Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown

I stay here for work in Philly, and it's my favorite place. The staff are nice, and if you have lounge access, there are great perks. The food is out of this world: breakfast eggs, catfish and grits one evening, and chicken with the most amazing sauce I've ever had. Evening drinks are free too, which saves me time and money. I'm always curious what the chef will make next. Camree in the lounge is always smiling and happy to chat.

The hotel's location near local attractions is convenient, and I might stay here again. The property is a little dated, but most of the staff were amazing, friendly, caring, and eager to help. I was put off by the front desk manager, who came across as abrasive from the beginning. I arrived early, which I admit, but he insisted no rooms would be available before the 4 p.m. check-in, and said even a ready room would cost $50 for early check-in. I travel often and mostly stay at Marriott properties, and rarely encounter that kind of rigidity, especially when it didn't seem like high season or a busy weekend. With around 700 rooms, the explanation felt like malarkey and left me thinking the manager just didn't want to accommodate me. After I finally got into my room, there was a water outage for several hours. The hotel was fine for what I paid, but those issues were disappointing.

The downtown entrance is on its own traffic-free street, which makes getting a rideshare super easy. Public transport is readily available too. The hotel itself is great, with stylish rooms at reasonable prices and a great team. You can walk to everything from the convention center and Dunkin' to Del Frisco's, Fogo De Chao, and shopping. The neighborhood has plenty of mid- to high-end restaurants, with energy that varies depending on your taste.

For someone like me who stays in a lot of hotels for work, often Sheraton properties, this one is really nice. The staff are friendly, and it has basic, particular amenities. I liked how close it is to shops and attractions. The Rocky Steps are about 15 minutes one way, Reading Terminal Market about 15 minutes the other, and Whole Foods and Trader Joe's are a 10-minute walk.