Well, I live in North Raleigh, about 8.5 miles from DT Raleigh, not far from North Hills, and I have two jobs: one in downtown and the other in Cameron Village. I hit rush hours no matter what. In the morning, it takes me about 20-25 minutes to get to work (including getting into the parking deck). On the way back home, things are a little hectic but it normally takes me 25 minutes to home (it takes me a long time to get out of the parking deck). When I head towards Cameron Village, it takes me 20-25 minutes (during rush hours).
If you want to live downtown, Glenwood South is the best option, in my opinion - yes, Glenwood South is definitely downtown. If you don't care living in downtown, then Cameron Village is a great option. You will be close to a lot of shopping and opportunities for dinning. There may be a few good options in terms of renting space in a detached home. A friend of mine lives in the nearby Cameron Park and he pays $625/month for a nice size studio (half basement, but with plenty of light), including high speed Internet access and utilities. The condition of the unit is almost immaculate. You may find some great opportunities around that area.
Overall, and this is no secret, Raleigh may be bigger than many cities across the U.S., but it falls short in terms of urbanity. No, as a city Raleigh is not a bad choice, nor it needs to be jealous about when considering the state's other metro areas, but it can do better - the skyline needs a HUGE boost. On the plus side, the local economy and job market is not in a shape as bad as most cities in the U.S., but we can do better. The traffic should not be an issue when coming from a larger metro, or a true urban center, like Pittsburgh.
Regarding the Days Inn, I assume you are talking about the 300 N Dawson Str location - I work about a block from there. It is located East of Glenwood South's warehouses section - unde(r)veloped area - and right at the edge of the State Government complex. The latter is the biggest problem in terms of the urban fabric of this area, as I am sure you can see when you step outside the hotel. Totally disconnected with Raleigh's goals and vision for a better, more livable downtown area, the state leaders simply do not care, or do not understand how important it is to create a decent urban experience. You will not be impressed with the "neighborhood", but I do recommend you visit the two nearby museums: Science and History; they are across from each other, about 2-3 blocks from where you stay.
The section of Glenwood South that you need to visit is West from you. Once you hit West Str, you will begin seeing a few places, like 42nd Str Oyster Bar, Mirage, etc. Other places of interest are Solas, Noir, Sullivan's, Bogart's, Hibernian and several others that you can easily see once you start walking along Glenwood Ave. The stretch that will interest you the most is the one between Hillsborough Str and Peace Str, with several other destinations along the side streets. If you like cupcakes, or simply wish to have something sweet - or coffee - The Cupcake Shoppe Bakery will not disappoint, nor will Turkish Delights and Cafe Helios.
Faytteville Str and the nearby Moore Square offer several decent options: The Oxford, Sono (great sushi), The Big Easy, Sitti, The Raleigh Times, Cafe Luna, The Duck and Dumpling and Big Ed's (for breakfast). There are a few other places worth considering, but if you wish to stay closer to the activity, the aforementioned should keep you happy. Plus, there is easy access to the R-Line, the free downtown circulator service
Here is a helpful link:
Get Around :: R-LINE :: Downtown Raleigh
PS: Consider a visit to North Hills. It is a great place to be, knowing what it looked like before. It is a work in progress, and it shows, so don't "judge" the place by its current state. The apartments at Park & Market should be a good option for you as well.
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