The hotel is located in Center City, adjacent to a parking garage, and although the rates are not less than a nearby parking garage, as a hotel guest, you are afforded extra time for your rate. Whereas a regular garage (which we used) charges by the hour or day, the garage associated with the hotel allows guests to park there until 2:00 pm or 3:00 pm as part of their nightly rate. (We ended up paying for nearly two entire days parking with the independent garage because we picked up our car later than the 24 hour limit.) There are many bars, restaurants, and shops within walking distance of the hotel, and you can walk from here to all of the historic sites (like the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the National Constitution Center) as well as nearby hospitals (like Jefferson). The Convention Center and Reading Terminal Market are an easy walk, with Penn’s Landing just a bit farther (but still walkable). There is a deli/market across the street that sells drinks and snacks, including beer, which is somewhat of a rarity in Pennsylvania. The hotel is two blocks from Broad Street and Avenue of the Arts. We walked out of the hotel and watched the Mummers Parade on New Year’s Day, and it was not necessary to stake out a spot hours before the parade began.
We had a standard room, but it was larger and better maintained than we expected. The bathroom (tub/shower and toilet) was tiny, but the sink/vanity was located outside of it, which helps when more than one person is trying to get ready. We had a king-bed room, with an easy chair/ottoman, desk/chair, and two small wing chairs and a tiny table, and still had plenty of room to move around easily. Our room had a refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker. Wi-Fi is free, and we even got a morning paper delivered (we are Priority Club members, but we do not have any special status with our membership).
A complimentary breakfast buffet was available, and there are computers and a printer set up in an alcove off the breakfast area. The entrance to the hotel from the main street is kept locked from approximately 9:00 pm to 11:00 am, so you must use the entrance inside the parking garage. The hotel offers an affordable shuttle to the airport, although you can also take the train or go by cab. In warmer months, the hotel has an outdoor pool that is on the roof of the second or third floor (not on the top roof of the hotel). We were able to see down to the pool deck from our window; it must be a great place to relax for an hour or two on a hot summer day. This hotel also offers suites, an executive/club level, and meeting/event space.
The staff (from the front desk ladies to the cleaning people to the maintenance people) at this hotel was so pleasant! Even though they were working on a holiday, they could not have been nicer, and went out of their way to make sure that we had a good stay.
We enjoyed our stay and thought that the location was great for the sights that we wanted to visit. The hotel is well-kept, and the staff is friendly and efficient. We will gladly stay here again when we visit Philadelphia, particularly if we visit in the summer when the outdoor pool is open.
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