Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue
The Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue is not located in downtown Philadelphia but in a suburb and in an area with more office than residential building. There are not many shops around the hotel, only a 'Target' among a few others. Downtown area can be reached by taxi or car in app. 10 – 15 minutes, depending on the traffic.
The hotel is a 12 floor building with 209 rooms and not that old. Opposite the hotel is a small lake (must be a rain water hold back area ore something similar).
The driveway to the hotel is short and if you let the key with the doormen, one can park the car there for a few minutes.
A garage is available for the same rate than valet parking, but valet parking has unlimited in and out permissions and is therefore the better option.
After entering the hotel, one is standing in the lobby. The lobby is more a big hallway, than a lobby with lounge chairs and tables. On the right hand side of the entrance is the check in desk with an adjacent pavilion panty like in many Hilton Garden Inn, where on can buy travel related items and food as well as beverages. The check in area is rather small with only two desk to check guests in and out.
Opposite the check in desk are the elevators to the floor with the guest rooms.
The business center is located close to the lobby in a hallway, where also the meeting rooms are located. The business center has two PC, a printer / copy / fax machine, desks with chairs and also LAN / W-LAN access. At the end of the hallway are the gym and the pool located. The gym is small and has not that many machines. There is a treadmill, a stepper, and machine for the body. The equipment is modern and in a good shape, towels and water are provided by the hotel. The pool, shared with the nearby Homewood Suites, is also not very big. But it is okay for splashing around and a few short laps to refresh body and mind. Lounge chairs are standing around the pool and the pool has windows to the road like the gym. Towels, but very small ones, are available in the pool area. While the gym is open 24/7 the pool is only open from 06:00 to 22:00.
The restaurant and the bar “Polo Lounge” are located also on the ground floor at the end of the hallway. The bar is only open in the late afternoon and evening, while the restaurant is open all day.
Breakfast is served between in buffet style. It is one of the best breakfast buffets I have had in US Hilton Hotels so far.
Stays August 21, 2009
visited on Birthday in Philadelphia
Arrival Date: 20 August 2009
Departure Date: 21 August 2009
Room type booked: 2 Double Beds (got Executive Level)
Rate Plan: Advanced Purchase Rate
Room Number: 0911
Room Rate: 126.75 USD (excl. taxes)
Status of Guest Program: Gold
We arrived in the hotel around 15:15 and parked the car in the driveway. Two bell boy were chatting and watched us with our luggage but did not offer any help. Really good first impression. We approached check in, where one agent was on duty. I was addressed by name. She had to do some research to find a room with two beds which was already ready. While waiting for the call back of housekeeping she told us the breakfast time, prepared the voucher for breakfast and explained the features of the hotel. We did also some small talk about the weather. Overall a very nice experience during check in, friendly and proactive. We even got access to the club lounge on the 12th floor.
The room was designed like the most hotel rooms. You enter the room and found yourself in a small hallway. The bathroom was on the right side and was of small to average seize. It had a bath, toilet and sink. The bathroom was in a really good shape. Bathroom amenities by Crabtree & Evelyne were available, three big, medium and small towels were place on the towels rack or lying around the sink. The showerhead and the shower curtain were okay. I would not have minded, if the the water pressure would have been a bit stronger. .
The room was of medium size with two single beds on the right side and a bedside table between them where a lamp, a phone and the Hilton Signature Alarm clock were placed. Opposite the bed was the Flat TV on a sideboard with a place to store a cooler on request. The desk was placed between window and sideboard. A reading lamp was available as well as another phone .
The air condition was controlled electronically and worked nearly without any draught. The windows could be opened. In front of the window was a lounge chair and in the corner another reading lamp.
The bed was too soft for my taste and again I ask myself why a guest needs four pillows?
Ironing board and iron could be found in the closet.
The design was nice, light brown colours made the room cosy, but it looked a bit packed with all the furniture limiting the space to move around. Furniture was the one you find in may Hilton Hotels in the US, but it was in good conditions. A few scratches and stains every now and there, but nothing really big.
LAN / W-LAN were available for a fee (9.95 USD until noon the same day / 12.95 USD for 24 hours / 19.95 EUR for the entire stay).
The breakfast was served in the restaurant and very good. There is a large selection of fresh and tasty fruit. Also available are cereals, muesli, bircher muesli prepared in small glasses and a selection of different yoghurt. Bagels,croissants, Danish and muffins are available, a small selection of cheese and even salmon. Hashed potatoes, mushroom, sausages, bacon and scrambled eggs are available for self service, while a cook is preparing omelets, waffles or fried eggs. Tea and coffee are brought by restaurant staff as well as orange juice. A wider selection of juices is available at the buffet.
The service of an a-bit-over-the-average-attentiveness.
Check out way good. The invoice was prepared and I was asked if everything was okay. One of the bell boys got our car – we had used valet parking since it is the same price than self parking but has unlimited in and out permission. This time we got help with our luggage.
Overall a nice hotel and the rate was okay. Everything could be reached easily by car and the access to the main road is quite good. I will consider this hotel for a stay, esp. if I have a car. However if I am only going to down town Philadelphia I will think about a more centrally located hotel.
