Escape to Philly: Drexel Hill's Hidden Gem Hotel!
Okay, buckle up, buttercup, because we're diving headfirst into Escape to Philly: Drexel Hill's Hidden Gem Hotel!, or as I'm calling it, my new potential escape hatch from… well, life. I’ve been tasked with the impossible – giving you the real skinny, the underbelly, the warts and all, while simultaneously trying to convince you (and, frankly, myself) that this place is worth your hard-earned dough. Let's see if I can pull it off. (Spoiler alert: I'm winging it.)
First Impressions & Accessibility (or trying to get in the dang door!)
Okay, so "Hidden Gem" is a bold statement. Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania isn’t exactly the Amalfi Coast (though, hey, I've seen worse). But getting to the hotel? That's important for my target audience.
- Accessibility: Ugh. Here's where I sigh. The listing says "Facilities for disabled guests." That vague descriptor has me raising one eyebrow and clenching my fists. Wheelchair accessible? Gotta call and find out the specifics. The elevator's a must, but are the bathrooms configured right? Are the doors wide enough? This is an area where I'd want more detailed information (and possibly, a photo of the ramps).
- Getting There: Airport transfer? Excellent! No fumbling with taxis after a flight. Car park [free of charge] - YES! That's a win. And the inclusion of Car power charging station really says that the hotel is updated.
- Check-in/out [express]: This is a good one! I'm not about that long, drawn-out process.
The Tech Tango: Wi-Fi, Internet, and Staying Connected (the crucial stuff)
Let's face it, in the 21st century, Wi-Fi is as essential as oxygen.
- Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services, Wi-Fi in public areas, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!: Okay, okay, they're hitting the tech basics. Wi-Fi [free] in all rooms is a godsend. And Internet access – wireless in my room is an added bonus. No more desperately hovering by the lobby hoping for a decent signal. Phew.
The Comfort Zone: Rooms, Amenities, and Surviving Your Stay
This is where things get interesting. Let’s break it down and see how deep the rabbit hole goes.
Available in all rooms:
- Additional toilet: Good gravy!
- Air conditioning: Essential, especially in the summer!
- Alarm clock: Helpful, assuming it works.
- Bathrobes, Bathtub, Bathroom phone: Fancy!
- Blackout curtains: My salvation!
- Closet: Check.
- Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea: Hello, caffeine!
- Daily housekeeping: Praise be.
- Desk, Extra long bed: Huzzah!
- Free bottled water: Always appreciated.
- Hair dryer: Essential for moi.
- High floor: I like height!
- In-room safe box: Nice.
- Interconnecting room(s) available: Not usually a priority for me, but good for families.
- Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless: More internet options, awesome.
- Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace: Useful!
- Linens: Hopefully, clean.
- Mini bar: Impulse buys incoming.
- Mirror: Critical.
- Non-smoking: Thank goodness!
- On-demand movies: Nice for a rainy day.
- Private bathroom: Privacy is key.
- Reading light: To bury myself in that book.
- Refrigerator: Good for snacks.
- Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area: Comfort.
- Separate shower/bathtub: Luxury!
- Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing: Great!
- Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens: Functional.
Room Decorations/Couple's room/Proposal spot/Soundproof rooms: I’m not usually in those rooms..but I'm always up for suggestions!
Cleanliness & Safety: Because, you know, not dying is a plus.
Right. COVID happened. I need to know they're taking care of things, even if it’s mostly marketing.
- Anti-viral cleaning products, Breakfast in room, Cashless payment service, Daily disinfection in common areas, Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit, Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment: They're saying the right things. Now, the proof is in the pudding…or the sanitized spoon.
- Room sanitization opt-out available, Shared stationery removed: Smart.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Fueling the Adventure (or the Couch Potato)
Dining options can make or break a stay. This is where my inner foodie (and caffeine addict) wakes up.
- A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant: Okay, that’s a lot of food options. Room service [24-hour]? YES. Absolutely yes. My inner lazy bum is doing a happy dance. And the Coffee shop…vital.
- Essential condiments: I need mayo.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: Pampering, Pools, and Pretending You're Not Stressed
This is where the "Hidden Gem" part comes into play. Can this place help me actually relax?
- Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]: A Pool with view? Now we're talking! A Sauna? Sold. A Spa? I'm already picturing myself, draped in a robe, sipping herbal tea.
- Air conditioning in public area, Terrace: More options for enjoying my downtime.
Services and Conveniences: Because Life is Hard Enough.
Little things that make a stay seamless.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center: A Concierge is always nice to have. So is Food delivery.
- Bicycle parking: For the athletic types.
For the Kids: (Because sometimes you're forced to bring them!)
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal: Good to see it.
Getting Around:
- Taxi service, Valet parking: Fancy!
Security: (Because, you know, safety.)
- Access, CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private], Exterior corridor, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Hotel chain, Non-smoking rooms, Pets allowed unavailable, Proposal spot, Room decorations, Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms: Okay. Good. Security is important, even if it seems like a formality.
My Experience – Or, The One Thing That Could Make or Break My Whole Damn Trip
Alright, let's talk about the pool. A Pool with view. This is where my personal preference really shines. My best friend, the ever optimistic and always positive Laura, is the kind of person who walks straight up to people and starts
Lake Klink's Hidden Gem: Stunning Holiday Apartment with Breathtaking Views!
Okay, buckle up, buttercup! This ain't your meticulously-planned, perfectly-executed travel guide. This is real life. This is me, stumbling through Drexel Hill while staying at that… well, it's a Holiday Inn. Philadelphia. W. By IHG. Drexel Hill. (Deep breath). Here we go…
The Holiday Inn Philly W - Drexel Hill: A Love-Hate Story (So Far…)
Day 1: Arrival - Exhaustion and the Undeniable Smell of Chlorine
- 1:00 PM: Arrived! Ha. "Arrived." More like, collapsed into the lobby after the drive. Traffic on the turnpike was a beast. My GPS lady (who I've nicknamed "Agnes, the All-Seeing Annoyance") decided to take us on a scenic tour of backroads. Let's just say the "scenery" involved more potholes than picturesque vistas.
- 1:30 PM: Checked in. The front desk clerk looked like he'd seen things. Probably involving lost room keys and screaming toddlers. I, myself, felt close to screaming. The room… well, it's clean-ish. And let me be honest, after that drive, clean-ish is a win. But the faint, persistent aroma of chlorine? It's either the pool or the industrial-strength cleaning products. Either way, I'm already picturing myself with red, itchy eyes.
- 2:00 PM: Unpacked, or, rather, hurled my suitcase onto the bed. The bedspread is… well, it's there. More importantly, the AC works. Praise be. Now, to find the coffee situation…
- 2:30 PM: Success! Instant coffee. It'll do. Staring out the window, trying to absorb any local flavor. Drexel Hill looks… suburban. Lots of houses. Lawns. Not exactly the gritty, historical Philadelphia I was expecting. Guess I'll have to leave the hotel for that.
- 3:00 PM: The bathroom. The shower is functional, the water pressure is…meh. I'm beginning to suspect this hotel has been stuck in a 1990s time warp.
- 3:30 PM: Decided to hit the hotel's gym. BIG mistake I'm not usually a gym person. But after being cooped up in the car, I thought I'd go for a run. 3 minutes in and I was out of breath. I noticed a woman looking at me like I was an idiot. I promptly left and decided to go back to my room for a break.
- 6:00 PM: "Dinner" at the hotel restaurant. (Air quotes intended.) The menu: a testament to the power of convenience. I chose the burger. I wouldn't call the burger, a burger. I'd call it, "a thing that resembles a burger." Ate it anyway, because, well, food. And because I was too tired to walk anywhere else.
- 7:30 PM: Watched some mindless TV. The remote control is a relic. Half the buttons work. Half the buttons are missing. Trying to find something to watch felt like a treasure hunt.
- 9:00 PM: Slumped into bed, feeling the familiar ache of travel fatigue. Realized I forgot my toothbrush. Great.
Day 2: Into the City - History, Heartburn, and a Pigeon Problem
- 8:00 AM: Woke up feeling oddly refreshed – probably the extended sleep, and the absence of Agnes. Managed to find my toothbrush. A minor victory. The in-room coffee maker looks like it hasn't been cleaned since the Clinton administration.
- 9:00 AM: Attempted the breakfast buffet. Oh, boy. The scrambled eggs looked suspiciously yellow. The coffee was lukewarm. The bacon was… crispy. So crispy it shattered when I poked it. I ended up with a bagel and cream cheese and a vague sense of disappointment.
- 9:30 AM: Headed into Philly! Decided to Uber it. Got completely lost taking Ubers. I got slightly annoyed.
- 10:30 AM: Independence Hall. Okay, now that's history. Standing where the Declaration of Independence was signed? Gave me goosebumps. The crowds were a bit much. I got a little pushy myself to find some space, but it was amazing.
- 11:45 AM: Independence National Historical Park. I walked around to see the Liberty Bell. But, guess what? It's cracked. I mean, I knew it was cracked, but seeing it in person? It was just… a bell. A big, cracked bell. Still, it was nice to see!
- 12:30 PM: Cheesesteak lunch! Pat's or Geno's? The eternal question. I decided to be a tourist and went with Pat's. (Don't judge me.) The line? Ridiculous. The wait? Endless. The cheesesteak itself? Oily. Cheesy. Beefy. Delicious. My stomach, however, is protesting. Heartburn is a cruel way to remember a tourist trap.
- 2:00 PM: Wandered through Elfreth's Alley – the oldest residential street in America. So charming! I’m a sucker for cobblestone streets, old buildings, and the illusion of time travel.
- 3:00 PM: Started getting lost. I'm not sure how it happened.
- 4:00 PM: Got back to the hotel, exhausted. I really need to learn to use a map.
- 6:00 PM: Decided to take dinner at the hotel again. I really hoped this time would be different. It was not.
- 7:00 PM: Finished the day in the room. I had to go to sleep early because I am old and tired.
Day 3: Suburban Serenity (ish) and the Chlorine Quandary
- 9 AM: Woke up to the sun streaming in the window. It's a nice change from the usual stuffy hotel room.
- 9:30 AM: Same breakfast buffet. Same lukewarm coffee. Decided to treat myself to one of those pre-packaged blueberry muffins. It was surprisingly good.
- 10:30 AM: Decided to take a walk around Drexel Hill. It's a very quiet suburban neighborhood. I'm not going to lie, I kind of liked it. I went to the park. Saw some kids. The kids were playing. I didn't talk to the kids. I just watched them.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch at a local diner. Had a burger! This time, it was really good! I really enjoyed the burger.
- 2:00 PM: Spent a lot of time in the hotel. Just relaxing. The hotel is not my favorite, but for some reason, I did enjoy myself this time.
- 4:00 PM: Took one last look at the pool. I thought about swimming. Then I thought about the chlorine smell, and I decided against it.
- 6:00 PM: I decided to grab a quick meal and watch some TV!
- 7:00 PM: I was tired and decided to go to sleep early!
Day 4: Departure - A Farewell to Chlorine, and a Promise to Never Forget Philly (Or That Cheesesteak)
- 8:00 AM: Final desperate attempt at the breakfast buffet. Chose the oatmeal. It was… oatmeal. Nothing special.
- 9:00 AM: Packed. The suitcase now weighs approximately 600 pounds.
- 10:00 AM: Checked out. The clerk was a different person this time. He looked less… traumatized. I handed him the key card and bid farewell to my chlorine-scented sanctuary.
- 10:15 AM: Driving back through the city. Last-minute detour to grab one last cheesesteak. (Yes, from Pat's. I'm sticking with my decisions!)
- 11:30 AM: Started listening to Agnes again.
- 1:00 PM: Back home! I now have a newfound appreciation for my own bed and the absence of incessant chlorine.
Final Thoughts:
This trip was… an experience. The Holiday Inn? Let's just say it wasn't the highlight. But Philadelphia? The history, the food, the chaotic energy… worth it. Next time, I'll probably spend a little more time researching hotel options… and maybe invest in some antacids. And a better map-reading app. Oh, and Agnes? You're fired.
Suncheon's Hidden Gem: Goodstay Nobless Hotel Luxury Awaits!
Escape to Philly: Drexel Hill's Hidden Gem? ...Maybe. Let's Talk!
Okay, seriously, what *is* "Escape to Philly" anyway? Just some hotel? And why Drexel Hill?
Alright, so "Escape to Philly" - yeah, it's a hotel. Situated in Drexel Hill. *Drexel Hill*. Look, I know what you're thinking – Drexel Hill? Sounds more like a place I'd get my car inspected than a vacation spot. I thought the same thing, I swear! But here's the deal: someone (a friend, actually, bless her chaotic heart) *insisted* I check it out. She’d had some "amazing" time there. Now, "amazing" to her means "tolerable and didn’t involve hospital visits," so I went in with *extremely* low expectations. Turns out...well, let's get into that. It's better than it sounds, but that's not saying much.
So, is it *actually* an escape from Philadelphia? Like, is it far enough out or something?
"Escape" is a dramatic word, isn't it? Like, you're not *escaping* to the moon. Drexel Hill is, let's say, comfortably suburban. You're not *in* the thick of Philly's chaos, but you're also… not *that* far out. Uber's a breeze, SEPTA's a solid option (though, you know, SEPTA), and you can get into Center City in, what? Twenty, thirty minutes? It depends on the traffic gods smiling upon you. The "escape" is more from the *hotel* itself. I swear, the moment I walked in, a wave of just...calm washed over me. A calm so deep it nearly sent me into a narcoleptic coma. In a good way? Maybe.
What are the rooms like? Are we talking Motel 6 chic or...something more?
Okay, let's be real: "chic" is not the word. I'd say the rooms are...functional. Clean, thankfully. The bed was actually pretty comfortable, which is a HUGE win in my book. I've had worse. Much, *much* worse. Think… updated Holiday Inn, maybe? The decor is… inoffensive. Beige, browns. You get a desk, a TV, a bathroom that, miraculously, had good water pressure. Which, let's be honest, is a luxury these days. I'd rate the rooms a solid...7/10. For a *hotel*. I wouldn't decorate my house like that, but I wasn't planning on moving in.
Speaking of the rooms, any quirks to be aware of? Any hidden surprises?
Honestly? Not really. This place is the anti-quirk. Everything is... normal. I was *almost* disappointed. I was half-expecting a faulty hairdryer or a ghost in the mini-fridge just to spice things up. Nope. Just a regular, boring, functional hotel room. Though, *this* is where it gets good... I swear, I think I heard a tiny mouse chewing on cardboard in the wall on one occasion. It wasn’t a major deal... or visible, I would guess (thank god), but I'm pretty sure I was not imagining it. This actually gave the whole room a *sense of character*, a whisper of a history I never knew existed.
What about breakfast? Is there free breakfast? Because free breakfast is the most important thing.
Yes! There is free breakfast! And it's… well, it’s *free*. A small buffet of the usual suspects: continental breakfast staples. Expect things like toast, bagels, maybe some questionable scrambled eggs that have been sitting in a warming tray since the Carter administration. Coffee. Juice. Cereal that’s probably been sitting around since the Mesozoic era. I’m not gonna lie, after the first day, due to my own weakness of character, I just went down the street to a Wawa for breakfast. But, hey, you *can* get your fill of carbs and caffeine before you start your day. So, yay for free, I guess.
Are there any amenities? Like, a pool? A gym? A tiny, overpriced spa?
There's a... pool. It's… fine. I wouldn't call it a tropical paradise, but it's there. I personally didn't test the waters, but I did watch a kid with a plastic crocodile floatie splash around for a good hour. Seemed happy. There's a gym, which I also didn't go to. Look, I'm on vacation! I'm there to consume carbs, not lift weights. I did see a sign for a "fitness center." It may have been the best thing, but, alas, I wouldn't have liked it. There's no spa, thankfully. I'm not sure I could handle the disappointment.
Okay, the burning question: is the staff friendly? Can they pronounce "Drexel Hill" correctly?
The staff...was...nice. Or, at least, professionally polite. They *did* pronounce Drexel Hill correctly, which, surprisingly, is a major win. Bless them. I swear, I’ve been places where they looked at me like I was speaking Martian when I said the name of where I was staying. They were helpful enough, without being overly intrusive. I didn't get the sense of forced friendliness. It was authentic! It was good.
What's good to do *around* the hotel? Besides, you know, escape.
Alright, here’s the kicker. Drexel Hill itself is... Drexel Hill. It’s not exactly a hotbed of excitement. There are some restaurants, a few shops, and a generally safe, quiet vibe. You're close to the trolley, which is a fun option for getting around... or, you know, for people-watching. There’s a park nearby (I never went, but my friend swears it’s lovely). The *real* draw is being close to Philly itself. Museums, history, amazing food… you’re a quick trip away from all of it. I spent most of my time in the city, to be honest. Which makes Escape to Philly kinda smart: you get the quiet when the city's over, then you simply get back to the action again when you're done with chill.
The big question: Would you go back? Would *you* "Escape to Philly" again?
Hmm... that's the million-dollar question, isn'Comfort Inn
