One of Back Bay’s more family-friendly hotels, The Colonnade offers spacious rooms that include elegant decor and a signature rubber ducks in each bath. The hotel boasts the city’s only outdoor rooftop swimming pool, an attraction for Bostonians as well as hotel guests, and comes complete with pool toys and chaise lounges; there’s often a lively singles scene at the poolside bar. A subway stop of the Green Line's E branch is just outside the door, making the Colonnade convenient for getting downtown or out to the major museums. It's also a short walk from Copley Square and across from the Prudential Center. The street-level restaurant, Brasserie Jo (see), is a popular after-work watering hole for Back Bay professionals.

The Colonnade Hotel Amenities:

• 285 rooms, 1 story. Pets accepted. Check-in 3 pm, check-out Noon. High-speed Internet access, wireless Internet access. Restaurant, bar. Fitness room. Outdoor pool. Business center. Credit cards accepted.