Thatch Quarters on Dorchester Street — Hotel in Boston

Recently took a position that requires extensive travel across the country. Boston is one of my geographical locations and needed to find an affordable hotel for two nights. When I say affordable, I can’t believe $200 a night is “affordable” for a place like this one! Honestly, it could have been $49 a night and I still would have NOT stayed at this location. They clearly claim to be a hotel, and the listing states “entire apartment” on the Air B&B listing… however, it is nothing more than a hostel for rich kids quite frankly. I could touch all four walls while standing in the center of the room. It had bunk beds claiming to sleep two guests, but they were twin size beds and if you happen to put them side by side, that’s the size of the room you’re getting here.

When I first arrived, the jank keypad locks they purchased from the Home Depot and installed on each “apartment” would NOT work. I was not able to lock the door when exiting said “room”, therefore I had to seriously take my valuables with me EVERY TIME I needed to use the restroom, run downstairs, or even to just smoke a cigarette outside. I texted immediately and they said the Wi-Fi is working, so the lock is working. I had to send them multiple videos via chat AND email proving that you enter the code, the lock spins as though it is going to close, and then spins right back to the unlocked position. They finally offered me a “room” on the floor below but I wasn’t about to pack my stuff back into the suitcase and move as I was in for the night considering I was there for work. They would not call me as I asked, only text messaging even though this is a major issue in my opinion.

I had the amazing fortune to be roomed next to some folks who didn’t speak English and were either cooking up heroin or shooting it up since they spent 4 hours banging on the doors/walls, slamming doors to go outside and smoke or use the community restroom, and had ZERO respect for those in the room next door. Honest to god, they slammed the doors every 20-25 minutes between the hours of 8pm and midnight. I finally fell asleep around 12:30 only to be woken back up again around 1am and then again at 2am by these imbeciles! Finally I booked a REAL hotel for night two and texted at 2:24am to adjust my reservation as I WILL not be back considering I do NOT feel safe here. They didn’t respond, but I got yet another text message that morning asking me to confirm I was checking out by responding with “checkout”. The next morning I received the same exact robo message and ignored it this time and contacted Air B&B to request a refund for night two… which finally was processed.

The restroom is beautifully decorated with long strands of hair from previous stays, pools of water coming from the shower, the industrial paper towel dispensers that are installed on the adjoining room so they can hear you “pull hard” for paper towels, or even the see-thru toilet paper offings… but what I loved the most, their creativity on incorporating the black mold (assuming it was black mold) that surrounds the shower door. Nothing like some life threatening spores to wake you up in the morning… who needs coffee when you’re soaking in dangerous air!

I kid you not, I am NOT exaggerating in any means here.. this is exactly how my experience went. With that said, I have two positives on the stay… 1) Roku TV makes it easy to watch when the last guest forgot to log out… and 2) It has doors. Seriously folks, who has ever given praise about a “hotel” having a f’in door on the room?!

This place would be great if you were a broke college kid only in town to party and could care less about the filthy conditions, inability to sleep or future health concerns.

Stay away folks! You can find a REAL hotel outside the city for MUCH less and have a more considerable...

I loved it here! It was a great stay. Very well priced too. The facility is very clean. I didn’t run into others much, we all kept to ourselves. The bathrooms are clean. The beds are comfortable. The televisions connect to Netflix & Hulu, they’re smart TVs, so that’s a plus! There’s a small closet if you need to hang anything. A little desk. I stayed in a room with bunk beds, so if you’re traveling with a friend there’s rooms with bunk beds! We switched rooms the last night because there was a slight mixup with our reservation but I say this because I want to address they clean the sheets! As we were switching rooms a cleaning service came in and switched the sheets to fresh ones, taking away the used ones to clean. There is no maid, this is an outside service they use to come in. This isn’t like a hotel where you check in, you’re given the passcode to enter the building, then you have your own personal passcode for your room. So you don’t have to worry about anything getting stolen, only you know the passcode, and the passcode isn’t changed until your checkout time. My friend and I tested to see if we could still get into our old room haha so trust me I know for a fact the passcodes are changed once your checkout time hits. Don’t worry about theft! I know that’s a fear staying in a hostel. This was lovely place. It didn’t feel like it wasn’t a hotel, it was more a causal style hotel. And at least they’re clean which is always a concern when staying anywhere. They keep the place in very good condition. The kitchen was a useful amenity! You can store anything in the fridge or cupboards. I didn’t have any problem with someone taking what wasn’t there’s during my four day stay. Of course that isn’t guaranteed, but while I was there everyone was respectful and courteous. They have pots and pans to cook. I went out to the supermarket my first night to some food, drinks, snacks. I don’t remember eating out much to be honest. But I was (and still am) a broke college student so a choice of meals was ramen. The fridge isn’t that big and you’re sharing it with others, so don’t go crazy in what you buy. I’d say really use it to keep your drinks cold. Maybe deli meat for sandwiches? Oh there’s a toaster. Coffee maker. Oven. Microwave. The laundry machine and dryer came in handy. You have to pay, same as a laundromat, quarters. I stayed up on the third floor, the last, the steps weren’t a hassle, even when drunk haha. There’s a bar conveniently across the street! I didn’t get to check it out as my friend was underage at the time, but it seemed nice! I remember walking to the subway, it didn’t seem far. There’s a strip of stores nearby, little stores, practically across the street basically. On the corner there’s a Dunkin‘ Donuts! That was our go to spot for breakfast. The aquarium isn’t too far, I remember a relatively cheap Uber ride to get there. Same with the transit center a cheap Uber ride to get from there to the building and same when returning home. Our neighbor guests told us there was a nice trail nearby! Unfortunately I visited for Spring Break during that major snowstorm in 2017. I know, I know, Boston for Spring Break? Despite the snowstorm keeping me inside for the entire day I enjoyed myself! I went out in the storm, braving the hail that I was pelted with, and went to the stores nearby then came back to relax the rest of the day throughout the snowstorm. If you plan to visit Boston or stay in Boston, I suggest staying here! Even after all these years I remember this place. Dot Street in Boston. I hope to go back one day! If I ever do go back to Boston, even if I have hotel money haha, I’ll probably choose to...

(2nd half of review under Bit 2)

Before anything else, I want to make clear: 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻/𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻. I spent a wk trying to find better options. They don't exist. If you're a person or pair visiting Boston, you won't get better value. Prices are even LOWER than the only decent hostel w/better accommodations.

Manage expectations. This isn't a hotel. You won't have f2f contact w/any staff aside from cleaning& they're not for cust. service. Not even extra towels.

This is LIKE a hostel, but w/private rooms& common spaces utilized by fewer guests. That's what you pay for; that's what you get.

Pros & cons: (in 2 separate reviews bc character limits) 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 -𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆.

• This was big to me bc of a disability that affects my mobility. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲. This is disclosed several places in the booking process on website/Airbnb/Vrbo. They have 4 1st floor rooms& it was workable FOR ME, bc I have a walker & can do some things w/out mobility aids. 𝗜𝗧 𝗪𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗕𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗔 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗜𝗥. • If you're looking for a room with a view, this isn't it. • Shared kitchen/pay laundry is on 2nd floor. The steps are very narrow, front to back & carpeted, which makes navigating tricky, even if you're not disabled. • The main entrance has a step up to come in &the door was barely wide enough to fit a walker. •Bathrooms, if they're all the same, are 𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘆. Like, difficult to open the door w/out standing in one spot tiny. • Doors& stairs are LOUD. You'll hear your housemates enter &leave room &building.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻/𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. • The mattresses are FAR too soft. Had difficulty getting comfortable enough to sleep. I could feel slats under the mattress& it was difficult to move around, bc there's no solid support at all. • There is no place in the shower, besides the floor, to put your own toiletries. There should be a caddy/shelf on the wall inside. • Toilet is not attached solidly enough to the floor. One of the housemates managed to move it after a wild night out, far enough for the door to get caught as I tried to close it. I shifted it back into place w/out too much strain, even w/disabilities. • There is no reachable place outside shower to hang a towel. You CAN set a folded one on toilet/sink, but sometimes partiers don't leave the toilet in the best condition& the sink is where I had to put any toiletries. This is more of a problem than towels. It means the shower door is open w/water running& floor gets soaked. • The toilet paper is terrible and leaves 'lint' on your skin. • W/no other clothing storage, the closet needs more hangers. • Cleaners need to keep paper towels full in bathroom. • Guests should receive more comprehensive house rules/expectations before/immediately after booking, to prepare. • International guests should get door codes/house rules/wifi info early & all should be DIRECT EMAILED regardless of booking site. Their phones don't work here & I had to help 2 int'l check-ins to contact Thatch staff. • Signage needs to be in multiple languages. • Rooms should be arranged to give easier access to A/C controls, not only from the bed. • Bannisters should be more securely attached. • The provided chair is flimsy and uncomfortable.

Pros in...