Lodging recommendation for city center

My wife, 6-year old son, and I will be in Philly for 2 days. I%26#39;m looking at checking in 7/28 and checking out 7/30, but I%26#39;m flexible for any weekday, 2-day period between 7/21 and 7/30. I%26#39;ve found lots to do and, because a previous post advised to stay in the city center versus driving from Jersey, and because parking can be a hassle/expensive, I%26#39;m looking for a hotel within walking distance of Independence National Historic Park. I%26#39;m considering the Best Western Center City Hotel (has free parking) and the Hilton Garden Inn on Arch St. I%26#39;ve considered the other Best Western but rooms aren%26#39;t available when I can be in Philly. I%26#39;ve visited gophilly.com and will use that for other info but I%26#39;d like to hear back from the experts.

Lodging recommendation for city center

Suzanne can help narrow your choices, but I can definitely say do NOT NOT NOT stay at the Best Western Center City at 22nd Street (check out the reviews here). Any other hotel is fine.

There are two hotels near the historic area that often have good deals: Holiday Inn at 4th %26amp; Arch, and the Society Hill Sheraton.

Lodging recommendation for city center

The hilton Garden inn is an okay choice, but the Holiday Inn mentioned above is my hotel of preference for the historic district.

Since you are flexible, check out gophila.com for deals that may include free parking. The fact that the best western has to give out free parking normally to get people in instead of as part of a package, well, that should tell you something.

here%26#39;s a link to those hotel packages

www.gophila.com/C/Special_Offers/381.html

They are offering 3 different packages: one with free parking, one with a $50 reward card, and another called ';animal discoveries'; including tickets to the zoo, acquarium and ride the ducks tour, all of which could be fun for you and the 6 yaer old

I completely echo owylyn%26#39;s statement about the Best Western Center City - don%26#39;t stay there. I know free parking is a perk, but not worth it in this case - it%26#39;s a dump.

I went on Hotwire for the dates of 7/28-7/30 and although I don%26#39;t know your price range, there are a couple of decent deals. There is a 3.5* hotel in Old Town/Penn%26#39;s Landing for $100/night - that%26#39;s the Sheraton Society Hill. Thre is also a 3* hotel in Center City East for $96/night and that looks to be the Hilton Garden Inn. Also of note is a 4* hotel in Old Town (it%26#39;s really called Old City, FYI)/Penn%26#39;s Landing for $163/night and that is the Hyatt Regency Penn%26#39;s Landing.

What would I do? Well, I%26#39;d actually give Priceline a whirl in this case for the 4* hotel in Old City/Penn%26#39;s Landing and see if I could bid on it for the your dates for $95/night. That%26#39;s where I%26#39;d start.

If you want to stick with Hotwire, I%26#39;d choose the Sheraton Society Hill over the Hilton Garden in this case - closer to the historic district and near tons of restaurants.

Hope this helps, let me know if you have further questions or need additional assistance. I won%26#39;t be near a computer too much this week, but I%26#39;ll try to check back before Friday.

Suzanne

Hi everyone!

I truly appreciate your prompt responses and expert advice. I chose the 3.5 star hotel on Hotwire which, as Suzanne pointed out, is the Sheraton Society Hill. I spent so much time researching this and got the best info by posting here. Now I need to look for info on Washington D.C., but that%26#39;s a different forum. Thanks again!

Jim

In DC, stay at the Capitol Holiday Inn.

Glad the Sheraton worked out in your favor on Hotwire. My kids love the rooftop indoor pool there. If you want a decent breakfast place that won%26#39;t break the bank, check out the South Street Diner, about a 5 minute walk through Society Hill. The hotel can point you in the right direction.

I have stayed in DC many, many times. I like the Embassy Suites there (22nd Street) when staying with my kids. The Grand Hyatt also tends to run good weekend deals and I like the location and the Metro is literally underneath the hotel. Hotwire has some good deals as well.

The experts over at the DC forum are really informed as well, so I suggest you post your dates of stay and price range there and what you want to do while in DC and I am sure they will help as well. Good luck!

Suzanne

I must be doing something wrong on these websites you have listed . We are going to be there 9/29 - 10/3 and the lowest rates I can get are all over 150.00 per night. I wanted to stay at a B%26amp;B but anything in the old city would be fine. We are not going to get a car except to go out into the county one day to Gettysburg. All the help here is so great. It has made my trip planning so much better. Thanks You. Can you guide me to a really good B%26amp;B?

There%26#39;s a larger convention in town that particular weekend, so rates will be higher than on others...

The Thomas Bond House is a conveniently located B%26amp;B in Old City. Its location is great and the house is historic, but I can%26#39;t speak to its accomodations. You should check out the reviews on TA and elsewhere.

http://www.thomasbondhousebandb.com/

As Loonbeam suggestions, the availability of bargains on Hotwire depends on unsold rooms. I would continue to check as your dates approach, since rooms may open up. Hotels often hold blocks of rooms for conventions, then release them if they%26#39;re not booked closer to the date.