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Where To Stay

Anyone can find a room in any destination, you don’t need us for that. But not everyone can find those special places with a particular charm to them. That takes time, tenacity and a special perspective. We try to find places that evoke a “wow” when you open the door to your room, places you’ll tell your friends about when you get home.

Four Seasons  |  The Rittenhouse
Sofitel  |  Penn's View Hotel

Four Seasons
1 Logan Square
HALL OF FAME

Of all the hotel chains, Four Seasons hotels are the best and most consistent, city to city. The Philadelphia branch is no exception. It is an elegant oasis, on the fringe of the City on Logan Square, but within walking distance to the financial district and to many of the city's most popular museums.

The gorgeous lobby is decorated in classic furnishings inspired by the Federal Period. Light woods and shades of beige and gold provide the background for huge vases of fresh flowers and palms, soft recessed lighting and comfortable seating areas. It is one of the few hotel lobbies where you could easily enjoy an entire day, nestled in a chair overlooking the courtyard with a good book.

The hotel has 364 rooms and 96 suites, most  with views of the City or the interior courtyard. One of the great things about Four Seasons hotels is the size of the rooms. Even the lowest room categories are nearly 400 sq. feet. Moderate, Superior and Deluxe rooms are the same size at 390 sq. feet, the difference being Moderate rooms are on the lower floors and the views may vary. The next step up is The Executive Suite with a choice of City or Courtyard views and is a whopping 660 sq. feet. French doors separate the bedroom from the living room. Marble bathrooms are roomy and outfitted with luxury bath products, plush towels and thick terry robes. As with the lobby, the rooms are furnished in the Federal style with luxurious appointments, buttersoft linens, down pillows and plump bedding. Unlike so many hotels where you "feel" like a guest, these rooms are so comfortable you could be sitting in your own home.

All rooms are wired for Internet access, a mini bar is stocked with refreshments, maid service comes twice a day and a newspaper is delivered to your door early each morning.

The magnificent Fountain Restaurant, is considered one of the best in the country and the elegant room and views of Swann Fountain make it a very special occasion. Fountain is reviewed in our dining section. The Swann Lounge serves lunch, tea and cocktails, often with delightful piano music. The Swann Cafe is a wonderful spot for a delicious lunch, served outside in the courtyard in nice weather and around the fireplace in the winter.

The fitness center opens at 5:30am and is equipped with just about any cardio or strength machine you might want. All have flat screen tvs and headphones. Complimentary juice and fruit are provided along with chilled towels and Evian spray....yes that's right, Evian spray... to keep you cool during your workout. Whirlpool and sauna are available. Also open at 5:30am is a full size indoor pool.



RATES:  Rates vary by season, but as primarily a business hotel, weekend rates are less expensive and at some times of the year a real value.



WHAT OTHERS SAY...
“You can’t find better service in the City of Brotherly Love” than at this “supremely tasteful” hotel on Ben Franklin Parkway, where the “flawless” staff “pampers” every guest, from “power-broking attorneys with cigars” to “babies” with binkies; newly renovated “spacious rooms”, a “divine pool”, a “great location for museums” and the Fountain Restaurant’s “outstanding” fare (it was voted No. 1 in our Philadelphia Restaurants Survey) are other reasons to stay here. Zagat 2007 



To make your travel plans you can go to our Weekend Planner for all the contact information.

Want to save time? Let us make all your travel plans for you including air, car rental, accommodations, dining and activities. You'll even talk to a "live" person and be able to request specific rooms and tables. Just click here. Reservations.

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The Rittenhouse
210 W. Rittenhouse Square
HALL OF FAME

Joining the Four Seasons at the top of the list of Philadelphia hotels is the Rittenhouse Hotel located on beautiful Rittenhouse Square in the heart of the City. This serene park is my favorite in Philadelphia and is surrounded by some wonderful cafes that spill out onto the sidewalk in the nice weather.

Rooms are oversized by any standard at 450-600 sq feet and decorated in polished mahogany furnishings and rich fabrics. Park view rooms are the choice and you'll need to request one at the time you make a reservation. Pillowtop beds are covered in luxury 300 count linens and down pillows. The large marble bathroom has an oversized tub, a separate shower and a separate dressing area. There's Aromatherapy bath products, a 13" TV, plush robes and slippers and huge bath towels.

Other nice amenities include complimentary hotel car (Cadillacs) transportation for city destinations, overnight shoe shine, twice a day maid service, and 24 hour room and concierge services.

You could literally eat all your weekend meals right in the hotel and regret none. The renowned Lacroix Restaurant is a standout. The venerable New York steakhouse, Smith & Wollensky offers another excellent option and you won't want to miss lunch on your Friday arrival during March and September Wine Weeks. $10 wines for $10. The Boathouse Row Pub is a casual venue and sports bar with interesting memorabilia from the legendary Boathouse Row on the Schuykill and for those who enjoy a bit of afternoon tea, the cozy Mary Cassatt Tea Room and Garden is just the spot.

The acclaimed Adolf Biecker Spa and Salon offers a full range of beauty treatments and services and is ideal for getting ready for a night on the town. They feature Aveda products and the treatments are surprisingly reasonable for a 5 star hotel. The Health Club has a complete array of weight machines, treadmills, exercise bikes, rowers, an indoor heated pool and steam and sauna rooms.

If you are traveling with children The Rittenhouse has the best program I've seen to make the little ones feel welcome. They make traveling with children a real pleasure. Take a look: Rittenhouse Children.



RATES:  Weekend rates from $310 most of the year, slightly lower in winter.



WHAT OTHERS SAY...

    * AAA Five-Diamond Award (1991 – 2008)
    * Condé Nast Traveler Gold List (2008)
    * Travel & Leisure Readers' Choice Awards
    * Travel & Leisure World's Best Awards (2008)

It’s “first class all the way” at this wonderfully located, “classy, small” Center City hotel where you’ll peer out onto “one of the prettiest squares on the Eastern seaboard” from the “many windows” of your “luxurious”, “oversized” room – just “an elevator ride” up from “Jean-Marie Lacroix’s magnificent restaurant”; named after the adjacent park, it also “impresses” with its “gracious” staff and “resort-level spa”, leading some to admit they “wouldn’t stay anywhere else in Philly.” Zagat 2007 



To make your travel plans you can go to our Weekend Planner for all the contact information.

Want to save time? Let us make all your travel plans for you including air, car rental, accommodations, dining and activities. You'll even talk to a "live" person and be able to request specific rooms and tables. Just click here. Reservations.

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Sofitel
120 S. 17th Street
EXCELLENT

There is no better value in a major city than Sofitel Hotels. A recent search found a November rate of $205 in Philadelphia and a $289 January rate in New York. Don't be deterred, however, by the low price, these are not budget hotels. In fact, I think of them as 4+ star hotels at a 3 star price.

While there are only 8 in the U.S. they are located in tourist favorites like NYC, Philadelphia, Washington, DC and Chicago. They combine location and a contemporary design with good size rooms and excellent service. All delivered with a wonderful European flair.

The Philadelphia hotel is located just steps from Rittenhouse Square in the heart of the City. Most attractions are a short walk or cab ride away. Uniformed bellman greet your car and escort you into an imposing marble lobby with towering ceilings, huge vases of fragrant flowers and comfortable seating areas. Check-in is swift and efficient.

The rooms are very comfortable at nearly 400 square feet and decorated in soothing colors of beige and rust. Soft lighting and illuminated artwork complete the picture. King beds with pillowtop mattresses and down pillows make for a great night's sleep. Rooms are equipped with wireless Internet access and fully stocked mini-bars. The marble bathrooms feature a separate shower, French bath products, robes and slippers.

Just off the lobby is a delightful bar with large windows looking out onto the street. Great place for a snack (pigs in a blanket 3 ways!) and unusual martinis. This is a hot spot at night when the lights go down. Chez Collette is a French style Bistro serving breakfast, lunch and dinnerand there is a fully outfitted health club with an early am opening.

RATES: Vary with the season, but as mentioned earlier can be well under $250 depending on the time of year.



WHAT OTHERS SAY...
“A terrific, centrally located choice for touring Philly” is this Center City property owned and operated by a “fabulous” French company; there’s “no pool to cool off in” and it’s “not fancy”, but the “sharp staff” helps make the bar a popular pit stop for visiting “singles”, who look past the “perfunctory” lobby to “comfortable” rooms featuring “European decor” and “to-die-for” baths with “top-class toiletries, towels and robes.” Zagat 2007 



To make your travel plans you can go to our Weekend Planner for all the contact information.

Want to save time? Let us make all your travel plans for you including air, car rental, accommodations, dining and activities. You'll even talk to a "live" person and be able to request specific rooms and tables. Just click here. Reservations.

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Penn's View Hotel
Front & Market Streets
EXCELLENT

Once in a while during our travels we encounter a place to stay or eat that is largely overlooked by others. Such is the case of the Penn's View Hotel in Philadelphia where we recently stayed.

Somehow they have managed to successfully bridge the gap between luxury (and expensive) and budget (or cheap) accommodations. Perhaps we could call it moderate luxury. What you won't get is high count linens, thick plush towels, turn-down service, chocolates on your pillow or a state of the art health club. Not that the linens and towels aren't totally adequate, just not at the level of hotels that charge twice or more for a room.

What you do get more than makes up for the lack of some of the luxury amenities. First, you get a great location at Front and Market Streets in Old City, walking distance to many attractions, restaurants and bars. Second, they have a wonderful wine bar, reasonably priced, with 120 wines by the glass. Third, the complimentary "continental" breakfast takes that staple to a new level with waffles and soft boiled eggs in addition to the usual fare. Lastly, there is a delightful Italian restaurant on premises, Ristorante Panorama, excellent for lunch or dinner.

The small lobby evokes memories of small European hotels....lots of marble and interesting murals. The rooms are tastefully furnished, some with exposed brick walls, many with fireplaces, jacuzzis and river views. Our room had hardwood floors, Oriental carpets, heavy floral draperies, rich dark wood furniture and a well sized marble bath.

Best of all, unlike many moderate hotels, this one does not look like it needs a cleaning or refurbishment. It is very well maintained and cared for. Well worth a try.



RATES: Rates vary by season, but we paid only $180 this weekend for a river view room with fireplace and jacuzzi.



WHAT OTHERS SAY:
“For those wishing to avoid the corporate giants”, this “quaint” “charmer” with a “European feel” is a “welcoming place” in an “awesome location”; start with a flight at its “really good wine bar”, then “spend the evening enjoying Old City and the nightclubs on Market Street” before retiring to a “wonderful little room” or Jacuzzi-and-fireplace-appointed suite, all of which are serviced by a “helpful, attentive staff.” Zagat 2007 



To make your travel plans you can go to our Weekend Planner for all the contact information.

Want to save time? Let us make all your travel plans for you including air, car rental, accommodations, dining and activities. You'll even talk to a "live" person and be able to request specific rooms and tables. Just click here. Reservations.

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