Residence Inn Philadelphia Valley Forge/Collegeville

I felt safe there, and the area was quiet, with everything well lit. The one thing that bothered me was the Eddison lights outside at night. They were bright enough that my sunblock shades wouldn't close on their own, but hair clips did the trick. For a weeklong business stay, the suite was a great setup, with lots of space and a kitchen that had all the tools I needed to cook two dinners. Housekeeping came more often than I expected, and I never had to ask for anything. Breakfast impressed me every morning: not made to order, but there were several kinds of prepared breakfast sandwiches and quiche, along with the usual options. The staff were super nice too, especially the front desk guy from ATL.

We needed somewhere safe to stay during the winter storm because we didn't have a generator, so our family of six, including a 2-month old, relocated to the Residence Inn for three nights. We had a lot to bring along, but the room had enough space, was very clean and well lit, and the kitchenette had what we needed to make meals. The staff were incredibly helpful. Many couldn't commute home because of the storm, yet they stayed composed enough that guests might have thought it was an ordinary day. Breakfast was well stocked each morning, with plenty for everyone. This property really felt like what Residence Inn is meant to be, a home away from home. I've been loyal to Starwood/Marriott for years and have stayed at properties all over the US. For families needing a home base in the area for a while, this is a good choice.

There was plenty to do around the hotel, with restaurants, shopping, and a movie theater nearby. On site, there was a basketball court, outdoor seating, and a grill. The rooms were spacious, the beds comfortable, and the pool was genuinely warm and heated. Breakfast had a nice range of choices too. Everything was great from check-in to checkout, and I'd definitely recommend the hotel.

The front desk staff were extremely welcoming, and the building looked new and clean. Room 413 had a good layout and was mostly clean, but there were several issues: lots of dust in the empty bathroom light boxes, what was hopefully mud smeared beside the couch, a chipped TV screen, and dings on the mirrors and walls. The room also smelled like skunk, which turned out to be the plastic bag holding the extra blankets and pillows. That was pretty off-putting. Breakfast was disappointing too. Even though the hotel was full for a national dog show at the expo center, it was just packaged cereal, oatmeal, and muffins. There wasn't a hot American breakfast, which was a letdown after hearing about breakfast sandwiches and croissants.