As a result, there are many historic sites around the city that are popular attractions. From the Liberty Bell to Independence Hall, Philadelphia showcases important parts of the country's history. If you're planning a trip to the area, it's important to find the perfect hotel for your stay so you can see everything Philadelphia has to offer.
When to Visit Philadelphia, PA
Since summer is the most popular time to visit Philadelphia, it's also the most expensive. The months between June and August bring average daily temperatures in the 70s and 80s and very pleasant weather. However, the combination of summer vacation time and nice weather brings plenty of visitors to the city, and hotels raise room rates to take advantage of the crowds.
While September starts out warm, temperatures quickly drop into the 50s. Of course, a drop in temperature also means a drop in the number of tourists, so hotels will decrease rates to entice people to visit. The months between October and February are by far the cheapest time to visit Philadelphia. However, with frigid temperatures that range in the mid-20s, you'll definitely need to pack warm clothes to tour all the attractions in the city.
The months between March and May are some of the best times to visit Philadelphia. While temperatures range between the brisk mid-30s and mid-50s in March, they climb to comfortable 70s in May. Since summer tourist season hasn't started yet, you can find some very reasonable hotel rates in the city. Plus, although you might tour area attractions with children on field trips, these crowds are nothing compared to the number of tourists who visit during the summer.
Below is a chart of the current pricing seasonality of hotels and motels in Philadelphia, PA:
Averate Rates by Star Rating
Below are 3 charts displaying average nightly cost trends by star rating class in Philadelphia, PA. Analyze these illustrations to evaluate the most cost effective dates to stay in Philadelphia for upcoming travels.
Luxury Hotel Options in Philadelphia, PA
4 Star Average Prices: £142.66
For hotels that go above and beyond the usual in terms of service and amenities, consider one of the many luxury hotels in Philadelphia. The Rittenhouse Hotel is a high-end hotel in the heart of Philadelphia and is directly across from Rittenhouse Square Park. Along with a full-service spa, the hotel also has a health club and an indoor pool. Dining options include Lacroix, a fine-dining restaurant specializing in international cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; The Library Bar, which serves tapas and light fare for dinner; and Mary Cassatt Tea Room, which serves teas and sweets in the afternoon.
The Inn at Penn, A Hilton Hotel is within walking distance of downtown Philadelphia. Sitting in the middle of the University of Pennsylvania campus, this distinctive hotel offers plush rooms with amenities such as laptop-sized safes, dual-line phones, an iPod docking station, LCD televisions with premium cable channels, and free wireless Internet. Walk to one of the area's delicious restaurants, or stay at the hotel and dine at Penne Restaurant and Wine Bar, where the open kitchen lets you watch your pasta being created by hand.
Situated in the historic district, The Franklin Hotel at Independence Park is just blocks away from famous attractions such as Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and Congress Hall. At Balance Spa and Fitness Center, you can stay in shape and pamper yourself. Use the strength-training equipment and cardio center with BroadcastVision to work up a good sweat, and then book an appointment at the spa for a massage, manicure, pedicure, or facial. Be sure to stop by Azalea Restaurant for fine dining overlooking Independence Park for all meals of the day.
Affordable Hotel Options in Philadelphia, PA
3 Star Average Prices: £121.37
If you're looking for a Philadelphia hotel that will stay within your travel budget, consider one of these affordable options. Microtel Inn & Suites Philadelphia Airport is conveniently close to the Philadelphia International Airport and offers a free roundtrip airport shuttle upon request. The hotel has laundry facilities, a fitness center, and a 24-hour front desk. In the morning, take advantage of the free hot and cold breakfast buffet before heading out to explore nearby attractions such as John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, Harrah's Casino and Racetrack, and Hedgerow Theatre.
Twenty minutes from downtown Philadelphia, Quality Inn Philadelphia Airport has in-room amenities such as free wireless Internet, satellite television, room service, free local calls, and free weekday newspapers. For breakfast, take advantage of the complimentary breakfast buffet. When you're looking for lunch and dinner, you can choose one of the nearby restaurants, or stop by the hotel's restaurant, Hunan Garden, which specializes in Chinese cuisine.
Located just north of Philadelphia in Plymouth Meeting, Extended Stay America - Philadelphia - Plymouth Meeting is close to attractions like Plymouth Friends Meetinghouse, Alan West Corson Homestead, and Hovenden House, Barn, and Abolition Hall. All the rooms feature kitchens with a microwave, full-size refrigerator, and stovetop. Rooms also come with flat-panel televisions with cable channels and free wireless Internet.
2 Star Average Prices: £87.64
Best Discounts in Philadelphia, PA
If you know where to look, you can find some great discounts in Philadelphia to help your travel budget stretch further. At Le Méridien Philadelphia, you can choose between two unique packages. The Make Time to Explore package provides a free breakfast for two before you go out and explore the city. Or, take advantage of the Stay and Save Offer, which rewards you with up to 35 percent off the daily rate. When you're at this Georgian revival-style hotel, you'll stay in rooms that have city or park views, and enjoy wireless Internet, an iPod dock, and a flat screen television with movie channels.
Hotel Palomar Philadelphia offers discounts and packages that nearly everyone can use. AAA members enjoy daily savings on the best available rate at the hotel. Additionally, government and military employees receive special per diem rates. Even if you can't take advantage of these discounts, Hotel Palomar has packages everyone can book. The Romance Package is ideal for a getaway to the city. When you arrive, you'll take pleasure in extras like sparkling wine and chocolate-covered strawberries in your room.
Best Value Options in Philadelphia, PA
If you're searching for a mid-range hotel in Philadelphia, consider one of the many value options around the city. In the heart of Philadelphia, Rodeway Inn Center City gives you easy access to historic sites, landmarks, museums, art galleries, parks, restaurants, stores, theaters, and more. The rooms provide amenities such as large desks, free wireless Internet, and flat screen televisions. Upgrade to a suite and enjoy a pullout sofa and a separate living area. When you're ready to explore the city, you can easily walk to attractions such as Independence National Historic Park and Reading Terminal Market.
Conveniently located nine miles from Philadelphia International Airport and 11 miles from downtown Philadelphia, Red Roof Plus+ Philadelphia Airport provides an excellent home base if you want to stay outside the hustle of the city. Take advantage of the free parking and the 24-hour front desk. While you're there, you can also enjoy time outside at the picnic area with barbecue grills. Best of all, you don't have to leave your furry friend at home since pets stay free at the hotel.
At Holiday Inn Philadelphia - Cherry Hill, you can enjoy an indoor pool when the weather is cold, and swim around in an outdoor pool during the warm summer months. The hotel also has an on-site restaurant, Red Hot and Blue, which specializes in classic American cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. When you're in your room, you'll have amenities like a pillow top mattress, refrigerator, flat-panel television, and free wireless Internet.
Philadelphia, PA Neighborhoods
Philadelphia is a vibrant city with unique and distinctive neighborhoods. Old City is where the Founding Fathers declared freedom and built a new country. This neighborhood still has plenty of 18th-century charm with cobblestone streets and old buildings. Hotels in the area, such as Hotel Monaco Philadelphia, put you right in the middle of the history. You can easily walk to sites like Benjamin Franklin Museum, the Liberty Bell Center, and Independence Hall.
Rittenhouse Square is famous for its small galleries, boutiques, cafés, and theaters. During the warmer months, the sidewalks teem with seating for outdoor dining and drinking. Hotels like Rittenhouse 1715 put you on these quiet streets for a relaxing stay in the city. You'll also be steps away from Rittenhouse Square Park, which is a popular spot for artists, families, and festivals.
Whether you're traveling to Philadelphia for a special event, or you simply want to explore this historic city, finding the right hotel in the perfect place is key. From luxury hotels that offer fine dining and spa services, to affordable hotels that give you plenty of amenities while staying within your travel budget, Philadelphia has the best hotel for your getaway.
Philadelphia, PA in a nutshell
Philadelphia, once the nation's capital, was structured to provide a city pattern for most of America's then unincorporated places. William Penn laid out Philadelphia as a green country town, with a few traces that remain discernable. The quiet confines of Fairmount Park provide respite to the hustle and bustle of the city, even without leaving the metropolis. The historic city attributable for the Declaration of Independence has evolved into a hodgepodge of arts and science. It was in one of the colonial houses made of red-bricks that still stand gallantly along the cobbled alleys where Benjamin Franklin became a scientist and statesman. The City of Brotherly Love effortlessly converts ordinary people into proud statesmen. Philadelphia is one of America's most ethnically diverse. Guests can visit the Independent National Historic Park and admire the Liberty Bell, visit the Old City and see three museums, or ride historic ships at the Penn's Landing.
'You have a good many little gifts and virtues, but there is no need of parading them, for conceit spoils the finest genius. There is not much danger that real talent or goodness will be overlooked long, and the great charm of all power is modesty.
Louisa May Alcott, one of the most famous of Philadelphia residents, wrote these words that can, even after decades, help us distinguish between talent and genius.
Philadelphia, known more fondly by the residents as their very own Philly, is a testament to the virtues that hard work brings and the ones that lack thereof can rob a person of. Philadelphia is perhaps the most important city in the United States from a historical point of view, as many historians believe that the real ˜settling' of European explorers in North America can be traced back to Philadelphia. In addition, the city has been a witness to the most important meeting in American history, during which the Declaration of Independence was drafted and published.
Philadelphia of today bears a very different look, though. Far from the chaos of independence war or civil war and far from the relative tranquillity of the early years of the 20th century, the Philadelphia of today is a busy city that is virtually driven by people hurrying to or from their offices.
If you are a compulsive sightseer with a penchant for all things historically significant, you would be glad to know that Philadelphia has a lot in store for you, and a lot really mean a lot!
Economical Stay in Philadelphia
Being a city that is remarkably developed because of its longstanding historical roots as well as its manifold business centers, Philadelphia offers various lodging options ranging from cheap hotels to luxury weekend getaways for tourists, visitors and locals alike.
Finding a truly economical deal for a hotel stay in Philadelphia is not really a difficult affair as almost all of them have online presence, regularly offering various deals to potential guests. That said, it should also be added that your stay in Philadelphia will only be as good as the hotel you choose, because on an average, tourists are known to spend at least 4 nights in the city to cover all the magnificent sights that are on offer. So, you surely wouldn't want to end up with a shabby hotel with no security for you or your belongings. There are many reputed and old hotels in Philadelphia that do charge much lesser than what their newer, posher and swankier counterparts do. Choosing to stay with a hotel like that may eventually save you a good deal of money “ money that you can use to explore newer places or more sights around Philadelphia!
It's a win-win situation, isn't it?!
Seeking Luxury in Philadelphia
There is a good hotel. Then, there is a great hotel. But then, above and beyond the realm of merely great, there is a truly grand hotel that defines what luxury is all about. If such a hotel is what you crave, Philadelphia won't disappoint you one bit.
Luxury hotels in Philadelphia easily number of 50, an impressive count for a city that generally is considered to be too old-fashioned. Staying at such a hotel is an experience in itself, as amenities of world class quality and hospitality of the highest echelon is accorded to you, making you feel worthy of a holiday.
Regular players in the hospitality industry dutifully make an appearance, sometimes many times over, in the list of grand, five star Philadelphia hotels. The Franklin Hotel, located in heart of the old city proper is definitely one to watch out for in this context. Other notable establishments include Rittenhouse Family Hotel and Sofitel Hotel Philadelphia.
Philly: a Sightseer's Wonderland
Sightseers of all kinds, especially those who revel in learning about history and influence of a city on the society at large, should brace themselves before starting out their sightseeing journey in Philadelphia, for they are sure to get wowed by over one hundred majestic sights that the city has in store for them. In fact, a staggering collection of data from Philadelphia Local Authorities suggests that over 30 million tourists “ 75% or so of them being domestic “ have visited Philadelphia annually, in last five years.
Among the perennial crowd favorites at Philadelphia is the Philadelphia Museum of Arts, a fantastic collection of influential artworks of American and foreign origins alike. The Independence Hall “ the building that literally made America, is another sight that you just cannot give a miss. The National Museum of American Jewish History celebrates the roots of Jews who long settled in America, contributing heavily toward her prosperity.
On a more entertaining note (after you get tired of visiting museums of closely guarded artefacts and art), one place you must visit if you have kids accompanying you is the Please Touch Museum.
Local Tranportation in Philly
Being of a class, history and scale that she is, Philadelphia is well-stocked and equipped with one of the finest local transport machinery in the US. The fact that the whole cityscape is much too large to traverse by driving a car around makes it indispensable for tourists to use one form of local transport or another. Buses run through busy streets and calm neighborhoods of Philadelphia with great frequency, and an efficient network of subway trains makes it really easy to hop from one sight to the next. Reasonably good Philadelphia hotels provide local transport assistance free of charge.
The Groundhog Day “ Weather & Philly
The weather in Philadelphia can be a decisive factor on your trip plans. It can get really cold during winter months (from October to January) with temperatures dropping consistently below the freezing point. Even though a trip during winter season can turn out to be more economical, Philadelphia is best visited in summer. The best way to go about the business in such cases is to pick one among many cheap hotels present in Philadelphia and balance your budget out to enjoy the balmy, golden, sunlit Philadelphia in the pink of its glory!
FAQs about hotels in Philadelphia