MSPeconomist

Sorry, I know it's SEPTA and I'm not an expert but I guess it looks like light rail to me, where I use the term to mean something between the Amtrak long distance trains and the trolleys which isn't a subway.

MrRuffles

Nope, definitely not light rail - SEPTA Regional Rail is a commuter train service with many of its lines sharing the same tracks as Amtrak. It’s actually heavy rail.

MrRuffles

You’re not going to get much closer to Society Hill - the only hotel located there is the Sheraton which is located on its unattractive eastern border. It’s literally one city block from the hotel to Walnut Street which is the northern border of Society Hill.

jpschoubert

Stayed there in early Aug - Still trying to work it out with a very unresponsive Marriott customer care, but family was terrorized by a mouse in the room. They were only able to get us into a smaller room and give us 2 breakfast vouchers! They blamed construction in the area as the reason.

Packed up at midnight to the Marriott downtown - only a few mns walk from old town, better choice if you have to go Marriott.

Good luck & bring traps

gcashin

Any recent updates on what the hotel offers as far as platinum benefits? Do they offer breakfast for Platinums?

For parking, looks like the options are valet for $38 or self-park for $28. Is the self-park reasonably easy to access?

kklems

Not super recent but we were here in July 16 with 2 rooms per night and got vouchers for cont brekkie for all 7 of us. There was an up-charge for the buffet available as well. (and no mice)

gcashin

Thanks for the info - good news on both counts.

SkiAdcock

Excerpt from a press release re: Renaissances:

"Also opening in Spring, Renaissance Philadelphia Downtown Hotel will boast a theatrical design reframing the historic fabric of the city with a modern energy, contrasting materiality and unexpected pop art throughout the hotel: from a reimagined lobby, reminiscent of Elfreth’s alley in Old Town anchored by a 100’ graffiti wall designed by local artist Dan Murphy, to the hotel’s restaurant, which features portraits of Benjamin Franklin’s five mistresses created with pixelated $100 bills."

Cheers.

SkiAdcock

Marriott press release. Officially open after multi-million $$ renovation:

Renaissance Hotels Brings High Design To Historic ?Old City? Philadelphia | Marriott News Center

christianj

Any updates on recent stays here? I normally stay at the LeMeridien when I need to be in town for meetings but the rate for the night is over $500. I've used the aloft as a backup to the LeM but it's also over $70 more than the Renaissance. Renaissance is actually closer to where I need to be than both the LeM and aloft so trying it makes sense. Around the same price as the CY.

christianj

Even though I didn't get any responses to my request on recent updates for this property, I ended up booking it for a one night stay a needed. As mentioned above, I typically stay at either the LeMeridien or the aloft when I need to be in town but the prices were ridiculously expensive at those properties. I like the LeM but I have had some serious issues with them and their lack of elite benefits being honored. The aloft is a nice option right around the corner but the rooms are not exactly spacious and it's pretty bare bones. Anyway...ended up booking the Renaissance and was overall very happy with my choice. Location can't be beat if you are in town for the tourist sites (and for me it happened to be closer to my meeting location).

Hotel was recently remodeled and it has a nice modern decor. I did find it odd that you basically walk into the lounge and bar area from the main entrance and there's no reception area to be seen anywhere. I actually had to ask where reception was and it turns out that you have to walk behind the bar and lounge area and turn to the left (elevators are to the right) and there's this tiny desk tucked away in the far corner. Check-in went smoothly and offered option of points or a $10 F&B voucher. Breakfast is free for elites in the restaurant (since there is no lounge) and you get a voucher for that at check-in. I had booked a Park View King and that is exactly what I got. Not sure if there are any real upgrade options because their website makes no mention of suites at all. I noticed that the hotel is pretty small with only 14 floors and like 10-12 rooms per floor.

Room itself was HUGE! (most other hotels would sell it as a Junior Suite IMHO). Nicely renovated in a sort of woodsy industrial look. Bath was also renovated and best of all they had Aveda products (which I miss from all my stays years ago at various W's) Here are some pics:









Breakfast was served in the restaurant as mentioned above. Elites get a voucher for a free continental breakfast and it's basically a buffet set up on the bar. Free option even offers scrambled eggs, potatoes and ham so it's actually more than a continental breakfast. We asked the server for some toast and an English muffin and they were brought out and there was no extra charge.

Service was very good from the servers at the restaurant to anyone we interacted with at the hotel.

To summarize, a surprisingly very good stay in a renovated hotel with huge rooms and great staff! I would stay here again without hesitation even likely picking it over the LeM and/or the aloft.

bhrubin

christianj

arlflyer

Agreed that it seems like a passable choice if needed. Philly has a surprisingly small number of nice hotels (Ritz, Westin, LM plus Rittenhouse and a couple other independents, then it drops off to Sheraton/Hilton-level stuff), and there have been some big sellouts going on lately. Good to know the options.

dw

Oddly, at some point recently this property quietly went from Cat 5 to Cat 6. (Only the second one in Philly now, together with the RC.)