Research Your Hotel Options At Hotelinspector.com
100% Hotel Reviews
No Reservations Offered
Just info, opinions, recommendations... and THE BRUTAL TRUTH

Phone: 215-496-3200

Street Address: 21 N. Juniper Street at City Hall

Rates: Depends upon occupancy level. Generally starting at $109 to $189, as of December 2004.

Location Rating: Excellent if you want to be near City Hall or the Criminal Justice Center.

Lobby Appearance: Old yet new. Interesting architecture. This is a historic building which first opened in 1926 and until 1999 it was formerly the City Hall Annex. They say it was a horrible building before Marriott bought it and fixed it up.

Room Appearance: All of the bathrooms have drab lighting. Bedrooms have lighting which is fine. The rooms look new and have a decor which is oldish but modern.

Useful Nearby Businesses: Same as the Marriott Residence Inn, which is next door.

Hotel Restaurants: Junipers. They have a dining room on two different floors. Main level dining room looks more comfortable with its hang out areas. Upper level dining room is more formal and has drab evening lighting. Their new manager who just came on board might make changes with that.

Other Amenities: They have a better and much more spacious fitness center than their next door neighbor - the Marriott Residence Inn Hotel, but it does not top the full service Marriott down the block. Their swimming pool and whirlpool is also a little nicer and features interesting views on to the street below. A frequent shuttle to the airport is available for $8. The service is provided by USA Limo. Free high speed wireless internet is available in all the guest rooms. In the lobby they have an area where you can buy a pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream and other snacks. Concierge desk is in the lobby. Rooms have in-room coffee, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, plus dual line phones. Weather forecast is posted in the lobby. You can wash your clothes and dry them for $1 per load.

Would I Stay Here? Yes.

Comments: This hotel has 498 guest rooms, including 20 suites. They told me that their guests frequently express positive surprise with the hotel's ambiance and say it is unlike other Marriott Courtyard facilities. Some parts of the hotel do have a certain visual appeal. Other parts are ordinary. Excellent views of City Hall can be had from here. The views are a little better and more in your face at the Marriott Residence Inn which is next door, but the views at the Marriott Courtyard are still good. The lobby was chilly during my visit. It was a cold, very windy day. They do have "parlor rooms" with hideaway murphy beds. These are spacious rooms which are suitable for a party and include a microwave and refrigerator.