Hyatt Place Boston Seaport, in Boston’s newest neighborhood
When I moved out of Boston in 2003, there was no such thing as the “Seaport District.” Yes, there was an area of industrial buildings and dilapidated fishing wharves across the channel from downtown, but not a lot of reasons to draw visitors over the bridges.
Yet in the intervening years, the city redeveloped this waterfront community that’s now home to the attractions like the striking Institute of Contemporary Art and a rebuilt Boston Children’s Museum, lots of restaurants and cafes, high-rise office and residential buildings, and several hotels, including the Hyatt Place Boston Seaport, a 12-story tower at the district’s eastern end.
While exploring the still-evolving Seaport District on a recent trip back to Massachusetts’ largest city, I stayed at this mid-range chain lodging. Here’s the scoop:
Lobby lounge, Hyatt Place Boston Seaport
Hyatt Place Boston Seaport
Like many things in the Seaport District, the Hyatt Place Boston Seaport feels brand new. At this contemporary 12-story lodging, which opened in the fall of 2020 opposite the waterfront on Northern Avenue, staff greet guests at the reception desk in the airy open lobby, one floor up from the street level. The lobby is designed for hanging out, with a large lounge area, a cafe with additional seating, and the breakfast area, where a buffet is set up each morning.
Walls of windows throughout this level look out toward the semi-industrial waterfront, and in warm weather, you could have your breakfast outdoors on the terrace. Breakfast is ample, with the standard chain spread of yogurt, fruit, breads, oatmeal, eggs, a breakfast meat, and potatoes. Guests can also pour their own from urns or coffee, decaf, and hot water for tea.
The 12th-floor Lighthouse Lounge at the Hyatt Place Boston Seaport
Though many guests seem to congregate in the lobby, the hotel has another space for relaxing — the window-lined 12th floor Lighthouse lounge, with expansive views across the Seaport District. Also on this level is the fitness room and a small guest laundry.
Standard king guest room
Guest Rooms and Amenities
My king room with a sofa that could accommodate another person was spacious, with a comfortable bed, ample work desk, and modern bathroom. Other amenities include a refrigerator and one-cup coffeemaker, along with fast, free Wi-Fi. My one space-related quibble is that the closet is quite small without enough room to set up a luggage rack inside.
Among the 297 rooms, other configurations come with two queen beds, a king bed plus kitchenette, or a one-bedroom suite with a separate sitting area. The hotel offers “fitness room” options as well, with either a stationary bike or an elliptical trainer in your guest room.
A touch of Boston local color
Transportation Options
Explore Boston without a car if you can. It’s a very walkable city, and the MBTA, the regional public transit system, can take you around the city. Valet parking at the Hyatt Place Boston Seaport will add $56 to your nightly bill.
If you’re arriving at Boston’s Logan Airport, you can take the MBTA’s convenient Silver Line rapid buses to the Seaport District. The Silver Line Way stop is less than five minutes’ walk from the Hyatt Place entrance. The Silver Line can also take you to and from South Station, where you can connect to Amtrak trains, long-distance buses, and the Red Line subway that transports you through downtown, to Cambridge, and to communities south of the city.
Rates
Like most Boston hotels, double room rates at the Hyatt Place Boston Seaport vary significantly with the seasons. My favorite Boston season has always been the autumn, when the days are crisp and the leaves turn brilliant colors. If you’re willing to brave the Boston winters — when most of the city’s cultural attractions and restaurants are open and far less crowded than during the peak summer and fall months — you can find rates at this Seaport hotel as low as $133 per night, including a buffet breakfast. Just bring your warmest coat, boots, hat, and mittens. You can also compare rates and make your reservation with a hotel booking site such as Expedia or Hotels.com.
While I’ve been away from Boston for many years, it’s exciting to see how it’s evolved, including this new downtown district — with new accommodations — on the city’s waterfront.
Hotel feature by Vancouver-based travel, food, and feature writer Carolyn B. Heller. Photos © Carolyn B. Heller. I booked my own accommodations in Boston, while doing research for several writing assignments.
