I am going to tucson in January and would appreciate hotel recommendation in safe downtown area near public transportation (no car)...want to be within walking distance of some restaurants, shopping and sights, if possible. (Prefer roomrate under $120.)
Thanks!

Trust me you don't want to stay downtown. It's old, ugly and not very safe if you are alone. Check out the Windmill Inn at Campbell and River Roads. Nice hotel in a nice plaza with places to eat and little shops. As for transportation, please rent a car, the public transport in Tucson is virtually non-existant. There is bus service but it is limited and certainly does not cover all the city. It would take forever to get anyplace on a bus.

If you plan on being in Tucson anytime after the middle of Jan thru first couple of weeks of Feb, be prepared to have a difficult rime finding a room and to pay higher rates. Mid Jan to mid Feb the Gem & Mineral Show & Expo is held in Tucson. This is a huge event and attracts buyers & sellers from around the world - hotel rooms are at a premium even the tacky ones command a high price!

Have you considered Bed and breakfast places? My family is going to Tucson next spring and I found so many good ones at reasonable prices in great locations around Tucson that I still don't know which one to pick. Do any searches for "Bed and breakfast" and you will hit a gold mine!

Sharon,
My favorite hotel in Tucson is the Doubletree Guest Suites on Speedway Blvd. Nice suites with a huge courtyard with pool hot tub, restaurant and bar. You canfind them on the 'net and probably check availability too.