Apartment, 2 Bedrooms, Kitchen, Corner | Private kitchen | Full-size fridge, microwave, coffee/tea maker, cookware/dishes/utensils
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Reviews of The Cambridge Karma House

3.5 out of 5
The Cambridge Karma House
17 Banks Street St, Cambridge, MA

Reviews

6.4
Rating 10 - Excellent. 5 out of 48 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 16 out of 48 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 13 out of 48 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 10 out of 48 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 4 out of 48 reviews" "

6.8/10

Cleanliness

6.2/10

Staff & service

5.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

4/10 Poor

Marleneq

Business traveler
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Not a good experience
I am sorry I did not take the reviews into account when booking this property. The house is falling apart, very run down. Even though the cleaner made a huge effort to clean, it is actually not clean-able.Not sure how come this is listed on hotels.com
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
excellent location close to harvard square. the building is not in the best of shape but is more than sufficient for comfort. all the amenities are in excellent condition and i found the apartment very functional and well suited to my needs. arrival and checking in was very smooth and well managed.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2019

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2019

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Disliked: Staff & service, room comfort
It's convenient to Harvard Square and the T. There is no AC, which shouldn't be a problem in most, but not all months. But--Two days before my scheduled check-in, they sent me a message saying the space I had reserved months earlier was not available and my reservation was cancelled. I had plane fare and a commitment to be in Cambridge. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A RESERVATION? Phone conversations with Expedia, totaling some 3 hours over two days, resulted in something being worked out with the property. The owner told Expedia those in the apt. I had reserved had extended their stay. CAN YOU LET SOMEONE EXTEND STAY IN A SPACE THAT'S BEEN RESERVED? The owner communicated to me that my reservation had been cancelled because the credit card I gave Expedia didn't work. It had worked for the airline, however. This was after he was renting us a space. The number he had was off by one digit from that which I gave Expedia. So maybe there was a typo, but THIS WAS A DIFFERENT story from the original communication. Also, if a card doesn't work, DO YOU SUMMARILY CANCEL SOMEONE'S RESERVATION AT THE LAST MINUTE WITHOUT EXPLANATION OR DO YOU ASK FOR ANOTHER CARD? It's always been the latter in my experience.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2018

6/10 Okay

Leah

Liked: Room comfort
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Know what it is before you arrive
Location was good. Cambridge is an expensive place to stay. This is more of a VRBO type of set up than a hotel.

8/10 Good

Mary, Silver Spring, MD

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Convenient location near Harvard
The property manager is easy to get in touch with and responds very quickly. I had some questions and they were answered politely and professionally. The apartment is clean and conveniently located and is a good price for the value. This is not a new place so if you are someone who needs a modern place or a slick-looking hotel room --this is not for you. However, if you want affordable accommodations in an older building with a living room, bedroom, and kitchen all to your own -- this is the place ! I stayed here while participating in the Boston marathon for the second time and it was again a great experience. I loved being able to relax and watch TV and then have my own cup of coffee in a cute little kitchen. It was perfect. If you are driving - Cambridge has resident parking everywhere and your own options are meters or a lot 1/4 mile away. No need for a car here, it's completely walkable with public transportation around the corner.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2018

6/10 Okay

Chris

Liked: Staff & service, room comfort
Great place and location...but a little dirty
We had a comfortable stay over the weekend but it needed a little sprucing up. Under the bed it was filthy - hadn't been swept there for weeks which is a little off putting.... but generally a pleasant experience. Thank you
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2018

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Excellent price and location
The room is spacious -- three rooms plus bath. Location can't be beat. The flat is very much "grad student" in quality, but for the price and the location it can't be beat.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2017

6/10 Okay

Nancy, Pittsburgh, PA

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Close to son's dorm at Harvard
It was the weekend of the Head of the Charles and the hotels in Harvard Sq I usually stay at when visiting my son were asking a king's ransom for a room. Then I discovered Karma House! Very moderate price for a 3-room apartment! I wish I had known about it three years ago when my son was a freshman. It's a little rough around the edges, but clean and the staff is friendly. Great location for all I was doing in Cambridge that visit. As there is no check-in desk, I had to wait till the day of check-in to get an email with check-in instructions. This was difficult for someone like me who likes to plan ahead. I had tried to call, and sent a message via Expedia. Unfortunately, my phone wasn't set up for voicemail when the property manager called back, but Karma House did try to reach me. I just wasn't prepared to answer a call from a strange number located in NJ.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2017

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
This isn't a hotel.
Strange multi-apartment building. You need to call the number you get a code to get in, and text them for the wifi. Fridge full of half-eaten food. Not what I expected from Expedia. Bed was OK.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2017

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
You should not stay here
This property should not be listed by Expedia. It was a total disappointment. It was very difficult to get in touch with anyone. I am trying to get ready for work and the power goes off and the maintenance person is going to be a couple of hours before he can get there. I had to go to the basement and find the breaker box so I could use a dryer to get ready for work Expedia should not have this property on their site. Sherry Cosper and Steve Poston
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2017

2/10 Terrible

PJK, Washington DC

Disliked: Staff & service
Worse Ever Lodging Experience
Look like it is graduate school housing in transition. Hallway and stairs filled with clutter, shipped paint. Residence overbooked; double booked the room I was allocated on arrival and at 9:30 p.m. I was requested to vacate; when I provided my confirmed booking I was still hassled to leave - including knocking on my door at 11:00 p.m. by the person who claimed I was "squatting" in his room - even though I had been given the occupancy and was in bed sleeping. How did he get in and to my room on the third floor - walk up. I have filed a harassment report with the local police. No manager was on location to pay for the room either on arrival or departure - only the maintenance person. Without authorization someone submitted a bank debit.

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness
Hotel was close to Harvard square, transportation
Roomy. It was more of an apartment rather than a hotel room. Air conditioning handled the bedroom adequately but the living room and kitchen was quite warm.

2/10 Terrible

Dustin, DO NOT STAY HERE

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
DO NOT STAY HERE
This is a place to stay if you are fresh out of high school and are looking to experience the college life. it I were going to summarize this location by a few words it would be: small, dirty, uncomfortable, cramped and unrefined... AKA do not stay here.

8/10 Good

Wendy, Silver Lake, NH

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Home away from home
Fantastic quality and price balance. It had home away from home comfort, so it didn't feel like a hotel, but like staying in your own home. Beautiful old apartment in converted house with old wood floors. The house was oozing charm and comfort. The Cambridge Karma House would be my first choice when returning to the Boston area.

8/10 Good

Ken, Tacoma WA

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great location
Very spacious, clean and convenient to points of interest in Cambridge.

6/10 Okay

Bryan, Jacksonville

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Location is awesome. Dusty and hot. Very spacious.

8/10 Good

James, South Salem, NY

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Karma House Review
Great facility - clean, easy to access, quiet....great location

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Disliked: Room comfort
Good Location
Lacation is good and is easy walk to Harvard Square. Nice on site laundry facility. Communication on check in was good but poor on check out.

6/10 Okay

Steven, Anthem, AZ

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Very nice for a stay. Has a full kitchen and was clean.

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Liked: Room comfort
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Not worth $320 per night with peeling paint in the bathroom and on the exterior interior. Locks we covered with tape and said don't remove will fix soon. Shared Ironing Board and No A/C in my unit.

4/10 Poor

George

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities

10/10 Excellent

Felix, Abroad

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great Day in Cambridge
Chester the manager delivered on all that he promised - amenities, parking permit, beds. Dependable, thanks. Very happy with the rental. Hotel service a 3 only because it is basically an apartment.

8/10 Good

Ben, Kansas City

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great for the price.
I didn't know what to expect but was happy with my stay. Living room, Bed room, Kitchen, even though I didn't need it. Bath room was nice. This is not a modern room so don't expect the Hilton but not the price either.

8/10 Good

kathy l, Florence Ma

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The hotel room was more of an apartment setting. Very comfortable and spacious. It was a convenient 5 min walk to Harvard Square. My only complaint is that the family upstairs had very active young children/ child and the running around was very noisy. I didn't spend a lot of time in the apt so it was manageable. If the situation remains the same and you're planning to be home all day, it might not be optimal. Other than that, all was well.

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
This is not a hotel
This is not a hotel. It's a room out of some one's house. This may make sense for a grad student looking for temporary housing, but not for someone on business travel.

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Liked: Room comfort
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Convenient, Reasonable and Comfortable
The place is very convenient to the Harvard campus and away from the square. It's a couple blocks from Quincy House and Dunster House in a residential community. Our room was basically the second floor of a duplex. Compared to a hotel room it's very spacious though rundown. The porch could use a new paint job and many of the cabinets were missing handles. I presume they're in the process of fixing it up though I could have added the handles in an hour. On the plus side, it was reasonably priced, nicely located, had new double pane windows which kept it quiet and warm, a kitchen with full size refrigerator and microwave, and balcony deck. It even provided lotion which was great since Cambridge was so dry. There were dishes, utensils, spices, and even coffee maker and French press, though we didn't use any of it -- found the coffee too late. A couch opens into a full size futon in the living room. That and the bed were both very comfortable. Would prefer this for an extended stay over a hotel. No one to greet for check-in. An email with codes to unlock the doors is provided before arrival.

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Liked: Room comfort
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The duvet cover had stains on it - probably is not changed across different tenants. Even though this is a no-front desk hotel the person responsible was extremely helpful - they would always reply on the phone or call back immediately. The rooms are very big and the location is pretty good.

8/10 Good

T, New York, NY

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Nice apt in a house near Harvard Square
It was a nice, clean spacious apartment layout room in a house very close to Harvard Square. Very affordable and convenient.

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Liked: Room comfort
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Not worth the price
Stayed twice in two different rooms. Room 17-1 was ok. Old building but comfortable. Room 19-1 was the opposite. Not very clean. Lots of dust below the bed, strange smell and lots of Blue flies?? I complained and will stay there again to see whether anything changed. Lots of other places to stay cheaper and cleaner.

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
This hotel is unattended. It was a hostel or ski lodge mentality at a hotel's prices. Winter business travel is tough enough as it is, without the variables presented by this location. Access was difficult, with two kinds of old push button technology on the outside and inside doors. A follow up email to my reservation from the hotel owner spelled out how to use the technology, and I printed it out, in case my late arrival was problematic. Street light was all I had to review it on paper, although you could review door opening instructions on your cell. Help by phone is available. Nest keeps the room at 50. It took 2.5 hours to bring it to 65 degrees -- you could wear extra clothes to bed and get warmer, faster. Who wants to go to all this trouble with an early meeting looming? If you're willing to do Nest, this hotel owner should upgrade on the doors and consider a human attendant or some other creative way to bring the warmth back to a very cold stay.

4/10 Poor

Dr. Gregory, The Garden State

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Not your typical "hotel"
This is basic accomodations, but if you are young or frugal, it will be satisfactory. There is a kitchen and an adequate bathroom. There is no desk, so nobody is there to do things like reset the router; the WiFi wouldn't work because of this. Perhaps most distressing is that occupants of the two bedrooms heard something moving inside the walls at 6 AM which woke both of us up. Not sure what this was, but a building inspection is called for. Accomodations were adequate for our needs.

10/10 Excellent

Dan, Milford, CT

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great place to stay in Cambridge
Place was clean and fun. In a great neighborhood, fabulous restaurants nearby. Guy in charge was very easy to deal with. Cool art in the stairwell.

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
great stay, good location. very close to harvard square. very large place

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Nice apartment close to Harvard square.
The apartment comes with a full kitchen and very spacious living and bedroom. It's very nice and have wonderful natural light. The location is great, walking distance to the Harvard square and restaurants. The host is very accommodating, even though it does not have a formal lobby, but he is very responsive on calls.

2/10 Terrible

Teng

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

6/10 Okay

Ryan, Schenectady

Liked: Room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service
First Time Guest
Once I got settled it was great, but it was impossible to reach the owners to get information on things like parking, etc. Parking was a major problem and it would serve their guests much better if they gave a little heads up. The apartment was great and very comfortable. They have some kinks to work out, but for the money it is a great stay. I would likely give it another try.

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveler

Disliked: Staff & service
Communications were suboptimal making for a very stressful visit. Difficult to enter at night. NO ONE TO ANSWER THE TELEPHONE. No one answered email request being sent with difficulty from Toulouse & Heathrow airports. When inside was given the incorrect Wi-Fi code & no instructions at all on how to use the TV.

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Room comfort
OK choice - 3.5 stars is probably more appropriate
Overall OK experience at Cambridge Karma House - it's basically like staying at your friend's college apartment or private hostel-style apartment very close to campus, only it costs (a fair amount of) money. Huge space (3 rooms + bathroom, backyard), comfy bed, old student furniture, clean enough for college students or 20-somethings. Official check-in was at 3pm (was told would be available by 2pm) - came at ~3:15pm and door was locked for self-check in, unclear if room would be available. Almost got another hotel room after 45min but fortunately someone called back and was able to get the apartment unlocked (hopefully they had time to clean it??). Ideal location close to Harvard Yard and campus. Self-service laundry, toiletries, etc. in the basement of the house. Given the fair amount of cost, would give it about 3-3.5 stars. If there was no issues with check-in and was confident it was thoroughly cleaned, would give it 4 stars.

10/10 Excellent

Velvet, Oklahoma City

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Cozy and fun stay close to Harvard Square
Really enjoyed my stay at the Karma house. I was looking for a unique place to stay in Cambridge and this was perfect. It was within walking distance of many things and extremely comfy. It really had everything you needed and as a single female traveling.... I felt safe staying there which was important. The bed and pillows were so COMFORTABLE I had no trouble falling asleep at night. The kitchen had all the stuff needed for cooking which was nice. Check in and check out was VERY simple. LOVED my whole experience at this place. Definitely will stay again!!!

8/10 Good

Ameenah

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
We were lucky to get in house since directions for entry did not accompany reservation confirmation and there was no contact information outside the locked building. Also, discrepancy between reservation and room assignment; however, it all worked out in the end. Good kitchen facilities.

4/10 Poor

Cuneyt, Santa Clara, CA

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Needs improvement but very good location
We stayed 2 nights in one of the apartment of the house (there are 4 I think). Catalina, the person in charge, is very nice and helpful but she's not very organized. When we arrived at the house, we found the door of the apartment closed whereas it should have been open, as specified in the email I received the day before. She had given the wrong apartment number. I had to call her and she seemed very confused but luckily, she was not far and came after a few minutes. We finally entered and she showed us around, the beddings were not ready and we had to get them in the basement. Then Catalina left us, she went with the keys of the apartment and I had to call her again to get the keys. In short, The place was not ready for us and it was not very clean. It's a pity that this house is not better maintained because it's a really beautiful old house. The location is perfect, 5 minutes walk from Harvard Campus and very close to the subway to access downtown Boston. So I hope Catalina will get organized and take things in hand. Then, it will be a lovely place to stay!

6/10 Okay

Nicholas, Princeton, NJ

Liked: Cleanliness
Funky bargain
One floor of a brownstone: essentially a largish 1BR apt. Lots of square footage, dim lights. Bed comfortable enough. Modest, but adequate, water pressure in the shower.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Cozy place very near Harvard
Location in a charming street that's walking distance to restaurants, shopping, Harvard, Harvard Square, and the metro line (T). It's also very close to the Charles River, so if you like running, this is a great place to stay. The apartment I stayed at is also very charming and cozy. Very private, great kitchen with all the appliances and supplies if you want to cook (refrigerator, sink, oven, stove, dishes, microwave, etc.). The bed is a little creaky and hard, but not a major issue. It's an old house, so it could be part of the theme. The unit I stayed in also had a nice private patio on the top floor, which was a big plus. There is no maid service or front desk, and is more like a vacation rental unit. They basically give you a set of instructions and leave it up to you to self-check in and out. If you're OK with this, it's a great place to stay.

8/10 Good

Guy, Los Angeles

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Cool alternative to the big chains in Cambridge
Coming to Cambridge for business, it was another of those weeks where the hotel rates at all the standard chains were outrageous. Happily, I found the Karma House on Expedia. This is a cool alternative, perfectly located between two of my Biotech clients, with the T Red Line running between them, and just blocks from Harvard. It's a guest House in a quaint Victorian run by a nice couple who are very responsive. Clean, spacious apartment accommodations. Made me feel a little like a college student again, situated as it is in an area surrounded by Harvard housing. Check in couldn't be easier, the price was right and it was very comfortable, with free WIFI so that I could crank out and mail PowerPoint between meetings. I'd recommend it, for those who are not tied to the Corporate chains and who are. perhaps, a little more adventurous.

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness

6/10 Okay

yuki, Kanagawa Japan

Liked: Cleanliness
Convenient location yet it does not look like a place for tourists to stay but just a house. It's also hard to find at night because it does not have a sign or anything like that.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2018

8/10 Good

François

Liked: Staff & service, room comfort
Séjour "american way of life" Boston et environs
Avons effectué 2 séjours de 3 jours, emplacement idéal pour accéder facilement aux campus de Harvard et du MIT, accès rapide à Boston par le métro. Quartier résidentiel calme, dans un écrin de verdure à deux pas de Cambridge et de son animation étudiante. Maison en bois , bien équipée pour séjour en famille, avec ambiance typiquement américaine, on se sent vraiment "at home". Permis de parking fourni par le propriétaire, obligatoire (sinon, amende de 30 $ par jour) Pas d'e-mail disponible pour prendre contact avec le gérant à l'avance pour le check-in, donc ne pas hésiter à le joindre avec par téléphone ou SMS pour les informations.