Boston
Ok, I read thod post again ... and
I'll be traveling to the city next month and wanted to ask what some of the best hotels in downtown are? I have always wanted to stay at a higher end hotel with a big bathroom with water tiles, etc. I'm sure someone here can lead me in the right direction.
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I just tried to check current hotel ratings and Boston is now loaded with 5-star hotels, with ratings from all sorts of agencies. At this point, I have no idea what all those stars mean anymore. Some hotels' web sites make a big deal with photo and video walk throughs of their rooms and facilities.
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If you come to Boston, always wear eye protection and watch out for the stars!
Re: I've got stars in my eyes
The more stars a hotel has the more amenities they provide.
I think things used to be different, when the "independent" rating guides took into consideration all sorts of other things, like ambiance. I remember a story in the Globe in the 1990s lamenting that Boston only had two 5-star hotels (and, briefly, just one). (Is it the Michelin Guide that used to be the #1 rating guide? They actually sent their professional hotel rating staff to stay at the hotels and rate their experiences.) The more stars a hotel has the more amenities they provide.
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Nowadays, the numerous rating groups are also the advertising groups (expedia, etc.) and they'll get more ad $s if they give a hotel more stars:
indoor plumbing *
shared bathroom on each floor **
private bathroom in each room ***
... toilet flushes, most of the time ****
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wi-fi *
free wi-fi **
free wi-fi with a signal that actually works ***
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The cost of many things has gone down. A swimming pool used to be a luxury. Today, it's the norm. (Properly maintained swimming pool, add another star.)
If I'm booking a room for an hour or so of fun and plan to leave in the early morning then I don't need to pay for an indoor pool, onsite restaurant, 24 hour room service, etc. that I won't be using.
I'm an incall kind of guy, so I don't need to use the health club, 60" TV, pool, or shoe shine service, either. I want a clean room, clean towels, ... and a working elevator. 
