I recently stayed here for a 2 day seminar at Wharton. The service was very good and I was given free wifi access for being a Hilton Gold Member. The bar area was very nice, but we had to beg them to send someone to serve us. Overall, it was a decent hotel and I would stay here again.

"Hilton Inn at Penn" is a bit misleading; it's the Inn at Penn and it's run by Hilton, and if anything that's even better. Trust that if the University of Pennsylvania owns something, it will be done right--and this hotel is no exception. As others have noted, the elegant and understated Arts & Crafts furnishings and the proximity to Penn are big pluses, and as someone who obsesses over the rock-like pillows offered by too many hotels, I was delighted to find five feather- and down-stuffed pillows on my king-size bed. (An email received a few days before my stay actually offered substitute types of pillows if I'd preferred--another thoughtful touch.) This hotel is also the repository of Penn's excellent collection of unintentionally (or was it?) homoerotic athletic statuary by the noted sculptor R. Tait McKenzie. All well and good, but when a traveler's flight is three hours late and he checks in, very weary, at 3 a.m., it's cruel in the extreme for the front desk to assign him to a room next to the hotel fitness center. I was too bleary-eyed to take note of this in the middle of the night, but starting at 6 a.m. it was all clanking freeweights and blaring CNN from the fitness center TVs. Another ding: the hotel's extremely friendly and efficient staff seems constantly in motion through the hallways, yammering on walkie-talkies. They are undoubtedly busy taking care of details and heading off problems, which is admirable, but perhaps they can be told to keep their voices down. I report all of this with some regret, as in most ways this is an unusually *quiet* hotel, and so utterly comfortable that most travelers will surely have no reason to complain. But best to keep hotels on their toes--that's what Tripadvisor is partly about, after all.

FYI, the Inn at Penn is not only convenient to the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University but also to Amtrak's 30th Street Station (the main station in Philadelphia), and if, like me, you happen to arrive at 3 a.m. you'll find yourself no more than 10 minutes from the airport (it could easily be a half hour at other times). Center City Philadelphia can be reached more economically by bus or "subway-surface" trolley cars than by taxis; buses run downtown on Chestnut St. (a half block north of the hotel) and subway-surface cars board underground on 36th St. If you're a good walker and unencumbered by bags, you can be in the heart of Center City within a half hour. If you like to dine with live music, check out the World Cafe in the studios of WXPN, Penn's NPR-affiliated radio station, possibly the only case of a radio program turning into a restaurant. Penn's interesting little Institute for Contemporary Art is practically next to the Inn and the outstanding University Museum (one of the world's great archaeology museums) is located just a few blocks across campus.

We found the Inn at Penn through the "One Big Campus" website promoting Philly-area colleges. The 'discounted' rate of $225 was the same as the Expedia rate, but no matter, it was good value for the money. Exceptionally courteous reception from bellman and valet parking guy. Room was clean, with nice mission-style furniture and the upgraded bedding that seems to be the hot thing right now. The 'library' sitting room offered fireplaces and the Financial Times. The bellman tipped us off to the outstanding "White Dog Cafe" restaurant down the street. The hotel's breafast buffet was much above average. And when it was time to leave, the concierge desk had pre-printed driving directions to all the area colleges.

This is easily the nicest hotel in University City, but also the priciest. If you can afford it, the convenience to Penn can't be beat. The hotel and rooms are comfortable, staff is great. The style is mostly authentic mission, much better than most chains. Public spaces include a nice library/bar. Hilton will also take internet advance requests for special amenities like pillows, room service when you arrive, etc. that helps make a late night business trip arrival relaxing.