The Oaklander Hotel, Autograph Collection

The Oaklander Hotel, part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, is the best base in Oakland, Pittsburgh's university and museum district, about fifteen minutes east of downtown. It stands at 5130 Bigelow Boulevard, among the campuses of the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon, and within walking distance of the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, the Carnegie Library and Music Hall, Phipps Conservatory and the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall. The style is contemporary. Its lounge, Spirits and Tales, serves cocktails, local beer and wine with French-inspired small plates and panoramic views over Oakland, and Cork and Crust offers pizza and wine for an easy dinner. Rooms have the comforts you expect from a newer upscale hotel, with room service, mobile key and daily housekeeping, and there is a complimentary fitness center. Pets are welcome, up to two per room, which is unusual for the area. For travellers whose priorities are the museums, a university visit or a medical appointment at the nearby UPMC hospitals, it is far more convenient than downtown.

Location and getting around: the Carnegie Museums are a short walk away along Forbes Avenue, the Cathedral of Learning and its Nationality Rooms are nearby, and Phipps Conservatory is a pleasant walk through Schenley Park. Oakland is full of casual restaurants and cafés serving the student population, and Shadyside's shops and restaurants are a short ride east. Frequent buses along Fifth and Forbes Avenues run downtown, and a taxi takes about fifteen minutes, so a car is optional. Pittsburgh International Airport is about 22 miles away.

Rooms and who it suits: the Oaklander suits museum lovers and families who plan to spend most of their time in Oakland, parents visiting students at Pitt or Carnegie Mellon, and anyone visiting the hospitals. It is also a quieter alternative to downtown in the evenings. Book early for university events such as graduations and parents' weekends, when the area fills up.

Good to know: parking is valet, and the hotel's own pages quote different nightly rates, so confirm the price when you book. The pet policy allows two pets per room up to 50 pounds each, with a fee; check the current amount. Rates are mid-to-upper range and depend heavily on the university calendar, so weekends without campus events are often better value.