 A
wise man once said, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what
you're gonna' get." Well, hotels are no different.
While
every hotel advertises that they are the best and have the most, it can often
be an entirely different story when you show up on their doorstep. For those of
us who travel frequently, we know that things are not always what they seem nor
are they always what we're told. Not
the case in the Philadelphia Crowne Plaza, a 24-story hotel in the heart of Philly
in which I recently spent a night. Although a little tricky to find because of
all the one-way streets in Philly, once there, you never have to leave for anything
unless you have a meeting or a sight-seeing tour in mind for the birthplace of
America. Let's
start with the parking, which can always be a hassle with some downtown hotels.
At the 445-room Crowne Plaza, the covered garage entrance is only feet from the
lobby entrance, where a bellman and a parking valet meet you. They immediately
unload your car and whisk it away while you walk only steps to registration. For
women traveling alone this is especially valuable because of the minimum risk
to your personal safety. You're immediately surrounded and escorted by hotel employees;
no dark garages, side streets, or alleys to navigate.
 The
lobby of the Philly Crowne Plaza is quaint with old-world style decor. The Elephant
& Castle Pub, a large English-style restaurant, is easily accessible from
the lobby and elevators so there's no need to leave the building in search of
a decent meal. In fact, the pub is broken down into several large rooms that offer
a quiet breakfast area, a lively bar area for the after-work crowd, and a more
remote section that gives you a sense of dining in an old medieval pub. I was
half-expecting wenches to come out and serve. If
you're not a big breakfast eater but rather more of the cappuccino and newspaper
type who likes a big stuffy couch to sink into while you wake up, the lobby of
the Crowne Plaza also offers a separate, more relaxing area for those less-ambitious
in the morning. There, you can choose from an assortment of muffins, snacks and
sandwiches, and just simply hang out. And, or course, there's always room service.
There's
also a private lounge on the 24th floor for those guests staying on the Concierge
floors, which is easily accessible but only by your special elevator key-card.
The lounge offers a complimentary breakfast and large screen TV in the mornings
and transforms into a Happy Hour suite for early evening.
What's especially sweet about the lounge is that after a long day of intense meetings, it's nice to have this quiet intimate place to relax before going out for dinner or turning in for the night, without all the hassle of dealing with crowded bars, mindless chit-chat, or idiot-savants.
The room in which I stayed was spacious and offered all the amenities I needed as a traveling business person; internet hook-up, two-line phone, cable TV, mini bar, peep hole on the door, and most important, peace and quiet. Some hotels can be absolutely lovely but have paper thin walls. If we can hear them, they can hear us: not a comforting or safe feeling at all. And, speaking of safe, it didn't go unnoticed how well-lit the hallways were, which put me at ease immediately.
 The bed was surprisingly comfortable which is unusual for me due to old back injuries. And, the pillows were perfect; not so soft your head sunk to the center, or so hard your head is bruised when you wake up. I slept like a baby, which I needed desperately for my 150-mile drive to DC early the next morning to make a noon luncheon.
Because it was a one night stay I didn't have time to use the hotel services but I did make the time to take a tour and was not only happy with what I found but was certain I'd be back because of them.
For travelers staying awhile, which you very well may since Philly is home to where America began and filled with historical architecture, landscape and culture, the Crowne has not one, but two washers and dryers. The gym was well equipped and larger than I've seen in most hotels. And, if you like laps instead of lifting, this hotel has a sunken outdoor pool on its roof, which just blew me away. Yes, you can get a rooftop suntan. Just keep your top on as you never know when a helicopter will fly by or a nearby office worker may stop by his window for a Coke break.
For the business traveler there is a full-service business center as well as plenty of meeting space in all sizes. For women business travelers, this is especially ideal for setting up meetings with clients who are willing to come to the hotel to meet. You have a professional setting in which to discuss business without having to set foot into the unknown territory of a major city.
One thing that really caught my attention was a large meeting room with a conference table and a floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall window. The view overlooked one of Philly's major streets where many historical parades are held each year. I learned that this Crowne Plaza invites kids from the local Children's Hospital, who otherwise would never be able to see a parade, to come to the meeting room to view the city's parades through the enormous window. I was deeply touched by this outpouring of consciousness and compassion. That in itself inspired me to return to support this hotel the next time I'm in Philly.
The Philly airport is less than 7 miles away, which translates into a 15-minute cab ride. And, of course, for those of you who do want or need to travel throughout the city, there is plenty of cab service right from the front door of the Crowne.
Overall, I was very pleased with the Philly Crowne Plaza. It's ideal for traveling women, business or leisure, and I would recommend it highly to family, friends and colleagues. The one and only thing we found not to our liking was the shortage of staff at the front desk upon arrival. There was one woman attending to a line of about five people checking in and no one else at the desk to handle others, or the phones.
I checked in about 6:30 pm on a weeknight, which can be a busy time for check-ins. However, when it came to my turn the clerk was pleasant and very helpful. And, most importantly, she did not announce my room number as so many do. With four men standing behind me, the last thing I needed was having my room announced for all to hear.
As it turns out the other attendant was simply on a dinner break and returned shortly. Like most things, it's all about timing. She likely left at a time when there's usually no crowd. And of course, that's when this crowd appeared.
Pricing for the Philly Crowne Plaza varies, of course, depending on your requirements. They also have some great online rates if you book directly, starting at $90 per night. And, except for the coin-operated laundry onsite and restaurant, all amenities are included. For more information or to make reservations, click here.
By the way, keep an eye out for the Crowne Plaza's new section on their website dedicated to women travelers. It's coming soon and we'll be there to tell you all about it! Safe travels.
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