[2017] Marriott Custom House

[TheTimeTraveler]

Tell them you want a floor on the 10th or 11th floor for maximum square footage that will also have a nice view.....



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[PaulaC]

Thanks everyone,

My biggest issue now will be figuring out how to get out of Texas, i.e., points or cash, how much leg room I want to pay for, and whether to go through Philadelphia, Newark or North Carolina. It's almost easier to get to Hawaii. ;-)

We are heading to the Custom House in two weeks and are flying direct from Austin to Boston on Southwest. You will love the location and the history of this property.

 

[TXTortoise]

Austin kills me. Always less than SA, to anywhere.

While SW seats aren’t 6’3” friendly, the airfare was, even with one-stop, so booked them. All done...now just wait and hope for good weather.

 

[mdurette]

Austin kills me. Always less than SA, to anywhere.

While SW seats aren’t 6’3” friendly, the airfare was, even with one-stop, so booked them. All done...now just wait and hope for good weather.

Don't consider yourself "done" yet.....whenever I have SW flights, I always check back on their pricing and if the fair drops, rebook it to the lower cost. Assuming you are on the cheapest fair, you will at least get a credit back to use within a year.

Mid October should be fine weather wise and for the Boston area you will be at the peak time for fall foliage.

It is the perfect time of year for a day trip to Salem, October is their season with their "witchy" background. http://salem.org/

 

[rickandcindy23]

The MF's for Custom House forced me out. It was more than I could take. I am sure they are over $1,900 for one week by now. Some owners said the wear and tear of the lobby and common areas was an expense that kept going up, while the hotel side didn't have to pay the expenses on the constant updating of those areas.

 

[HudsHut]

Does Custom House charge resort fees?

 

[dioxide45]

Does Custom House charge resort fees?

No

 

[Quadmaniac]

We just came back from CH last month and it was another wonderful trip. As others have said, the building and Boston is so rich in history and culture.

This time we discovered their "theatre room" upstairs. They offer movie nights with seating for 5 but I don't think anyone ever books it, as we booked two of the nights they were offering without any issue. I don't believe anyone booked any of the other nights it was offered. They have 5 of the recliner couches with the cup holders similar to what you have in the theatres now and a 75" TV, I believe. You get the small room to yourself and we brought snacks / drinks with us. After the movie we stayed and rented another movie to watch. The staff were really accommodating.

The staff were really good about putting our three rooms all on one floor beside each other. Made it really easy to go to each other's room and hang out.

James Cook & Co was great as always and the clam chowder was fantastic.

If you haven't tried, the Wynn has a free luxury yacht "shuttle" that takes you across the harbour to the Wynn casino. I think it only runs on the weekends I believe but have to take a ride on it, it is beautiful inside. I couldn't believe this is what they were using to transport people.

 

[KProuty]

I went to the Custon House in early 2000s. I live north of Boston so I didn't buy there, but I did buy another Marriott property while I was there.

My daughter's Crystal Cruise was cancelled for her honeymoon, and she just got back from a week at the Custom House with her now husband. I managed to book it so they could at least get away after the wedding. She remembered it from when she was a little girl, and the top floor has definitely changed. Not as grandiose inside as it was in the beginning. They loved it, even though they had to work in Boston while they were there. (This week was not the week that they had booked for their cruise, and they were still hoping to find another cruise to replace the one they lost when Crystal went under.)

The Custom House treated them right. The concierge, Monika, also got them a great reservation at Prezza in the North End, plus she gave a complementary bottle of champagne and cookies. They also offered them a sales meeting, which they declined at my urging. Since they had to work, there simply was not enough time for them to do what they wanted to do.

It really is a nice property and it is perfect for 2 people.

My daughter enjoyed the hawk on the tower!

 

[Steve A]

We’re at the Custom House right now. It’s a pretty spectacular building. Lots of history We took a narrated one hour tour of Boston Harbor. Highly recommended. Apparently when the original building for the Custom House was constructed in 1847, Boston Harbor reached right to the building. The Harbor is now several blocks away with lots of landfill in between. We visited the USS Constitution today using the MBTA ferry from Long Warf at the end of State St. A five plus minute walk from the Custom House. Because we’re old it was only $1.85. Highly recommend. After the trip to the Constitution we ate at the Chart House on Long Warf. The concierge has discounts. The Custom House is across the street from an Irish restaurant, the Black Rose. Not fine dining but not bad. Fun when Irish music is playing. If the weather is nice bring food up to the observation deck on the 26th floor with tables and a view of the Harbor and the airport.

KProuty. They’re peregrine falcons.

 

[BigDawgTUG]

We visited the USS Constitution today using the MBTA ferry from Long Warf at the end of State St. A five plus minute walk from the Custom House. Because we’re old it was only $1.85. Highly recommend.

KProuty. They’re peregrine falcons.

For those who purchase a T 7-day pass, the MBTA ferry is included.

 

[jme]

We’re at the Custom House right now. It’s a pretty spectacular building. Lots of history We took a narrated one hour tour of Boston Harbor. Highly recommended. Apparently when the original building for the Custom House was constructed in 1847, Boston Harbor reached right to the building. The Harbor is now several blocks away with lots of landfill in between. We visited the USS Constitution today using the MBTA ferry from Long Warf at the end of State St. A five plus minute walk from the Custom House. Because we’re old it was only $1.85. Highly recommend. After the trip to the Constitution we ate at the Chart House on Long Warf. The concierge has discounts. The Custom House is across the street from an Irish restaurant, the Black Rose. Not fine dining but not bad. Fun when Irish music is playing. If the weather is nice bring food up to the observation deck on the 26th floor with tables and a view of the Harbor and the airport.

KProuty. They’re peregrine falcons.

My favorite Marriott property. Love it. So much to see and do, so many great restaurants within walking distance in North End.
(Mamma Maria, Limoncello, Lucca, Bricco, James Hook & Co.....and my list goes on and on and on. And don't miss the best pastry shop = Modern Pastry---Wow!
And yes, the Black Rose Irish Pub on State Street just outside Custom House is fun, fun, fun, and the food is also very good...we always stop in there.
Legal Seafoods is also a favorite stop !!!! Great food, very convenient.
Regina Pizzeria on Thatcher Street (the ORIGINAL Regina pizzeria)---FIRST pizzeria in America, and still an iconic gem. Not fancy, just awesome pizza. Walkable from CH.
And the Marriott Long Wharf Hotel across the street has a great breakfast buffet.....great for a good breakfast and good coffee, with nice views of Christopher Columbus Park.

We've visited something like 8 of the last 11 years. Likely this upcoming Fall also.
Enjoy, Steve!!!! I'm soooooo jealous.

Fine Dining Restaurant in Boston

North End Fine Dining

mammamaria.com

Ristorante Limoncello | Boston's North End

www.ristorantelimoncello.com

Fine Italian Dining in Boston's Historic North End

www.luccaboston.com

Gourmet Italian Cuisine and Cocktails in Boston, MA - Bricco Ristorante & Enoteca

Bricco Ristorante and Enoteca provides Italian cuisines, wines and cocktails to Boston's North End. Make a reservation today & experience the flavors of Italy!

bricco.com

Fresh Live Lobster Delivery | Retail & Wholesale Seafood Boston

James Hook & Co. celebrates 100 years offering fresh live lobsters, lobster dinners and fresh seafood delivered the next day.

jameshooklobster.com

Modern Pastry Shop | Boston's Italian Family Owned Bakery

Nestled in the North End (Little Italy) and Medford. We are one of Boston's favorite Italian bakery. Family owned and operated for over 80 years. Offering Italian, American, and other European desserts for all occasions. From cakes, cannoli, cookies, pastries, and more!

modernpastry.com

Welcome to The Black Rose - Boston's Premier Irish Pub

The Black Rose is a must stop on your travels through Faneuil Hall! The Black Rose offers easy access from T stops, great food, and live music 7 nights a week!

www.blackroseboston.com

Boston - Long Wharf - Legal Sea Foods

Daily Catch View Today’s Specials, Featured Oysters & More! Give the Giftof Really Fresh Fish Dive Into The Raw Bar About This Restaurant Open Sunday – Thursday from 12n -9pm and Friday – Saturday 12n – 10pm for restaurant dining as well as takeout. Delivery and pick-up is now available. We are...

www.legalseafoods.com

Home | Regina Pizzeria, Boston's Brick Oven Pizza

www.pizzeriaregina.com

Boston Waterfront Hotel | Boston Marriott Long Wharf

Book your stay at Boston Marriott Long Wharf, a hotel near Downtown Boston with sophisticated accommodations, exceptional dining, event venues and a prime location on the harbor. Discover our downtown Boston, MA, hotel today.

www.marriott.com

https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x89e3708871f0fc8f%3A0x3218180677ad009c!3m1!7e115!4shttps%3A%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipNRXZ6AByuWTRKYZLZQoTPiu0LuYNE2Hc5ta--D%3Dw426-h320-k-no!5scolumbus%20park%20boston%20long%20wharf%20-%20Google%20Search!15sCgIgAQ&imagekey=!1e10!2sAF1QipNRXZ6AByuWTRKYZLZQoTPiu0LuYNE2Hc5ta--D&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiito3ti8X4AhVWJkQIHSAVA9wQoip6BAhbEAM

REGINA PIZZERIA:

 

[Steve A]

Picture taken from the one hour harbor tour. Back home in HHI.

 

[Steve A]

USS Constitution.

 

[LMD]

We just returned from a fantastic week at the Custom House. The location is perfect. We did TONS of walking. We purchased the GoCity pass for $244 for the three of us and with that did the Museum of Science, The Trolly Tour (one day), Aquarium, Fenway Tour and a Sunset Cruise. We also did the Duck Tour with a Groupon. We went to the Children’s Museum for $1 on Sunday (booked online through their web site) . My daughter is 10 and it was a little too young for her but neat to see anyway. We walked the Freedom Trail -USS constitution was closed, gates were locked at the cemetery and no climbing up the Bunker Hill monument. We also walked the Boston Commons and the Harvard Campus. Wicked was in town at the Citizens Bank Opera house. It was fantastic I highly recommend it if it is traveling to your area (last show in Boston is tomorrow ) . We took an Uber to get to the resort which took FOREVER due to construction in one of the tunnels and cost around $35. We took the Silver Line back to the airport for $2.40 each (children 11 and under are free on the T) . The T is very easy to navigate with the Moovit app. Views from the 26th floor….AMAZING!! Best meal of the week was at Mamma Maria’s

 

[SueDonJ]

We just returned from a fantastic week at the Custom House. The location is perfect. We did TONS of walking. We purchased the GoCity pass for $244 for the three of us and with that did the Museum of Science, The Trolly Tour (one day), Aquarium, Fenway Tour and a Sunset Cruise. We also did the Duck Tour with a Groupon. We went to the Children’s Museum for $1 on Sunday (booked online through their web site) . My daughter is 10 and it was a little too young for her but neat to see anyway. We walked the Freedom Trail -USS constitution was closed, gates were locked at the cemetery and no climbing up the Bunker Hill monument. We also walked the Boston Commons and the Harvard Campus. Wicked was in town at the Citizens Bank Opera house. It was fantastic I highly recommend it if it is traveling to your area (last show in Boston is tomorrow ) . We took an Uber to get to the resort which took FOREVER due to construction in one of the tunnels and cost around $35. We took the Silver Line back to the airport for $2.40 each (children 11 and under are free on the T) . The T is very easy to navigate with the Moovit app. Views from the 26th floor….AMAZING!! Best meal of the week was at Mamma Maria’s
View attachment 60777

Beautiful picture! I'm impressed at how much you did considering the 'wicked hot' weather that's blasting us up here!

 

[LMD]

Beautiful picture! I'm impressed at how much you did considering the 'wicked hot' weather that's blasting us up here!

We live in Naples FL so the heat did not bother us at all

 

[Steve A]

View from our room on the 19th floor During our June visit.

 

[Bodie]

Agreed!!! That's what the Pulse brand should strive to be, but sadly the rooms, locations and value per point at Pulse locations elsewhere just don't stack up to CH standards.

Have been to the NYC Pulse twice and really enjoyed it. Never been to CH so I can’t compare. I do wish MVC would open more Pulse properties. We’re past the family vacations era but I guess there’s no money in marketing to seniors.

 

[jme]

We just returned from a fantastic week at the Custom House. The location is perfect. We did TONS of walking. We purchased the GoCity pass for $244 for the three of us and with that did the Museum of Science, The Trolly Tour (one day), Aquarium, Fenway Tour and a Sunset Cruise. We also did the Duck Tour with a Groupon. We went to the Children’s Museum for $1 on Sunday (booked online through their web site) . My daughter is 10 and it was a little too young for her but neat to see anyway. We walked the Freedom Trail -USS constitution was closed, gates were locked at the cemetery and no climbing up the Bunker Hill monument. We also walked the Boston Commons and the Harvard Campus. Wicked was in town at the Citizens Bank Opera house. It was fantastic I highly recommend it if it is traveling to your area (last show in Boston is tomorrow ) . We took an Uber to get to the resort which took FOREVER due to construction in one of the tunnels and cost around $35. We took the Silver Line back to the airport for $2.40 each (children 11 and under are free on the T) . The T is very easy to navigate with the Moovit app. Views from the 26th floor….AMAZING!! Best meal of the week was at Mamma Maria’s.
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Your view above is fantastic.........it looks to the North over Quincy Market & Faneuil Hall, specifically to Boston's fabulous North End.
It's quite evident that you guys found Boston to be as user-friendly as we did. That's why we've visited Boston about 9 times over the past 12 years,
and each trip only gets better. SueDonJ knows how much we love her hometown.
I'm trying to work out a trip for this Fall but I don't think I can do it with our current busy schedule! Darn!
I guess I'll have to wait for our still-active Encore Package trip (I chose Boston) that I'll use sometime next year ...we have 2 years to use it.

Anyway, per LMD's post above, I agree that Mamma Maria's is likely to be ANYBODY's "best meal" in the North End during any stay.
It's our favorite North End restaurant, especially if you get the window table upstairs on 2nd floor.
TUGGER jont & lovely wife Maria can vouch for that----we dined there together---what a great evening!
Always an awesome meal with superb service----such a wonderful dining experience that my wife and I have enjoyed several times now.

We love to walk everywhere we go, day or evening. But if needed, the T is one of the best systems in the country....very easy and affordable.
For example, we take it when we visit the Harvard campus area, the awesome cafes and flagship stores along Newbury Street,
the Museum of Fine Arts, or the Back Bay/Beacon Hill area, etc.

We've been lucky with all our villa assignments at Custom House, and tried out several different floors and views to see what we liked best,
and although many prefer and request the lovely Boston Harbor view, we have come to love the "city view/partial harbor view" looking Southward
because of the gorgeous city lights at night. It's spectacular and very romantic, and certainly more interesting because of the spectacular 24/7 views !
We also love the Quincy Market/Faneuil Hall view because of the fabulous Christmas tree at the near end of the plaza where the carolers gather to sing.

We are from Georgia, so when our most favorite season of FALL rolls around, we have to head north to do the season justice!
We only want to be in New England to EXPERIENCE what the "perfect" Fall is supposed to be---what it's supposed to feel like, and what it's supposed to look like.
And it's nothing short of spectacular.
In the past we've always chosen mid-October, except for the two times we went in early December for the wonderful Christmas season....so much fun.
The shopping is great, we love the sights and sounds, and we love going to the Boston Pops.
If it's cold it's no big deal......we still walk everywhere.....we simply bundle up and go, and nothing deters us. It's great.

The North End is so much fun and has so many great restaurants....we love Mamma Maria's, Lucca, Bricco, Limoncello, Strega, Union Oyster House,
Regina Pizzeria, Mare, Legal Seafoods, James Hook & Co, and also Modern Bakery (among a few others) !!!!
Hanover Street might be our favorite street in America.

Here are some favorite "City View South" pics, all taken from our villa's windows.
We still had a nice partial view of Boston Harbor:

Reflection of TV in window overlooking our gorgeous city view
from the Living Room...

Altho most of our trips to Boston were in glorious mid-October,
two were in early December, and below is what we got in December.

December in Boston:
The Christmas Tree nicknamed "Blink" at Quincy Market & Faneuil Hall, just behind Custom House......
an annual tradition that is always enjoyed. It's about 80 feet tall, and claims are that it's the tallest in New England.
It blinks in sections and plays Christmas music, and the throng of people cheerfully join in to sing carols.
Thousands of people gather prior to the season's first lighting, and hundreds regather each evening thereafter.
The nation's tallest Christmas tree?
Enid, Oklahoma's tree is now the tallest at 140', followed by NYC's Rockefeller Center tree at up to 100',
and Boston's ranks a respectable third at 80'.
Below is the site of the tree, at the east end of the plaza between Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall,
and the whole plaza is a sight to behold.

Click below to play the "lighting of the tree" videos.
You'll see the magnificent Custom House in the final scene of video #1.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Roger Berkowitz sold his Legal Seafood Restaurants in December of 2020 but it is my opinion that the new ownership is running Legal Seafoods as well as (if not better) than when Roger owned it. Legal Seafood is located about a block away from the Custom House (next to the Aquarium) and is a worthwhile visit when visiting Boston.



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[jme]

Roger Berkowitz sold his Legal Seafood Restaurants in December of 2020 but it is my opinion that the new ownership is running Legal Seafoods as well as (if not better) than when Roger owned it. Legal Seafood is located about a block away from the Custom House (next to the Aquarium) and is a worthwhile visit when visiting Boston.



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We've dined there both before he sold it (multiple times since 2013) and after (October of 2021), and we've seen a lot of consistency
with no drop-off in food quality or in service, which remain excellent. It's a great spot and we never miss it....and very convenient.
It's always very crowded and reservations are a must several days prior, if not more.
Great seafood and steaks and a 3-4 minute walk from Custom House across Atlantic Avenue...literally a 2-block walk.

Marriott Vacation Club at Custom House, Boston to Legal Sea Foods - Long Wharf

goo.gl

 

[Al Savage]

Apparently when the original building for the Custom House was constructed in 1847, Boston Harbor reached right to the building. The Harbor is now several blocks away with lots of landfill in between.

This rang a bell, so I type a few keys, and yes . . . the site of the Great Molasses Flood of 1919 is just a mile north of the Custom House. There's a park there now.

So much history in the area.

 

[Fasttr]

This rang a bell, so I type a few keys, and yes . . . the site of the Great Molasses Flood of 1919 is just a mile north of the Custom House. There's a park there now.

View attachment 61385

So much history in the area.

That’s what makes that such a “sweet” area! ;-)

 

[PualaL]

Thanks everyone,

My biggest issue now will be figuring out how to get out of Texas, i.e., points or cash, how much leg room I want to pay for, and whether to go through Philadelphia, Newark or North Carolina. It's almost easier to get to Hawaii. ;-)

I think JetBlue has a direct flight!