Seeking a Center City hotel recommendation

[phillyaggie]

Help me decide between Le Meridien, Double Tree, and Holiday Inn Express...

My parents will be visiting me over July 4th and still haven't booked a hotel room. Last time they visited, I reserved Sofitel and they really enjoyed that. For the price, it probably is the best hotel in Philly. It was a special anniversary gift for them.

This time, don't need to be that pricey. We'll be taking day trips to attractions nearby so just really want a nice, clean room and comfy bed; breakfast included is a perk but I figure I can take them to so many breakfast/brunch options around town instead.

I narrowed down my choices to these, and notes are based off of reviews online:

1) Embassy Suites: location is perfect along Parkway, to watch July 4th fireworks, and the free made-to-order breakfast is good too, but everything else seems to not be great. rooms are odd-shaped due to the cylindrical buildings that used to be condos; old decor; bad service; unclean rooms...

2) Le Meridien: best rated among my choices; great decor, nice service, reasonably priced. Only thing that gives me a pause is that my parents are suburbanites and Le Meridien's location is sub-optimal...next to a soup kitchen and that general area just doesn't seem tourist-friendly. Am I making too much of it? For the price, this hotel feels like a steal and a hidden gem.

3) Holiday Inn Express: great part of town, free morning breakfast included... but it's a generic, 2-star hotel. HOpefully comfy enough beds and basic enough decor, but I'm not sure. Anyone have any insight on it?

4) Double Tree on S. Broad: another perfect location, a notch above the Holiday Inn Express, and I've stayed there myself so I know it's pretty good and has good service and nice beds. No complimentary breakfast.


I can't make up my mind between Le Meridien, Double Tree, and Holiday Inn Express. My parents are not frou-frou, they just want a nice clean bed and since they wake up early and a free hotel breakfast right there, they wouldn't have to wait for me to come by and take them to a restaurant. Holiday Inn Express seems the "safest" choice, with Double Tree a close second, and Le Meridien third. If it was for me, I would go for Le Meridien without a doubt. But it's for my elderly parents.

Thanks for any insights.

[phillyaggie]

Ohh, also a question on parking. Since I don't own a car, I've not had to deal with city parking very much. I will be renting a car during their stay, so am wondering what the best/cheapest parking options are near these hotels. I imagine the hotels' own parking garages are not the cheapest option in each case.

[phillyaggie]

So I guess after 88 views, there is no input...I have everyone speechless.

[raider.adam]

I don't stay in hotels in Philly, so I don't know how they are. Doubletree in Manhattan I use frequently and they are fine.

[mixiboi]

The Le Meridien isn't next to a soup kitchen lol. It is next to a lower court tho(where you'll see the warrent squad every day) and mcdonalds.


The parkway and the holiday inn are the best bets if you want to shield your parents from walking out into the seedy side of Philly right away.

The doubletree used to be on that list till I saw a lady take a number one one night next door to it...

[FrankStar]

I was instrumental in choosing the Doubletree for a conference here next year. It's a very nice hotel, in a great location, with a very good staff. The valet parking at the hotel is $30 per night, non-negotiable (it's contracted out).

[phillyaggie]

Thanks guys. So some up votes for Holiday Inn Express and for Double Tree. I think it's down to those two, then.

[Alley]

I have never stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on Walnut Street. My office is close by. As a matter of fact I look at the back of Holiday Inn from my desk all day. It looks decent when I walk by. The breakfast buffett is always packed and it looks good peak in the window one morning! The area is nice to walk around. I would not have an issue letting my parents stay there. It would probably be my pick over Le Meridien based on area. If you rent a car you could park it at the holiday inn they have cheap rates. That way car would always be by your parents.

[phillyaggie]

I have never stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on Walnut Street. My office is close by. As a matter of fact I look at the back of Holiday Inn from my desk all day. It looks decent when I walk by. The breakfast buffett is always packed and it looks good peak in the window one morning! The area is nice to walk around. I would not have an issue letting my parents stay there. It would probably be my pick over Le Meridien based on area. If you rent a car you could park it at the holiday inn they have cheap rates. That way car would always be by your parents.

okay, that probably seals the deal for me right there! Thanks, Alley!

(are you in sales at your company?! lol)

[Alley]

Sales me ha ha ha so not me!

You're close by you should stop by Holiday Inn and take a look around. They have a pool on the Walnut Street side if I recall. If your parents need anything Citi Marketplace directly across the street is great for take out food or whatever.

I'm a little nervous you might not get a reservation anywhere being the July 4th weekend. Get on this task and make a reservation for them soon! What a great time for your parents to visit so much going on.

[phillyaggie]

Thanks again! Booked the room. Plenty of availability still, considering it's the July 4th week. Philly's travel industry must not be doing too well, I don't know.

[thoth]

I always got the sense the July 4th crowd here was mostly locals (as in the Greater Del Val area) who would probably book rooms at the last minute or not at all. But that's purely anecdotal.

Thanks again! Booked the room. Plenty of availability still, considering it's the July 4th week. Philly's travel industry must not be doing too well, I don't know.

[phillyaggie]

I always got the sense the July 4th crowd here was mostly locals (as in the Greater Del Val area) who would probably book rooms at the last minute or not at all. But that's purely anecdotal.

hmm. may be so, but Philly usually ranks in the top 10 lists of places to see July 4th fireworks or celebrate the holiday, so I would think it is a big one for the local tourism industry. Perhaps this year, with July 4th falling smack dab in the middle of the week, there is less of a demand.

Top Ten 4th of July Celebrations- Page 2 | Away.com

10 Best Places to Spend Fourth of July

Best US Fireworks Displays : Holiday : Travel Channel

Best July 4th Fireworks - Articles | Travel + Leisure

etc etc.

[fifi le pew]

oops--see you already booked. I always put my visiting parents up at the Holiday Inn Express. Good central location, clean rooms, cheap, AND they absolutely love the free breakfast! I have some other family members who always stay at the Doubletree. I think the rooms are nicer/higher end at the Doubletree and overall it's a notch above. But, my parents (from a very rural area) really like the Holiday Inn location/price.

[phillyaggie]

oops--see you already booked. I always put my visiting parents up at the Holiday Inn Express. Good central location, clean rooms, cheap, AND they absolutely love the free breakfast! I have some other family members who always stay at the Doubletree. I think the rooms are nicer/higher end at the Doubletree and overall it's a notch above. But, my parents (from a very rural area) really like the Holiday Inn location/price.

Thanks for the feedback/input, fifi. We must have parents with same taste, because I felt the same way about Double Tree vs Holiday Inn Express and they wanted me to book the Holiday Inn express. So that's what I got them. The isn't much price difference between the two (nor, even the Sofitel for that matter, for some reason). But the free breakfast wins out, I guess.