Several coworkers and I will be going to Philadelphia in a month for a convention. We are flying in early and will have one full day before the convention and half a day once the convention ends.

We will arrive late in the night on a Tuesday and will have all day the following Wednesday. We planned to stay in an inexpensive hotel Tuesday night, then transfer to our convention hotel downtown the next day. Our convention hotel will be paid for.

We had planned on going to Hershey and visiting the "factory" and having a few spa treatments on Wednesday but were wondering how we could fit getting and returning a rental car, transfering over to our convention hotel, and getting to and from Hershey in one day.

Please help

This is what I'd do. Pick up the car at the airport immediately after arrival. Drive towards Hershey immediately. Stay at a motel there, or on the way.

Return to Philly the next day. Drop off everybody and luggage at convention hotel, then one or two of you go return the car at the airport. Then take train or taxi back to downtown. Airport isn't that far from downtown.

snorkelcat-

rkkwan's suggestion is good.
To get from the airport to your convention hotel (after you drop off your car), you have several options. And cost/convenience depends on how many of you are going back to the airport vs staying put at the hotel.

1. Taxis- flat rate $20 from airport to downtown. Good deal if there is more than 2 of you.
2. Airport shuttle- About $11 per person, drops you off at your hotel. However, sometimes you have to wait a good 15-20mins before the shuttle shows up.
3. Commuter train (R1)- $5.50 per person, runs 2x/hr and take 20mins to get you to downtown. The Market East station is 2 blocks away from the convention center, should be very convenient for you.

As a Center City Philly resident, I don't understand wanting to drive 2 hours out of the city to go to Hershey. Admittedly, it has been almost 20 years since I went to the Hershey "factory" and it might have changed, but I was unimpressed by the cheesy amusement-park-like ride through the fake manufacturing process.

There is plenty to do in the city -- good restaurants, museums, Chinatown, Italian market area, the 100-year-old Reading Terminal Market where the Amish and local farmers sell all sorts of great food, plus plenty of nightlife. I would reconsider staying in the city and forget the hassle of a rental car -- you can walk everywhere.

i agree with ms harvey -- there is a lot to do within center city philadelphia and i fear that you may be disappointed in going all the way our to Hershey. Philly has great musuems, restaurants, and sites to see as well as nice spas. you may also want to visit the brand new constitution center -- it is amazing and nearby the convention center.

Thank you for all of your imput. My main reason for going to Hershey was the Hershey Spa - I am somewhat of a spa junkie and I wanted to experience the chocolate treatments. I told my co-workers they did not have to go, but they all wanted to go see Hershey because of what they saw on the Travel Channel. We are not going to stay the entire day. We decided to rent a van when we came in and drive to Hershey, coming back to Philadelphia early Wednesday afternoon. We will have several days in Philadelphia.

These same co-workers loved the M&M store in Las Vegas and Coca-Cola world and spent hours there shopping, so I think Hershey will be right up their alley.

I would have loved to spend some time driving around Lancaster county or visiting Gettysburg, but when you travel with others, you have to compromise.

Thanks for all your help.

Wow! Hershey is going to be a long drive. I agree with the others. There is so much you can do in Phila. If you are really into the spa thing, though, why not go to one of the casinos in Atlantic City. That would be much closer. The new Borgata is wonderful!

Hershey is only about an hour and a half from Philly. However, there are some great spas right in downtown Phila. Toppers is one and I'm sure other people can suggest others.