Crime & Safety

Area Hotels: Still Rooms Available But Not Many

Suburban hotels begin filling up as hurricane nears.

Attention shelter seekers: Hotels in Philadelphia and surrounding suburbs aren't sold out—but they're getting close to it.

As Hurricane Irene approaches the Delaware Valley, area hotels report fluctuating room reservations, though more people are booking than dropping out.

At the Crowne Plaza on City Avenue in Philadelphia, Erik Parker said there was a "mad rush" for reservations Saturday morning.

Find out what's happening in Mediawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"We're pretty close to selling out. A lot of our guests staying over are extending their booking," he said. However, people are also canceling or leaving early.

"In my experience, when there's a threat to public transportation, people will try to leave early," he said at the hotel over the city line from Bala Cynwyd, alluding to SEPTA canceling service on Sunday.

Find out what's happening in Mediawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In the suburbs, it's getting tight. The Courtyard by Marriott in Plymouth Meeting is at capacity, a representative said, but it has been booked for weeks.

Appropriately, a Radnor Hotel employee said there was "a flood of reservations," sprinkled in with cancellations—so rooms are still available.

To Celia Randolph, a representative at the Media Quality Inn, Hurricane Irene is just another storm. "Sure, we're getting a lot of people due to Irene, but I've been here two years. Any major storm draws people to us."

Due to its proximity to Riddle Memorial Hospital, Randolph said medical staff often stay over. Also, people evacuated from nearby mobile homes have made reservations.

Like most area hotels, rooms are available, but are going fast—"We have 13 rooms left," she said at noon Saturday.


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