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  5. Reviews of The Charles Hotel in Harvard Square

Reviews of The Charles Hotel in Harvard Square This rating is a reflection of how the property compares to the industry standard when it comes to price, facilities and services available. It's based on a self-evaluation by the property. Use this rating to help choose your stay!

1 Bennett Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States

#6 of 21 hotels in Cambridge

Guests' Choice

Review Score

Based on 270 hotel reviews

8.7

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    9.1

  • Comfort

    9.2

  • Location

    9.8

  • Facilities

    8.8

  • Staff

    8.8

  • Value for money

    7.3

Verified guest reviews from real Bookers

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Showing 1 - 25

  • Reviewed: April 22, 2025

    10
    The hotel was very comfortable, and the service was excellent.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Junior Suite
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The TV could not play Netflix or other streaming services.

    Just about everything was excellent.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: April 20, 2025

    9.0
    Best option to be near Harvard
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The food at the restaurants was just o.k.

    The location, near restaurants and good cafés, and close to the river.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: April 9, 2025

    9.0
    Wonderful
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Deluxe Double or Twin Room
    • Stayed 2 nights

    Henrietta’s Table had an excellent breakfast. Room was very clean.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: April 7, 2025

    8.0
    Comfortable stay and comfort food in a convenient location.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    The Saturday night room rate was extremely high -- we were willing to pay because of convenience and our familiarity with the Charles after many past stays.

    Perfect location for our activities on the Harvard Campus. Easy access to Henrietta's Table for meals during bad weather.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: April 7, 2025

    9.0
    Wonderful
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 5 nights

    Comfort, location.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: March 30, 2025

    8.0
    Great place but with unsecured wifi network
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 8 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Great hotel, comfortable, with gym, several restaurants and sofa areas, next to Harvard Kennedy School. I was surprised however to note that their wifi network is unsecured (without password). Most company policies today don’t allow to be connected to unsecured networks (data risks), so I ended up using hotspot (not always stable). This is annoying for businesses travelers.

    Stayed in March 2025

  • Reviewed: December 17, 2024

    9.0
    Very nice hotel in perfect location
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Valet parking at check in on a cold, rainy, windy night was a mess and the rooms are a not large, but are ok sized.

    Feels recently renovated or refreshed. Very attractive design. Good bar and very good formal restaurant. Perfect location.

    Stayed in December 2024

  • Reviewed: December 14, 2024

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Excellent location

    Stayed in December 2024

  • Reviewed: December 14, 2024

    10
    All round, excellent stay.
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 5 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Nothing.

    Comfort of the rooms and thoughtful touches, such as mirrors in the shower for shaving.

    Stayed in December 2024

  • Reviewed: November 19, 2024

    10
    Best location and hotel at Cambridge
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights

    The mattress seemed old and so not comfortable

    Everything was excellent

    Stayed in November 2024

  • Reviewed: November 10, 2024

    10
    An exceptional hotel experience.
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Nothing

    Clean, peaceful, friendly staff, great food.

    Stayed in November 2024

  • Reviewed: November 5, 2024

    9.0
    Great location if you don’t mind costs
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Junior Suite
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Incredibly expensive for what you get; I overlooked the top of a parking garage. Definitely not much a view

    Modern, spacious, refurbished and right next to Charles river and walking distance to various Harvard schools

    Stayed in September 2024

  • Reviewed: October 21, 2024

    8.0
    it was comfortable and clean in a good location with lovely and friendly staff
    • Couple
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 5 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    probably the price!

    it’s location / friendly staff / clean

    Stayed in October 2024

  • Reviewed: October 2, 2024

    8.0
    Overpriced but convenient
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Heightened - and unexplained - security presence with Dept of homeland Security, Secret Service, etc all over the place. Price gouging - certainly not worth $ 955. My weekend stay is the equivalent to one week in Sicily - and Harvard ain’t Sicily.

    Convenient location

    Stayed in September 2024

  • Reviewed: September 23, 2024

    9.0
    Very friendly staff, great sized room with huge comfy beds and great location for Harvard.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Deluxe Double or Twin Room
    • Stayed 4 nights

    Location was great for Harvard and not too far from Boston central. Staff were very helpful and the restaurant was a lovely place for breakfast and dinner on the night we arrived. We also enjoyed the outside space for a drink in the evening just outside the bar and the servers in both the restaurant and the bar were delightful. The beds were so comfy with gorgeous linen and it was lovely to have a bath as well as a shower. Everything was spotlessly clean.

    Stayed in August 2024

  • Reviewed: September 4, 2024

    9.0
    Wonderful
    • Family with young children
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    This is a really great hotel right on Harvards campus. We were able to walk to multiple restaurants and stores in Harvrd Square.

    Stayed in September 2024

  • Reviewed: August 27, 2024

    9.0
    Old world charm, modern convenience
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The only thing they missed was refilling our Nespresso pods when they cleaned our room - everything else was flawless!

    The Charles had a lovely mix of old world charm meets modern conveniences. Our room was spacious and well appointed. I appreciated the “Harvard chairs,” Nespresso machine, robes, and slippers provided. The location can’t be beat - I recommend it if you’re visiting Cambridge.

    Stayed in August 2024

  • Reviewed: August 22, 2024

    9.0
    Wonderful
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double or Twin Room - Disability Access
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Expensive

    Location

    Stayed in August 2024

  • Reviewed: August 19, 2024

    9.0
    Wonderful
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Deluxe Double or Twin Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    I genuinely have no complaints outside of no mini fridge in the room!

    The staff was extremely welcoming and attentive. The hotel itself is well decorated and extremely clean.

    Stayed in July 2024

  • Reviewed: July 25, 2024

    8.0
    Convenient place to stay if you have any business to do at the university.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Deluxe Double or Twin Room
    • Stayed 3 nights

    There was no staff support for loading/unloading luggage

    Breakfast at Henrietta's Kitchen was good

    Stayed in July 2024

  • Reviewed: July 21, 2024

    8.0
    It was a pleasant stay the staff made us feel comfortable. Thanks
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Deluxe Double or Twin Room
    • Stayed 6 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    For the value of the room it was too expensive and no complementary breakfast which is an added expense a good simple breakfast buffet would have been lovely specially for people from out of town traveling with kids.

    I was impressed by the staff from lobby to kitchen to cleaning very friendly and courteous 👍👍. Area is walkable with lithe of things to do and eat.

    Stayed in July 2024

  • Reviewed: July 19, 2024

    10
    Comfortable
    • Couple
    • Deluxe Double or Twin Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    NA

    Location

    Stayed in June 2024

  • Reviewed: July 9, 2024

    10
    Overall great stay
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights

    Front desk person at checkin was some " visiting" student from India who could not even answer simple questions about the hotel- such as how much the breakfast would cost. Doorman did not even offer to open the door- any time we walked through.

    Room was quiet, great view to the square in front of hotel and very clean. Wonderful linen and clean bathroom with ample towels.

    Stayed in July 2024

  • Reviewed: July 3, 2024

    10
    Exceptional
    • Family with young children
    • Deluxe Double or Twin Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    No do it yourself laundry

    Convenience

    Stayed in July 2024

Showing 1 - 25

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