The Taj Boston in Boston, Massachusetts, built in 1927, is a luxurious oasis that overlooks the Public Gardens and fashionable Newbury Street, which Bostonians refer to as the "Rodeo Drive" of Boston, as the street is lined with prestigious shops.

Autumn in New England is the inspiration of poets, writers, and filmmakers, and staying at the Taj Boston in October 2008 when the leaves on the trees were beginning their metamorphosis from green to dramatic shades of crimson, gold, and burnt sienna, was a magical experience.

Edward F. Nesta and I stayed in a corner suite at the stunning Taj Boston, a grand dame 273-room (45 are suites) hotel where we were royally pampered and felt like we were ready to move in once we entered the foyer which lead to a two room suite. White intricate crown moldings added appeal to the celadon walls and the windows were dressed with floor-to-ceiling yellow silk damask window treatments and ivory sheers. A sparkling crystal chandelier hung over the dining room table flanked by four chairs upholstered with yellow and green striped fabric, a china cabinet graced one wall, a Philips television with DVD/CD player and mini-bar were discretely hidden in a wood cabinet. In the sitting area, there was a peach and lemon silk sofa accessorized with decorative pillows flanked by marble side tables with tall table lamps, a celadon green patterned arm chair, marble coffee table with an inviting selection of magazines, and a wood magazine rack held a selection of books on Boston. In the corner of the room, there was a large desk and chair. The focal point of the room though, was the white marble fireplace where an antique lithograph of Faneuil Hall, Boston hung over the white mantel adorned with decorative china. There were even instructions to contact the Fireplace Butler if we wished to enjoy the ambience of a fire. However, since the temperatures were in the high 60s to low 70s during our stay, this was not a feature that we experienced, but could imagine how cozy and romantic it would be on a cold winter night.

The bedroom featured a king bed with an inlaid wood headboard, with the bed dressed with Frette linens, lemon yellow and cream coverlet with matching decorative pillows, and a celadon bedskirt. Nightstands with white marble and brass table lamps flanked the bed, and an armoire held a Philips television.

There were ample closets in the foyer and in the bedroom, and included a safe, ironing board and iron, umbrellas, slippers, and instead of terry robes, there were soft chenille robes that felt like wearing your favorite sweater.

Traveling around the world as we do, it is often hard to find the right pillow when staying at a hotel, however, with the Taj Boston's Sweet Dreams Pillow Menu featuring six types of pillows, including an anti-snoring pillow, we felt like Goldilocks as we experienced several of the pillows until we found our perfect match. It is often the smallest details that a hotel goes to that make the experience that much better for the guest, and the Taj Boston knows exactly how to do that.

The beige marble bath was directly off the bedroom and featured a wide selection of Moulton-Brown amenities, ring holder, hair dryer, scale, vanity mirror, combination soaking tub/shower, and a Bath Menu. Whenever I see a Bath Menu at a hotel, my mind always conjures up images from old movies where the butler is seen drawing a bath. There is something so appealing and pampering about having a bath drawn especially when it includes champagne, strawberries, rose petals, candles, and music (the Taj's Simply Romantic bath), which is just one of their indulgent baths from the Bath Menu.

The Café

During our stay, we had an elegant dinner at The Café, their gourmet restaurant where Executive Chef Franck Steigerwald has created an exciting menu of French, New England favorites, and with a nod to the Taj, Indian specialties. A few of the delicious selections that we experienced included Lump Crab Cake, Oysters Gratinées, and Lamb Roganjosh.

In addition to The Café, the hotel also has The Lounge where guests may enjoy traditional Afternoon Tea, and The Bar where we enjoyed meeting in the early evening for cocktails in an intimate ambience with live piano music beginning at 6:00 pm.

We also enjoyed the Taj Club located on the 15^th floor of the hotel where we experienced personalized service in a gracious ambience that featured sparkling crystal chandeliers, lemon silk walls, ornate gold mirrors, intimate seating areas, tables for two accessorized with fresh flowers overlooking the Public Garden, and a Bar in the corner of the room. The Taj Club offers five complimentary food presentations daily: Continental Breakfast; Midday Snack where a few of the selections included lobster rolls, sushi, salads, lovely desserts and chocolate dipped strawberries; traditional Afternoon Tea beautifully presented on a tiered silver tray; Cocktails and Hors d'oeuvres; and Evening Chocolates and Cordials.

Taj Club

Overlooking the Public Gardens, we were enthralled with the view from the Taj Club, as we watched the autumn kissed leaves changing in intensity of color with each passing day of our stay, where the view included weeping willow trees sweeping poetically to almost touch the water, and a mélange of historical buildings and contemporary skyscrapers dotting the landscape.

Other hotel amenities include a Health and Fitness Center, and a Business Center. The hotel is pet friendly and when I was looking at the Room Service Menu found a very interesting Pet Menu for Felines and Canines where a few of the tasty entrees included Puréed Seared Scallops and Shrimp with White Rice, Grilled Ground Beef with White Rice, and even Warm Milk and Biscuits.

The Taj Boston truly goes the extra mile to ensure guest satisfaction from its professional and courteous staff, to the extra amenities, that when combined with its convenient location, makes it a perfect oasis in Boston.

Read about the Taj Boston and The Café in the Restaurants and Chefs' Recipes sections.

Taj Boston
15 Arlington Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02116, United States
Telephone:    +1-617-536-5700
Toll-Free:       1-877-482-5267 (Within United States)
Fax:               +1-617-536-1335
Email:             This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.TajHotels.com

Read other articles on Boston in the Destinations, Restaurants, and Chefs' Recipes sections.

For information and upcoming events taking place in Boston, please visit the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau website: www.BostonUSAcom.

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