Hotel recommendations near Pitt?

[Anonymous]

DC is considering applying to Pitt, and we plan to visit this summer. Any recommendations for hotels or thoughts on places to avoid?

[Anonymous]

Pitt parent here. The University offers discounted rates at these hotels.
https://www.ppt.pitt.edu/travel-expenses/local-hotels

We like Courtyard Marriott at University Center. It's on the list.

[Anonymous]

Also from that list is the Oaklander, which is right next to the Cathedral of Learning. I think it might be a little pricier than some of the other options, but being right on campus is really nice.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! The Oaklander is sold out but it looks great! We will probably book the courtyard

[Anonymous]

Street parking is very easy near Pitt (unless is this graduation or something?).

You might want to stay downtown and have easy walking access to things there and then just drive to Pitt to explore campus.

[Anonymous]

Our Pitt student graduated last weekend. Oaklander costs a small fortune, there are several nearby hotels (use the Pitt hotel discount) that include breakfast, and over the past 4 years , we've done that.

I would skip the Hotel Indigo (we stayed once, no breakfast, and it's so loud - they actually provide you with earplugs to avoid the road noise).

[Anonymous]

The Courtyard was just redone a year ago and it’s nice (though breakfast is not included. We used to stay at The Oaklander, but the Vourtyard is perfectly nice a significantly cheaper (often $100-150/night cheaper).

I’d stay there and walk around Oakland and really get a feel for the area. Maybe do the Dusquesne Incline to see the city and the stadium - sort of get a birds-eye view of it all.

[Anonymous]

Agree with these suggestions. Oaklander is great but it is a fortune and if you are there to see the school and city, not worth it.

Obviously your focus should be on the school. Try to get to Primanti's near campus - a Pittsburgh institution.

If you are making a mini-vacation out of it, there is a surprising amount of other good things to do in Pittsburgh in the summer - Warnol Museum, Botanical Gardens, Pirates game (incredible stadium, awful team), Roberto Clemente Museum if you like baseball, Carnegie museums right next to campus.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all of these recommendations! We are staying one night on the way to visit the grandparents, so plan to explore as much as possible then. Any thoughts on the Hampton Inn from the Pitt discount list? My younger child saw the waffle maker at their breakfast and suggested it should be the first choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for all of these recommendations! We are staying one night on the way to visit the grandparents, so plan to explore as much as possible then. Any thoughts on the Hampton Inn from the Pitt discount list? My younger child saw the waffle maker at their breakfast and suggested it should be the first choice.

Looks fine. Haven't stayed at this specific one but Hampton Inn's are always fine. There are other options slightly closer to campus but this is good enough. Areas near Pitt can get pretty hilly but if I recall this area is OK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks! The Oaklander is sold out but it looks great! We will probably book the courtyard

I stayed at that hotel in November 2022 when it was a different brand and I was showing my kids around Oakland. I'm a Pitt grad who grew up in Pittsburgh.

The location is great for showcasing campus and visiting attractions. The hotel has a nice lobby and the rooms are fine. I found them clean and average. The parking is a rip-off if you are willing to store your car a few blocks away.

Have restaurant plans in advance if you are a foodie. Especially re: breakfast.

We did not eat at the hotel under the different brand. The restaurant was expensive and we wanted to do stuff college students would do. Not eat generically expensive hotel breakfast.

I would stay there again. Just sharing tips so no money is wasted.

[Anonymous]

PP. I think the Hampton's at the far edge of campus near McGee Women's and Bates Street and Point Park Playhouse?

That's a little less central. And a little grittier. Realistically a lot of college students live down that way bit as a petite female student, I did not walk down that way alone at night in the 1980s. It's not so much dangerous at night as kind of isolated and unattractive streetscape. We all used to go to movies and theater at the Playhouse and walk from central Oakland while on dates or with groups of friends.

What I'm trying to say is that you'd be swapping vibes for waffles.

You could reposition your car from hotel to a central Oakland parking garage for the day and that would make walking back there a non-issue. That Hampton is just more for medical system guests in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Courtyard was just redone a year ago and it’s nice (though breakfast is not included. We used to stay at The Oaklander, but the Vourtyard is perfectly nice a significantly cheaper (often $100-150/night cheaper).

I’d stay there and walk around Oakland and really get a feel for the area. Maybe do the Dusquesne Incline to see the city and the stadium - sort of get a birds-eye view of it all.

The courtyard was even more affordable before they redid it. I used to stay at the Oaklander but it’s just not worth the price; I’d definitely stay at the courtyard instead. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn, University Place (closer to kids apartment) for graduation last week and it’s pretty nice too. A bit further from campus but not too bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for all of these recommendations! We are staying one night on the way to visit the grandparents, so plan to explore as much as possible then. Any thoughts on the Hampton Inn from the Pitt discount list? My younger child saw the waffle maker at their breakfast and suggested it should be the first choice.

Smart kid. That’s high on my list when selecting hotels as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP. I think the Hampton's at the far edge of campus near McGee Women's and Bates Street and Point Park Playhouse?

That's a little less central. And a little grittier. Realistically a lot of college students live down that way bit as a petite female student, I did not walk down that way alone at night in the 1980s. It's not so much dangerous at night as kind of isolated and unattractive streetscape. We all used to go to movies and theater at the Playhouse and walk from central Oakland while on dates or with groups of friends.

What I'm trying to say is that you'd be swapping vibes for waffles.

You could reposition your car from hotel to a central Oakland parking garage for the day and that would make walking back there a non-issue. That Hampton is just more for medical system guests in my opinion.

(OP here) Thanks! We have waffles at home, so would definitely prefer the area where our older child can get a feel for campus.