I’ve stayed at Raffles Boston several times now, and the truth is unavoidable: this hotel is Raffles in branding only. Behind the marble and scripted greetings lies a cheap, hollow imitation of luxury — one that fails spectacularly at every level that defines the Raffles legacy.
The Butler — A Concept on Life Support
At nearly $1,200 a night, the butler service should be the crown jewel of the stay. Yet here, it’s a nonexistent concept. Across multiple visits, no one has ever explained what the butler actually does — no offer of tea or coffee, no unpacking or packing service, no proactive assistance at all. If you didn’t already know Raffles was supposed to include these things, you’d assume “butler” was just a fancy word for “front desk associate.”
Compare that to Raffles Singapore, where butlers deliver fresh coffee or tea each morning, run your bath with essential oils, and anticipate your preferences before you even think to ask. Or Raffles London, where your butler personally welcomes you to your suite, offers garment pressing, and leaves daily treats tailored to your tastes.
In Boston? You get a polite hello — and that’s where it ends.
Cheaply Equipped Rooms
For a hotel claiming ultra-luxury status, the lack of in-room amenities is shocking.
Need a razor, dental kit, or comb? Call down, wait, and prepare to receive the cheapest possible off-brand items: a two-blade plastic razor, a single-use toothpaste tube, and a puck of soap that feels like sandpaper. There are no bath salts, no steamer or iron, and no complimentary pressing, despite the absence of an iron in the room.
Even the towels are thin and scratchy, more budget-chain than luxury brand. The bedding, while comfortable, lacks the feather topper or sumptuous padding you’d expect at this level — meaning you’re sleeping on a nice mattress, not an indulgent one.
Turndown service? Ice is delivered (thank you), but slippers, bath mats, and thoughtful touches are inconsistently placed or simply forgotten.
No Amenities, No Inclusions — Nothing for the Price
What truly exposes Raffles Boston’s lack of substance is how cheaply they operate relative to the competition.
At the Four Seasons Boston Common, guests enjoy:
• Complimentary coffee and espresso every morning in the lobby
• A snack room on every guest floor with unlimited snacks, soft drinks, and candy
• A daily cocktail hour featuring complimentary wine, beer, and small bites
These are the kinds of inclusive gestures that make a $1,000+ hotel feel worth it. Raffles Boston offers none of this. No complimentary beverage, no afternoon treat, no sense of welcome beyond your room key and a half-hearted smile.
If you didn’t already know about the mythical “butler service,” you’d be paying a fortune to stay in what might as well be a stripped-down business hotel.
Undertrained Staff, Overpriced Product
The staff, to their credit, are warm and well-meaning — but they are not trained or empowered to deliver five-star service. HVAC systems failed in two separate suites across my stays, resulting in a room move without apology or service recovery. That’s not “Raffles standard”; that’s poor leadership.
And that’s where the real problem lies: the General Manager. The GM at Raffles Boston simply does not have the pedigree or the understanding of what a true luxury hotel experience entails. You can’t market Raffles-level glamour while operating at mid-tier Fairmont efficiency.
Final Verdict
Raffles Boston has beautiful bones but an empty soul. It’s an exercise in style over substance — a luxury shell with no generosity, no warmth, and no sense of occasion.
Until this property replaces its leadership and redefines what “service” actually means, it will remain what it currently is:
A cheaply run hotel hiding behind an expensive nameplate.
