Relocating from Tampa after Christmas (Philadelphia, Westmont: apartment, to rent, hotel)

[SuperKayla]

I myself will also be relocating to Philadelphia some time soon after Christmas, from Tampa with my boyfriend. I was wondering if any one had any advice. I will be working in Cherry Hill, NJ (from what I understand is very close to downtown). I will be looking for an area that is nice and safe, also close enough to walk to local places and you public transportation, if possible. If anyone has any ideas to make this move easier, that would be greatly appreciated!!!

[SuperKayla]

Sorry I forgot to mention that I will want to rent an apartment/townhome and our budget will be around $1000! We are also in our early 20's if that helps. -Thank you.

[solibs]

Do you know where in Cherry Hill?

I'm just asking b/c it's a big township and I'm assuming you want to live close to work.

[MoorestownResident]

I suggest looking in Collingswood or Haddon Township (Westmont) on the Patco train line. Easy commute to Cherry Hill and lots going on in that area for people your age. Rents in CH are going to be more expensive and more family-oriented. Though with 80,000 residents you will find all walks of life.

[SuperKayla]

Thank you for the advice. I will be working at Cherry Hill Mall. We also most definitely want to be near some nightlife, after all we are young. My boyfriend grew lived in the Warwick Hotel in downtown Philly. He loves the area but has not been there in many years so he is not sure if there is anything reasonable around there.

[solibs]

If you want the suburbs then definitely Collingswood or Westmont. They're both really close to the CH Mall, have shops and restaurants that you can walk to and have train stations (on the same line) that will get you to Center City in about 12 minutes.

The only thing to note is that Collingswood is a dry town. No alcohol sales. Lots of small towns in the Philly area are like that - all part of that Quaker tradition. No matter though, all the restaurants are BYOB.

Westmont is where the bars are. It's really silly actually. When I lived in Collingswood I used to walk 4 blocks to the store in Westmont to buy beer. Speaking of bars - it's pretty much just PJ Whelihans which is this small chain of sports bars in NJ/PA and Brewers Towne Tavern which is definitely more of a neighborhood place with a better draught selection than PJs. You're not going to find much in the way of nightlife for 20-somethings in South Jersey outside of the pub scene. And since drinking & driving is always dumb your options are even more limited. That's where the PATCO train comes in handy. It runs all night so getting home is never an issue.

If you'd prefer to live in the city I would recommend looking in Center City. The nightlife is outstanding. It's a 20 minute drive (give or take 5 minutes depending on time of day) to the mall - the drawbacks of that are parking a car in Center City and paying $4 a day for the bridge. Alternatives to that would be to take the bus. There are two bus routes that leave from Market St. in Center City and head to the mall. They take 20-30 minutes depending on which route and a monthly pass is around $60/month for unlimited rides. Also . . . I had a friend who lived at 9th & Locust in the city but who worked in Moorestown. It's impossible to park in his old neighborhood so he started leaving his car at the train station in NJ and taking the train to and from his house.

You should really get up here to visit and check things out before you move.

[bryson662001]

Cherry Hill is sububia, although not rural. You will need a car to get around. Cherry Hill Towers is a new complex across the street from the Mall (walking distance) if you want to check it out.