Holiday Inn Express Midtown

An affordable comfortable hotel, smack dab in the middle of one of America’s most bustling cities, offers amenities and a location for a price that few of its nearby competitors can match. Its 168 non-smoking rooms are distributed among 20 floors. Since rooms were renovated in 2015, electrical receptacles have been added. There is no shortage of ways to recharge portable electronics and free wifi is consistent in all rooms. What this hotel lacks in frills it more than makes up for with its central location, gym and complimentary breakfast bar. The location is excellent: one block from the Broad Street subway, near the theater and shopping district, and three blocks from the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

YOU SHOULD KNOW Thin walls and a highly concentrated neighborhood of bars and restos make for a light sleeper's need to bring your mask and earplugs.

room

All beds have triple sheeting bedding and four pillows, all nonallergenic memory foam. Each room contains a lounge chair with an ottoman along with a work desk complete with lamp (with electric receptacle built in) and ergonomic chair. Blackout shades provide privacy but not noise protection and an iron and iron board in a separate hanging closet is available. An in roomsafe provides security for valuables and each room has its own microwave, mini refrigerator, coffee maker, and 32 inch flat screen television with cable and some premium channels. Each room is also equipped with its own heating and air conditioning controls as the windows do not open.

Views from rooms are scattered between various exposures. Your best alternative is a southern view which overlooks Walnut Street as opposed to an alley.

bathroom

Bathrooms are small so each room has a granite vanity outside the toilet to conserve space. However, each room has a shower and bathtub setup.

YOU SHOULD KNOW Tall people might want to avoid taking baths as the bathtub has a diameter of approximately 4 feet. Also, the only mirror in the bathroom happens to be in the vanity area outside. Also, the bathrooms have no venting system.

lobby

The main entrance for the hotel is off Walnut Street on the north side. Architecture tends to be 50’s spare De Stijl and there is no valet service. The lobby is relatively small for a hotel this size so it can get crowded and it's pretty nondescript.

pool

An outdoor pool is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. during summer hours (Memorial Day to Labor Day.) It's on the roof, 6'9" deep and has lounge chairs and umbrellas.

gym

The hotel offers excellent amenities for fitness. The gym is open 12 a.m. to 12 p.m. and offers Precor machines (two elliptical, three treadmills, one stationary bike) along with a stretch area with free weights and stability balls. Guests also have the option of doing their own laundry for a nominal fee.

dining

Adjacent to the lobby is the breakfast area where a complimentary full American breakfast is served for all guests from 6:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m., consisting of pre-made omelets, cereal, fruit, juice, coffee, tea, and a waffle maker. There is no restaurant on the premises although the front desk can set up room service from various local establishments.

Tip: Breakfast seating is somewhat limited so be prepared to queue up. Kids eat for free, sweet.