Philly ?s - where to stay outside of city

[Nemesia]

We are visiting Philadelphia on our DC trip and planned to spend one night in the city. We are coming during a hugely popular conference and cannot find a room in the city to accommodate our family (2 adults, 3 children). Any suggestions for places to stay outside of the city? We can drive in and park, then walk/take public transit. We plan to visit the Franklin Institute, Independence Hall, and ??

Thank you!

[boolady]

Are you going to be here during the World Meeting of Families/papal visit? Not sure if that's what you're referencing, but it is going to be absolutely crazy in and around the city that week. Public transportation by way of SEPTA is going to be on a very different schedule with fewer stops and they are utilizing a lottery system for tickets for the weekend. When they tried to go first come, first serve last week, the system crashed because so many people were trying to get tickets. I love my city, and never discourage people from visiting, but I don't think you're going to get to enjoy the city near as much as you ordinarily would if it's during the papal visit, unless that's also why you want to come. They are anticipating an extra 1 million plus visitors at that time. Hopefully you aren't talking about that weekend and we can get you some good suggestions.

[Philly Mom]

Yes, if you are coming the week of the papal visit, I would skip it. I think it will be hard to get around or do anything. We have been told to prepare as if there is a blizzard.

If you are talking about a different time, what is your price range?


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[TwoBees]

I agree with the PPs, if you are coming during the World Meeting of Families/Papal visit, you might want to change your plans (unless that is the reason you are coming). Some of the tourist attractions/museums will be closed or have different schedules during that time in addition to the other things boolady mentioned.

If that's not when you are coming, there are many options for staying outside the city. What direction are you coming from (eg, NY/NJ metro area or western NY/PA) and what type of hotel are you looking for?

[TwoBees]

Duplicate post, sorry!

[Mikey0709]

Hi! I can only speak of the area which i'm from in the PA suburbs.... I live right outside of Valley Forge park now in the Chester County suburbs. Most people coming to visit I have recommended staying at the Homewood suites / Valley Forge and SO FAR i haven't heard any complaints. (never stayed there myself) It's located in King of Prussia, PA. It's probably within a mile of Valley Forge park and King of Prussia mall and easily accessible to the expressway into Philly. The homewood suites is more a SUBURBAN location and not a city hotel. There's another hotel right next to it - but i'm not sure what its called. Valley forge park isn't a whole day attraction, but interesting if you wanted to spend an hour in their visitor center and take a drive through the park. On weekends they have trolley tours through the park. The KOP mall is now enlarging again to be the largest on the east coast i believe. There is also a hotel nearby at the Valley Forge casino - but maybe not the best "family friendly" choice.

Here's a link to Homewood: http://www.homewoodsuitesvalleyforge.com/

Valley Forge might not be your first choice if your looking for close to the city though. Maybe try the Bala Cynwyd, PA area. Bala Cynwyd is right on the Philly city line. More congested area and it's where all our television stations are located. It's convenient if you planned the Philly zoo or Please Touch Museum, but honestly wouldn't be my first choice. There is also a Mariott in West Conshohocken, PA RIGHT off the expressway and easily accessible.... alot of major sports teams stay there when coming into Philly. I'm originally from Conshohocken so know the area well. This one is the EASIEST on/off the Schuylkill Expressway into Philly. I think this hotel may be a little pricier though.

Now how long it will take you to GET into Philly from these locations is VERY hard to say. Out of my above recommendations Valley Forge is the furthest, but with NO traffic you can easily get to the Franklin Institute in 30-40 minutes. From Conshohocken I have done it 25 minutes...... BUT..... Traffic and rush hour can easily DOUBLE or TRIPLE your time. You just NEVER know. We have memberships to the Franklin Ins and Academy of Science (within a block of each other)... and we usually go around lunchtime on sundays.... when we can get there in 45 minutes and typically find free street parking in the area. Traffic is all dependent upon day of the week and time of day... it's just 2 lanes going in/coming out of Philly from this area.

I definitely agree with above if you plan on coming in September to reconsider.....that it seems every road, highway and public transportation is planning to shut down for the pope - which i find unbelievable. I'm from the area - and want to get out of the area for this!

Let me know if you have further questions. These are just my ideas coming from the PA suburbs side. Coming from DC you may even want to check out hotels near the Phillly airport since it's right on 95 north coming up from Delaware?

[Nemesia]

Are you going to be here during the World Meeting of Families/papal visit? Not sure if that's what you're referencing, but it is going to be absolutely crazy in and around the city that week. Public transportation by way of SEPTA is going to be on a very different schedule with fewer stops and they are utilizing a lottery system for tickets for the weekend. When they tried to go first come, first serve last week, the system crashed because so many people were trying to get tickets. I love my city, and never discourage people from visiting, but I don't think you're going to get to enjoy the city near as much as you ordinarily would if it's during the papal visit, unless that's also why you want to come. They are anticipating an extra 1 million plus visitors at that time. Hopefully you aren't talking about that weekend and we can get you some good suggestions.

Yes, we unfortunately are.... not during the papal visit, but during the World Meeting of Families. I had no idea that this was happening before we booked our tickets to DC.

[mmsmom]

Yes, we unfortunately are.... not during the papal visit, but during the World Meeting of Families. I had no idea that this was happening before we booked our tickets to DC.

Sorry but I would skip it. Even if you could find a hotel getting into or out of the city will be impossible and getting into any of the museums and attractions will also be impossible. Not sure how you are arriving from DC but you could consider doing NYC instead which is only another 1.5 hours on the train or 2 by car.

[boolady]

Yes, we unfortunately are.... not during the papal visit, but during the World Meeting of Families. I had no idea that this was happening before we booked our tickets to DC.

How are you getting to DC? You mentioned parking and using public transportation in your OP, but are you taking the train? Wasn't sure because you said tickets to DC. Anyway, if you're driving, you might do ok staying on the NJ side. There is a newish, and from what I've heard, very nice Residence Inn on Rte. 38 in Mount Laurel, NJ. It's near plenty of places to eat and shop. From there, you could drive in, if you can, I guess, or you could drive to one of the PATCO high speed line stations and take the PATCO train into Center City. You'd have to check PATCO's website to see if their schedule will be modified during that time. You could also look at hotels in Cherry Hill, which is close to several PATCO stations, to see if there are rooms available.

Honestly, though, if it was me, I wouldn't do it. My sister lives in South Philly and works in Center City and has already been told that she and her co-workers can WAH during that time because it will be so hard to get into CC.

[Philly Mom]

Yes, we unfortunately are.... not during the papal visit, but during the World Meeting of Families. I had no idea that this was happening before we booked our tickets to DC.

I think I would skip philly. All week will be crowded and stressful. If you really want to come, earlier in the week will be better. I would stay along a train line. The Marriott in conshohoken is by the train. The Hilton on city ave is pretty close to the Bala line (not a great line as there aren't a ton of trains, but it is incredibly close to the city). If you are coming from Gettysburg, I would look for hotels near the R5/Paoli Thorndale line.


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[SnuggleBuggles]

There's so much to do in the DC area. It sounds like skipping Philly is a good idea.

[boolady]

Have you considered an overnight in Baltimore instead? Their aquarium is great, and there are lots of things to do in the Inner Harbor area.

[Nemesia]

Thanks, everyone! We are going to visit Philly another time.

[Nemesia]

Have you considered an overnight in Baltimore instead? Their aquarium is great, and there are lots of things to do in the Inner Harbor area.

Thank you for the suggestion. I'll check it out.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Thank you for the suggestion. I'll check it out.

We had a nice stay in Baltimore this spring. If you go to the Aquarium, you need to (well, should) buy tickets ahead of time. I bought mine weeks in advance. The entry is timed.
In Baltimore, the Charm City Circulator gets you around parts of town for free. Convenient and easy.