Review of Four Seasons Philadelphia, by Andrew Mueller

Philadelphia's Four Seasons is everything one might expect from a luxury hotel ­- stately, efficient, unostentatiously luxurious, ­ with the added bonus of an unimprovable location. Situated at 1 Logan Square, the hotel commands fantastic views of Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the flag-draped, tree-lined boulevard which is also home to quite a lot of what one comes to Philadelphia to see ­ City Hall, the Rodin Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art ­ and well within walking distance of most of Philadelphia's other attractions. From the outside, the Four Seasons doesn't compete with the aforelisted architectural marvels ­ it's a modest, granite-fronted 80s building ­ but inside, it's extremely welcoming: the public spaces, including a landscaped courtyard, are vast, the service friendly without being oppressive.

The facilities

The luxury hotel's Fountain restaurant is much-garlanded, and ­ rated the best in the city by Zagat's (room service is also available 24 hours). The Swann lounge and café, which offers afternoon tea every day but Sunday from 3:00pm to 4:30pm, appeared popular with guests and locals alike. The hotel also has a health spa with a 45-foot swimming pool. The concierges can arrange access to nearby sports clubs. There's also has a 24-hour business centre and valet service. Out front, during the day, the luxury hotel maintains a complimentary car service, which will take you anywhere in downtown Philadelphia when available.

The Four Seasons makes much of its ability to cater for guests with children ­- young guests are offered their pick from a toy basket in reception on arrival and milk and cookies at bedtime. Baby-sitting services and related supplies are also available from the concierge.

The rooms

The luxury hotel's 364 rooms negotiate that characteristic ­and difficult ­ Four Seasons balance of supreme comfort and decorous taste. A baffling number of hotels, even expensive ones, forget about the one thing guests are going to want most ­ ie, a decent night's sleep ­ but this Four Seasons cannot be faulted on this front: the walls are thick, the blinds are dark, the windows are glazed, the air-conditioning mercifully silent and so the rooms, even the ones overlooking the road around the Swann Memorial Fountain, are quiet.

The rooms, especially the 90 Executive Suites, are generously proportioned. Each has two phone lines, flat-screen televisions, a clock radio/CD player (no iPod adaptor, though), lockable closets and in-room safes (though they're too small to hold a laptop). Internet access is available through cable, and costs US$10 for 24 hours a minor but definite niggle at a point when it's not unusual for dilapidated roadside motels in America to offer free wi-fi. The bathrooms are vast, and equipped with miniature L'Occitane toiletries. Bathrobes, ironing board and iron are provided. The minibars are well-stocked, but stupidly priced; ­ US$4 for a Twix bar is ridiculous, and US$40 for a half bottle of 2005 Alexaner Valley merlot verges on the insulting. The complimentary overnight shoeshine, however, is an immensely civilised touch.