Rates: Singles $430- $585, doubles $470-625 depending on view, suites $1050-3250.

Opened: June 1985

What the Four Season's Says About You: "The 80's were very nice to us"

Stories: With a stated mission of providing pampering to all guests, it is no wonder that every celebrity visiting Boston makes a stop at the fabulous four seasons including the Rolling Stones, Oprah and the members of U2. But shhhh don't tell anyone. All employees are sworn to secrecy and refuse to divulge any dirt.

Special Programs: A full Kosher menu and kids' eating programs. In addition, for those of you traveling with an animal companion look for the unique "pet menu" featuring such delicacies as poached ham with rice ($6.00), grilled chicken liver and rice ($6.00) and chopped meat with egg yolk ($7.00) For dessert treat Princess to ice cream ($3.50), sponge cake with whipped cream ($3.50) or good old fashioned strawberries in fresh cream ($3.50).

The Copley Place

Location: 138 St. James Avenue at Copley Square

Rating: Four Star, Four Diamond

Amenities: Swanky Oak Bar, 24-hour concierge, 24-hour private dining, multilingual staff, beauty salon, babysitting service, Executive Business Center, 24-hour valet parking, same-day laundry, health spa (with security cameras for those who might be cheating on their exercises) and lobby gift shops.

Accommodations: Extra-long mattress, goose-down pillows or hypo-allergenic pillows, mini bar, hand milled soap, luxury bathroom including bath gel and moisturizing lotion.

Rates: standard room $379; suites $650; $429 for a deluxe park-view room.

Fact: Every U.S. president since Taft including President Clinton and soon to be President Gore have stayed at this veritable Boston-as-Boston-can-be institution.

Stories: One of the landmark features of the hotel is The Oval Room. The Oval Room ceiling showcases a trompe l'oeil sky and cloud mural. According to hotel legend, John Singer Sargeant would lunch at the Oval Room while painting the Boston Public Library murals. Inspired by the grandeur that the room emanated, he joined the painters of the dining room's ceiling mural and added an angel. Unfortunately, 30 years later the hotel painted over the angel while remodeling. It is also rumored that Olympic gold medalist Sonia Henning, when visiting Boston, would often have the Oval Room flooded and frozen over so she could practice her majestic figure skating routines.

What the Copley Plaza Says About You: "Hey partner, I'm a wealthy socialite from Dallas."

The Ritz-Carlton