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A Friendly Inn at Harvard Square – reviews, photos

1673 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02138
Hotel amenities
A Friendly Inn at Harvard Square
Ranked #17 of 21 Cambridge B&B and Inns
3.5 of 5 stars 44 Reviews
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44 reviews from our community

    Trip type
Traveller rating
    9
    17
    7
    5
    6
Date Rating
Chelyabinsk, Russia
1 review
“The most cosy hotel ever”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 25 October 2010

Staying at this hotel was amasing! It is a small, clean, cosy and indeed a friendly hotel! Our room was furnished and decorated the way we were feeling so at home! It overlooked a quiet street. When you are in such a room, you realize that you are not just one of the hundreds of visitors staying there, but a very unique and treasured guest! The staff is very friendly too. We had a lovely breakfast there and were amased with the internet access at the computer available downstairs at any time for free! We strongly recommend everyone to visit this piece of heaven!

Stayed September 2008, travelled as a couple
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Singapore
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
8 helpful votes 8 helpful votes
“cozy and family like, convenient and cleen”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 2 September 2010

It is a small inn but with excellent homely feel inside. Stayed in single room, small but clean. Toilet and shower were clean but small. No outside noise. The front desk person is present most of the time except after too late at night to too early in the morning I guess. A common computer with internet access (at no further cost) available and a breakfast place.
Location is fantastic if you have business in and around Harvard square (Harvard University). The Boston's metro (T) station is also only 10 min walk. From here you can take inbound train to MIT or Boston.
The front desk arranged for wake-up call and booked my taxi for very early departure.
The front desk lady is nice but sometimes she talks too much on the phone. No problem at all.

  • Stayed August 2010, travelled on business
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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India
Top Contributor
105 reviews 105 reviews
Reviews in 50 cities Reviews in 50 cities
83 helpful votes 83 helpful votes
“A traditional place in Harvard, and yes - it is friendly”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 16 August 2010

Excellent rooms - all well decorated with nick nacks and paintings. This is an old house converted into a B&B (though it has been running such only for the past about 20 years). Service is good, the rooms are very clean, Baths spotless white. Rooms have a tv, my room had an attached bath, but all rooms are different so make sure you specify what you want.

It is located about 5 minutes walk from Harvard yard (and 15 mins from Harvard train station) along Cambridge street.

The only downside is that the breakfast room is very small and only has sofas to sit - so you either have to tolerate other residents company while you balance your plastic plate on the lap and wonder where to keep your juice glass, or take it on the front porch and eat. Breakfast is not too great, but does not leave you hungry either.

I just wish the rooms were priced lower.

The wifi internet is good.

  • Stayed March 2010, travelled on business
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
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Ann Arbor, Michigan
Contributor
14 reviews 14 reviews
Reviews in 12 cities Reviews in 12 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
“Messed Up My Reservation”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 11 August 2010

Pros: 1) For my purposes, the location is perfect. However, there aren't many food options nearby. 2) They offer enough variety for breakfast. 3) The rooms are comfortable and big enough. Comparable to the Irving House and cheaper. 4) The price includes a private bathroom, something you have to pay extra for at the Irving House. 5) Staff is friendly and helpful.

Cons: 1) The bedding looked worn down and dirty. 2) This wasn't a problem for me but I know two colleagues who had skin reactions to the detergent used for the sheets. 3) The wireless did not work all the time. 4) I originally made a reservation online and did not receive a confirmation email as I should have. So several days later, I booked another room, at which point I received two confirmation emails for both reservations. I called to cancel one of the rooms. Several days later, I received a phone call from the Inn asking why I had two rooms booked. I once again cancelled one of the rooms and got an email confirming the cancellation. On the day of my stay at the Inn, I received another phone call about why I had two rooms booked! I didn't get charged for the extra room, but their lack of follow through gives me the impression that the staff there is not careful.

  • Stayed August 2010, travelled on business
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
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Donostia
1 review
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
“Atrocious service, adequate rooms”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 14 July 2010
2
people found this review helpful

I stayed at this place on a business trip to a meeting at Harvard. The overall standard was adequate. The room wasn't great, but it was ok. The main let-down for me was the extremely poor level of service.

I forgot my camera when checking out of the hotel. After a couple of days, they emailed me to inform me about it. I emailed them back saying that I would like to arrange to have it sent to me.

I didn't receive a reply for over two months. In the meantime I was busy and didn't follow up. After the two months had passed, I followed up, asking them why they hadn't got back to me. After another 2 weeks had passed, they got back to me and told me that I would have to pay an administration fee and shipping to get my camera back to me! After having ignored my previous email for over two months.

Anyway, I reluctantly paid for the camera to be sent back. When it arrived, all of my photographs had been deleted and the user interface language changed to Portuguese. I can only imagine that someone had been using it for their own purposes.

If you stay here, make sure you triple check that you don't leave anything behind.

  • Stayed April 2010, travelled on business
    • 2 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
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Additional Information about A Friendly Inn at Harvard Square

1673 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02138
Price range (per night):* INR10,698 - 11,986

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