Luxury Hotels: The Copley Square Hotel, Boston's newest boutique property located in the heart of Boston's Back Bay and steps from Newbury Street, recently underwent an $18 million facelift transforming it into a modern luxe property. After much anticipation, the hotel reopened in January with three dining and entertainment options located directly on-site, including XHALE, the ultra chic nightclub Saint, and relaxed lounge setting of Minibar.

With 143 redesigned guest rooms and one suite, the pet-friendly hotel features such amenities as high-tech registration pods, stylish décor of sophisticated colors and textures, property-wide complimentary Wi-Fi, nightly wine hour, use of MP3 players and fitness facility, and even a morning power hour with snack bars and coffee.

When we arrived at the hotel, our bulldog Bertha was greeted with extra special attention. They showed us to our pet-friendly room, which came complete with treats, bottled water, a dog bed for our little furry friend and a note from the general manager's dog welcoming her to the property. What a cute touch!

Saint is one of Boston's hottest nightclubs for live-DJ music and dancing so we had to stop by for a quick drink while we were in town. The crowd was a blend of twenty-somethings up to 40+ guests. The hotel is centrally located on Huntington Avenue, just steps from Newbury and Boylston Streets, which are lined with numerous restaurants and bars. Don't miss breakfast the following morning at XHALE, which offered everything from smoked salmon with a bagel to a full breakfast with eggs and bacon.

With the distinction of being Boston's second oldest hotel in continuous operation, this historic property opened on July 4, 1891, and has had a history of prominent guests, including such luminaries as President William McKinley, sports legend Babe Ruth and jazz artists Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington. The hotel also recently announced a partnership with 826 Boston, a nonprofit organization founded by author Dave Eggers and dedicated to supporting students ages six through 18 with their creative and expository writing skills. Together they are launching "Bedtime Stories," a compilation of short stories written by 826 Boston students.

Next time you are in Boston, be sure to book a stay at this fabulous property - you'll be glad you did.

For JustLuxe Kellie K. Speed