Philadelphia: Holiday Inn Express Midtown (June 2017)

Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia Midtown - Great Location, Nice Outdoor Seasonal Pool

My spouse and I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia Midtown on a Saturday night in late June 2017. (We stayed at this hotel previously in December 2012; see our review titled “Some of the Friendliest Staff Ever”.) We remitted Priority Club points for a free night’s stay, which we booked online on the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) website. 

The hotel is located near 13th and Walnut Street in the Midtown neighborhood of the city. Many bars, restaurants, and shops line the streets surrounding the hotel, and you can walk to important historic sites (like the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the National Constitution Center) and nearby hospitals (like Jefferson). The Convention Center, Reading Terminal Market, and Penn’s Landing are also walkable, although a bit farther. A deli/market across the street from the hotel sells snacks and drinks (including beer). Parking is available for $27 in an adjacent parking garage; hotel guests are permitted to leave a car in the garage until 3:00 pm as part of the nightly parking fee.

We reserved a standard room, which was spacious and well-maintained. The bathroom (tub/shower and toilet) was small, but because the sink/vanity was located outside of that room, it was a good design for multiple occupants. Our king-bedded room contained two nightstands, an easy chair/ottoman, large desk/chair, and large flat-screen TV. It also contained a small refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker. Wi-Fi is complimentary. From our window, we had a nice view of the pool deck several stories below.

The hotel provides a complimentary breakfast buffet every morning, and computers and a printer are available in an alcove off the breakfast area. One of the best features of this hotel is its outdoor seasonal pool, which offers a spacious sundeck filled with lounge chairs, regular tables and chairs (with umbrellas), and some comfortable all-weather lounge furniture groupings. An attendant provides towels and supervises the area (although he is not a lifeguard). We were impressed by how relaxed and uncrowded the pool was, even on a hot summer weekend! (We stayed at some NYC hotels last summer with outdoor rooftop pools, and they offered a party-like atmosphere packed tightly with people, but the pool at the Holiday Inn Express Midtown was relaxing and unhurried and suitable for families.) Meeting/event space and a small fitness center are located on the same floor as the pool.

We enjoyed our second stay at this property just as much as our first - the location is excellent for our purposes, allowing us to walk to sites, shops, and restaurants.














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