Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown

Rooms and decor

Picture a big tower hotel standing right on the Logan Square traffic circle, one of Philadelphia's five original squares, with the Swann Memorial Fountain spraying away in the middle and the famous Benjamin Franklin Parkway museum row running close by — that's the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown, a 700-plus-room Sheraton (Marriott) set up as a downtown base for families and business travelers alike. What families feel the moment they open the door is the sheer size: most rooms give noticeably more space than the typical downtown hotel, with corners for several suitcases and room for the kids to move without feeling boxed in, and many come as two queens or take a rollaway for a bigger family. The decor leans warm and plain in the big-chain way — tidy and easy to use rather than flashy. Reviews praise the soft, sleep-easy beds and the well-working bathrooms. The big windows in many high-floor rooms open onto views of Logan Square with its fountain and the pretty line of the Parkway, so just opening the curtains gives you a lively city scene. For families who want space to spread out and a spot for the kids to play after a full day, the room size here is a real, tangible edge.

Food and amenities

The heart of why museum families pick this place is the walk-to-museum-row location. Step out of the lobby and 5 to 7 minutes later you're at the Franklin Institute, the city's legendary science museum with a building-sized heart kids walk through, a planetarium, hands-on science zones, and exhibits that excite kids all day. Nearby is the Academy of Natural Sciences, the natural history museum with a big dinosaur skeleton, a live butterfly room where they land on you, and gorgeous wildlife dioramas. For families with younger kids, a short ride through Fairmount reaches the Please Touch Museum, built so kids can touch, play, and experiment with everything, with an antique carousel they love best. Back at the hotel there's plenty to keep families happy. The star is the indoor pool the kids can use in any season without worrying about rain or cold — a good way to unwind after a day of museums (note that the pool and gym usually carry a separate access fee, so check when booking). There's also a gym, on-site dining and a bar, a lobby Starbucks handy for grabbing coffee and warm milk for the kids before heading out, and wide common areas for the kids to wander. Having everything in one place plus museums within walking distance makes trip planning easy and keeps kids busy from morning to evening.

Location and getting there

Location is the trump card that makes a hotel at this price feel like a real value. The Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown sits on Logan Square along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the broad avenue designed with inspiration from the Champs-Elysees in Paris, and home to the city's most important museums lined up in a row. That means families staying here barely need to ride anywhere. Walk the Parkway one way and you hit the Franklin Institute and the Academy of Natural Sciences; walk the other end and you reach the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the famous art museum with the Rocky steps kids love to run up for photos like the movie. A bit farther brings you to Fairmount Park and the leafy banks of the Schuylkill River. If you want to go farther it's still easy, since Suburban Station on SEPTA Regional Rail is about an 8 to 10 minute walk, with trains out to Old City for the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, or to the airport. Around Logan Square and Center City there's a range of restaurants and cafes across price points for the family. It suits families who want to see Philadelphia mostly on foot and by transit, knocking out several museums in a day with barely a car needed — easier travel that saves on parking too.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. The first thing many reviews agree on is that the indoor pool and gym usually carry a separate daily access fee that isn't bundled into every room rate. Families planning to put the kids in the pool every day should ask clearly when booking and add this to the budget, or look for a package that includes the access. The second is that this is a big hotel of more than 700 rooms that mainly hosts conferences and conventions, so during major events the lobby and elevators can get crowded with long waits at peak hours. Parts of the building and some rooms also look more dated than the newer boutique hotels in the area, and a few reviews feel it's less modern than expected — families hoping for polished luxury should reset expectations, since you're trading that for the lower price. The third is the valet parking that runs fairly high per night by Center City standards, with possible other add-on fees; families driving in should budget for it or lean on the walkable location and take the train instead. The bottom line: this place sells wide rooms, a museum location, and value more than free, brand-new luxury.

Our take

After our team read through plenty of real family reviews, the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown is a hotel that nails value — wide rooms, a prime spot on Logan Square along the museum row, and an indoor pool for the kids, at a price meaningfully friendlier than the luxury hotels on the same block. If your mental picture of the trip is walking the kids a few minutes to see the giant heart at the Franklin Institute and the dinosaurs at the Academy of Natural Sciences in the morning, stopping at the Please Touch Museum for little ones in the afternoon, then coming back to a wide room and the indoor pool to wind down — without paying over budget for the room — this is one of the most fitting, best-value picks in the area. But if you're after a brand-new boutique with sharp design, or want a free pool and gym bundled into the rate, the fact that this is a big older hotel that charges separately for the pool may not be your first answer. Overall we give it 7.9/10, best for families who want a wide room in a good spot within walking distance of the science museums and who value the price over brand-new luxury.