I will be traveling to two universities in Pittsburgh - U Pitt and Duquesne. I'm looking for a hotel for an overnight.

One of the school websites suggests the Hampton Inn-University Center. Trip advisor reviews give it decent reviews, but what caught my attention was the comment "the hotel is in a questionalble area of town."

Can anyone comment on this hotel or recommend another place to stay that won't break the budget. I liked the idea of the breakfast included and the location to U Pitt. How far is it from Duquesne?

Thanks for your help.

anyone?

While I have not stayed at the Hampton Inn University Center, I am familiar with the area because I have stayed twice at the Quality Inn University Center which is just on the other side of the Women's Hospital from the Hampton Inn. The neighborhoods around these hotels may be a little rundown, but I would not say it is a "questionable area of town". I walked around this area both day and night with my teenage daughter on my first visit and with my teenage son on my second visit and at no time did I feel in any danger.
I read the negative TA review that you refer to and I noticed it was his/her one and only contribution to TA (which sometimes raises red flags). The reviewer commented on the sirens (well, it's next to two hospitals), the booming music from the cars (well, it's next to a college and kids play loud music in their cars) and the grafitti (well, it's in an urban area). Virtually all of the other reviews were highly favorable and I would certainly consider staying there myself. (While the rates at both hotels are similar, I like the free parking at the Quality Inn. However, free breakfast at the Hampton Inn is a nice perk too.)
BTW, my daughter chose to attend Pitt and just finished her second year there--absolutely loves it.

The hampton inn would be fine, since it is pretty much between the two universities.

I live in pittsburgh and go to that area often and never thought of it as a questionable area of town, nor has anyone ever commented to me about it being questionable. Actually, i'd find that area to be one of the safer areas of town.

One thing you might want to consider, though, is that that hotel is right off the highway and isn't surrounded by much.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=35137466

When we visited Pitt and CM we Pricelined a hotel -- I believe it was a Hilton Garden Inn -- and as I recall it was ridiculously cheap, like $50/night (on Name Your Own Price). It was walking distance to Pitt and a quick cab or bus to Duquense (or just drive).