A Fantasy Weekend in Boston
 

If money was not an object, could you tell me which hotel you would stay at and which restaurant you would want to dine at on a Saturday evening? What would you do during the day? And where would you have brunch on Sunday morning? If you had the opportunity to have a limousine on Saturday, would you use it, and how many hours would you need it for? Would a cab be sufficient?<BR><BR>The reason I ask is that I'm working on a fundraiser for an auction in June for a non-profit, and I've got up to $1500 to buy this fantasy weekend with for the lucky high bidder. This package would be for a couple. If I added a gondola ride with champagne at sunset on the Charles River (yes, there is a company that does this), would that add to the romance?<BR><BR>I've got a few ideas, but I would like your thoughts. My thought is the Boston Harbor Hotel, the gondola ride at sunset, and Hammerley's Bistro for dinner. <BR><BR>Lastly, if I added a 1/2 spa day treatment for the woman, would that be a plus? Which spa? What would I need to plan for the man for a 1/2 day?<BR><BR>Thanks for your thoughts.

Not sure but a good spa to check into is Candela. I sail on the Charles River and I often see the gondola people out there. Looks fun. The guy poles the boat around, and he's wearing a black and white striped uniform. It certainly affords great views of Boston. <BR><BR>I think that Hammersly's is a great choice for a restaurant. I'd recommend it over Au'Jourdhui (forgive my spelling) but maybe you should at least investigate Lespalier - the only of the three where I Have yet to dine simply because of the $$ factor. Boston Harbor hotel is great. Four Seasons or hte new Ritz Carlton might also be worth looking into. Limos are probably over-doing it, because most everything in Boston is so close by. Of course, I'm not the type to typically rent a limo for a Sunday outing - it sure sounds fun!

Wow! Where can I bid?<BR>I think the Four Seasons is the primo Boston lodging. They have a wonderful Sunday brunch, and an excellent restaurant for dining, Aujourd'hui.<BR>Hammersley's is also an excellent choice for dinner, but I think the most romantic (now that Cafe Budapest is gone) is the Bay Tower Room - although the food isn't as fabulous as the other two choices.<BR>The Gondola ride is a wonderful and unique idea! A spa treatment would be lovely, or a gift certificate to a Newbury Street shop!<BR>During the day, you may want to include a visit to the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum, or Michelle Toper's North End Culinery Tour.<BR>I think you'll have as much fun planning this as your bidders do experiencing it!

Let's get this straight - you live in Boston and can't figure this out? If I didn't know better, I would have to think this entire post is a thinly veiled device for drumming up donations.<BR>Naw, couldn't be that...let the denials begin...<BR>

The Four Seasons is the best full service hotel in town and will do more to garner attention than XV Beacon or the Ritz.<BR>I am curious also, however, why it is that if you are familiar with Boston you wouldn't already know this.

I do work in Boston, but live just outside of Boston, but I don't stay overnight in the city. To the naysayers, I was looking for opinions, as I had already expressed mine.<BR><BR>To those of you that gave legitimate responses, thank you very much for your suggestions. I did think about the Four Seasons too. I think that I might pick either the hotel or Au'Jourd'hui as the restaurant but not both -- my thought is that it is too confining. But, I do like the idea of adding the Four Seasons for Sunday brunch. <BR><BR>I thought the Boston Harbor Hotel might also be a bit more plush for the money (it would run about $100 less than the Four Seasons), its not heavily booked on the weekends (compared to the Four Seasons) and I could request a waterfront room, instead of a view of the Big Dig. Any ideas about the new Ritz on Avery Street, or would you wait until the construction is completed next door?<BR><BR>Thanks for the idea of Candela, I was thinking of Bella Sante. And, thanks for confirming that the gondola ride would be a good idea.<BR><BR>If I had to narrow it down to one restaurant, which of the 3 -- Hammersley's Bistro, L'Espalier, or Au'Jourd'hui -- which one would you choose?

By the way, if this fantasy weekend was for me, I would not stay in Boston. I would go to Marblehead and stay in a B&B with a view of the harbor, and spend the day in galleries and antique shops.

Leslie,<BR>I live in the Midwest but have been to Boston several times and stayed in Marblehead. Why not do what you said - Stay in Marlblehead, could you give a gift certificate to the antique shops and galleries? Could you do something with the Boston Yacht Club that is based in Marblehead? Back to Boston - we like the North End resturants the best - if you are in Boston. <BR>Good Luck and disregard the negative people!!<BR>Fiona

$375 per day per person. They don't make fantasies like they used to - I could spend that much on a bottle of wine with dinner. C'est la vie; bon chance.

If I were staying at the Four Seasons, and having their Sunday brunch, I would definitely not go there for dinner. I would say L'Esp, since that has the reputation of being most expensive and hardest to get reservations. <BR>Which group is auctioning this off?<BR>

Not L'Esp. Overpriced, not without flaws, and why would anyone think it a plus to say their herbs were grown on the rooftop (does Boston not have plenty of pigeons, not to mention seagulls)?

I agree with kkm - L'Espalier is not what it once was. And much as I love Hamersley's, which is the first restaurant I always recommend to visitors, I don't think of it as a "fantasy" destination - great food, but more of a bistro atmosphere. Aujourd'hui and the Bay Tower Room are both good recommendations to which I would add Julien in the Meridien Hotel and the Rowes Wharf Restaurant in the Boston Harbour Hotel. While there is probably better food to be had in the newer, smaller chef-owned operations, my own opinion is that a true fantasy weekend should involve dining somewhere a bit more opulent.

Okay, make it Bay Tower Room and<BR>Tell me where to bid!

I might include tickets for Sat evening or even Sunday matinee for some "often sold out" event. Maybe you can contact a ticket broker so you could offer a choice to successful bidder - s/he might be able to tell you that, for say $200/ticket you could get one of 3 choices. I personally would skip the spa thing, but that is my own preference and others might see that as an incentive. I would want a limo or car service rather than a cab.

ttt

A harbour-view room in the Boston Harbour Hotel is SO much fun! I stayed there once and loved waking up early to the sun coming in the huge picture window giving a spectacular view of the harbour with all its maritime activity. Also, you can take a boat ferry to the hotel from the airport, which is fun, too.<BR><BR>I had drinks at the Four Seasons and listened to the good pianist. Wish I could do it all again!

If you truly are interested in bidding on this package I put together, please contact me by email and I will give you the specifics. If you live or work around the Boston area, you are more than welcome to attend the auction, which will be in Boston on June 5th.<BR><BR>My gut says to go with the Four Seasons for the hotel and Sunday brunch, and then another restaurant for dinner on Saturday night. Second choice would be the Boston Harbor Hotel or the Charles Hotel in Cambridge. If I chose either of those hotels -- then I would arrange for dinner at Au'Jourd'Hui at the Four Seasons. Also, any comments on The Lenox -- I heard that brunch there is absolutely wonderful, and there is a great jazz bar there too. Would that be another potential choice for a hotel?<BR> <BR>Can't do the theatre ticket thing, as the high bidder will end up with gift certificates for these items and could pick any weekend to stay within a year. If I included theatre tickets, then I would have to lock the high bidder into a specific date because I would need to get tickets for a specific date for the theatre performance.<BR><BR>Still up in the air for a restaurant for dinner. How about Grill 23 or Anago at The Lenox? I had dinner at the Bay Tower Room a couple of months ago. Food was good, not great, but the view is exceptional. I would lean toward another restaurant.<BR><BR>Do you still like the idea of including the gondola ride at sunset on the Charles River?<BR><BR>I like the idea of having a limo or car service too, but since it would be for 4 hours, I guess that I would start it from the hotel then onto the gondola ride and then dinner and return to the hotel.<BR><BR>Should I forget about arranging something for the afternoon on Saturday? Some of you have mentioned to forget the massage. I could throw in tickets to the Museum of Fine Art or the Gardner Museum.<BR><BR>So far, its hotel, dinner, brunch. Still in limbo on limo/car service, gondola and an event in the afternoon.<BR><BR>Thanks for all of your suggestions. Keep the ideas coming. I need to make a decision within the next week or so.

Definitely do the gondola ride - it's so unique! And the limo is a great touch.<BR>Don't do Grill 23 for dinner. It's so noisy and well, grill-oriented. Something with chef-inspired fancy sauces is so much nicer! What about Maison Robert? Or Salamander? Or Icarus? Even your original idea of Hammersley's is still great.<BR>Keep us updated, okay?!

Okay, this is what I have narrowed it down to:<BR><BR>Hotels: Four Seasons, Boston Harbor Hotel, or The Lenox (has plush robes that it gives to the couple)<BR><BR>On arrival the hotel room will have a bouquet of flowers from Winstons, bottle of Moet champagne, and a box of Godiva Chocolate<BR><BR>Afternoon: Tickets to the Museum of Fine Arts<BR><BR>Limo or car service from hotel for the evening portion:<BR><BR>Gondola ride at sunset on the Charles River<BR><BR>Dinner at: Au'Jourd'Hui (if not staying at the Four Seasons, Hammersley's Bistro, Anago (if not staying at The Lenox)<BR><BR>Dessert at Finale<BR><BR>Brunch at: Four Seasons or The Lenox (leaning toward The Lenox, as the buffet brunch there is exquisite)<BR><BR>

Leslie, forgive me if I'm way off base here, but I suspect you of being yet another travel writer mining this site for copy. The reason I'm not 100% convinced you are a fundraiser is that most auctions like the one you seem to be arranging get their prizes donated by the companies -- in this case, the hotel, the restaurant, the spa, etc. Unless someone is privately donating the $1500 to you to buy this prize, I'm wondering why you have it to spend.<BR><BR>Again, I'm sorry if I have misjudged the situation.

Don't stay at the Boston Harbor Hotel. Stay only at the Ritz or Four Seasons. I say this b/c of location only. The Harbor is terrific, but not if you want to explore the city with ease. The Ritz and Four Seasons is terrific. I prefer the Ritz, myself. The location can't be beat. Brunch at the Claremont Cafe in the South End is fabulous. The gondola ride is a must, as well. Good luck.

Cee Cee are you referring to the old Ritz or the new Ritz?

Blew your cover, sorry not a travel writer. The money was given to us by a donor that contributes heavily to this auction each year. Last year it was a roundtrip flight on his Lear Jet from Boston to New York, a night at one of the Helmsley hotels, tickets to "The Producers" and dinner at a restaurant. That package went for $2500 last year. Because some people are still concerned about flying and security, we came up with the idea of a fantasy weekend in Boston, and this is how we are putting the money to use.<BR><BR>And, yes, you are correct that many hotels will donate rooms. In fact, I've written to all of the 3 and 4 star hotels in Boston and Cambridge -- there are 33 of them. Fifteen have already donated rooms for either a 1 night or 2 night stay. I've been turned down by 5 and still have not heard from 13. I have also received numerous gift certificates for restaurants. However, these items will be auctioned off separately on a silent auction, along with the many other items that have been donated.<BR><BR>

At the moment the Lenox is entirely covered in scaffolding which is not only ugly but probably means lots of noise for the guests. I think they are redoing the brick work.<BR>I also would steer clear of the Bay Tower room. No offense for this generalization but if you have ever been in the lobby and seen the people going upstairs the words "luxury" and "class" don't come to mind. Hammersely, Aujord'hui or Icarus are good ideas for dinner. I would throw in the spa treatment too. There are plenty of men at Bella Sante. If the couple is staying at the Four Seasons, Candela is right there too.