For my stay in Philadelphia, I chose to spend the first night at the Sheraton, a massive building located in the city center. Here’s a recap of this mixed experience.
Booking
I booked this property two weeks before my arrival
using the Marriott Bonvoy app.
As I now routinely do, I sent an email to my Marriott Ambassador requesting an upgrade, which she promptly arranged.
Arrival
I arrived at the hotel from the airport using the SEPTA commuter train, which is quick and reliable (though the frequency of trains is too low). The hotel is a five-minute walk from Suburban Station.
However, be aware that, as it’s downtown Philadelphia, the sense of security can feel somewhat relative.
I headed straight to reception and was immediately assisted. The receptionist completed the check-in process, informed me of my upgrade to a Governor’s Suite (which I hadn’t seen previously on the Marriott Bonvoy app), and handed me two small welcome treats.
I quickly made my way to the bank of elevators leading to the rooms.
Suite
My suite was located on the 20th floor, at the very end of the corridor, in the corner of the building.
The entryway opened directly into the bedroom area, which featured a comfortable king-size bed facing a television mounted above a desk. Unfortunately, the desk had no chair, making it difficult to work in the suite.
Near the entrance was one of two bathrooms, with a door facing a first wardrobe.
The living room area, separated by a half-wall, was furnished with a sofa bed, two armchairs, and a strangely placed coffee table. This space faced another television.
A second bathroom was adjacent to the living room, along with a second wardrobe.
While the space wasn’t unpleasant, it was oddly furnished, and worse, the carpet was dirty and hadn’t been vacuumed—absolutely shameful!
Finally, the virtual tour:
Hotel facilities
The hotel has a fitness center located on the 3rd floor. It’s fairly well-equipped but seems small for the size of the hotel, especially the free weights area.
Catering
The hotel offers two dining options on the ground floor: the Terrace Restaurant, which is open for breakfast, and a bar that serves food throughout the day.
Bar – Local Café
Before getting back to work, I grabbed a quick dinner at the hotel bar, located in the lobby. I sat at the bar and ordered chicken tenders with a Japanese whiskey. The food was decent and reasonably priced.
Club Lounge
As an Ambassador Elite member, I had access to the hotel’s Club Lounge, also located in the lobby and accessible with my room key.
A happy hour is offered from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with wine, beer, and snacks. But honestly… the space was just depressing and filthy. When I arrived, everything was dirty, the tables uncleared, and the food offerings were completely depleted. Only the wine was decent.
The next morning, I skipped the lackluster breakfast options and bought a sandwich from the nearby Starbucks. Absolutely deplorable.
Service
The service at this property was very mediocre. Aside from the friendly receptionist, the rest of the staff seemed unmotivated.
Departure
Check-out was simple and easy, completed through the Marriott Bonvoy app after I took advantage of a late check-out.
Bottom line
The hotel made an effort to recognize my status, but otherwise, it was not a pleasant experience.
Itinerary
As a reminder, here is the itinerary followed:
| # | Type | Post |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lounge | Chase Sapphire Lounge, Boston Logan |
| 2 | Flight | American Airlines Domestic First, Boston Logan – Philadelphia, Airbus A321 (not reported) |
| 3 | Hotel | Sheraton Downtown Philadelphia |
| 4 | Hotel | Marriott Philadelphia Airport |
| 5 | Lounge | American Airlines Admirals Club, Philadelphia Gates B/C (not reported) |
| 6 | Flight | American Airlines Domestic First, Boston Logan – Philadelphia, Airbus A321neo (not reported) |
| 7 | Lounge | American Airlines Admirals Club, Boston Logan (not reported) |
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