Hotel in Pittsburgh - could use your assistance

[Jenny3]

My daughter and I are traveling to the Pittsburgh to look at colleges (University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University). Our plan is staying in the city, exploring the area Saturday night and Sunday, then we have appointments scheduled for Monday with both schools.

Any advice for a good hotel close to both of these school would be very helpful!

TIA

 

[BCV2003]

There are three options that would probably be good. These are all located closest to the University of Pittsburgh (Basically on/to the edge of campus) and about a mile from Duquesne University.

• Holiday Inn University Center on Lytton Avenue
• Quality Innn on Blvd of the Allies (Panera on the bottom floor)
• Hampton Inn on Hamlet Street

Another hotel nearby would be the Spring Hill Suites on South Water Street on the Southside. It's just across the river but very easy to get to Pitt and Duquesne from there. This hotel is newer and very close to many shops and restaurants located in the Southside Works.

 

[ILUVALASKA]

We always stay at the Wyndam on Forbes Ave.

 

[PlutoPony]

We have stayed at the Holiday Inn on the Pitt campus twice in the past 6 months, it's very convenient. The hotel is surrounded by campus and if your room faces Lytton you probably have a slight view of the Cathedral of Learning (neat building). It's nice to be able to park the car and leave it for the time you're there as parking is a challenge otherwise.

The 2 universities aren't close enough that you could get a hotel in between them and walk to both, your best bet is probably going to be do a hotel close to one and then drive to the other when necessary. The Holiday Inn would work well for that.

Hope your visits go well. My son loved Pitt and it's still his first choice (wish it was cheaper). We were impressed by the tours and info sessions, they really gave us good, useful information , it wasn't a rahrah kind of vibe with nothing behind it.

 

[dhuba]

Since you are only coming to visit the schools, I would stay near the Pitt campus in Oakland and walk, like the previous poster suggested. Parking isn't very good near that campus where as Duquesne will have much better parking when you take the quick drive to that campus. Good luck. Great school choices.

 

[Kies99]

We have stayed at the Holiday Inn on the Pitt campus twice in the past 6 months, it's very convenient. The hotel is surrounded by campus and if your room faces Lytton you probably have a slight view of the Cathedral of Learning (neat building). It's nice to be able to park the car and leave it for the time you're there as parking is a challenge otherwise.

The 2 universities aren't close enough that you could get a hotel in between them and walk to both, your best bet is probably going to be do a hotel close to one and then drive to the other when necessary. The Holiday Inn would work well for that.

Hope your visits go well. My son loved Pitt and it's still his first choice (wish it was cheaper). We were impressed by the tours and info sessions, they really gave us good, useful information , it wasn't a rahrah kind of vibe with nothing behind it.

***EDIT*** Sorry, thought you posted Pitt and CMU, not Duquesne.

 

[Kies99]

Ignore my previous post. I am a Pitt grad and work downtown, but just automatically thought Pitt-CMU instead of Pitt-Duquesne.


Anyway, as stated it's really not walking distance between Pitt and Duquesne. Definitely stay at the Holiday Inn in Oakland and then drive the very short distance down to Duquesne.

Another option would be to stay at the Holiday Inn Express Pittsburgh-South Side. It's right across the river from Duquesne but will still need to drive.

Now, if you're looking for a spot to stay and explore the area then you should consider the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh. It's right at the Point and would provide "easy" access to the main roads.

 

[Eureka]

Now, if you're looking for a spot to stay and explore the area then you should consider the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh. It's right at the Point and would provide "easy" access to the main roads.

Dh and I stayed at the Wyndham Grand a couple years ago when we had a weekend away alone together. Beautiful hotel! Very business-y though, if that makes a difference to you (didn't to us). But it was very easy to get to/from the museums and university. Oh, and don't forget to go to Primanti Bros. for lunch. Yum!

 

[Jenny3]

This is all so helpful, thank you! I'll start checking out rates and maps!

 

[PlutoPony]

This is all so helpful, thank you! I'll start checking out rates and maps!

Call the Holiday Inn in Pittsburgh (not the general 800 res number) and ask for the Pitt admissions rate. It's referenced somewhere on the Pitt admissions page. As I recall we paid ~ $150/nite (there's a $20/nite parking charge in there)

 

[PlutoPony]

Oh, just checked the Pitt admissions page, the Holiday Inn is changing to a Wyndham on March 1...... get the details from http://www.oafa.pitt.edu/lodging.aspx

 

[Jenny3]

The Holiday Inn/Wyndam is booked for our dates

I just called the Marriott City Center; their discount rate was $129/night which didn't seem too bad. It's on Washington Place. Anyone ever stayed there?

ETA or this one.... Hilton Garden Inn on Forbes Ave. They are on the Pitt campus, but have a complimentary shuttle that will take us to Duquesne and anywhere else in a 3 mile radius. $149/night

I'm going crazy - sorry - just booked this one too, Hampton Hill on Hamlet, $129/night, free shuttle and breakfast. I think that's my best deal, do you agree?

 

[nosnowbunny]

The Hampton Inn on Hamlet St is a great choice plus they have a university discount and free shuttle, free breakfast, & free wifi. They are close to both University of Pittsburgh & Duquesne University along with Carlow, CMU, Point Park, & Chatham

 

[Kies99]

The Marriott City Center (which I'm looking at right now from my office) is nice, but if there is a Penguins game it will be crazy as it's right across the street from Consol.

Plus is that it is a short walk up the hill to Duquesne as well as it's very easy to get to Pitt from there.

 

[Jenny3]

The Marriott City Center (which I'm looking at right now from my office) is nice, but if there is a Penguins game it will be crazy as it's right across the street from Consol.

Plus is that it is a short walk up the hill to Duquesne as well as it's very easy to get to Pitt from there.

Ah, that might explain why many of the hotels were booked. There is a home game Friday April 5th!

Right now I have the Marriott and Hampton booked.

 

[mamasuf]

My son goes to Pitt. He is also a hocky official and my husband drives out often to visit and see him work. He always stays at the Quality Inn on the Blvd of the Allies. He says it is inexpensive and everything is in walking distace. It works well for him however he says I wouldn't stay there. It's noisy and not up to my standards clean-wise.

 

[Jenny3]

I was just able to book Wyndham University Center (which was/is the Holiday Inn Pitt) They did have rooms, but the transition was showing the Holiday to be booked. $134/night - not bad at all!

I think this is my winner; I'll cancel the others. Thank you all for your help! Very much appreciated!