wintkat

Need help for very last minute plans

Going to Philly tomorrow for 2 nights and to Frida Kahlo exhibit at Philadelphia Museum of Art.

My husband wants to stay in Historic area. Is that term the same as Center City?

The following hotels have hotel stay that includes VIP tix to Frida.

Any of the following in Historic area? and if so how far to Phil Museum of Art? Would also need hotel with parking available.

• Best Western Center City Hotel
• Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown
• Doubletree Philadelphia
• Embassy Suites Philadelphia – Center City
• Four Seasons Hotel
• Latham Hotel
• Loews Philadelphia Hotel
• Philadelphia Marriott Downtown
• Radisson Plaza – Warwick Hotel
• The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia
• Sofitel Philadelphia
• The Westin Philadelphia

Thanks for any help for this last minute request
wintkat

persimmondeb

Old City (the term for the historic area) is in Center City, but not all of Center City is the historic district. However, it's a relatively compact area and most of it's attractive. I don't know anything about parking, but any of the hotels should be fairly convenient to both the Museum and Old City. I do regard Old City and the Museum as being within walking distance of each other, but I'm sure there are people who would not share that opinion (about a mile and a half, maybe). I've been to the Museum recently, but we skipped the Kahlo. Enjoyed lunch at their cafe though (Salad for me, Rockfish for DS-the buffet table looked good, but the room is tight and not the kind of place you want a twelve year old negotiating with a laden plate).

Ceidleh

Lived in Philly 20 years. The "historic area" is the area that surrounds Independence Mall - a.k.a. Old City and bordering down into Society Hill.

Regarding your hotels:

Hotel most convenient to Art Museum would be Four Seasons or Best Western Center City (though BW is a bit of a dump IMO).

Hotel most convenient to the historic areas would be Loews or Marriott (Loews is nicer).

Every one of these hotels has either their own garage or valet parking in nearby lots.

All these hotels are convenient to some form of public transit to get back and forth between the historic sights and the Art Museum area. There are plenty of taxis to be found as well, and if you walk at a good clip, you can get across the main part of the city in just over an hour. Old City (down by Penn's Landing) to the Art Museum is farther than 1.5 miles. Your hotel concierge can provide you with information on SEPTA if you choose to take public transit.

Scarlett

We stayed at Penns Landing and loved it, but it was far from the Museum.
But we walked all over town and really really liked that area for staying in .. we did walk easily to Christ Church, the Bell , Rittenhouse Sq

Enjoy the trip, I loved Philadelphia!

djkbooks

We stayed at the Hyatt Penns Landing and really enjoyed it.

Scarlett

http://www.pennsviewhotel.com/

Penns View is where we stayed, at Penns Landing

yk

Among the ones you listed, I'd choose any of the following:

• Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown
• Doubletree Philadelphia
• Latham Hotel
• Loews Philadelphia Hotel
• Radisson Plaza – Warwick Hotel
• The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia
• Sofitel Philadelphia
• The Westin Philadelphia

They are pretty much within a 5-min walk of one another. These are closer to City Hall/Rittenhouse area, which is about a 10-min walk to the "historic" area (Liberty Bell, Independence Hall) etc.

Four Seasons is closest to the Museum but there's not much nearby in terms of restaurants/shops.

I personally DO NOT like staying at Penns Landing. To me, it's kind of far out. I'd much rather stay near Rittenhouse.

All hotels have parking available - either a garage inside the hotel or a garage right next door.

wintkat

thanks to all for your replies

now I've got to get to work and make a reservation.

thanks
wintkat

Jed

And the winner is............ ???

Shanghainese

We stayed at the Latham, very nice and convenient, didn't have a car so walked and took public transportation everywhere.

wintkat

Hi, we're here at the Holiday Inn-Historic District.

-$190 per nite+tax (AAA)
-rooms newly renovated
-self park for $20/day
-free wifi

In the end it was better to book hotel and Frida tix separately. Hotels with VIP tix turned out to be more expensive overall.

The VIP tix are untimed tickets for entry to exhibit, something that we didn't need.

We have noon tix for Museum today and so looking forward to it.

Spent yesterday at Longwood Gardens and spring bulbs in full bloom.

thanks again
wintkat

schmerl

I'm glad you are enjoying your time in Phila. You have been very lucky with the weather the last couple days!!!