etc. Like many older Regencies, it was a bit worn, but the marvelous view and excellent soundproofing more than made up for it. Most harbor view rooms should have similarly stellar views.
• Parking: Self-parking is $46/night+tax.
• Resort/Destination Fee: $25, including tax. It “includes” the usual stuff like internet access, bottled water and fitness center as well as a $20 F&B credit. Waived for Globalists and on award stays.
• Internet: Very good, able to stream throughout the hotel.
• Service: Efficient, if unexceptional.
• Turndown service: None that I was aware of.
• Dining:
  • Harborside Grill: Primary restaurant off the lobby with fantastic harbor views. Serving breakfast from 6:30-10:30am and /dinner from 5pm-10:00pm. There is no lunch service within the hotel.
  • Midships Bar: Effectively just the bar on the side of the restaurant. When weather permits, this spills out onto the massive harbor-side patio in the back of the hotel, complete with firepits, adirondacks and stellar views. In January, when I was there, it wasn’t terribly appealing. In-season, I imagine it would be sublime. 5pm-11pm daily.
• Spa: None. No pool.
• Fitness Room: There’s a modest fitness area on the ground floor with enough resistance equipment for a truncated circuit workout. The usual array of cardio options are there as well: ellipticals, treadmills and a stationary bike.
• Hyatt Globalist Benefits: 
  • Suite Upgrade: I booked a standard room and was proactively upgraded to a one bedroom suite with great views of the skyline and Boston Harbor. Overall, furnishings and interior were in good shape, if somewhat worn.
  • Free Breakfast: Served in Harborside Grill. The lobster benedict that I had was quite tasty and I spent a delightful couple of hours working by the windows.
  • Late Checkout: Automatically given 4pm.
  • Parking: Self parking is free on award stays (no valet).
• Would I stay again?  Yes, if it corresponded with what I needed for the stay. I’d probably choose something on the other side of the Harbor if I was there to spend several days exploring the city.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Great location relative to Logan Airport. Relatively convenient to get downtown.
• It’s hard to escape the great Boston Harbor views.
• Nice-sized rooms.
• In-season, outdoor patio bar would be lovely.
• Feels smaller (270 rooms) and calmer than many other Hyatt Regencies.

Cons

• If doing extensive sightseeing in Boston, getting back and forth from the hotel could be irritating.
• No pool or club lounge.
• Restaurant options within walking distance aren’t particularly compelling.

Image Gallery

Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor One Bedroom Suite

Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor Harborside Grill and Midships Bar

Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor Fitness Area

Want to learn more about miles and points? Subscribe to email updates or check out our podcast on your favorite podcast platform.