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Penn Tower Hotel – reviews, photos

Civic Center Boulevard at 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4385
Hotel amenities
Penn Tower Hotel
Ranked #68 of 84 hotels in Philadelphia
3.0 of 5 stars 45 Reviews
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45 reviews from our community

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Date Rating
West Chester, Pennsylvania
1 review
13 helpful votes 13 helpful votes
“Towers are a saving grace”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 29 November 2011
13
people found this review helpful

My father was undergoing open heart surgery. I read reviews and was very sceptical, "DONT BE". The Towers are fine. They provide a close and convenient access to the hospital or Childrens Hospital at a very resonable rate. It is safe, clean and very convenient. You can access the hospital ICU 24 hrs a day. Parking is safe, and the Towers provide passes so that you can go in and out of the parking garage without paying EXTRA cash.You cant ask for a better place to stay while you are remaining close to your loved one. The staff at the Towers were very helpful. We had pre-arranged to have a desent ref-freezer in the room, a microwave and coffee maker. If you stay anywhere else, you have to fight traffic and the like. The hallways are clean as noted above, and the room and bathroom were more than acceptable. This is not a five star hotel, HOWEVER it is not as bad as the other reviews state. I'm in Law Enforcement, and if I thought this hotel was the least a dump, I would not have let my mother(80 yrs old) stay here. The rugs have been replaced by the way, and the beds and the like are great and changed daily by the Towers maid staffing. This is a no brainer when you need to be close to your loved one. While at the Towers, I interacted with doctor's that spent the night on the same floor as I was on, and they had no problem with the accomadations... Your not taking a chance if you stay here. Roving security officers also patrol the floors occupied by hotel guests. I stayed eight days without a problem. (11-29-11)

Room Tip: The 17th floor was quiet.
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  • Stayed November 2011, travelled with family
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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Ask Rob C about Penn Tower Hotel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Bryans Road, Maryland, United States
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
Reviews in 7 cities Reviews in 7 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
“beautful”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 16 November 2011
2
people found this review helpful

loved the view, love the food,loved the rooms.. PERFECT

  • Stayed February 2011, travelled as a couple
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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Ask Amanda K about Penn Tower Hotel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
“A Port During A Storm”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 9 November 2011
2
people found this review helpful

When you have an ill family member in the ICU at Penn, the Penn Tower Hotel is the most convenient. Only a few floors are 'hotel' floors an the rest of the building is used as offices, etc for the Univ of Pa Hospital. The hotel has not been updated in many years ( I stayed there for a number of days 8 yrs ago) and I feel that the hospital only keeps it active for the convenience of family of ill patients.
For me, being able to use the sky bridge to the hospital day and night and returning safely to the hotel, topped the negative feeling about the overall appearance of the hotel room. The room was clean but there was peeling wallpaper and other issues - but it was a port during our personal storm.
Ron at the front desk, and Al were great. If I had a problem, it was solved. I thank them for their courtesy and professionalism.
So, I, and probably other family members, overlooked the negatives at the hotel and were blessed by being able to be close to our family member during their hospital stay.
Thank you HUP.

Room Tip: Ask for a room overlooking the skyline
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  • Stayed November 2011, travelled with family
    • 2 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 2 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
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Ask grandmother1999 about Penn Tower Hotel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
1 review
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“This place is extortion!”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 3 November 2011 via mobile
1
person found this review helpful

This place is awful. My father was in the ICU at HUP so we stayed here for convenience (2 min walk to hospital across sky bridge). If we hadn't been in a life or death situation, there is no way we would have stayed. I realize that you're not going to get a 4 star hotel for $150 a night but I've stayed in cheap motels that were a lot nicer. The staff was rude and unhelpful, the ceiling in the bathroom was caving in, wallpaper was peeling, sheets were worn and stained, and they only bothered to replace or towels and make our beds 3 times in our 8 night stay. Most of the people staying here are in crisis mode and it is sad that they are being taken advantage of by this hotel.

  • Stayed October 2011
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
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Ask butr4what about Penn Tower Hotel
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Pa.
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
“OMG...Dont' stay here unless is an emergency!”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 21 October 2011
2
people found this review helpful

My child was in chop for 6 weeks.I spent my first two weeks at the Sheraton and Penn tower.Both were very disappointing to say the least. The Penn Tower was awful.The staff was rude...snide and non accomodating.The whole place was weird I felt like I was in the Twilight zone.It is old and stinky!! My child was dying in the children's hosp. and these people treated me so bad....Overpriced and disgusting! NO way would I stay there again. There should be a law againest this type of place...highway robbery!!!!! There is no wi fi and no amenities no room service or anything! I need towels and I had to wake up the sleeping clerk to get me some haha!!! I had no choice but to stay there.

Room Tip: only stay there if you have a loved one dying in the hospitals next door
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  • Stayed November 2010, travelled solo
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 2 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
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Additional Information about Penn Tower Hotel

  • Penn Hotel Philadelphia
  • Penn Tower
Address: Civic Center Boulevard at 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4385
Price range (per night):* INR5,816 - 9,450

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