Le Meridien Philadelphia

I'm absolutely LIVID about the reprehensible treatment my family endured at Le Meridien Philadelphia—a supposed "luxury" hotel where we paid over $400 for a single night of what became a traumatic experience. Arriving at 4pm (well AFTER their guaranteed check-in time), we were completely abandoned at the entrance—no valet, no bell service, ZERO assistance whatsoever. I was forced to drag multiple heavy suitcases up steep staircases while my exhausted children watched helplessly—utterly UNACCEPTABLE for a hotel charging premium prices. The front desk agent, Jacob, displayed a level of contempt that still makes my blood boil. Despite my Gold Elite status and confirmed reservation, he coldly informed us we'd wait an additional 90 minutes while openly prioritizing airline crew members over a family with increasingly hungry, distressed children. His dismissive "that's the way it is" response when I questioned this outrageous policy was nothing short of insulting. For $400+, we were left standing in the lobby for nearly TWO HOURS without so much as a bottle of water or the slightest acknowledgment of our deteriorating situation. Not a single gesture of hospitality was offered—no complimentary refreshments, no comfortable place to wait, absolutely NOTHING as my children grew increasingly upset. What's truly infuriating is how Jacob instantly "discovered" an available room the moment I threatened to contact corporate leadership—exposing the blatant lie that rooms weren't ready. This manipulative, deceitful treatment of paying customers is INEXCUSABLE at any hotel, let alone one charging $400+ per night. The filthy, poorly-stocked room we eventually received only confirmed the property's utter disdain for guests. Missing basic amenities like soap and water, unclean conditions, and completely false advertising about their "remodeled" accommodations completed this nightmare experience. Jacob and management at Le Meridien Philadelphia should be deeply ashamed of treating guests with such shocking disrespect after charging premium rates. I'm warning fellow travelers in the strongest possible terms—STAY ANYWHERE ELSE. No one deserves this level of contempt and callousness, especially after paying $400+ for what was promised to be a luxury Marriott experience. This property is an embarrassment to the Marriott brand and should be avoided at all costs.

We loved everything about our stay at Le Méridien Philadelphia. While we would have preferred a room with a window to the outside, the room itself was well thought out, the bed was super comfortable, the linens were nice and crisp, and the bathroom had enough hooks to hang towels. Lovely vibe overall, including the fantastic “Nouvelle Vague” music mix in the elevators and the common areas. Enjoyed the stay in the room, delicious dinner at Amuse, attentive staff, and the overall European style setting. The hotel features great historical architectural elements and its location is incredibly convenient for any events at the Philadelphia Convention Center or to explore the city on foot. Across from Love Park and City Hall and just blocks from Reading Terminal Market, Chinatown, Starbucks, and Trader Joe's for quick food options on the go.

Weird one night stay here. Got to the hotel at 3pm, which is the normal check-in time. Woman at the front desk was not very friendly and told us a room was not yet ready for us. There was probably another 10 reservations also waiting in the lobby for their room that was not yet ready. Fast forward an hour and two unnecessary hotel bar drinks later, we were finally told a room was ready. During this check-in process, I am usually offered bonus points or a welcome gift/breakfast as a platinum elite member, neither of which I was offered. Overall, I did not find this hotel worth it at all outside of the great location. Decor is a bit dated (renovations currently going on), staff is not very welcoming and everything seemed a bit no-frills. Go down the street and stay at The Notary for a few bucks more.

If a hotel is renovating and cannot offer an amenity, it should be noted on the website when booking. I had plenty of hotel choices for this conference and I absolutely would have chosen a different one if I had known the fitness center was closed. The website currently says it’s open 24 hours. You can go to another hotel that’s down the street but I’m not going to walk downtown by myself at 5am to workout.

No gym on property. The hotel is undergoing a renovation (which is fine) and some things like the lobby and fitness center are not in use. It would be nice if someone acknowledged this ahead of time on their website and if they changed their faqs so that it doesn’t say they have a gym on property. Otherwise, you can walk in the 5 degrees weather to the aloft gym. Stay elsewhere if you need a gym. Otherwise, totally basic 3 star hotel. Certainly not a 4 star near luxury anything.