Philadelphia is one of my favorite cities to visit for many reasons: it’s close to home (about a 45 minute drive), it’s less hectic than nearby NYC, the arts scene is thriving, it’s very diverse, and lastly, there’s always something to do. From festivals, to art shows, to concerts and plays, sporting events and nightclubs, you are destined to find something in Philly to keep you busy and entertained. One of the best ways to experience the city is to stay in a hotel downtown, right in the center of the action.
However, that can be a bit costly. To save money, you can opt to stay in the suburbs instead. If you don’t mind driving into the city yourself, or calling a Lyft or Uber, this is a great alternative to staying in an expensive hotel downtown. A few weeks ago, my sister and I were in Philly for an event and wanted to stay downtown, but to my surprise, there were basically no hotels available in our price range. My mom suggested that we consider staying outside the city, and of course she suggested Homewood Suites. For the most part, we had a pretty good experience and the hotel was comfortable, and very reasonably priced.
Location
Just 20 miles from Philadelphia, Homewood suites is tucked away in a residential and commercial area in Plymouth Meeting. The hotel is located off I-276, close to lots of restaurants and shopping plazas. For added convenience, Philadelphia airport is just a 40 minute drive away.
Rooms and Suites
The hotel has modern, residential-style one bedroom and studio suites. I instantly got a good impression and really liked the modern, clean look. We were greeted by friendly front desk staff which was a nice touch. Upstairs, you’ll notice that the rooms are spacious, clean, and offer everything you could ever need during your stay. You’ll feel right at home the second you walk in. Each room comes with a fully equipped kitchen with stove, fridge, microwave, dishwasher, and dishware in the cupboards. In our studio suite, there was a decent-sized living area with a sofa bed, tv, and office area. This is a convenient space to get work done, if you’re on a business trip or have some content creation to catch up on (me lol).
The bathroom was very clean, and well-stocked with shampoo, conditioner, soap, toilet tissue, etc. I noticed the same beautiful vanity mirror from the the Wilmington Homewood Suites as well. In the bathroom area, there’s a large closet to store and hang your things, with a safe inside as well to protect your belongings. Note: they also have accessible rooms for guests requiring special accommodations.
Amenities
This hotel offers many amenities such as a fitness center, pool, luggage hold, free breakfast, convenience store, and many others. One thing I found really cool was the electric car charging station. It’s located at the side of the building and is for electric car use only. This was really interesting to me because it was my first time seeing this at a hotel. So if you have an electric car, this should be a big plus.
Some additional amenities include:
Also included in your stay, is free breakfast daily and evening social drinks Monday – Thursday. They offer a wide variety of breakfast foods such as waffles, home fries, sausage, fruit, yogurt, muffins, bagels, cereal and much more. If you don’t like any of the options provide, many restaurants nearby deliver to the hotel as well. The convenience shop in the lobby also offers snacks, drinks, and quick meals.
Breakfast bar
- Beverage counter (complimentary)
- Laundry/valet service
- Safety deposit box
- Business center
- Coin laundry
- Patio with grill
To see a full list of the amenities provided, visit the hotel website by clicking here.
Things to do
Wondering what there is to do nearby? Philly has a variety of restaurants, bars, museums, and almost anything else you can think of. If you’d like to stay close by, there are shopping plazas surrounding the hotel with popular stores and restaurants. Whether you’re a new tourist or a local, there’s something for everyone. Here’s a list of nearby attractions and restaurants:
- Metroplex Shopping Center
- Plymouth Meeting Mall
- King of Prussia Mall
- Legoland Discovery Philadelphia
- Elmwood Park Zoo
- Morris Arboretum
- Dave & Buster’s
- California Pizza Kitchen
- PF Chang’s
To see a full list of nearby services, click here. I really enjoyed visiting Plymouth Meeting Mall. We went to this really cool vintage record store and got some cool vinyls. If you love music and vintage memorabilia, definitely make a stop here.
Final thoughts and rating
I enjoyed my time at the Homewood Suites and would recommend this hotel for families, groups of friends, and individuals as well. The staff was friendly and very helpful. My only critique would be the breakfast, as I didn’t think the options that day were very good (might just be a personal preference). I like that I had the opportunity to be near downtown Philly, but at a more affordable price. The drive into the city was quick and straightforward. My rating of this hotel is 8/10. Have you stayed at Homewood Suites before? Which hotel was your favorite? Let me know in the comments below.
Pin this image to save and share!
