This is an excellent hotel for business trips, is near the main historic area and business area.
The only minor flaw I found was that they didn’t have wireless internet and the room was a bit small.
But over all the room was very clean and very well put together.

My son and I had to make an unexpected overnight trip to the Philadelphia area and booked the Travelodge Philadelphia the day before travel. We stayed at the hotel the night of 16 January 2007. We paid about $96.00, including taxes, for the night.

The Travelodge is located in a convenient location for visiting the city center and is in easy walking distance to the Convention Center, Chinatown, and historic attractions. Unfortunately, the location is also on a dark (at night) street in an unsafe looking area, where I would not have walked outside at night if I had not been accompanied by my son. There were many homeless people hanging out two doors down.

The hotel has no parking on site, but recommends that you park in a 24 hour attended garage about a block down the street on the right just as you enter Chinatown. The garage is clearly labeled Travelodge Parking and the parking (at the time of writing) is $15.00 a day.

The front desk clerk was extremely helpful and friendly. Unfortunately, we got a first floor room (#108), across from the check -in desk. I should have insisted on changing rooms right then, as I knew that a room next to the desk (and there are several of these) was going to be extremely noisy, and I was right. Not only was there noise off and on all night, at 3 am there was a great deal of commotion which resulted in the police being called, who ran around the hotel shouting for over 20 minutes (I never did find out what happened). They then spent several more minutes loudly gossiping with the front desk clerk until I called to complain about the noise and they left.

Our room was TINY, the smallest I've ever stayed in, and that includes hotel rooms in New York City and Europe. There was just room for 2 double beds and there was no closet area. Instead, there was a coat rack which partially hung over one of the beds. The one window gave a view of the hall, so the curtains had to be kept shut all the time, unless you wanted everyone entering the hotel to look right into the room. It was rather like being in a tomb. On the plus side, the room was clean.

Due to the very small rooms, noise level, and unsafe feeling location, I cannot recommend this hotel. I would especially caution single women travelers to stay clear, as it just didn't feel safe there.

If you are looking for a cheaper place to stay (just to sleep) near Pennsylvania Convention Center, in case you have a conference or meeting there, this is a very good one. The hotel is just crossing the street to the convention center by which you can walk comfortably. Pros: location, free in-room internet access (+++), nice staff. Cons: small room, quite scary dark road when walking alone on the right side and opposite to the hotel. When consider for the price (around $100/night) and it's location, this is a good option for those who will have business at the Penn Convention Center.

I stayed at the Travelodge over Labor Day weekend. Yes the hotel is on a side street and it's possible you can get a room without a window. But the hotel is located in a good area. Both Reading Market and Chinatown is a block away. You're also not too far away from Phlash Shuttle.

However do be careful at night as there are homeless people waiting for a free bed at the shelter 2 doors down.