Hostel Review: Apple Hostels of Philadelphia (For Solo Female Travelers)
If you’re planning a trip to Philadelphia and are in search of a quality place to stay on a budget, Apple Hostels of Philadelphia should be on your list.
Apple Hostels of Philadelphia is where I stayed for two nights while on an east coast road trip to Florida from Massachusetts in 2018. As a solo female traveler, I thought it was conveniently located in the historic center of the city and super affordable compared to hotels in the area.
Read my full review of Apple Hostels of Philadelphia and decide for yourself!
The Location
Apple Hostels of Philadelphia is smack in the middle of the Old City neighborhood, blocks away from the Delaware River, across the street from the Museum of the American Revolution, and surrounded by shops and restaurants. It is tucked into a quiet side street in a pocket of historical buildings that you’d never guess would hold such a large hostel.
All the sites within the Independence National Historical Park are within walking distance, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. City Hall, Love Park, and Reading Terminal Market are about one mile away, which is a quick 20-minute walk.
Address: 33 S Bank Street, Philadelphia
The Property
In the past, this building was used as an industrial space and has been completely renovated. It’s now modernized with interesting old brickwork and other past life relics on display. There is plenty of space in the kitchen and lounge to hang out in and not feel crowded.
For entertainment, play foosball, pool, Xbox, or choose a movie to watch from their extensive selection of DVDs.
Rates include linens, and free coffee and tea all day. Plus, free cereal for breakfast on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings.
Other helpful amenities: unlimited free wireless internet, free laundry detergent to go with onsite washers and dryers, free luggage storage after check-out.
The Rooms
Apple Hostels of Philadelphia has a 6-bed coed dorm room that is reserved for women and men traveling together or just women. Men who are traveling alone are not permitted to stay in the coed dorms. I stayed in a female-only dorm room, but this small detail confirmed that this hostel is a great option for solo female travelers in Philadelphia!
They also have larger dorm rooms for women-only and men-only. Several private or family room options are available that sleep 1-4 people with bunk beds, a queen bed, or a combination of the two. Some rooms have ensuite bathrooms, otherwise, all bathrooms are communal and located in the hallway, but could be on a different floor from your room.
All beds come equipped with their own reading light, two electrical outlets, and USB charging ports.
The Little Extras – Small Details I Love
The photo above is horrible, but the lights and flags outside the hostel entrance were so beautiful – I loved it!
I’m a big fan of renovated and repurposed buildings. Renewing and utilizing something old in a new way is important to me. So, when I saw that the hostel was in an old industrial building, I immediately fell in love.
While I am not a Rocky fan (I’ve never seen any of the movies), I did love that Eye of the Tiger was playing on a loop in the hallways of the hostel. There were Rocky posters and other memorabilia scattered around, as well, and I can totally appreciate being proud of a movie that was filmed in your hometown.
Apple Hostels of Philadelphia hosts many events for their guests including a weekly pasta dinner night, wine and cheese social, and a pub crawl – all free of charge. If you’re visiting the City of Brotherly Love during Independence Day – what a day to be in Philly! – they host a free BBQ dinner for guests. Plus, a host of other events to enjoy with staff and guests.
What I Did Not Love
Since this hostel is located right in the downtown area, parking is only available off-site. They recommend a parking garage a couple of blocks away, at is an additional cost to that of the hostel. I ended up spending an additional $45 for the two nights I was in town.
The silver lining is that the garage made me feel better about leaving my car unattended (and full of stuff to stay in Florida for the winter) than I would have felt with street parking.
Things to Do Near Apple Hostels of Philadelphia
There is so much to see and do in Philadelphia! I only scratched the surface while I was there and mainly focused on historical sites but did venture out to see some other sites downtown as well. Here are some highlights.
Independence National Historic Site
This park includes sites such as Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed and the Liberty Bell among many other sites important to the American Revolution.
Love Park
This downtown Philadelphia park gets its name from the famous LOVE statue by Robert Indiana that has lived there since 1976. The real name of the park is, coincidentally, John F Kennedy Plaza. When I visited this park in November 2018, a beautiful Christmas Village, reminiscent of European Christmas markets, was in full swing. I strolled around browsing the stalls and sipping on steaming hot gluhwein.
Philadelphia City Hall
This city hall is the world’s largest free-standing masonry building, beautifully constructed of brick, white marble, and limestone. The statue at the top is an unbelievable 37-ft tall bronze depiction of William Penn, the man responsible for founding Philadelphia.
Reading Terminal Market
In operation since 1893, the Reading Terminal Market houses all the groceries one could need – produce, meat, seafood, ethnic groceries, flowers, and more. Plus, local vendors selling handmade goods and foods like the Pennsylvania Dutch company, Kauffman’s Lancaster Country Produce, from whom I bought three different types of flavored popcorn to try and give as a gift to some friends. Also, there are nearly 100 restaurants, bakeries, and food stalls to choose from for a quick and affordable lunch while strolling through the market.
Curtis Publishing Co.
I feel so lucky to have found this building and the beautiful artwork inside totally by accident! Definitely stop by to see the bigger-than-life glass mosaic, called Dream Garden, inside the main entrance of the building. The mosaic measures 15-ft high and 49-ft wide and the artist constructed it with over 100,000 tiny pieces of a unique type of handmade iridescent glass called favrile.
MORE THINGS TO DO IN PHILADELPHIA
How to Make Reservations
Reserve your spot at Apple Hostels of Philadelphia through Booking.com, use Hostel World, or directly with them through their website. All three offer different types of discounts or perks.
As mentioned above, make sure to call them directly if you’re traveling in a group of three or more.
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