The Notary Hotel, Philadelphia, Autograph Collection

Jared Housier a month ago

I am extremely disappointed with my experience at The Notary Hotel in Philadelphia. When I booked my reservation, I paid a prepaid, non-refundable rate. Shortly afterward, I noticed that the exact same room was available for more than $400 less than what I had paid. I contacted the hotel and politely asked if they would honor the lower rate or provide some type of adjustment. The response I received was essentially, "Too bad, you agreed to the terms and conditions." While I understand the technical policy, great hospitality is about taking care of your guests, especially when there is such a significant price difference and the request is made in good faith. Refusing to offer any accommodation over a $400 discrepancy feels shortsighted and customer-unfriendly. What makes this even more disappointing is that the hotel's own slogan is: "Hospitality perfected, sealed with brotherly love." Unfortunately, my experience was the exact opposite. There was no flexibility, no goodwill, and certainly no sense of "brotherly love." Instead, I was met with a rigid corporate response that prioritized policy over customer satisfaction. For a hotel that positions itself as a premium Autograph Collection property, I expected a much higher level of service and a genuine effort to do what was right for the guest. Based on this experience, I would never nook here again, or at any Marriott Property, and would encourage other travelers to carefully consider many of their other better competitors that take care of their customers.

Vítor Tardelli 2 weeks ago

Very central location; the hotel is charming and the staff is friendly. The room was very comfortable and spacious. The TV position was a bit weird as it was positioned on the opposite side of the desk (the site where it should stay had a home office setup). I requested specifically for a room with no communication with other rooms, based on the reviews here. The staff were friendly to accommodate. I would recommend this hotel.

Russell Harvey a month ago

It was mid. Not bad by any means but definitely dated. I did appreciate the history of the building and the charm of some things like “notarizing” your key. But that did not outweigh the apparent cheapness of the hotel. My main gripe was the $6 water bottles in your room and they do not provide any cups for you to even drink tap water without going to the lobby. The other two hotels I stayed at on this trip gave me two free bottles of water. It was mid.

Aya S 6 months ago

The location of this hotel is absolutely perfect. It’s right in front of City Hall, and I stayed during Thanksgiving—just two blocks away they had the Christmas parade, and Love Park was also within walking distance. There was even a German festival going on, with a carousel, a small Ferris wheel for kids, and lots of great food. One of the best parts was having Reading Terminal Market nearby. I could grab breakfast there every morning, which was amazing. The interior of the hotel was also beautifully designed and very stylish. Overall, the location and atmosphere made my stay truly enjoyable.

Michael Zwillenberg a month ago

I’ve been trying to book a month‑long stay while my house is being repaired after a flood, and it’s been impossible to get anyone at the actual hotel on the phone. I had a few basic questions, like whether the room includes a microwave or safe (the website says safes can be rented for a fee), and couldn’t get answers from anyone on site. When I called the hotel’s listed local number, I had to fight with the automated system just to reach a human. Once I finally got through, the reservations agent couldn’t answer even simple property‑specific questions and told me to “call the hotel directly,” which I had already explained I’d done. When I asked for a supervisor, I was put on hold indefinitely.