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Harding House: Traveller Reviews

2.0 of 5
288 Harvard Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
Hotel amenities
Ranked #4 of 21 Cambridge B&B and Inns
4.5 of 5 stars 58 Reviews
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Reviews from our community

    Trip type
Traveller rating
    41
    11
    1
    5
    0
Date Rating
ladyt225
New York City, New York
1 review
“Pleasant stay but don't expect any frills”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 10 May 2010

I booked a Sun-Tues stay for a weekend getaway with my husband. The rate here was the best so I booked, thanks in large part to speaking with the manager by phone who was super friendly and helpful in planning my trip. We found our stay to be pleasant: the queen bed room on the 3rd floor was comfy and clean, the front desk staff was friendly and the location was convenient to the T train and the Harvard area. Another nice touch was the complimentary museum passes which we used to go to the science museum (would have cost us $25 each). These were all the lovely things about staying here.

Here were some of the areas for improvement: it was my husband's birthday and I was told (as it says on the website) that we'd receive a complimentary bottle of champagne and a goody bag. Got the goody bag when we arrived (a yummy cookie) but no champagne. The wireless internet worked well but the cable TV in our room did not work after the first day. Finally, the breakfast was continental which meant nice things like fruit, yogurt and muffins, but no hot item(s) was disappointing. Overall, our stay was pleasant but compared to other B&Bs we've stayed in, this one lacked the little extras that make staying a B&B a special experience (a hot breakfast cooked by the staff, each room decorated with a charming "theme"). However, the rate per night was cheaper than the local hotels so if value is what you need, this was a good choice.

  • Stayed May 2010, travelled as a couple
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
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SapphireBoston, General Manager at Harding House, responded to this review
3 June 2010
Thank you for your review. We are glad that you enjoyed a pleasant and comfortable stay here and that you found our house to be clean, convenient and a great value especially with the discount you received for the birthday special. Many guests find things like birthday discounts and all of our other amenities to be just the kind of frills they are looking for: a tasty breakfast included with all nightly stays, complimentary wine and cheese, passes to area museums, wireless, parking, and discounted admission to the Wellbridge Athletic Club and Spa. However, we appreciate your feedback, since ideas and suggestions from our guests help us improve.

I remember how much I enjoyed speaking with you when you made the reservation. I was excited about your visit and your husband's birthday, so I am super-disappointed to learn you did not receive your champagne! We usually deliver it to the room whenever you are ready, but we keep it refrigerated until you call for it. I checked with the staff who were working during your stay and they never heard from you to have it delivered. On the Monday that you were here, our specialty breakfast item was homemade yogurt parfait sundaes. They are indeed prepared in our kitchen by our staff - all of whom are great cooks. There would have been a hot, home cooked quiche or French toast on Tuesday, the day you checked out, but perhaps you did not stay for breakfast that day? As for the TV, it's a new digital satellite system with brand new Samsung HD flat screens. The remotes have so many cool options, they can be confusing. Sometimes people press a button and accidentally disable the signal, so that it appears the TV is not working. We are happy to fix that at any time of day or night if you just let us know - it's quick and easy. We regret that we did not know about these concerns while you were here, otherwise we would have been more than happy to resolve them for you. It's so important to us that you have a nice stay. We really want to do anything we can to make it enjoyable.
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docsuzie
los angeles
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
“superb 'home away from home'”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 13 March 2010
1
person found this review helpful

This delightful Inn is truly a gem. From the warm and cheerful decor to the friendly and helpful staff, every effort is made to ensure a truly comfortable stay. I loved waking up to the generous continental cuisine and coming home at night to the comfortable bed in my tastefully appointed room. It is conveniently located- close to both Harvard and Central Sq and to public transportation. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a more intimate feel than the mega-hotels can provide. I will surely return...... skj, MD

  • Stayed March 2010, travelled on business
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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SapphireBoston, General Manager at Harding House, responded to this review
15 March 2010
What a lovely review! Thank you so much for your compliments and your beautiful description of our house.
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deridder59
bangor maine
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews
4 helpful votes
“very nice”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 14 January 2010
1
person found this review helpful

We enjoyed the comfortable room, nice breakfast and Audra at the desk,who was very helpful.Museum passes, what a nice touch! A few criticisms: The breakfast room was very cramped and we were taken aback when arriving at 9:45 pm, looking forward to wine and cheese, that yes, we could have wine but no, we stop serving cheese and crackers at 9:30.There was no mention of that anywhere.There were some issues with the internet access earlier that had been resolved but she neglected to inform us what the new access code was.Also the maid was not familiar with the"Green" Laundry" policy (that I like) and replaced the towels even-though we had left them on the rack as instructed.A nice b&b but little pricey.

  • Stayed January 2010, travelled as a couple
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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SapphireBoston, General Manager at Harding House, responded to this review
25 January 2010
Thank you for taking the time to compliment our house and mention how you enjoyed the comfortable accommodations. We find that many out-of-towners are surprised at Cambridge area hotel prices, so we try to provide a great value with amenities you won't find anywhere else such as free wine & cheese on request. You can even ask to have it waiting in your room upon arrival – still no charge. Plus, our guests enjoy complimentary parking, museum passes, internet and breakfast: an extensive selection that includes many organic and local farm-direct foods. In spite of these free extras, our prices are still similar to other area hotels.

You're right that our breakfast room can be a busy place. This is because unlike many other B&Bs, we do not ask you to make an appointment for breakfast. In fact, people tend to linger and enjoy second helpings. We have a quiet seating area for guests who like to dine away from the crowd. You’re also right that we stop serving wine and cheese after 9:30 pm. We do this because our platters are individually made to order with a good variety of cheeses and crackers. Because quality is important to us and our guests, we avoid throwing something together at the last minute before closing at 10pm. To improve service and training, we checked with the person who helped you. She remembers that your request was made on the second night of your stay at about 9:55 pm. She offered you the entire bottle of wine to compensate for not being able to fix a proper cheese & crackers platter, and she observed that you seemed very pleased with this alternative. We apologize for that you were not informed of the policy in advance. In the future we'll do a better job of letting everyone know. In the meantime, we hope you took advantage of the cakes, biscotti, fresh fruit and other free snacks that are available 24 hours a day.

Your towels were changed because we happened to be upgrading our linens during your stay. Old towels were removed and brand new, bigger, fluffier towels were placed in every room. Plus we upgraded bedding with soft down-alternative duvets and cozy new quilts. Rest assured that old linens will be donated or recycled. As you noted, we also did some quick improvements to our wireless internet service. We did not want to disturb guests by calling their rooms, so the new access code was posted for all guests to see. We are looking forward to making even more improvements as we start the new year. We hope you’ll come back to visit us and please continue to let us know how we're doing. You can always ask to speak with me while you’re here. I’d love to hear from you directly.
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NewtownSqGal
Newtown Square, PA
Contributor
19 reviews
16 helpful votes
“Great place to stay”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 8 October 2009

Just can't say enough about this place. Everything is first class; the facilities are immaculate, the staff is WONDERFUL, and the breakfast is delicious. The wine and cheese was great to enjoy after a long day of sight seeing.

  • Stayed October 2009, travelled with family
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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wquinps
Arizona
Reviewer
5 reviews
9 helpful votes
“LIKE BEING AT HOME IN CAMBRIDGE”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 28 September 2009
1
person found this review helpful

We stayed 2 nights while visiting New England area colleges for my son. The location is about a 5 to 7 min walk to Central "t" stop. About 15 min walk to Harvard Square. The front desk was so accomodating. Just ask for wine and cheese. Ask to borrow umbrellas. Water bottles for your use. Take a book home from their library. Leave one if you would like. Ask for any toiletries you left at home. They help you get to where you are going providing maps of the area and the in room guide outlined transportation options as well. The reception room has many copies of the NEW YORKER as well as other reading material. A computer is available there for your use. The dining area is well stocked. Terrific tea selection with honey, sugar and milk. The coffee was stronger, heeding the advice of other reviewers. The quiches and popovers, and pastries each morning were delicious. Biscotti, nutrigrain bars, cereals, nuts and fresh fruit as well as yogurt are part of the buffet. Toast, english muffins and bagels with an excellent selection of jams, peanut butter, Nutella and other spreads. Orange Juice, cranberry juice and water too. It was very filling and is available til 10am. The bedroom was sufficient for our family of 3. Our son slept on a trundle bed and a queen bed was comfortable for my husband and I. Not enough pillows, but just ask for more. The toiletries are Neutrogena rain bath and shampoo. Wireless thru out is free!! Great touch. I would recommend staying if you are roaming the Cambridge/Harvard area. We went into Boston one day and it was very easy using public transportation. Walked the freedom trail. Ate clam chowder at Legal Seafoods, bought tiramisu and boston creme pie from Mikes Pastry in the North End and ate at Mr. Bartleys burger cottages in Cambridge. All i recommend!!! USS constitution is closed on Mondays, FYI. The city is very walkable. Use the "T" when you need for $2 a ride. We bought $4.00 ticket and got us there and back. Go to Cheers, see the Ducks in boston public garden, go to quincy market and faneuil hall. Great time!!!

  • Stayed September 2009, travelled with family
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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SapphireBoston, General Manager at Harding House, responded to this review
5 October 2009
Thank you so much for your enthusiastic review of Harding House and our lovely cities of Boston and Cambridge. Our staff works hard to provide a homelike atmosphere, and it makes us all happy to know you enjoyed our hospitality. Your wonderful review of the sights and eats in our town is a great guide for other visitors. We hope you will return again soon!
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