65 replies to this topic

[the_traveler]

I am staying at the Embassy Suites at the PHL airport for Thur 10/4 until checkout on Mon 10/8. I have a Suite (would you expect otherwise from me) with 2 double beds and a sofa bed. It also includes a cooked-to-order full breakfast each morning! I'm making a list of those who want to share expenses. If interested, PM me!

Edited by the_traveler, 23 February 2012 - 07:52 PM.
Wrong date

[MistyOLR]

After last year, I'm tempted... Need to talk it over with someone first, though, and I don't want to do that till I'm at my computer. I'll let you know (if space is still available)

[Acela150]

Hotels by the Airport are a good deal.. Just take the train to the Airport from PHL. Trains leave on the :04's and :34's. You can get off at any terminal but I suggest E and F as it seems to be least traveled now that Southwest has a fewer travel destinations now. Fare is $7 and shuttles run to and from the Airport often. The Hilton at the Airport is a Nice Stay and Offers Philly Tastykake's which are a treat when you check in. $110 a night. If your looking for an affordable place to stay without going over $250 a night I suggest The Embassy Suites on the Ben Franklin Parkway and Across the street is the high rated Four Seasons which goes for about $330 a night. Both are with in walking distance of Suburban Station which if you get on Regional Rail is the next station stop after PHL. It's about a 5-10 minute walk without luggage. If you have luggage and your getting off at PHL and you choose one of these two get a cab at PHL. There's also the Best Western Plus around 3rd an Chestnut. That goes for about $200 a night. Hyatt Regency on Penn's Landing for around $225 a night.

This is the majority of my post from the main topic of the gather about hotels in the Philadelphia area. I have no idea on how copy a post from one topic to another. I should make one thing clear about my OP that is here. Trains leave PHL for the airport on the :04's and :34's and arrive about 20 minutes later. As Alan later mentioned if you can walk the Eastwick Station it will save you some money on the first day if you plan not to return to the city. I should mention if you choose to get a cab from PHL to the airport hotels there is a flat rate fee of around $25 plus tip! So take the train! Unless after hours! The last train is I believe 12:04am and the first is 4:34 from PHL. Just grab a schedule to be sure.

[pennyk]

I am staying at the Embassy Suites at the PHL airport for Thur 10/5 until checkout on Mon 10/8.

Dave - my calendar shows that Thursday is October 4th. I assume that you are staying Sunday night to get the better price. I thought you were taking 97 south on Sunday. Did you change your plans? Is it because I might be on 97 on Sunday?

[the_traveler]

I am staying at the Embassy Suites at the PHL airport for Thur 10/5 until checkout on Mon 10/8.

Dave - my calendar shows that Thursday is October 4th. I assume that you are staying Sunday night to get the better price. I thought you were taking 97 south on Sunday. Did you change your plans? Is it because I might be on 97 on Sunday?

See, I get all confused when I try to avoid you Penny! And it's in May that I'll be on 97 with you!

[pennyk]

See, I get all confused when I try to avoid you Penny! And it's in May that I'll be on 97 with you!

Sorry, I get confused with so many people trying to avoid me.

[the_traveler]

And I thought that you were headed north - to see some more "sand"! So I figured I'd stay another day and maybe head west first!

[PRR 60]

As Alan mentioned in the main topic, some of the PHL Airport hotels are located on or just off Bartram Avenue. The SEPTA Airport Line has an intermediate stop at Eastwick, located just off Bartram Avenue west of 84th Street. Staying at one of the Bartram Avenue properties offers the option to use the Eastwick stop instead of one of the airport terminal stops. The Eastwick stop is a SEPTA rail Zone 2 station, while the airport stops are priced at Zone 5, so there would be a savings using Eastwick (unless an Independence Day Pass is purchased). A bigger advantage could be the ability to avoid dependency on the hotel's airport shuttle van, and the possible delays that using the van could cause. For example, if you just miss a van, it could be about 15 minutes before the van would be back at the hotel.

If the weather is decent, and the walk is not a problem, then Eastwick could work. For your information, here is a list of the Bartram Avenue properties, and the walking distance to Eastwick from each.

Hampton Inn – 0.3 miles
Microtel Inn – 0.4 miles
Fairfield Inn – 0.4 miles
Courtyard by Marriott – 0.4 miles
Extended Stay America – 0.5 miles
Extended Stay Deluxe – 0.5 miles
Embassy Suites – 0.7 miles

Edited by PRR 60, 23 February 2012 - 10:44 PM.

[PRR 60]

I would recommend that right now you book fully refundable hotel rates (AAA rates are refundable). Besides the possibility that the hotel rate could come down, there is also a possibility that the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) in Philadelphia that weekend could open the option to book at a downtown property at a reasonable rate. While the airport properties are not bad, the downtown properties offer more options for dining and just walking around the area.

Right now, it can't be determined what affect the FNCE will have on being able to book downtown. Booking an airport hotel on a refundable rate secures a room for the weekend while leaving the option open to shift downtown or even just rebooking the same hotel at a lower rate later.

Edited by PRR 60, 23 February 2012 - 11:01 PM.

[sttsxm]

Hmmmm I might have to come....I'm only 30 minutes away by Amtrak...and an hour by Septa...

Can one of you point me to more info please? NEVER MIND...DUH, found it right in front of me!

BTW...I would SKIP the Microtel, and the 2 Extended Stay hotels...they tend to be very minimalistic

I've stayed in a bunch of them so feel free to ask questions if you want...

My faves in Center City are the Marriott downtown and the Loews....the Courtyard and Residence inn are also decent.....

Haven't stayed in any of the starwood brands, but they all looked decent several months ago when i took tours....the Airport Marriott is fine, but they do not have WiFi in guest rooms, just wired, unless they've addressed that in the past couple months....

The Renaissance is a little farther away from the airport...can be a great value, nice staff for the most part but SORELY in need of a renovation...it's clean enough, but really beaten up, though I've stayed there a couple times when going to Phillies games.

And for food...Reading Terminal Market...or you won't be allowed back into Philly!! LOL

Edited by sttsxm, 23 February 2012 - 11:10 PM.

[Railroad Bill]

I would recommend that right now you book fully refundable hotel rates (AAA rates are refundable). Besides the possibility that the hotel rate could come down, there is also a possibility that the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) in Philadelphia that weekend could open the option to book at a downtown property at a reasonable rate. While the airport properties are not bad, the downtown properties offer more options for dining and just walking around the area.

Right now, it can't be determined what affect the FNCE will have on being able to book downtown. Booking an airport hotel on a refundable rate secures a room for the weekend while leaving the option open to shift downtown or even just rebooking the same hotel at a lower rate later.

We are staying at the Hampton Inn Center City just across from the convention center downtown. Wanted to be closer to the downtown to walk or trolley to Independence Hall, etc since this is our first formal trip to Philadelphia. Also, as mentioned here, always keep checking the room rates as we have experienced reductions over time and especially as one gets a little closer to Oct. AAA or AARP seem to offer the best deals outside of Priceline, which we do not use for various reasons.

[jmbgeg]

I am staying at the Embassy Suites at the PHL airport for Thur 10/4 until checkout on Mon 10/8. I have a Suite (would you expect otherwise from me) with 2 double beds and a sofa bed. It also includes a cooked-to-order full breakfast each morning! I'm making a list of those who want to share expenses. If interested, PM me!

I like Embassy Suites. Hilton points. :-) Not as good as SPG points, but... Seattle lodging was kinda scattered. It would be great if we could gravitate to one airport and one downtown hotel.

[the_traveler]

I nominate the Embassy Suites at the airport as Party Central! Free cooked to order breakfast, HHonors Points, AGR Points (both at the same time) and 2 hours of FREE BOOZE EACH NIGHT! (hic, hic!) Do I hear a FIFTH? (I no care for seconds or thirds!)

[amtrakwolverine]

and not to mention the plaster falling off the ceiling every time a 747 passes only feet away LOL

[MistyOLR]

I nominate the Embassy Suites at the airport as Party Central! Free cooked to order breakfast, HHonors Points, AGR Points (both at the same time) and 2 hours of FREE BOOZE EACH NIGHT! (hic, hic!) Do I hear a FIFTH? (I no care for seconds or thirds!)

Hmm. If that's the case (though I am familiar enough with the fact that the Embassy's breakfast/happy hour exists), I may have to book the Embassy and keep my phone handy for video

[Acela150]

I nominate the Embassy Suites at the airport as Party Central! Free cooked to order breakfast, HHonors Points, AGR Points (both at the same time) and 2 hours of FREE BOOZE EACH NIGHT! (hic, hic!) Do I hear a FIFTH? (I no care for seconds or thirds!)

Two hours to get buzzed?? Not bad!! To bad I live here!! Lol!!

Edited by Acela150, 26 February 2012 - 01:23 AM.

[bbecker258]

I nominate the Embassy Suites at the airport as Party Central! Free cooked to order breakfast, HHonors Points, AGR Points (both at the same time) and 2 hours of FREE BOOZE EACH NIGHT! (hic, hic!) Do I hear a FIFTH? (I no care for seconds or thirds!)

I concur Traveller, I will contribute a fifth of "fremont mischef" a local whiskey to the party! BTW just finished a mystery set in Philly "The Trafickers" by W .E.B. Griffin excellent read. Cheers!

[jis]

For now I have settled for Hampton Inn Airport two blocks from Eastwick Station. Of course by October anything can happen. But at present I am finding it hard to justify the extra cost of the Embassy Suits, and not having to use the shuttle unless it is raining is a definite attraction for me.

Of course there is also the possibility that I will just revert back to collecting Amtrak point by commuting from Metropark to Philadelphia by Amtrak for the Gathering days.

Edited by jis, 26 February 2012 - 09:12 AM.

[The Davy Crockett]

I too booked at the Airport Hampton Inn, but will probably look at options closer to downtown when "VI" is closer. That said, if most folks are going to be near the airport, I might stay put so that I can easily partake in the wild party at the penthouse Embassy Suites.

[the_traveler]

Two hours to get buzzed?? Not bad!! To bad I live here!! Lol!!

FYI: I stayed at the ES in Boca Raton, FL a few years ago, and met some friends for dinner. They met me at the ES first (dinner was off site) at the "free booze" time! The husband tried to pay for the drinks for he and his wife. The bartender said "No charge"!

Edited by the_traveler, 26 February 2012 - 05:40 PM.