--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I stayed here twice within the last three weeks and enjoyed the hotel and the area. From the airport, if you go to the transportation desk by the baggage claim and ask for the Liberty Shuttle, they pick you up right there and take you to the hotel for a flat $10 rate. It took about 4 minutes for them to arrive and we picked up some other people at other baggage claims, but the Society Hill hotel is the first stop when going into the city. If you have more than one person, consider the cost, because a cab from the airport is a flat $28.00.

The hotel is in a wonderful area for people visiting the city who enjoy the historical parts and even the trendy South Street or the dock at the river, which are all right there. This would be a good choice for families. The lobby was quite nice and check in was easy. I thought the cash and points rate from Starwood was a steal. The room was spacious and had a flat screen tv and an updated bathroom with a nice tub. There was a wedding going on one of the nights I was there and I didn't hear a thing.

The breakfast is rather pricey so I went out to get a bagel for breakfast and spent $5.00.

There are quite a number of places to eat around there, including the old Bookbinder's restaurant (Last time I ate there was 1980, I think) and the City Tavern, where Franklin, Washington, et. al, used to hang out and they offer the same menu as in revolutionary times, and the whole place is pretty historically interesting. I would think kids would get a kick out of it. There are also a number of upscale and ethnic places, and, a couple blocks away is the Snow White Diner--a hole in the wall, cheap cheap place for breakfast/lunch that is totally worth going to for budget minded folk.

If you need to get back to the airport, reserve the shuttle the day before--it comes twice an hour, but only if you pre-reserve, and it is still $10 to get to the airport. Plus, the hotel is the last stop, so you don't have to pick up others. I liked this hotel and enjoyed walking around the area--even went to a movie because there is a cineplex across the street. The area seems very safe and is quaint-looking, with cobblestones and brick, etc.

I thought the free internet in the lobby was a great perk for this class of hotel. I did not have to pay for Internet in my room.

Traded Starwoods points for our 1 night stay. This is considered a 4 level property, which was overrated, in my honest opinion.

The location was decent, close to 2nd street and Penn's Landing. The lobby was nice and the service was friendly and prompt.

We had a room at the club level and found our room to be clean and well appointed. The room had obviously been renovated and the bathroom looked very new. The flat screen tv was very nice also. We enjoyed the snacks and drinks in the evening and the continental breakfast in the morning. We also took advantage of the pool and hot tub being completely empty. The pool was heated.

Our complaints: Parking was pricey at $35 plus. The pool was directly across the hall from our room and the smell of chlorine was pretty strong. One wall of our room was windows facing the parkway and it became very hot during the day and the noise coming from the parkway was pretty loud. The AC was loud, as previously reported. The TV menu never functioned, so we could not order any movies. The prices of the onsite restaurant were simply unreasonable. $10 for a grilled cheese? The topper was the gentleman in the room next door having an argument on the phone with his wife at midnight and we literally could hear every word he said. I wonder how he would have felt knowing that his neighbors could hear the very private conversation he was having...if you read this, guy, dump her, she should not be having male company while you are away.

The hotel was very close to Penn's Landing, the Fireman's Museum, Elfreth's Alley, City Tavern and within walking distance to South Street. We loved South Street and made a stop at Jim's Steaks to compare it to Pat's and Geno's from previous visits (Jim's was far better).

If you are a budget traveler (like us), the pickings for dinner closeby were slim. Many higher end trendy restaurants on 2nd street but not our style.

You read it right. Newlyweds were kicked out of the hotel on their wedding night. We were there for our friends wedding. After the reception they had a small gathering of 10 or 12 at the bride and grooms room. When management asked that the party end; they ended it at aprox. 1:30 am. Bride and Groom were already in bed for nearly a 1/2 hour when an extremely overzealous security guard and two city police officers arrived at the door and told them to leave the hotel. It did not matter that the party was over and no one else was in the room.. The bride and groom were taken in the Philadelphia police cruiser to a nearby hotel to spend the night. I repeat:
THE BRIDE AND GROOM WERE KICKED OUT of the hotel AND THE PARTY WAS ALREADY OVER. There was no damage, and everyone had gone to bed. Even the police questioned the security representative and noted that everything had quieted down. But that did not matter to the security guard, he wanted them out of the hotel!!!
All the wedding guests were shocked and appalled.

The hotel management was rude, and unapologetic.

Furthermore, the hotel was a rip off. Rate was high. Parking over 30.00 per night?
Also I had to listen to a food service employee adamantly try to sell me his politics while ordering my am coffee..not necessary and unprofessional. DO NOT BOOK at this hotel !!!!

I stayed at this hotel while attending a convention at the Philadelphia Convention Centre. I have the same opinion as most of the other reviewers who posted here, i.e. the hotel is in a good location and the rooms are nice, but the "common areas" of the hotel are a little tired and in need of a refurb. I didn't have many dealings with the hotel staff, but found them to be very nice when I did. I made use of the hotel gym and pool during my stay. The pool was small but OK for a quick dip. The gym was quite well-equipped with cardio equipment and was never terribly busy in the early mornings when I was there. My room was cleaned and maintained very well during my stay, although I was kind of annoyed that housekeeping insisted on giving me fresh towels everyday, even when I had hung them up (a card on the nightstand told me that this would indicate that I would re-use my towels)! The free bottled water and starbucks coffee machine in the room were a bonus.

Location wise, it couldn't be better, and is a very short walk from the hip restaurants and bars of the Old City, the Independence National Park, and the subway blue line, which you can use to travel downtown to the Convention Centre, shopping etc.

My only gripe is the $10 a day charge for in-room internet (which I didn't pay!). I used the free PCs in the lobby instead, and was occasionally able to pick up the local 'Philadelphia wireless' signal in my room. As a business traveller, I would have appreciated complimentary internet in my room.