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

Phone: 215-220-4620

Street Address: 4101 Island Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19153

Location Rating: Close to airport. Sewage Treatment Plant is near, but I noticed no smell.

Lobby Appearance: Two checkers tables in front of reception desk. You can sit and play checkers. A room full of vending machines is to the left. You can buy all kinds of things in these machines. Also near the reception desk is a computer where you can surf the web and check email for free. They request that you limit your computer time to 15 minutes so that others can use it.

Walking further into the hotel you will see their 8 story atrium. I like the light wood colors of the floor and furniture. Pleasant water sounds are near and can be best enjoyed sitting in the atrium bar area.

Room Appearance: The suite I saw had a king bed, 26" TV, tea/coffee maker, upgraded Sheraton bed. It was comfortable there, but the living room area needs art on the walls.

Useful Nearby Businesses: A gas station. That's it. Only hotels and industrial businesses are in this neighborhood.

Hotel Restaurants: "Atrium Cafe." It seems like a nice place to eat.

Other Amenities: Restricted access parking. I have the impression that vehicle theft has been a problem in the airport hotel parking lots. They all have security guards watching the lots at night. But this Sheraton complex has an attendant that watches the cars come and go. And parking here is $5. Pets are okay. There is no additional fee. They have a tiny fitness room with minimal equipment. The pool has a maximum depth of 5 feet. A whirlpool is there. They also have a sauna and steam room, which is an uncommon feature among Philadelphia hotels.

Comments: A manager said she liked the atrium aspect of the hotel because she felt it was safer compared to dark, lonely hallways. The hotel has glass elevators that rise 8 stories. If you are afraid of heights (which I am), your heart rate probably is going to increase. To me it is like being on an amusement ride.

The hotel has 251 rooms. A few are for handicapped travellers. Only 10 to 12 rooms are reserved for smokers. The hotel was built in 1985 and had various different names, including Double Tree, Embassy Suites, and Westin. The hotel was last updated in 2001.

I saw room #824. It had a living room that seemed plain and boring to me probably because it had no art on the walls. I was told that theft of art in the rooms had been a problem, so it was removed? (A similar room at the nearby Embassy Suites had the art on the walls and it really made a big difference.) The other areas of this Sheraton suite were comfortable. Outdoors there is a volleyball court with sand. And the parking lot is unusual for this area because it has many trees. This probably adds to the visual appeal of the property and might help keep some cars cooler in the harsh summer sun. The Sheraton Suites has as its neighbor the Sheraton Four Points.

One other thing, when you enter the parking lot, you must press a button and take a parking ticket. When I pressed that button, a metal panel from the machine fell against my car door. Whoever last serviced that machine really was sloppy and the panel had not been secured at all. I think they are going to fix it. But if you are fussy about your car, you might want to stay clear of the strike zone of the panel and get out of your car to retrieve the ticket.

Pluses: Atrium Cafe and water sounds in atrium. Higher level of parking lot security. Sauna and steam room. No extra fee for pets.