My partner and I stayed at the Loews for one night after winning a "Name Your Own Price" bid on Priceline--the rate we got ($102 plus tax) was, as advertised, substantially less than the hotel's "Best Available" rate listed on its website, which was $159 plus tax. The public areas were not bad, although I noticed some maintenance issues even before we made it into the lobby (scuffed walls, dirty carpets). Although their website showed that plenty of rooms--including those with a king bed--were available, we were only offered a room with a queen bed (not good, since we're both stocky---even a room with two double beds would have worked better), and told that we had no other option, as the hotel "was completely booked". We stayed in room 720, which was shoehorned into a corner of the building The sleeping/living area of the room was tiny, and there was barely enough room for us and the luggage. The bathroom, by contrast, was huge (if anything, it was bigger than the sleeping area), with a large glassed-in shower, and appropriate amenities. The bed was acceptable, and the cramped quarters, combined with a central AC system that was slow to react, made for an acceptable, but definitely less than optimal, night's sleep. Although we had no problems with noise during the night, the relatively thin walls became obvious when my partner was treated to the sounds of a lusty couple enjoying themselves immensely in the next room while waiting to take a shower the next morning!
Like most "business" hotels, the Loews socks its guests with as many fees as possible. Valet parking is $43, not including tips--while the charge is outrageous, it's consistent with that imposed by other Center City hotels, so I certainly can't blame the hotel for keeping up with the competition. The charges levied by the "business center," however, were entirely ridiculous--in order to print out two tickets, I would have been forced to pay $10.80 (plus tax) for the privilege of turning the hotel's PC on, plus another 65c each per black-and-white page. While I certainly understand charging for significant printing jobs and/or extended computer use, I think the hotel should allow its guests to print out tickets, boarding fees, and other such documents for a nominal price, if they charge at all.
Although I've heard horror stories about Priceline customers being given the least desirable rooms at hotels, I had never experienced anything like that than in more than 12 years of frequent travel, and while I can't confirm that it happened here, it certainly seemed that way. The price we did get was certainly less than one might have expected to pay for a comparable Center City hotel, and while the room and the experience were acceptable overall, I can't say that it was consistent with that offered by a typical "luxury" property, or that it was worth any more than the discounted price we paid. I would certainly have been far more annoyed if I had paid the "Best Available" rate, or anything higher. While it's not a bad option if you can get it for a discounted rate, I'd certainly recommend that you go elsewhere if you have to pay full price.
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