Element Philadelphia Downtown — Hotel in Philadelphia

My husband, my dog, and I were here for a night for some business in Philadelphia. We chose Element, even though it was a bit on the expensive side, because it has great reviews on dog friendliness and I agree. They gave us a couple of treats and poop bags with a bag holder which was very nice. The fee was something like 40 or 60$ which is much cheaper than some other hotels and the dogs are allowed in the breakfast area as well; they do mention that you can't leave your dog unattended in the room though which is understandable. The hotel is new and slick on the second floor that can be reached by elevator. Very neat and clean. Breakfast, from 6:30 to 10am, is very good with quite a large choice. Coffee is always available at the breakfast station in the morning and at a smaller station near the reception. They have a small snack and drinks store right next to the reception along with computers and a couple of lounging and working areas. The room was a good size and it had a closet and a small kitchen area with sink and microwave. The outside wall was all windows which made it look very modern and chic. It was mostly clean although I found a few hairs in the bathroom and carpet which probably belonged to the cleaning crew. Parking is only valet and costs a hefty 60$ per night without gratuity. Don't bother trying to find a different parking garage because they are all pretty much valet.

Now the reason for the 3 stars. We value a good night's sleep and we did not get that: the HVAC system was, hands down, the loudest I've ever heard and it woke us up every time it kicked in. It seemed to be a common problem among other guests because the morning after, during breakfast, I've heard multiple people complaining about it too. The only way to sleep is to turn it off. But then the pillows were the second most uncomfortable I've had among the many hotels I've been to. They are huge fluffy ones that will flatten and deflate as soon as you lay your head on them; one's not enough and two are too many. And finally, but not the hotel's fault, is the noises from outside; we were on the 13th floor and we could hear people, cars, trash being thrown into the dumpster, sirens...

Also, we asked for a late checkout and the receptionist said that she could do 12pm although the website says that the checkout is at noon either way our cards got deactivated at 11am sharp and we couldn't use the elevator causing me to go up and down a few times and then get the stairs from the 9th floor. One elevator kept acting up and caused me and my dog a mini heart attack because it stopped, jumped, and started to go up and down. Not the best of luck with elevators it seems.

So yeah, it's a very nice hotel that unfortunately failed on what we value the most which is a decent sleep. I'd recommend it if sleep is something you don't really care about or you don't mind loud heating systems and uncomfortable pillows.

Addendum : they charged us twice for the room even if at the check in they told us we already paid. We called and they will refund the amount charged. Likely an honest mistake but better to double check their charges on your...

The hotel is new so it's beautiful. The floor to ceiling windows and views of the city were great. Having a full fridge was nice as well. Having no ice machine on the floor was inconvenient. The staff did bring ice up to my elder relative's room, but it did take quite some time, because the staff was light for the night.

We stayed at the Element for my daughter's wedding, which was in the city. The entire wedding party and many out of town guests stayed there as well. Although, we were promised a block of rooms together on the same floor, instead we were given rooms all over the hotel. None of us were together. This was so inconvenient for so many obvious reasons. We all had to catch the elevator to my daughter's room to have our hair done from the stylist, makeup from the makeup artist, photographs with the photographer, zipping dresses, fixing ties, and much more. The walking all over the hotel to get to family members' rooms was also inconvenient for our elder relatives as well.

We travel often and have stayed at many hotels. However, the key card at the Element doesn't work on the elevators, or in many rooms effectively. Most of us (family and friends) rode all the way to to top floor upon entering the elevator trying to get the key card to work, before pushing the button for the floor we wanted. It's as if the sensor wasn't sensing the key. Even though we switched keys the same thing happened every time I or my husband tried to open the door to our room as well. My parents had the same problem entering their room. In addition, the doors to the rooms are very heavy and extremely slow to close, which made it impossible to enter and close the door quickly. Because my husband didn't join me until later, this all made me feel unsafe. Entering the room with hands full of luggage with my slow to open key and slow to close door. Although these are little things they're very inconvenient and frustrating when rushing around for a wedding.

The valet parking is very unorganized. The sign is either too small or nonexistent for people to know where to pull up or stop. Several of my family members circled the blocks to find the valet entrance. Many times there was no attendant present at all. Because no valet attendant was present, the guard told my (other) daughter to leave the u-haul van (we had rented) out front.. He took the key (and parked the van) but never gave her a valet ticket. Later, when we tried to get something from the u- haul (for the wedding coordinator), the front desk said we needed a ticket. After explaining and many phone calls to the guard/valet/staff who had left for the day. They finally admitted that someone had misplaced the key. It took over an hour to sort out and find the key. The next day upon leaving, my parents gave their valet ticket before we gave ours. They brought our car out in about 7 minutes. Yet, my parents had to wait over an hour before getting their.

My other daughter is getting married next year, Needless to say we won't be returning...

The Element by Westin opened on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia back in May of 2021.

The brand focuses on providing accommodations for people who want to “maintain balance and wellness, even on the road.” They believe “everyone deserves to be well - no matter who they are, where they come from or how long they are away from home.”

With home to 460 rooms, 46 suites, and 37 meeting rooms, Element Philadelphia is the brands LARGEST property!

The Sky Lobby greets guests on the 2nd floor and is also where you can go to enjoy: ▫️a completely breakfast ▫️an evening reception, ▫️a grab and go pantry ▫️a fitness center ▫️a laundry room ▫️bike rentals ▫️workspaces ▫️and more!

They pride themselves in their sustainable design and eco-friendly practices that help to improve the hotel’s air quality, minimize pollutants, provide natural life and an overall cleaner environment.

Check in was a breeze and everyone of the staff was helpful and informative.

Our room at the Element in Philadelphia was located on the 24th floor, which provided us with a perfect view of the the city.

The room featured: ▫️a king size bed ▫️sofa ▫️desk ▫️dresser ▫️kitchenette ▫️full size fridge ▫️stove ▫️dishwasher ▫️microwave ▫️television

My favorite part of the room was that couch by the window that was the perfect place for soaking up some sun. If I didn’t have a whole weekend planned out, I could have stayed on this couch reading for HOURS!

When staying at the Element in Philadelphia, guests are welcome to a complementary breakfast that focuses on being healthy and fresh.

During our stay, we had the choice from a selection of: 🍳 scrambled eggs 🍳 sausage 🍳 breakfast potatoes 🍳 overnight oats 🍳 chia pudding 🍳 yogurt 🍳 bagels 🍳 cereal 🍳 and more!

They also offer a selection of beverages including a variety of juices, water, tea, coffee and even an espresso machine!

Their complementary breakfast is available 7am - 10am and is the perfect way to fuel up for a fun day of adventuring ahead of you! city. ⁠ ⁠ Our stay at the Element exceeded expectations from the moment I walked in.⁠ ⁠ One of the things I loved most about this hotel was its location. It's situated in the heart of the city, within walking distance of some of Philly's best restaurants, shops, and attractions. It was so convenient to be able to step out of the hotel and be in the midst of everything.⁠ ⁠ Overall, my stay at the Element Hotel in Philadelphia was fantastic. I highly recommend this hotel to anyone visiting the city - whether it's for business...