The Maj Hotel is the true boutique experience that provides something for everyone.
Photo Credit: Stephanie Falcone / @stephyfalcone
Summer travel season is here and if you are based in New York City, like I am, it may be tempting to scamper off for a weekend trip any chance you get ( especially if you are lucky enough to work for a company that offers summer Fridays ).
Philadelphia makes a perfect destination with its close proximity, accessible transportation, and plentiful offerings for art, culture and food lovers.
At under 2-hours for travel by both car and mass transit, visitors can easily pop in after work and spend a day or two in the lovely city over the weekend. No car? No worries. Philadelphia is accessible by Amtrak, Megabus and Greyhound.
If you find yourself wanting to stay in the heart of it all in the cultural hub of the Museum District, the Maj Hotel is the perfect choice.
I had the opportunity to stay at the Maj Hotel and see for myself what this newly-founded, charming, boutique hotel had to offer.
The Maj Hotel is located in an extremely convenient location. For visitors, it is steps from major tourist and art attractions including the Philadelphia Art Museum, Rodin Museum, Rocky Steps, and Boat House Row. It is also walking distance to Center City, the Liberty Bell and Philadelphia City Hall where the famous “Love Sign” is located. Other trendy neighborhoods such as Fishtown, Old City, and University City are also just a quick rideshare request away.
Photo Credit: Sophia Calderone / @laflaneusequirit
Location may be the primary factor for any traveler, but the accommodation itself matters as well. While some may want just a deal, a bed, and a place to clean up, others may want more from the available amenities.
The Maj Hotel does an excellent job of encoding your whole experience with style and comfort.
You can see this in the hotel’s choice of decor. When entering the hotel, you are met with a path lined with plants, guiding you to the front desk. Pendant lighting combined with wood walls and greenery created a moody, relaxing atmosphere. Leather couches, brass and metal touches, and irregular shaped tables provided a tasteful application of industrial and organic design.
One of their key differentiators from other hotels is their seamless integration of the latest technology with modern aesthetics. The entrance of the hotel requires visitors to be buzzed in, which gave me an immense sense of safety and security knowing random people could not just walk into the hotel. Checking in is quick and key cards come in both physical and digital form in their custom web app.
Speaking of their web app, I found it to be absolutely ingenious. From a custom website link, guests could unlock the hotel and room door, change room settings like the temperature and automatic shades, and talk to the concierge for any questions or requests. While I am not completely phone shy, the option to chat quickly over the app definitely was appealing and to have the ability to unlock the room from my phone meant if I ever lost the key card I could still get in.
The technological bonuses don’t stop there. The Maj Hotel offers a self-serve 24/7 cafe where guests can purchase an assortment of snacks, toiletries, and coffee. This means, ease of use, privacy in what you purchase, and no talking to people. I made use of the self-serve cafe several times during my stay and enjoyed using their automatic coffee machine when I had missed their free coffee from the morning.
Key Favorites of the Hotel Lobby:
- 24/7 Cafe
- Spacious eating and working area
We cannot go further without talking about the rooms themselves of course. Where you rest is important, whether it is after a whole day of exploring the amazing city of Philadelphia or after a whole day of meetings and work.
Photo Credit: The Maj Hotel
The rooms at the Maj Hotel are spacious and reflect that balance of technology meeting design the same way the lobby did. Exposed brick and soft downwards lighting created a quiet sense of sophistication. In the bathroom, there was a touch screen mirror from which you could use a variety of apps such as messaging and playing Spotify while you got ready for the day.
Key Favorites of the Hotel Room:
- Complimentary Robes
- Rainfall Shower
- Unisex Fragrance Soaps/Shampoo
The Maj Hotel also offers a business center and 24-hour gym. The gym contained all your essentials including a treadmill, stationary bike, dumbbells, kettle-bells, and a cable machine. Though simple, it was quite sexy, with its modern matte black equipment. I highly appreciated the towels laid out for visitors to use and their inclusion of complimentary water.
Photo Credit: The Maj Hotel
If you decide to stay with the Maj Hotel, I recommend including dates from Wednesday through Sunday where they offer an amazing breakfast menu from 7am to 1pm. Everything is made to order so you know it will be fresh. I got myself the Eggs Florentine with a side of turkey sausage and it was everything I hoped it would be. Delicious, clean, and the perfect way to start the day.
Other Key Services
- Free Coffee from 6am to 9am
- Pet-friendly with $50 additional charge
Photo Credit: Sophia Calderone / @laflaneusequirit
Sitting in the common area at the end of my stay, I found myself pondering about all the details I had observed about this hotel. Who exactly was this hotel built for?
The interior design was chic; the technology robust. Leaving my room I could tell my hotel neighbor was on a work phone call from the muffled sounds of professional speak. Then there were robes, a complete gym and a fantastic breakfast. I noticed a family was setting out to explore for the day and there were games and puzzles in the common area shelving.
I realized the answer to my question was everyone. The Maj Hotel caters to all types of guests with its prime location, pristine accommodation and plentiful amenities. Even the public can experience the hotel with their delicious breakfast and bi-monthly movie nights, the next one being Thursday, June 13th at 8pm where people can purchase a ticket to view Hedwig and the Angry Inch with complimentary Peroni beer and rainbow popcorn. They will also be celebrating their 3-year anniversary this August with live music and complimentary Peroni. You can follow their social media for more details.
Photo Credit: Sophia Calderone / @laflaneusequirit
The Maj Hotel is the quintessential boutique stay whether you are traveling for work, visiting Philadelphia as a family, or seeking a comfortable, cozy getaway.
Maj Hotel
2225 Spring Garden St,
Philadelphia, PA 19130
www.majhotel.com
