The tasteful Charles Hotel has an intellectual vibe befitting a hotel just steps from Harvard — but it's best for travelers who want to spend most of their time in Cambridge, not Boston proper

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• The Charles Hotel is a sophisticated hotel in Cambridge, MA with welcoming staff that made me feel instantly at home.
• There are 245 rooms and suites. I spent the night in the entry-level, 273-square-foot Deluxe King Room and paid $299 for a booking made three weeks in advance.
• While I found the room to be comfortable, I loved spending time in the public spaces, looking at the art and quilt collections, and reading in the lobby library.
• Read all Business Insider hotel reviews here.

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The Charles Hotel is a cornerstone of collegiate Cambridge, adjacent to bustling Harvard Square, just over the Charles River from Boston.

The area is technically a city in its own right and is home to two of America's most prestigious universities, Harvard and M.I.T., and plenty of dining, shopping, and student merriment is to be found right outside the boutique hotel's front door.

As such, the hotel attracts an illustrious clientele of Harvard guest lecturers including Nobel laureates and visiting dignitaries. There's also a fair share of parents visiting their kids or bringing high school seniors pondering college choices, and young teens whose parents hope a visit may spark Ivy League aspirations. There are many repeat guests, so don't be surprised to hear the staff call visitors by name. Its on-site eateries and bars also draw a loyal local crowd.

For visitors who want to be as close as possible to Harvard Square, Charles has an edge. If you're purely interested in Boston attractions, you'd be better served staying in Boston proper.

I stayed at The Charles recently to check-up on my goddaughter, a Harvard freshman. While she was attending class, I enjoyed roaming Cambridge, exploring local museums, and browsing the indie bookstores and shops.

My solo overnight stay was in a standard Deluxe King that felt uncluttered and would have provided ample space had I been with a companion. The Charles has 295 rooms including 46 spacious suites and standard rooms start at $299, with suites starting at $650.

I'd return to The Charles without hesitation just to continue browsing the book collection and nurture my cerebral side.

• The first impression
• The room
• On-site amenities
• What's nearby
• What others say
• What you need to know
• The bottom line
• Book a room at The Charles Hotel starting at $299 a night