Philadelphia advice

[battalion51]

Alright kiddies, I changed my vacation plans for next summer, to the City of Brotherly love, Philadelphia. Obviously I know how to get there, Slamtrak of course. My current itenerary looks like this:

P092 FTL-PHL

P056 PHL-SPG (going to see a friend in Palmer)

P471 SPG-NHV

P171 NHV-NYP

P097 NYP-FTL

I've got 6 days in Philly, most of my nights will be taken by Citizens Bank Ballapark, as my hometown Marlins will be in town while I am, how convienent? My main question is this: where can I find good cheap lodging near the NEC (preferably near 30th Street Station)? Any advice from you all seasoned Philly visitors will be appreciated. Many thanks! B)

 

[AlanB]

I did quite a bit or research last year on Philly hotels, so that I could prepare a webpage of hotel options for those attending the OTOL Philly Fest. Sadly there are not many hotels near 30th Street Station, and the few that are near are still more than a few blocks from the station. So no train action from your room.

Most hotels are downtown. You can use your same day Amtrak ticket however for a ride on SEPTA to reach either of the two Center City stations.

While obviously the prices are outdated, here's the list of hotels that I did compile. All are within a few blocks walk of a train/subway station.

 

[battalion51]

Alan you never cease to amaze me. :lol: It's my guess that we're not really going to need a car to get around the city right? Also, my Mom has visions of going to Gettysburg (somehow that spelling doesn't look right) and Hershey. Recommendations there?

 

[AlanB]

You won't need a car in Philly proper and having one could cost you plenty in parking fees, even at the hotel. Most hotels in Center City will charge for parking, the ones at the airport probably don't. The Stadium/Arena complex is easily reachable on the Broad Street Subway, and IMHO is highly recommended for getting to the games. Much easier than driving and once again paying for parking.

You will however need a car if you wish to go to either Gettysburg or Hershey Park, as there is no convienent train service to either.

Next here's the link to SEPTA's website, so that you can see system maps and schedules to help with travel within the city.

Now should you wish to do a little railfanning while in Philly, then you might want to wander through Kevin Korell's (aka. Superliner Diner's) fest pages for trip guides and ideas of what to ride while in Philly proper. Heck if you give either of us fair warning and your travel dates via PM, one or both of us might be able to join you for some riding and to act as tour guides. Of course Kevin would most likely be traveling with his son Michael too.

 

[Viewliner]

Hershey is only a few miles from the Harrisburg station (13 iirc from a hershey map), if somehow you can manage to rent a car there, then you'd be fine. I know that around hershey if you did stay overnight, there are more expensive hotels like the hershey hotel, and hershey lodge (where I usually stay) but are nice. If you stay at one of those two hotels, you have a choice of a buffet at Lebbies, or a nice meal at the Hershey Grill (highly reccomend), cocoa beanery is good for breakfast. There is also a Best Western nearby if you're looking for something cheaper. At the park, I'd hit chocolate world for the tour ride simulating a factory, for a free sample. A lot of good rides too, roller soaker, comet, lightning racer etc.

 

[Conrail]

id go with veiwliner

 

[battalion51]

Is Hershey an all day sort of thing? We were looking at trying to hit Hershey and Gettysburg in one day, anyone reccomend two days? One of the possibilities is to rent from Hertz on the front end or back end of the trip at Amtrak Philadelphia, renting upon arrival on 92 or return the car on our way into town or on my way to Springfield.

 

[Viewliner]

You definitely need to do a two day in my opinion, you need a whole day for hershey, so I'd go with a two day. Hershey is the kind of place where you need more than half a day to really get on some of the rides (accounting for the lines)...too bad they don't have a Fast Pass like Disney (I guess the crowds won't really warrant it.)

 

[battalion51]

I know this topic's over a year old, but the question has come up again. We're going to do Philadelphia this year "come hell or high water." :lol: First question is hotel related, the link to Kevin's list is broken, Alan is it possible to link back up to that or should I contact Kevin directly? Second, this time around we will be flying up there, does anyone know how easy it is to get into the city center from the airport? Don't worry though, I haven't lost my railroad roots, following the trip to Philly I will be heading north by Regional to Massachusetts to spend time with friends. When I change locations I plan on taking Acela from NHV-BOS to experience that 150 MPH running. I will return home via Auto Train as I help a friend move into his place at his college. It's going to be one heck of a trip! Thanks for your help guys!

 

[AlanB]

I know this topic's over a year old, but the question has come up again. We're going to do Philadelphia this year "come hell or high water." :lol: First question is hotel related, the link to Kevin's list is broken, Alan is it possible to link back up to that or should I contact Kevin directly? Second, this time around we will be flying up there, does anyone know how easy it is to get into the city center from the airport?

B51,

No need to contact Kevin, although I'm sure that he'd be happy to help you, but he just moved the page for the latest fest we had back in March. You can find the new page here.

As for the airport, if you're flying into Philly's airport, then it's very easy to get to Center City (CC). Just walk out the front of any terminal and catch the R1 train to CC. During off peak times they run once every half hour I believe. Fare should be $5.50 and there are TVM's right on the platforms.

Make sure that you bring old US bills, not the new ones, as last I knew the machines did not know what to do with the new bills.

More info from SEPTA can be found here.

 

[Sam Damon]

So what if this thread is a year old -- people do have questions.

I agree with the notion of spending the entire day in Hershey, and an entire day in Gettysburg, should you get out that way. Gettysburg can easily take up an entire vacation, if you're so inclined.

 

[battalion51]

Ok thanks Alan, I appreciate it!

 

[Superliner Diner]

No need to contact Kevin, although I'm sure that he'd be happy to help you, but he just moved the page for the latest fest we had back in March. You can find the new page here.

The link is currently correct, although I am finding the need to soon move things again, as I am actually running out of webspace with all the rail fests I have planned since 2001 and for the future. (For example I don't need to have hotel lists for every fest we had in New York in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2006... all will be combined.)

Keep in mind that with any city, the hotel rates change with the seasons and with any large scale events in the city such as sports playoffs, conventions, concerts, etc. Regarding Philadelphia specifically, the hotels near the airport tend to be cheaper than those in Center City. There are quite a few chain hotels along Bartrum Avenue just outside the airport property (across I-95). You have the choice of taking the free airport shuttles from the airport, or you can also access some of them from the SEPTA R1 Airport line, at the Eastwick station.

Also regarding Hershey, if you don't mind a bus ride, you can take Amtrak Keystone Service to Harrisburg, and then there is a bus operated by the local transit authority Capital Area Transit (CAT) that runs along US 322 to Hershey.

 

[battalion51]

Thanks for your help Kevin, it certainly is appreciated!