Philadelphia Marriott Downtown — Hotel in Philadelphia

For $966 for two nights I feel like this place should have done better. I was in town for a convention and my husband booked Marriott to come down and hang out. Luckily he did because due to a screw up at Hilton my coworker and I would’ve been sleeping in the car if he hadn’t. HOWEVER, there were tons of issues. First of all, the price was insane. My Hilton hotel less than a block away was about $350 for two nights, same as last year. No clue what makes the Marriott so special that it’s almost $1k for two nights. The rooms kinda suck. They’re dark and the carpet is dingy and they just aren’t that great. First and foremost, it’s about 85 degrees in all the hallways. It was just as hot in the room when we got in. Turned the thermostat down to 66 but it definitely never got below 73 the entire stay. You can hear the air kick on and off SOMETIMES but something is definitely wrong with it. Even in the middle of winter it’s uncomfortably hot in the entire building. The first night we stayed I had no clue prior, but there was a different event going on for 9nth grade debate kids for the UN. The entire hotel had about a thousand 14-year-olds running around in pajamas all night. They were even letting them at the bar! (Not to drink). They were having pillow fights in the hallways. My hotel room door got banged on around midnight so loud that it scared the shit out of me. I went out to see what it was and it was and there were a bunch of kids running away. About a half hour later I got another knock! This time it was staff. When my husband opened the door they started apologizing profusely, saying they were doing checks to make sure all the kids were in order. WTF?! Why don’t you keep track of what rooms go to which people!!!! Luckily after probably several complaints from many people they finally put security on many of the floors. My second issue is that the second night we went to use the side door and elevator and the key card just didn’t work anymore. That’s great. It’s literally 2 degrees outside and now I have to walk around the building and all the way to the elevator just for our other key to not work too? Third issue is parking. Husband had to pay $100+ for two nights, partially because the hotel is unclear upon booking that you need to have checked into the hotel and you need your key card first for them to let you park. WTF IS THAT?! So he had to pay $27 to park the car for ten mins, go get checked in, then come back and pay another $27 again to have it valeted, then the time and fees, etc, etc. My last complain might seem minute but it’s annoying to me. On the 16th floor there is a sign for vending and ice where you will find neither vending, nor ice. Went there with my ice bucket around 5am looking for some ice and a soft drink from a vending machine. Ice machine doesn’t work and there is no vending machine. I walked up to the 17th floor and was able to get ice but again, no vending machine. I’m pretty sure that’s their way of getting you to spend $12 on a Pepsi in the lobby. Not everyone wants to go down to the lobby and wait in line in their pajamas when they first roll out of bed. Hotel is also surrounded by bums late at night. Not the hotel’s fault but just something to keep in mind if you’re a night owl or you smoke cigarettes. Positives about the hotel: close to reading market and convention center! Best part hands down. Other than that the only positive things I can say are that the staff were nice and the restaurant (Thirteen) staff were really cool. Restaurant was empty as hell but service was quick, food was good and the staff...

We have stayed in Marriotts in different states but this was the first and last time for us with our experience at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. My family booked a trip for the July 4th holiday weekend 2 months in advance for 5 people with two Queen beds and pull out couch.

We confirmed our check in via app and got the room key along with directions to the room and information on nearby attractions from someone at the front desk. This was on July 4th so we quickly got our things in the room and took the kids out for dinner and fireworks. Upon returning later that night and after everyone is settling into bed we realized we did not get the room we purchased. We went downstairs to explain that we are in a room with only 2 full size beds. We were told that our rooms were switched due to the original building not having a working AC. I then explained this was never brought to our attention and we are still short a sleeping space. The manager told me that there was a misunderstanding since I checked in via app. I then explained that I still spoke to a person at the desk to get the room key and information regarding breakfast etc. She dismissed this, and said there is nothing that could be done that night. I explained that one adult would have to sleep on a chair that night and requested for a cot. She said the best she could do was to put us on a waitlist for a bigger room the next day. She also explained that a cot would not fit into the current room that we had and nothing could be done. Therefore I slept on a chair that night knowing this was a well planed vacation and the lack of accountability was quickly showing in the hotels staff.

I asked for any accommodations given the lack of transparency for her staff earlier in the day, and all she could offer was a price adjustment. We were fully charged for the larger room that we booked but the hotel willing placed 5 people into a 4 person room with no communication or accountability.We received a call the next morning around 9am that a room opened up and while it was not the room that we booked, they were able to fit a cot in there. We had to then ask if we could not be charged for the cot since the mistake was not on our part.

The first room was made for 4 people, not 5 as booked two months in advance and did not have a safe. We requested a few extra towels as there was not enough for 5 people. The second room came with a safe but not a well working AC. We were able to put the AC down to 65 but within 20 mins it jumped back and stood at 75. This was our last night there and given the hassle of the lack of professional approaches and accountability we stuck it out for the night.

The hotel knew that it was a holiday weekend and most places were fully booked. It is not easy to move a family of 5 on a holiday and while we understand that AC’s in buildings breakdown and things happen- it is extremely important to be open, honest, and transparent with your guest. They saw an opportunity to take advantage of families on vacation and to make the most money possible. There was no communication, accommodations, or apologizes provided while intentionally downsizing a room for a family traveling with kids. The mistake could be looked past, but the lack of owning that mistake and working to make it better is unacceptable. The convenience of the location being in the heart of the city was not worth it given the treatment...

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a once-grand hotel gets left behind by time — and then managed by a team whose only skill is cost-cutting — the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown has your answer. This isn’t just a bad hotel. It’s an educational field trip into how low expectations can go.

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The Building: Lipstick Meets Pig

They claim it’s been “renovated,” but what that really means is: they painted over the past and hoped no one would notice. Beneath the new carpet and beige wallpaper, it’s still an old, tired Marriott from another era. Management clearly spent their entire renovation budget on appearances — not cleanliness, comfort, or competence.

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The Neighborhood: Rough Around Every Edge

Step outside, and you’ll quickly realize that the hotel’s problems don’t end at the lobby doors. The surrounding area feels run-down and neglected, with homeless encampments lining the sidewalks. Walking back at night means literally navigating people sleeping on the pavement right in front of the hotel. It’s sad and unsettling — and frankly, women should not walk alone here after dark. There’s a constant sense of unease, and the hotel does little (if anything) to ensure guest safety once you step outside.

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Rooms: Dingy, Noisy, and Not Even Trying

Inside, things don’t get better. The rooms are dank, dated, and questionably clean. The walls are paper-thin, and there’s a persistent noise running through the building that sounds like the HVAC system is doing deep breathing exercises. Sleep? Not likely.

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Management & Service: Experts in Cost Cutting, Nothing Else

The mobile key doesn’t work (of course), and when you ask for help, expect a shrug and a line. The front desk is chronically understaffed, probably because management discovered that if you just let guests wait long enough, they eventually stop complaining. The staff attitude ranges from “checked out” to “actively annoyed,” which makes sense — leadership here seems allergic to spending money on people, training, or service.

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The Bar: One Team, One Channel

The bar is equally bleak. Forget NFL Sunday Ticket — you’re getting one game and one game only: the Philadelphia Eagles. Apparently, management decided showing other teams was unnecessary since everyone must be from Philly, right? Want to catch a different matchup? Too bad. You’ll be watching the Eagles today, whether you like it or not. The staff will be too and yes they will be paying more attention to the game that serving you.

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The Bedding & Towels: An Exercise in Irony

The in-room TV proudly plays Marriott ads about premium bedding, and there’s even a catalog telling you how to buy it — which is hilarious when you’re lying under scratchy, paper-thin sheets that feel straight out of a hospital ward. The towels are barely towels, more like glorified napkins from a budget gym. It’s all so wildly off-brand it feels like performance art.

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Final Thoughts: Off-Brand, Unsafe, and Uncaring

Between the dingy rooms, the apathetic staff, the Eagles-only bar, and the run-down, uncomfortable neighborhood, this hotel feels utterly disconnected from the Marriott name. It’s a property coasting on brand recognition while cutting every...