Philadelphia Travel Forum

I'll be visting Philadelphia for a business trip at the conference center. All the hotels right around there seem to be booked (because I left it too late I guess.) I'm on a little bit of a budget. I'm female, not a complete rube, but will be by myself. I'd like to be able to walk to and from my hotel. I don't mind walking a mile or so. I've had warnings from friends that some neighborhoods near the downtown area aren't so safe. Are there some areas that I should avoid? Any hotels to recommend?

Several years ago, I was in the same situation in that all the hotels near the Convention Center were booked. I found the Latham Hotel (http://www.lathamhotel.com/) which wasn't on the convention's hotel block and still had rooms.

It's a European 'boutique' hotel (i.e., the rooms are small and it is not full service - no room service, for example, and the onsite restaurant (really a bar) is closed). However, it is nicely located one block east of Rittenhouse Square, and is just 3-4 blocks southwest of City Hall. Since the Convention Center is due east of City Hall, the overall distance is 7/10ths of a mile, I think, but near the hotel, it's a lively mixed use area with plenty of restaurants, even with tables out in the sidewalk, and the area closer to City Hall is a busy business/office area.

I returned to the Latham with my wife and mother-in-law, and she (my mother-in-law) felt perfectly fine wandering around the area during the day alone, and with us at night.

Anyway, see if they have room, because the walk is perfectly doable, and, of course, there are always taxis at night if that makes you feel better...

Bill

I was just in Philly 9 days ago. Rittenhouse Square, in "Center City" of Philly, is a safe, posh area, for a five or six block radius. This Latham Hotel is located on the Square, and its $142/night is comparable to the Best Western Center City Hotel's $131.75. But at the latter, you will get full room service! I haven't been to either of these hotels.