DoctorT

Seeking a hotel, for a late July four night visit where we can walk to many of the city's historic sites and beautiful museums. A mile and a more is fine with us. Will take bus transportation if needed as the occasion arises, we simply do not want to rent a car. Price point is in the neighborhood of $250 - $275 per night (we have AARP discounts). Have stayed at the Lowe's downtown and enjoyed that location and hotel very much. Just wondering there is something that might better serve us.
Thank all of you so much for your assistance it has always made a difference.

PaulRabe

Stay at any hotel on or near Market Street between 2nd Street and 40th Street, then just ride the Market Frankford Line (aka "Blue Line") between your lodging and the historic sites.

Or stay along the Ben Franklin Parkway and ride the Philly Phlash.
www.visitphilly.com/tours/philadelphia/phlash/

I did a quick search via Kayak for a four-day stay in downtown Philly, during late July, and had no problem finding several hotels (all 4 or 5 stars) within your price range. I can't know which have the amenities you desire, or even their quality, as I've almost never stayed in Philly. But combining a price search site and a review site should find you the lodging you want.

> we simply do not want to rent a car
You absolutely do NOT want to rent a car while visiting downtown Philly. A car is about as useful as snorkeling gear in Glacier NP.

rizzo0904

We were able to get a great rate at the Embassy Suites. It's right near the Franklin Institute, so an easy walk to the art musuem or Logan Square or Love Park. We were happy with it.

Birdie

I've stayed at several hotels in Philly and would be happy to answer any questions about them. Sofitel, Four Seasons, Ritz, Rittenhouse, Rittenhouse1715, Inn at Penn, Monaco, AKA, and Palomar. I stay at the Palomar whenever I can and, as a matter of fact, am staying there now. I prefer the Riitenhouse area because I find it close to more restaurants. Most of the city is within walking distance. Old City where most of the historical sites are is a bit of a hike but an easy bus ride.

If you return to the Lowes, you might want to try the new Bank and Bourbon restaurant there. It's very good.

WeisserTee

Just two things to keep in mind regarding late July in Phila
- HHH (hazy, hot and humid). It can be really sticky and hot, walking more than a mile in the city in those conditions can be a bit of a challenge
- Thunderstorms. Phila can get some big ones. Two years ago, in late June, I walked from 4th and Chestnut (where my hotel was) up to Rittenhouse Square and back. The lightning and thunder started about halfway back and I had just made it into the hotel lobby when the skies opened up and it poured for a good hour.

I too prefer the Rittenhouse Square area, but I used to live there (actually, I lived in most Philly neighborhoods at one point, from South Street to Chestnut Hill and several locations in between).

We prefer to stay at the Radisson Blu. The Palomar is probably a better hotel, but it's not really in the RS area although it's nearby. The Radisson Blu is, plus it's next door to Miel, a nice patisserie that serves La Colombe coffee.

You definitely do not need a car in central Phila.

cmcfong

I love the Palomar and make it my first choice in Philadelphia. On a recent trip I traveled with a friend who had some budget restrictions so we tried The Independent. It is located about midway between Rittenhouse Square and the historical district. It is a few blocks from the Redding Market. There are a number of very good restaurants within a two block radius .
The room we had was quite large and well furnished. Housekeeping wasn't consistent, some times arriving very late in the day. Take a look at the reviews on Trip Advisor.

jayne1973

Bookmarking for a summer trip.

Birdie

"not really in the RS area"
I didn't know how this could be true since the Palomar is two blocks from Rittenhouse Square and 2 1/2 from the Radisson but I don't know the exact boundaries of the Philly neighborhoods. Apparently, there are borders. The Rittenhouse Square neighborhood extends from 22 St to Broad st and from Market to South. The north and south directions seem a bit far to me but it does seem that the PalomR is firmly in Rittenhouse territory.

http://elfantwissahickon.com/2013/02...nhouse-square/

tchoiniere

I'll second the suggestion for the Radisson Blu having stayed there a few times now.

WeisserTee

Rittenhouse Square does NOT extend to Market unless you're a realtor. Most people who actually live in the neighborhood would draw the line at Walnut or, being really generous, Samson. I lived in the RS area for years and don't know ANYONE outside a real estate agent who would say Market or Chestnut Streets are part of Rittenhouse Square area. And few who would include Sansom, and then only very grudgingly. The Palomar, for all its fine qualities, is not "firmly" in the RS area.

I found the same loose definitions when we lived in Chestnut Hill (at the top of the Hill) and when we read the local realtor ads it was astounding to see what they called "Chestnut Hill area" (even going so far as to include Queen Lane, for crying out loud)

WeisserTee

Sansom is included, I suppose, for the purposes of restaurants and shops (although not below 16th and definitely not down to Broad). But from a residential standpoint, no. I suggest someone walk Sansom Street from 17th to 21st and then walk Spruce or Delancey from the same. You'd see quite easily which is more like a real Rittenhouse Square neighborhood.

Birdie

What do I know? I only lived in Univ City and Overbrook Park but I lived on the hill too, Squirrel Hill.

I'll leave at this so there is no confusion after we touted the benefits of the Rittenhouse Sq area: the Palomar is two blocks from Rittenhouse Square. Philadelphia is a very easy city to navigate. You can't go wrong if you choose a hotel in Old City, Society Hill, Midtown, Center City, Convention Center, or Rittenhouse Square.

Have fun!