i'm considering my 1st trip to philly this weekend & have no idea where i should stay.  
anyone have any suggestions of where's safe, convenient for most visitors & affordable.
what locations should i stay away from?
any input would be much appreciated
thanks all

I would say either center city or airport-  center city will be more expensive- I would avoid KOP (King of Prussia)

thanks joe! what's up with KOP?

hotter area. I was contemplating that area due to downtown
hotels being sooo expensive. However, I will not be going to KOP...

Contact me if you want for some suggestions...I was raised in  
Philly area and do travel that way for work as well as
visiting the old homestead....

Feel free to email me..

Is the airport worth staying by? I keep hearing Center City only... Ill be out there soon and am curious myself

Been thinking about visiting Philly myself soon. Definitely helpful!

Airport is right off 95- hotels will be cheaper - nothing much around there- have heard positives and negatives about

I've heard KOP has a lot of LE heat, I've been to Plymouth Meeting a lot as well as Ft Washington, it's close to the turnpike.

I don't know why the Parx casino area is not more popular, lots of cheaper hotels, free parking, close to 95, and the casino is right there, but I've yet to see a date there. Hmmm...

very very appreciated

"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.

Another in-city possibility is in the Penn Landing area, near the river front. The Hyatt is the nicest hotel along the river and there is nice Sheraton across Columbus Avenue in the nearby Society Hill-Old City area. You are a bit isolated in this part of town but that may not be an issue if you tend to keep to your hotel.

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. The downside is that it is a trek for those of 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.

Plymouth Meeting and Willow Grove:

Two other suburban areas receiving more attention 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.

Airport:

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.

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 and has announced an effort to stamp out prostitution in the town, yet many providers still set up shop in the better hotels. A car is a big assist, as cab service is spotty.

Be safe and enjoy the bounties of the region."

Cheap Hotels, close to highways, free parking, and a middle class population.

Do most of the guys loose their penis(s) at the casino?

(And if someone could tell me the plural spelling for penis is would be appreciated)

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My vote is for the suburbs, K of P or Plymouth Meeting.  You hear more about LE activity in Philly news then you do in the burbs.  These aren't farm towns but very wealthy suburbs that surround these locations, and a lot of activity ( and population) with large malls.  I have met ladies in both towns, and in Philly, and would visit more in the burbs as its much easier to get to then the city and no hassles with parking. King of Prussia has a casino as well that one can make for a safe rendezvous.  Keep us suburbanites in mind and we will treat you very well.