The Notary Hotel, Philadelphia, Autograph Collection by Marriott

The Notary Hotel has an excellent location — perfect for exploring Philadelphia and close to many attractions. Our room was very large, which we appreciated, but the design felt underwhelming. It seemed like a mediocre renovation, with old toilets and showers that felt cheaply done. The room itself was dark and not well lit, which made it feel a bit gloomy. On the positive side, the cleaning staff and bell boys were incredibly friendly and helpful — truly the highlight of the stay. The front desk staff was a mixed experience, depending on who you happened to get. Overall, the hotel didn’t really give that warm, “at home” feeling, which was disappointing given its potential.

Public spaces, rooms very nicely appointed. Decor was interesting and the holiday decorations made it very festive. The breakfast bar had great choices and the wait staff were very pleasant. The location was central to much of what we wanted to see and we could walk within 15 minutes to major museums and to our choice of restaurants. Great to be really able to control the temperature in the room. Maybe it was my Bonvoy status, but a nice touch to have the robes and slippers provided.

The hotel is in a fantastic location, right in the central square, right at the tip of a walk up to the museums, a few minutes from Chinatown, etc. The hotel is a 2 minute walk from the east west subway line that runs east to the historic district, and west to the train station. We never needed a car. The staff are excellent. We changed our dates through booking.com, and the booking.com agent made an error. We did not notice until it was too late to cancel without a fee. The hotel waived the fee with no questions, and helped us correct the dates.

The hotel has an excellent location. The rooms are spacious and very quiet with an excellent bathroom. The lobby is also very nice and quiet. You are close to the Wanamaker and the main buildings of the city. Public transport within easy reach. Good WiFi. Nice bar with a wide selection of drinks and very friendly staff.

We loved every moment of our stay. Modern but still holds all the old world charm of the original building. Great location, very close to the terminal market and all necessities within walking distance. Will definitely be back.