Homewood Suites by Hilton University City Philadelphia

Rooms and decor

Picture a hotel built specifically for families and longer stays: you open the door and instead of just a bed and a desk, you find a full kitchen and a living room, like a small apartment. That is the appeal of Homewood Suites by Hilton University City Philadelphia. This is an all-suite property, which means every room is a suite — there are no tight standard rooms to choose from. Each suite comes with a full kitchen holding a large fridge, stove, microwave, dishwasher, and a full set of cookware. Beyond that is a clearly separate living area with a sofa that folds out into an extra bed, a table, and a second TV, so parents and kids get space to share without crowding. Once the kids are asleep in the bedroom, the adults can still watch TV in the living room. The decor runs warm, plain, and practical, the beds are comfortable, and the rooms are roomier than the usual hotel standard. Many reviews agree the room size is excellent for the price, and having a kitchen and a separate living area makes traveling with young kids far easier. Anyone who has squeezed a whole family into one cramped hotel room will feel the difference right away.

Food and amenities

The feature families love most is the food, because there is a free hot breakfast every morning, and a full one — eggs, sausage, fresh-made waffles, bread, cereal, fruit, yogurt, and coffee. You can bring the kids down to eat their fill before heading out to the zoo, no need to find a place outside. Better still, Monday through Thursday there is an Evening Social with light snacks and drinks in the evening, a bonus that trims the food budget further. Then there is the indoor pool with a whirlpool, the standout over hotels with outdoor pools, since you can use it all year whatever the season. On afternoons when the kids have walked themselves tired, taking them down for a swim in the warm pool and a soak in the whirlpool is the moment many families remember. The building also has a fitness center for parents who work out, and crucially for long trips, a coin laundry that lets you wash the kids' clothes mid-trip so you do not have to pack as much. The in-room full kitchen also means you can warm milk, heat up the kids' food, or make a simple meal any time. Many reviews praise the friendly, helpful staff, which makes the stay feel as relaxed as a second home in the city.

Location and getting there

The hotel sits in University City on the west side of the Schuylkill River, the district that is home to well-known universities like Drexel and the University of Pennsylvania, so the feel is a lively academic neighborhood full of coffee shops, restaurants, and university green space. The part families love most is being near the Philadelphia Zoo, the oldest zoo in America, just a few minutes away by car or transit. The zoo has all kinds of animals and activities to keep kids busy all day, the main reason many families choose this area. Getting around is easy too: the hotel is near 30th Street Station, the city's major rail station, and the 34th St subway, where a few stops across the river drop you into Center City — the downtown with museums, shops, and the historic Old City quarter with the Liberty Bell. Wherever you want to go in the city, public transit makes it simple. It suits families who want to use the zoo and the University City side as a base, then cross over to Center City now and then, getting both convenience and a spacious room at a friendly price.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. First, understand that the location is University City, not the historic old town. If the picture in your head is walking out of the hotel and straight into Old City or the Liberty Bell, this may not fit, since you have to take transit across the river. But if your focus is the zoo and the University City side, this location is a great match. Second is parking, a paid add-on per night that is standard for a city hotel. If you do not need a car, riding transit from the nearby station is cheaper and easier, and because it sits near the universities, the area can get fairly busy with students and traffic at times. Third, this is a function-first hotel that emphasizes value, space, and convenience for longer stays, so the decor and feel are plain and practical rather than luxurious or boutique-design. Anyone expecting upscale style or great views may find it a touch ordinary — but if what you want is space, a full kitchen, and value for a family, this is hardly a problem.

Our take

After reading through plenty of real guest reviews, Homewood Suites by Hilton University City Philadelphia sells a full-kitchen suite with a separate living area, a year-round indoor pool, free hot breakfast, and a location near the zoo — at a price families can comfortably reach. If the trip in your head is taking the kids to spend the day at the Philadelphia Zoo, the oldest zoo in America, then coming back to let them swim in the indoor pool, cooking a simple dinner in the kitchen, and watching TV together in a roomy living area before a free hot breakfast the next morning, this is the most affordable and comfortable choice. But if the heart of your trip is staying in the middle of the old town and walking historic sights every day, or you are expecting a luxurious, design-led hotel, the University City location and function-first style here may not be the answer. Overall we give it 8.4/10, best for zoo-focused families who value usable space, an in-room kitchen, and value over a central tourist address and luxury.