we spent the weekend at the ritz carlton in boston. It was a great experience from the moment we walked in the door. The staff was superb. Great location right next to the theater district,adjacent to the commons and in walking distance to all those shops on boylston street. LA fitness is adjacent to the hotel. They should make it complementary but minor issue. The restaurant had excellent service and food. But mostly it was the superb service that makes me recommend this hotel.

Anytime booking a Ritz-Carlton hotel there is an expectation of 5-star service, comfort and amenities, and while the Ritz-Carlton Boston Common is definitely a nice hotel with elegant decor and a great location, there seems to be something missing in the service category, not to mention that the room was quite small.
Actually, the service at the hotel was totally acceptable, everyone was polite and friendly, but it didn't seem like the staff really went out of their way to help me out with my luggage, or with any local recommendations. They also were not the most proactive at offering an alternative to their pricey parking, leaving me to circle the block to find a parking spot.
Either way, the hotel is still nice, and if you're a Ritz-Carlton Club member, I'm sure it's tops in Boston, but otherwise I'd look for a hotel with bigger rooms that offer a better deal on parking (which is super difficult to find in Boston).

We arrived from Portland Oregon last week end after midnight. Nobody was there to take care of our luggage nor to open the very heavy doors. The doorman was arguing with another client! Same thing happened when we were leaving. The guy is arrogant, rude and there is nobody to tell him to do his job correctly.
The food at the restaurant was heavy.
On top of that the room had been prepared for a guy named Mohammed. There was a rug and a Coran to pray. Pretty weird.
When we checked out, nobody asked us anything about our stay. They clearly don't care.
Extremely disappointing. Far from a 4 or 5 stars hotel.

I am generally not a lover of Ritz-Carlton hotels. I stayed at this hotel at the end of October for a weekend firm event. I thought it was great. Unlike most Ritz's, which are dated (in my opinion), this hotel had a modern feel. The rooms were very nice, great bathroom, nice lobby bars, etc. I didn't use the gym but people in our group gave it high marks. I was just pleasantly surprised, and while I normally avoid Ritz hotels, I would stay here in a second if coming to Boston (and the location worked for you). I wouldn't hesitate.