We're meeting my daughter and fiance in Pgh for a weekend on 11/1. I would appreciate suggestions for shopping and restaurants in the area and a good hotel in which to stay. Thanks!

I would suggest Priceline on a 4star downtown hotel. We got one for $60.00 night.

We stayed at the Renaissance hotel in downtown. Really nice hotel and convenient location.

We also got it through Priceline for $60/night. This was over July 4th weekend in 2007.

The best deals to me seem to be near the airport which is not far from downtown. Try hotels in Coraopolis area near Robinson Town Center (a mall).

Oh but don't stay at the airport. Its just a bunch of traffic and malls.

Stay in one of these great neighborhoods: Downtown (at the point), Southside, Northside, Oakland, or Shadyside.

Downtown is the point where the two rivers meet. You can easily get to Station Square and the Strip District (not what you think) for great shops and restaurants.

Southside is up on the mountain overlooking Phg. Great views and pub-crawling.

Northside is north of the river, an older section of town that has some museums and the baseball park.

Oakland is the university area with lots of students and wonderful restaurants on Craig street.

Shadyside is the upscale trendy neighborhood with upscale shops on Walnut street.

We used Priceline last summer and got the Westin for $75/night. Very nice hotel with a very overpriced breakfast.