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Marriott’s Custom House: A family-friendly Boston hotel

By Mara 9 Comments

There are many hotels I like, but few family-friendly hotels that achieve true dream-worthy status. The Marriott Custom House, a downtown Boston hotel, has certainly earned that designation. What makes the Custom House so special is that it is both literally and figuratively smack-dab in the middle of Boston’s history with a fantastic location next to attractions like Quincy Market and the New England Aquarium and a long story of involvement in the city’s commercial life.

Marriott Custom House, Boston The original building (minus the tower) was constructed in the mid-nineteenth century when water used to lap its doorstep and the trade schooners that sailed from Europe with precious cargo would poke their prows into the large and gracious windows of the Counting Room. This is where guests of the hotel now enjoy breakfast beneath a high gallery where guards once patrolled, protecting the treasure and currency that passed through the doors.

Cars now park where ships once docked, and in the early twentieth century the federal government decided it needed more space and built the tower complete with the famous clock faces, notorious for many years for showing four different times, all of them incorrect. It was used for offices until the 1980s when it was virtually abandoned by both the federal and local government and fell into a state of total decay before being rescued by Marriott.

The rotunda from the original building is still visible from the lobby and the first floor, wearing the Great Seal of the United States, the only building outside of Washington, DC to do so. Marriott spared no expense or care in its restoration and the seal, the rotunda, and the main entrance to the building, have all been returned to full glory:

View from first floor into lobby, Marriott Custom House Boston Rotunda in the Marriott Custom House Boston Our suite on the 17th floor was spacious and beautifully furnished. There were a glass display cabinet in the hotel that we loved so much, that I even considered getting something similar for our home! We had a full living area with a nicely appointed kitchen and a fold-out sleeper sofa for the boys and a bedroom with a king-sized bed for me and Matt.

Villa living room at the Marriott Custom House Boston Bedroom villa in the Marriott Custom House Boston Although frankly, it’s amazing that we noticed anything about the room given that these were our views:

View from 17th floor of the Marriott Custom House, Boston View from bedroom Marriott Custom House Boston And that’s not the only place to get a good view. The 26th floor offers the city’s only outdoor observation deck. And here’s an insider tip: The public is welcome to visit from Monday to Thursday. Stop by the front desk, pay 3 dollars a person, and you’ll be escorted up. Although if you stay at the hotel, it’s yours for the visiting any time.

Observation deck of the Marriott Custom House, Boston

Looking at Boston Harbor from the Marriott Custom House observation deck A few floors below, the game room offers a place to play some air hockey and check out the clock mechanism, now a single one for all four faces guaranteeing a much more accurate time. One thing I really loved there was the chance to see a small portion of one clock face from the inside.

Playing air hockey at the Marriott Custom House, Boston Clock mechanism in the Marriott Custom House, Boston Inside of clock face at the Marriott Custom House, Boston What other good things do I have to say about the Custom House? There are plenty. Everyone who worked there was friendly and helpful. It was clear that the staff feel a real sense of pride and ownership of “their” historic building. I watched the concierge spend a good twenty minutes helping guests plan their entire day from sightseeing to meals.

With the lure of luxurious properties, like the kind of real estate you’d see being sold by William Pitt, it’s no wonder so many people choose to live in this stunning and historic city. Whether you’re after a colonial style home, or something overlooking the water, I can totally see why so many people love living and working here.

In terms of other family-friendly amenities, a pay-per-item breakfast is served in the Counting Room, with decent complimentary coffee. But I’d recommend economizing by bringing your own breakfast food (the kitchen comes equipped with a microwave, blender, toaster, coffee maker, and refrigerator as well as all the dishes and cutlery you’ll need ) or stepping over to Quincy Market across the street to buy something from one of the vendors there. You’ll also find laundry facilities and free wi-fi.

Activity Room at the Marriott Custom House, Boston Even if they were a bit old for it, the boys loved the Activity Center on the 20th floor, which comes complete with a small jungle gym and many other toys (I know that had we stayed here when either of them was little, one of us would have been hanging out there with a toddler very early in the morning). In this area you’ll also find a private movie theatre complete with leather seats and surround sound. The hotel shows movies there for guests, but if you bring your DVDs you can also schedule a family movie night (check with the front desk staff to make sure it’s not in use). When you check in, you’ll also receive a full schedule of activities that includes everything from tours of the hotel (which I highly recommend) to a free wine and cheese reception on Fridays to puzzle and game time for the kids.

And last but far from least, there’s the fact that the iconic building is visible from so many spots in the city. My boys loved looking for it and it clearly made Boston feel more like it belonged to them. Teddy in particular would cry out “there’s the Custom House!” whenever he spotted it as if it were a long-lost friend. We saw it from the deck of the USS Constitution,

Marriott Custom House from the deck of the USS Constitution from the water taxi that took us from Charlestown to Long Wharf,

Marriott Custom House from Boston Harbor And from the New England Aquarium.

Marriott Custom House Boston from the New England Aquarium It’s a rare thing for a hotel to capture my children’s imaginations so completely. It is now a part of their experience of Boston – frankly I can’t imagine staying anywhere else on repeat visits.

We were given a significant discount on our suite and free parking at the Custom House. Rates are definitely high during the summer (approaching $500 plus $40 a day for valet parking) but get lower once the high season is over – I found a suite over a weekend in mid-September for $379 a night on their website.

Want more information on visiting Boston with kids? Check out these posts:

  • Giacomo’s: A great Boston restaurant for families
  • Museum of Science in Boston: Fun enough for a day and then some
  • Fountain fun in Boston
  • Family fun at Fenway
  • Breakfast and books in Beantown
  • Walking the Freedom Trail with kids
  • A lesson in history at the Old South Meeting House
  • Petting sharks at the New England Aquarium

This Monday I’m dreaming of another stay in the Custom House. What about you?


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Filed Under: Boston, Boston, Dreaming of, Family travel tips, Massachusetts, Sleeping, We've been here

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Comments

  1. Lisa says

    August 1, 2011 at 6:29 pm

    Looks like a great family-friendly choice for Boston. I love having kitchen facilities so that we can have breakfast while getting ready in the morning instead of having to go out to eat. It’s particularly useful once you have a teenager who isn’t going to roll out of bed until the last minute.

    Reply
  2. Kurt Boston says

    February 21, 2020 at 2:15 pm

    Awesome! thanks for featuring Marriott’s Custom House: A family-friendly Boston hotel. It’s a great choice for family bonding.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Virtual postcards and an Amazon gift card giveaway | The Mother of all Trips says:
    August 22, 2011 at 8:44 am

    […] and Matt piling our bikes on the car and heading for Boston where we parked it (bikes and all) for a long weekend at the Custom House. We visited the Museum of Science, Fenway Park, and the lions at the Boston Public […]

    Reply
  2. Rose Kennedy Greenway fountain fun in Boston | The Mother of all Trips says:
    January 20, 2012 at 9:51 am

    […] Marriott’s Custom House: A family-friendly Boston hotel […]

    Reply
  3. Family fun at Fenway | The Mother of all Trips says:
    January 24, 2012 at 2:45 pm

    […] Marriott’s Custom House: A family-friendly Boston hotel […]

    Reply
  4. The Freedom Trail then and now | The Mother of all Trips says:
    February 3, 2012 at 7:45 am

    […] Marriott’s Custom House: A family-friendly Boston hotel […]

    Reply
  5. Family fun at the Museum of Science in Boston | The Mother of all Trips says:
    February 15, 2012 at 10:57 am

    […] day at the Museum of Science, but figured we could start out there, and if necessary, return to our room at the Custom House for some hanging out […]

    Reply
  6. Freedom trail family fun at Edes & Gill | The Mother of all Trips says:
    February 17, 2012 at 7:44 am

    […] Marriott’s Custom House: A family-friendly Boston hotel […]

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  7. Monday dreaming: Win 50,000 Marriott Rewards Points says:
    August 13, 2012 at 3:01 am

    […] the week with a bit of travel dreaming. I’m also a long-time fan of Marriott Hotels; in fact the Custom House in Boston is on my family’s list of all-time favorite places to stay. So when Marriott Rewards asked me if […]

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I'm a family travel expert & award-winning writer who loves to eat. Explore this site and you'll find lots of stories about my adventures, and family travel tips. More about Mara

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