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

Phone: 215-735-6000

Street Address: 1701 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-6179

Rates: $169 to $199.

Location Rating: Excellent proximity to Rittenhouse Square area and the most prestigious blocks of Walnut Street.

Lobby Appearance: They've got an elegant, recently updated lobby with tall ceilings, chandeliers and marble floors. The lobby gives a positive impression. And everything about entering the hotel says that it should be a good place. Tony Bennett music played during my visit. The elevators are nice.

Room Appearance: Rooms struck me as a bit plain, but clean and recent. They are upgrading to the "Select Comfort bed." (January 2005.) Some rooms have room safes. Bathrooms have good lighting and nice granite countertops. Rooms have the standard room accessories. The desks are a good size. Windows can open.

Useful Nearby Businesses: ING Direct internet cafe is just steps away. You can surf the internet for free there. A dry cleaner is across the street. If you walk about a block towards Sansom Street, you will find "Bonte Belgian Sugar Waffles." I like the ambiance there. And it looks like you can eat cheap there. Plus, there are so many other restaurants and shops here. I like the bar at the Sofitel Hotel, which is close by.

Hotel Restaurants: They've got some nice places... "Capriccio's Cafe & Espresso Bar" is nice. I really like it there. Nice atmosphere. Comfortable. "The Prime Rib" restaurant surpassed my expectations with their posh black-ish decor. This place is classy. They've got a dress code. Then there is "Circles Off The Square." Lots of red there. It is a brighter restaurant with daylight entering through sidewalk windows.

Other Amenities: There is a business center in the lobby area. It is 59 cents per minute with a $2.99 activation fee. But if you have a wifi capable laptop computer, you can get on the internet for free in the lobby. Rooms have T-1 connections and regular data ports. Internet access in the rooms is currently $9.95 per day. But they expect to make it free beginning in June 2005. A hypo-allergenic pillow and blanket is in the closet. There is one free washer and dryer in the fitness center. I believe this is the only free washer and dryer at any Philadelphia hotel. (You'll need a guest key to get to it.) The fitness center is spacious with one room for hand weights and 2 nautilus machines. The main room has 8 cardio machines. A private bathroom and shower is also there.

The "Club Lounge" is comfortable and spacious. It feels homey. For an extra $30, I think it is worth it if you have extra time to spend at the hotel. I considered it more comfortable than most other club lounges. They say barely anyone uses it, but it's a comfortable place to hang.

Would I Stay Here? Yes.

Comments: The building dates back to 1926 and they say it had the city's first steam-powered elevator. The hotel has 545 rooms. The rooms were last updated in 2001 and 2002. They have a few suites. Some have kitchenettes. Twelve percent of rooms are set aside for smokers. The hotel is "pet friendly." And the 5th floor is set aside for guests with pets. There is a one-time $50 charge for most dogs. Eighteen rooms are for disabled guests. Of these, six are fully "ADA."

The location is very desirable. With some packages they offer, valet parking is included. Their website features feedback from their former guests - some good, some bad. I think it is a good hotel. They say they do lots of weddings.

Note: If you get a deal for a one room suite with a sleeper bed, be aware there is a reason the room was cheap. It seems the sofa bed mattress is okay, but the bed is short for tall people. There is no regular bed in these one bedroom suites. These rooms do have abundant space though.

See Philadelphia Art         OR         Go To Next Page