The author was a guest of InterContinental Boston. All opinions are the author’s own, and neither InterContinental Boston nor its parent company had any input in any part of this review.
I’m pretty familiar with hotels and the hospitality scene in Boston.
After college, I spent years working at arguably the most famous hotel in Boston. During that time, I visited almost every luxury hotel in town. But that was 20 years ago, right when the InterContinental Boston opened its doors for the first time, and a lot has changed since then. I usually stay with family in the Boston area, so it’s rare that I get to stay at a hotel in town.
While many see the InterContinental Boston as a conference hotel, I found it an excellent family destination and a great launching point for a Boston visit.
Here are some things I learned after my 2-night August 2026 stay with my family of 4.
1. It’s a Great Use of IHG One Rewards Free Night Certificates
The InterContinental Boston is part of the IHG One Rewards program, which means you can earn and redeem points for stays.
Despite being a popular, high-end hotel in an expensive city, I was surprised by how many relatively affordable award nights were available during the peak summer travel season. While there were certainly some expensive nights on the calendar, I found multiple nights for as low as 44,000 IHG One Rewards points per night during summer and fall weekends. Rates were even lower in the winter.
That means if you have the The New IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card in your wallet, you can use your annual free night certificate and top off just 4,000 points for a stay — exactly what I did for an upcoming 1-night stay in October.
It’s a great redemption with rates starting around $360 per night.
2. The Location Is Unbeatable
Boston is a very walkable city (well, maybe not in the winter), and the InterContinental is a well located hotel, especially considering the direction the city is growing.
The waterfront InterContinental Boston sits in the middle of Atlantic Avenue, straddling the edge of both new and old Boston. The hotel is just minutes away from Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall, the North End, Beacon Hill, and the Boston Common — classic Boston.
Head out the back of the hotel and cross the bridge to the Seaport District, Boston’s fastest-growing neighborhood, full of shopping, dining, and entertainment.
With plenty of public transportation options (bus, subway, and water taxi), getting to and from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) is cheap and easy. Ride-sharing is likely to be faster, but almost cost more.
3. The Rooms Are Updated
When the InterContinental Boston opened in 2006, it was one of the nicest (and obviously newest) hotels in a town with a lot of the same old players. Fast forward 20 years, and the Boston hotel scene has changed a lot, which means more competition and more modern rooms to compete with.
With relatively large rooms and sweeping city and water views, the InterContinental Boston already had good bones. A 2022 renovation brought it up to today’s standards, though some relics remain.
The 2 Queen Water View room we were assigned is listed online at 480 square feet, but ours felt larger thanks to a long entryway and plenty of empty wall space that could have easily fit a small sofa.
The 2 beds were very comfortable, especially paired with the down pillows and high threadcount sheets. With the blackout curtains drawn and the air conditioning blasting, my family and I enjoyed some much-needed rest.
The room was pretty standard, helped by an incredible view of the harbor and Seaport District, which shone day and night. The large desk was especially useful as I needed to get some work done during our quick visit. With plenty of outlets by the desk (and bed), we had no problem keeping our devices charged.
On that note, one of the items that seemingly didn’t get refreshed as part of the renovation was the bedside alarm clock, which featured a charger for an iPhone 4S, a phone released in 2010.
The bathroom also kept its early-2000s design with dark wood and a marble sink and vanity area. But it was large and functional, so we had no complaints.
4. The Food Was Top-Notch
The InterContinental Boston has 1 main restaurant and 3 bars that are open to the public, plus a lounge and room service for guests.
During our stay, my family and I ate at Matria, the Northern Italian restaurant that specializes in steaks and homemade pasta. With live music, indoor and outdoor seating, and an impressive wine list, we had some of our favorite meals in recent memory there.
I’m a sucker for a good New York strip, and my wife and daughter loved the pasta options. Fortunately, they had sliders and fries for my son, who is apparently a french fry connoisseur.
On our final night, we went for a walk around the neighborhood (to digest) and then had s’mores for dessert at the fire pits on the back patio. It was an absolutely delightful way to end our quick visit.
5. It Had a Resort-Like Feel
Despite being in the middle of the city, the InterContinental Boston gave off some strong resort vibes. Over the course of 2 and a half days, my family and I did our best to test out every amenity on the property. For a city hotel, there was a lot to do.
We started each morning at Club InterContinental, a lounge on the top floor for guests to enjoy breakfast, snacks throughout the day, and an evening happy hour. In my experience, lounges are rare in Boston, so this was a treat.
Lounge access is included with room and suite selections, or you can add Club InterContinental access at booking. Access is complimentary for IHG Royal Ambassadors.
In the afternoon, we had a pick of activities, whether that was a workout in the gym, a few laps in the pool (also rare in Boston), some lawn games by the water, or even a golf simulator. Except for the gym, I can’t think of any other hotel in town that can offer all of those amenities.
Plus, there was a spa, but we didn’t have enough time to sneak away for a treatment.
Bottom Line:
The InterContinental Boston offers a lot and is a great option for families visiting the city.
Final Thoughts
The InterContinental Boston surprised me. I went in with relatively high expectations for an upscale hotel in an expensive city, and they were exceeded. Perhaps my own preconceived notions of it being a conference-focused hotel made me think this wasn’t an ideal spot for families, but that turned out to be exactly the opposite.
A top-tier location, pool, lounge, and a picturesque lawn overlooking the water made this stay a highlight for my family. So much so that I’ve already booked my return using IHG One Rewards points.
Add on some great meals and service from the staff, and I can easily recommend this hotel to friends and family.