Here's a link for to info about public transportation in Philly and South Jersey
I am trying to plan my first visit to Philly. Does anyone have any suggestions/recommendations on what part of town is best to stay in while providing? Any places I should be sure to avoid? Any advice will be greatly appreciated!
Welcome Brooke,
I'd avoid hosting outside of the city in KOP just because there seems to be more LE traffic in that area. But if you're downtown, my personal favorite hotel is the Loews.
If you are not a high volume provider who primarily advertises on Backpage with little or no screening, King of Prussia is fine. For the many of us who have relocated from the city to the western suburbs, driving into Center City for a date is a major hassle. Screen properly and use some discretion and King of Prussia can be a lucrative place to stay.
I know of a provider that had issues with Loews because she had people coming in and out of her room. They called her down to the managers desk and showed her the tape. They asked her to leave. She did.
I'd avoid hosting outside of the city in KOP just because there seems to be more LE traffic in that area. But if you're downtown, my personal favorite hotel is the Loews.
The Double Tree seems popular with the ladies. The Loews near the Convention center is nice. I'm not fond of the Sheraton on 17th - a bit isolated but the Sheraton Society Hill is great. The Omni in the Old City has beautiful views of the park.. I agree that you should avoid KOP. To much LE activity.
The Sheraton at 17th Street is actually more convenient than Society Hill Sheraton. Other great choices are: Sofitel,Palomar, Radisson Blu, Le Meridien, Sonesta, Hilton Garden Inn, Doubletree, Courtyard by Marriott, Hyatt, and Loews. If you go to KOP, the Sheraton is safe and discreet. Also, consider Plymouth Meeting: Courtyard, Doubletree and Spring Hill Suites are all very good and reasonably priced. I would try to avoid the ones that require key card access, although you can simply have your clients meet you on those floors that have meeting rooms that don't require an elevator key.
Good luck!
When I visit the Philly or South NJ areas. I love using sites like airbnb/vrbo .
I avoid most hotels and love that for what I would pay at a hotel I can enjoy the comfort of a full house/town home or such.
Also, it keeps my clients extremely comfortable and they tend to want to stay longer 
Last time I saw you was about 3 years ago in Chicago, so I am thrilled you may be coming to Philly. As other have said avoid King of Prussia because of the legal activity.
The area by the airport is easy to get to and parking is easy, but there isn't really anything else to do there.
Center city can be a pain in terms of driving / parking, but a lot of potential clients can get to CC and there are nice restaurants and sights for someone coming to Philly for their 1st time such as yourself.
Plymouth meeting is great for us hobbyists who live in the suburbs (closer, etc) and the hotels are usually less expensive than center city, but you may not have access to as many people as you would in CC.
It sounds like you already have some good suggestions for possible specific hotels. Good luck and I hope you have a great time in Philly :-
For those who are visiting or new to the area, this is a summary of the major hobby zones in and around Philadelphia.
Philadelphia:
Center City ("CC") is the main business and cultural part of town. This area features many hotels, restaurants of all types, the area's finest museums and cultural points and other amenities. CC is best for businessmen who can break away during the business day. The lack of free parking is an obstacle to some hobbyists, but some of the hotels in the airport area also charge for parking. Another issue is that some of the better hotels require a key card to activate the elevator, so some maneuvering may be required. As would be expected, hotel prices are generally higher than in the suburbs.
More towards the river are the Independence Hall, Society Hill and Penn Landing areas. There are a few nice hotels, including some new boutique venues, in these areas along with many fine restaurants, historic sites of interest and diverse shopping opportunities. Just a note: the Penn Landing area is a bit isolated if you want to move about.
King of Prussia:
Another big Hobby area is King of Prussia ("KOP"). This a western suburb marked by two large shopping malls, many hotels and restaurants. This area is very convenient for the many mongers who lie in the western suburbs. The downside is that it is a trek for those who live in CC, the eastern suburbs or New Jersey. Also, LE is supposedly most active in KOP, but you see lots of ads for ladies setting up shop in KOP. Just be careful. Transportation can be a problem in the suburbs, so it would be wise to see what hotels have shuttles to either the airport or the 30th Street Amtrak station. Some ladies take the local train service (SEPTA) from the central 30th Street to reach nearby Norristown, then taking a cab or shuttle to get to the hotel.
Plymouth Meeting and Willow Grove:
Two other active suburban areas are Plymouth Meeting and Willow Grove. These areas are east of KOP near the PA Turnpike and also have malls, restaurants and hotels, but less LE activity. Transportation can be a problem in the suburbs, so it would be wise to see what hotels have shuttles to either the airport or the 30th Street Amtrak train station. Some ladies take the local train service (SEPTA) from the central 30th Street to reach nearby Norristown, then taking a cab or shuttle to get to the hotel.
Airport Area:
This is a favorite nesting area for ladies and hobbyists because of its many moderately priced hotels, the availability of free or cheap parking and the relative anonymity of the place. There are few amenities in the area. Travelers can get to CC by hotel shuttle, a train or by cab. There are paid shuttle services that go to the hotels in South Jersey and the PA suburbs.
New Jersey Suburbs:
The South Jersey towns of Cherry Hill and Mt. Laurel are busy hobby destinations since they are near the New Jersey Turnpike, I-295 and are not far from Philadelphia. Traffic seems to be less of an issue and hotel prices are lower. LE in Mt. Laurel is more active than in Cherry Hill. A car is a help because cab service is spotty but maybe Uber is improving the situation?
Another South Jersey area is Deptford which has many hotels near a major shopping district just few minutes away from the Philadelphia using the Walt Whitman bridge.
Philadelphia Area Attractions:
The Benjamin Franklin Parkway has five great museums and is a nice place to walk when the weather is fine. For adults the top three are the Philadelphia Museum of Art (huge, diverse and extraordinary collections in a magnificent building), the Rodin Museum (concise collection of Rodin's major works in a recently renovated venue) and the new Barnes Foundation (impressionism gone wild in a new building). The Benjamin Franklin Institute specializes in science and technology and is great for kids and adults. And then there is the museum of natural history.
The Independence Square area has Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross's house and other historical sites. The nearby Society Hill area has 18th Century homes, great shops and restaurants and a little further south is funky South Street, although that area can be dicey for attractive women traveling alone.
Public transportation is generally by bus, subway and there are lots of cabs. Regional rail can get you to the suburbs.
Here's a link for to info about public transportation in Philly and South Jersey
Wow, I got some incredible feedback from this post. You guys are super helpful! I feel confident enough with all the info I've received to start planning a trip. Thanks guys!