Hotels in Philadelphia

Set in the top eight floors of the landmark 1904 Bellevue Building, the Park Hyatt ranks among the most elegant hotels in Philadelphia. Opulent retailers (like Tiffany & Co) are set among the marble and mosaic-filled ground floor. From there an elevator whisks guests to the glitzy, domed lobby on the 19th floor. The rooms here are decorated in classic old-world style with all the modern luxuries, including goose-down duvets, Wi-Fi access and handsome marble bathrooms (some with TVs). Extremely knowledgeable concierges provide top-notch service, and guests can freely utilise the enormous Michael Graves-designed health club next door.

Set on a leafy street near the elegant Rittenhouse Square, this charming, painstakingly renovated, 1911 carriage house is a paragon of unrivalled elegance. With just 23 guest rooms, the Rittenhouse 1715 has a boutique feel and aims for European-style luxury in its beautiful interior design. The rooms feature cream-coloured Berber carpets, with a mix of antiques and reproduction Chippendale or Louis XIV furniture. Some rooms have fireplaces and all enjoy modern luxuries like Wi-Fi access, plasma-screen TVs, iPod hook-ups and CD players. The marble bathrooms are set with a variety of fine toiletries and a shower with dual showerheads. The breakfast room looks like a Parisian cafe and a European breakfast is served on china. Conveniently located, it is within walking distance of fine restaurants, upscale shopping and historical attractions. or

Quite simply, one of the best addresses in town. Located beside Philadelphia's City Hall on the Avenue of the Arts, The Ritz-Carlton occupies a grandiose one-time bank - the old domed banking hall is now the reception, while the vault is a cigar and brandy bar (the marble steps on the way down are worn where once ladies descended to retrieve their gems from strong boxes). The lobby has plenty of sitting space and a handsome bar, while just off it is a breakfast restaurant and its upscale restaurant, The Grill . Guest rooms are huge and the bathrooms luxurious. Facilities include voice-mail, multi-line telephones, computer and fax hook-ups and modem points. Further in-room business facilities are available in the 'Club' rooms on the four upper floors, which also have an opulent lounge with views, and free drinks and snacks in the evening. There is also a range of meeting rooms, with state-of-the-art equipment, and banqueting halls, and a conference planning team on hand.