I stayed at this hotel one night on a $56 Priceline bid. At that price -- and after perusing the on-line reviews -- I didn't expect much, but I just needed a cheap place to sleep. It turned out to be adequate, even if the physical plant is solidly on the dumpy end of the spectrum.

I presented my SPG Gold card at check-in, and to my surprise, I received an executive floor upgrade and a white paper gift bag with a NutriGrain bar and a 500 ml water bottle. I received coupons for evening appetizers and morning breakfast, presumably because the club lounge was closed on the weekend. Access to the top floors isn't restricted and I'm not sure where the lounge is. I wish I got SPG recognition like this on real paid stays at nice hotels where it counts! I didn't use any of the coupons, pretty confident that I could find better food outside the Sheraton.

I don't know that the rooms are any different on the higher floors than those on the non-executive/SPG floors. I had a great view of the Franklin Institute, 30th Street Station, the art museum, etc. The TV was not flat and there was no mini-bar. There was the standard Sheraton proprietary bed. The "Shine by Bliss" bath products were an upgrade from the generic Sheraton products I saw on my last Sheraton stay. It was also nice that they used the bowed shower curtain rod. The carpet had lots of stains, but I still found the room to be reasonably clean.

As others have reported, the elevators are harrowing and the worst thing about the hotel. The doors would spring back oddly and the ride was kind of shaky. During my stay, the hotel seemed fairly empty and there was, at least, no wait issue.

I went for a run in the gym. I was alone there: there were neither other guests nor any hotel staff attendants present. The machines seemed fine to me, and at least there was a water cooler. The overall condition and ambiance of the fitness facilities were on par with a public pool or an old YMCA.

As for location, this hotel is practically next door to the Four Seasons and the Embassy Suites. Walking around late at night might not be a great idea if you're not packing, but such is Philadelphia.

For a short stay that doesn't require any luxury accoutrements, I would be happy to brave the elevators and return for $56. By comparison, I had been looking at the Doubletree and Hilton Garden Inn at $118 (AAA rate), and nice hotels like the Park Hyatt were more like $200.