What to expect: Located on 17 wooded acres on the Charles River, this Boston-area hotel caters to business travelers, conferences, sports teams playing local colleges, and leisure travelers who appreciate its tranquil setting. The bright, chandelier-lit lobby includes a sitting area and a separate, comfortably appointed lounge.

Amenity highlights: A 24-hour fitness center with water and towel service offers cardiovascular machines, each with a personal television, and free weights. The hotel also has a 40x20-foot heated indoor swimming pool and an eight-person spa tub.

A 24-hour business center includes printers and computers with high-speed and wireless Internet connections (surcharge). The hotel also offers more than 20,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.

Insider tip: Down the riverbank 200 yards from the hotel, an independently operated boathouse on the Charles River rents canoes and kayaks in warm-weather months.