Having finished up a site visit in Hudson, Massachusetts for work, I decided to extend my stay in Boston through the weekend. Initially I had been looking for airbnb apartments for rent, but had stumbled on a very attractive booking through the AirBn app for a stay in a boutique hotel. Due to COVID’s impact on tourism, the rooms at StayPineapple - A Delightful Hotel were comparable in price point to apartments for rent in the neighborhoods I’d wanted to stay in - so I thought it would be a nice change of pace as my only major trip of the year. Hotel is in a retrofitted 19th century building, presumably an office or tenement tower. And quite fitting of the Staypineapple brand, which typically occupies buildings that have been adaptively reused. As a brand, you can count on a boutique experience, with upper tier amenities in the heart of your destination - with a cheeky and playful touch. Located on the south end of Boston’s Back Bay Neighborhood, it is walking distance from amazing food options & surrounded by a beautifully preserved historical neighborhood. It was an incredibly walkable area, with charming brick buildings & plenty of interesting storefronts. Restaurant options within a 15 minute walking distance abound, and because of proximity to the Back Bay MBTA Station the rest of the city is also conveniently accessible. I spent most of my weekend walking around the neighborhood - using my feet as opposed to public transit in order to get a feel for the city as I visited points of interest. I had the chance to see everything between Boston City Hall and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, as well as a walk through MIT’s Campus. Booking As mentioned above, I booked through Airbnb - and I didnt have a sugar daddy at the moment so it was paid out of my own pocket. I used my CitiBank thankyou Preferred Card - through which I earned 1x points for every dollar I’d spent on the booking. With 3 nights at a rate of $169 a night, I earned around 580 Citi ThankYou Points. Airbnb also charged an additional $50 fee for cleaning & amenities. Arrival, Check In & Lobby I dropped off a rental car near the airport and took a train to the Back Bay metro station. The walk from the station to the hotel was incredibly convenient & quick, and barely a block away. Check in was quick and easy.There were no noticeable changes due to COVID, other than the hotel restaurant being closed & face masks being required. Every hotel room had a sticker to confirm that it was cleaned & disinfected before arrival.
The lobby was sparse and small, but inviting & fairly unintimidating. To the left of the lobby was the elevator bay, and to the right an entrance into the hotel bar/restaurant. At the far side from the door a mirror wall backs a fairly small & sparse reception Island, barely bigger than a cafe table. The overall interior scheme was fairly subdued - not really giving any hints about the campy decor waiting for you in the guestrooms.
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