The seasonal "rooftop resort" and swimming pool are probably this hotel's best-known features, with excellent service a close runner-up. Adjacent to Copley Place and the Prudential Center, the independently owned Colonnade is a slice of Europe in the all-American shopping paradise of the Back Bay. It caters to working travelers, to visitors engaging in retail therapy, and to children of all ages with the "VIKids" program and a rubber ducky in every bathroom. You might hear a dozen languages spoken by the guests and the friendly, professional staff of the 11-story concrete-and-glass hotel.

The elegance of the quiet, high-ceilinged public spaces carries over to the large guest rooms. All have contemporary oak or mahogany furnishings and marble bathrooms (each with its own phone). Units on the Huntington Avenue side overlook the bustling Prudential Center complex, while rooms at the back survey the pleasant patchwork of the South End. Suites have dining rooms and sitting areas, and the Author's Suite contains autographed copies of the work of celebrated (or at least published) literary guests. The Conductor's Suite is my favorite; it holds a baby grand piano.

Facilities:Restaurant (Brasserie Jo); bar; heated outdoor rooftop pool; fitness center; concierge; 24-hr. business center; 24-hr. room service; in-room massage; babysitting; laundry service; same-day dry cleaning; rooms for those w/limited mobility