Omni Parker House Hotel

The experience began with a 15 minute wait in line to check in.

As I got to my floor and began walking to the room, the hallways struck me as looking more like a dreary, unclean, low-rent apartment house.

As I got to my room, I entered my key...nothing.

I lugged everything back and got another key.

Finally getting into my room, I look out the window on the 4th floor to find 5-gallon buckets and other assorted litter decorating the scaffolding that covers the entire facade.

I order room service - expensive, but fast, friendly and good.

Later I decide to iron my clothes for the next day's meetings. The iron would not heat.

Noises all night - the outside sounds in a city, I am used to. It was the noise inside - doors shutting could be heard from down the hall. There was a space of about 1" under the door that let the light and noise in. The AC unit gave a nice metallic shriek every time it started.

At 6:45 the next morning, the construction elevator that was attached to the scaffolding just outside my window fired up.

The next morning, it wasn't the elevator waking me, it was the maintenance person hammering something on the wall down the hall at 7:00.

I realize that this is an old building, but it in no way whatsoever lives up to its hype, and the people running it don't seem to be in tune with the experience guests are having. It is in need of a renovation like Rosie O'Donnell needs makeup.

Yes, the rooms aren't huge, but they have been (obviously) recently renovated, have everything you need, and are luxurious and very comfortable. You cannot beat the location, and the staff was not only very friendly but each one we encountered DID go the extra mile. Any traveler who has spent any time in the center of an older city (the rooms ARE smaller, because the hotel buildings ARE old -- and beautifully historic!!) will absolutely find this to be an ideal hotel. As for expensive, we had to visit with only 3 days notice, and the price we paid was very reasonable, inexpensive even!! Oh, and room service is exactly on par, price-wise, with any other hotel in this class, but the Parker House's room service menu was designed by an Argentinian chef, is very creative, and everything we tried was very good (not just by room service standards...).

The Parker House rides on the coat-tails of the Kennedy 'Dynasty.' The Lobby is beautiful, the staff wonderful, but if you're looking for comfortable rooms and spacious bathrooms, this ISN'T the place. The room service is exceptionally over-priced considering something was forgotten with each order I placed (I mean basics, like silverware...). The upstairs corridors are outdated and dingy. What this hotel does have going for it is location, a GREAT concierge, and a small coffee shop in the lobby.

Sadly, this historic hotel is operating on its past reputation for greatness rather than striving for current high performance. The room carpets are in desperate need of washing and there are scrapes down the hallways from the bellman's luggage carts. The rooms can me horribly small and you have to special request the size of room and the type of bathroom you want (tub vs shower). The food in the restaurants is greatly overpriced and inconsistent. I ordered the same breakfast 2 days in a row and received DRAMATICALLY different portion sizes. They also chose to close 2 restaurants to the public in order to hold weddings... instead of using their usual banquet rooms. I think the staff is incredibly nice as people - but they don't go the extra mile in job performance unless you are watching.

My room was small, but classy. The ceilings were high and it had been updated recently. The shower needed a longer curtain so water didn't splash out, but it was comfortable. The bed linens were amazing, and I slept very well there. The staff was attentive and helpful, including the knowledgeable concierge staff. The hotel is located close to several T stations, great shopping, dining, and history. If you don't have a car, don't worry - you'll be able to get where you need to go!