Escapes Under $500: Historical sites and low fares in Philadelphia

— -- With higher airfares and more and more airline fees, I recently had to ask myself whether I could still do a trip to anywhere for under $500 without sacrificing too much. To my surprise, the answer is "yes," at least for now.

Now that the presidential election race is heating up and Independence Day is fast approaching, I thought an affordable patriotic destination was in order. Instantly, Philadelphia came to mind. As America's birthplace (think Declaration of Independence), mounds of political history, and let's not forget the Liberty Bell, there couldn't be a better place to visit. Plus, area hotels have put together a slew of packages, and Philly is served by Southwest Airlines, the only U.S. airline travelers still like.

Staying in Philadelphia

Three citywide hotel packages, sponsored by the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, make Philly affordable and give travelers options for summer travel.

The Philly Overnight Hotel Package, available at more than 30 participating hotels, includes a two-night stay, free parking, a teddy bear, and discounts at Macy's. In one example, you can stay at the Comfort Inn located downtown near the historic area for $157 per night, plus 14% tax, which totals $357.96 ($178.98 if you share the room with another person).

With the Philly's More Summer Fun Hotel Package (valid through September 7), you get a $50 American Express reward card in addition to the Macy's discount if you stay two nights, which is essentially cash back since you can spend it on virtually anything. For the dates I checked, the cheapest downtown hotel was the Residence Inn in Center City with rooms for $165 per night, which comes to $376.20 with the 14% tax. Subtract the $50 reward card to get $326.20 total, or $163.10 if you share with someone else.

For families, the Animal Discoveries Hotel Package (available through November 30) might be the best bet. A family of four sharing a room will receive two nights' accommodations; free parking; four combo tickets to the Philadelphia Zoo, Adventure Aquarium, and Ride the Ducks Tour; and small gifts and extra hotel amenities. The best rate for my test dates was $250 per night at the well-located, four-star Loews Philadelphia Hotel. The total, including a seven percent state tax, came to $535, or $133.75 per person for a family of four.