Buy Low and Expect to Get What You Paid For
Just stayed at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown for 2 nights this past weekend. If you get a low rate and go without a lot of high expectations, you should be ok. The location is good, central. Like the convenience of being across the street from Reading Terminal Market. Nice having Starbucks (a real store) in the lobby.
As a platinum, was "upgraded" to a concierge level room. The room was one of the cookie cutter Marriott layouts, not very roomy, but ok... no robes, amenities, etc. you'd expect on the concierge level. Of course, lounge was closed on Saturday, but went on Monday morning for breakfast at 915am... and found out breakfast stopped at 9am (didn't receive anything with the hours of the lounge on checkin or in the room... they are posted on the wall outside of the lounge (the floor above mine). Seems a little early for me, but the attendant gave us a yogurt and some juice from the back. 
This hotel is a large, older hotel that caters to conventions and large groups. The staff was nice enough but doesn't seem to go the extra mile. Staffing seemed bare bones, so experienced waits at the front desk. 
First night didn't ask for turndown... 2nd night asked and upon entering the room it didn't seem that they came as the towels in the bathroom were still on the floor... curtains still open. Then, I noticed 3 mints on the pillow and the corner of the blanket pulled back. Wow, nice. The main reason I like turndown is to get fresh towels... pickup trash, close drapes, etc. So, what do they consider turndown here... mint delivery? Very poor.
FIRE ALARMS... Both days the fire alarm went off in the hotel. The first night at 11pm... after a while when they made the announcement that all was ok... they kept repeating it every few minutes... so annoying, esp. when you're trying to get to sleep. They must have made this announcement at least 5 separate times over a half hour period, each time repeating about 5 times... seemed unnecessary. The next day the fire alarm went off again mid morning. Again, after the leave the building announcements.. and a wait, the announcements started saying that there was no fire. So, do they have false alarms every day? 
So, even with the very low rate I got for the weekend, I doubt I'd return to this hotel. Too many inconveniences and lack of service. My stay at the Westin (the old Ritz Carlton) was on a much higher level.