<p>My daughter needs to take a MCAT test on a certain date in April, and it doesn’t seem like anything near her is available. She is in Western Mass, and sadly, it seems that Philly might be her best option. She can take the Amtrak and arrive at the 30th street station about 8:30 at night. The testing center is on Walnut Street, which I see is about 2 miles from the Amtrak station. Can you give me a hotel that is decent, yet reasonable that is close by? I assume taxis are available at the train station?</p>
<p>Where on Walnut Street? Do you know the cross street?</p>
<p>Depending on how far east the testing center is, she might want to go on into center city rather than trying to stay near 30th Street. (I know I would.)</p>
<p>Her Amtrak ticket should be good on the SEPTA commuter train (as long as she uses it that same day) to take her on to Suburban Station, at 16th Street (or Market East). If it’s not, the commuter hop isn’t that expensive. </p>
<p>The Courtyard Phila. Downtown is very close to Suburban Station, and that could be a good bet, depending (again) on where the testing center actually is. </p>
<p>If you don’t mind posting that, I - and certainly others who know the city way better - could give you more ideas.</p>
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<li> It sounds like the exam is probably being given at Jefferson University. There’s a Holiday Inn Express about a block away on Walnut, so that’s probably a good choice, and another, cheaper one a few blocks away in the historic district. Or the Courtyard would be fine. Or really anything in Center City. I would go on Priceline or Travelocity or something like that and look for a deal, and check out the hotels on Tripadvisor or similar sites. It’s going to be highly dependent on whether there’s a convention booked that weekend – if so, you are going to have a hard time finding anything cheap near the testing site, if not, there will be deals galore at all the hotels, including the fancy ones.</li>
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<p>There are lots more hotels in Center City than around Penn, but if there is a big convention in town you may do better with the Sheraton or Hilton at Penn (which is near 30th St. Station).</p>
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<li> Depending on where your daughter is starting from, you may want to check out travelling by Megabus (Amherst-NYC-Philadelphia) rather than Amtrak. It’s probably a quarter or less the cost, not much more time, and free wireless on the way. Since they instituted the Amherst route, none of the local kids going to college around there take Amtrak anymore. And the Megabus offers you a choice of drop-off points, both 30th St. and 6th St. in Center City.</li>
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<p>It looks like the MCAT is given at the PrometricTest Center at 6th and Walnut.</p>
<p>Alexander Inn maybe at 12th and Spruce?</p>