In Pittsburgh to work for a week (Penn: extended stay, spring break)

[Nashvegasman]

I do freelance legal work and I have a job in Pittsburg starting next week, for a week.

Since I am freelance I have to handle all of my own arrangements and I have never been to pittsburg before.

I'm looking for someplace reasonable to stay. I'd prefer to avoid a hotel. I'm looking on craigslist but honestly have no idea what parts of Pittsburgh are good and are not.

Where would be the best areas to stay and what would be the areas to avoid?

[steindle]

That's a pretty broad question. What constitutes "good" and "bad" for you -- i.e., what are you looking for in a neighborhood? Something more suburban or something more walkable? Will you be using public transit? Do you want to be close to where you're working, etc.?

[Nashvegasman]

Good means I'm not going to get shot in the morning or night going back. It means my car won't be broken into. It does not have to be fancy, just safe.

[SteelCityRising]

If you're looking for something unique I'd recommend The Priory, which is a bed & breakfast housed in a historic monastery. It's along Pressley Street in the historic Deutschtown neighborhood of the North Side. There can be some shady-looking characters milling around the neighborhood, but overall it's safe. It is very convenient (10-minute walk) to Downtown Pittsburgh, the Strip District (our open-air market/vendor neighborhood), the stadiums and nightlife on the North Shore, and attractions in other parts of the North Side, such as the National Aviary, Rivers Casino, or the Mattress Factory. I stayed here back in early-2008 while visiting Pittsburgh with a friend for Spring Break, and we really enjoyed it.

Priory Hotel Room Types and Room Rates


Rates start at $99/night for a single occupancy room with a twin bed, which is very reasonable for Pittsburgh. Whenever my parents or my partner's parents come to visit they often can't find anything cheaper than $109/night for a typical room at a Comfort Inn in the suburbs. If you chose the Priory, you can walk to some great local haunts such as Max's Allegheny Tavern or the Penn Brewery.

[steindle]

Originally Posted by Nashvegasman

Good means I'm not going to get shot in the morning or night going back. It means my car won't be broken into. It does not have to be fancy, just safe.

In that case, I would recommend: Anywhere in the Pittsburgh metro area.

Obviously I kid, partially... but the fact is that, as a stranger, the chances of randomly getting shot are about as good as the chance you'll get hit by lightning... and, even in the worst of neighborhoods (which I don't really think you'd find a place to stay in anyway), your car is probably safe.

P.S. I did a three-year bid in Nashville, so I can make parallels between there and Pittsburgh if you have an area of Nashville that you particularly like.

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by Nashvegasman

I do freelance legal work and I have a job in PittsburgH starting next week, for a week.

Since I am freelance I have to handle all of my own arrangements and I have never been to pittsburgH before.

I'm looking for someplace reasonable to stay. I'd prefer to avoid a hotel. I'm looking on craigslist but honestly have no idea what parts of Pittsburgh are good and are not.

Where would be the best areas to stay and what would be the areas to avoid?

First, start inserting the H when you write PittsburgH.

Next, tell us where you'll be working.

[ex-burgher]

For short-term rentals check out
https://www.airbnb.com/
I've used them several times.

[greg42]

Where are you going to stay for a week, that's not a hotel? Not really sure there's much choice. There's a couple things on Airbnb maybe.

Or are you talking like couch surfing?

There are very few places that would be unsafe. I'd probably focus on wherever your workplace is, if that is a fixed location.

[CaptainPittsburgh]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

If you're looking for something unique I'd recommend The Priory, which is a bed & breakfast housed in a historic monastery. It's along Pressley Street in the historic Deutschtown neighborhood of the North Side.

I can second this recommendation if the North Side is good for you in terms of location. The Priory is a really neat historic place.

[Sealtite]

Originally Posted by Nashvegasman

I do freelance legal work and I have a job in Pittsburg starting next week, for a week.

Since I am freelance I have to handle all of my own arrangements and I have never been to pittsburg before.

I'm looking for someplace reasonable to stay. I'd prefer to avoid a hotel. I'm looking on craigslist but honestly have no idea what parts of Pittsburgh are good and are not.

Where would be the best areas to stay and what would be the areas to avoid?

There's a couple of Inn Town Suites, as well as a few other extended stay hotels in the area. They're not bad. I've stayed at them in other cities while traveling. They're like little efficiency apartments.