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15 Reasons to Visit Pittsburgh in December – Embracing the Holidays

While Pittsburgh in December marks the start of winter, the city itself is in holiday mode more than anything. We have just come off the heels of Light Up Night, and our Christmas markets, numerous Christmas events, and other festivities are at their peak.

Of course, as with all of our other monthly recommendations list, we also have a few great places to drink and museums to explore on the exceptionally cold days that are coming into the city because, let's face it, winter is coming and sometimes you just want to be inside.

So if you are looking for things to do in Pittsburgh in December, check out the following options.

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TRYP Hotel Review – Affordable Rooms in the Heart of Lawrenceville

When you think of popular Pittsburgh neighborhoods, you may instantly assume that any given one is home to several hotels for visitors. For a few, you'd be right. But there are many neighborhoods in the city that do not have hotels at all, and up until mid-2019 Lawrenceville was one that sorely needed a property.

It wasn't until the TRYP Hotel opened that Lawrenceville got its first proper hotel, and this one fits right into the trendy neighborhood perfectly thanks to its beautiful restoration of a former school building right on 40th Street.

Throw in a rooftop bar with a stellar city view, a nice restaurant on the first floor, and some modern amenities and you have enough to make us happy.

We got the chance to check this one out as guests of the hotel and share more in this full review!

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5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Pittsburgh on Your Next Trip

As a travel writer by trade, I have seen many tourism campaigns from cities all over the world trying to highlight the main reasons outsiders should visit.

Some highlight geographical features like beaches and mountains, others promote the libations scene in the form of winery or brewery trails. Some push sports, others promote their architecture and history as a draw. Some push that the city is a popular tourist destination, others promote that they're under the radar.

For Pittsburgh, however, I don't think we can push just one narrative. In fact, we have all of the categories mentioned above, and it is only when you take a step back to appreciate how it all works together that you truly get a feel for what makes Pittsburgh the city that it is.

So if you have no idea what Pittsburgh is all about and need to learn more before deciding if you should visit, this one is for you!

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Can You Visit Pittsburgh Without a Car? The Answer is Maybe

When we travel to major cities, we generally don't rent a car if we can avoid it. Part of this is obviously the cost associated with a rental (daily fee + gas + parking can add up for sometimes minimal use), but also because if a robust public transit system exists, we'd rather just use that. We love a good metro even if it takes a bit longer to reach our destination than driving.

Anyone who lives in Pittsburgh knows where we're going with this because our public transit, well, leaves a lot to be desired- this statement is being generous. 

If money was no concern, we'd state outright that you'll do well to rent a car in Pittsburgh- you'll have way more freedom than if you didn't (and also have access to a number of great day trips too). If money is a concern, you can make it work without a car but you need to be a bit more strategic with how you plan your stay.

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15 Cool Apartments, VRBOs, and Airbnbs in the Laurel Highlands

When you think of the Laurel Highlands, you may not realize just how big the area is. This one encompasses Westmoreland, Fayette, and Somerset Counties and runs all the way from New Kensington in the north to Ohiopyle in the South and well past Mount Davis to the East (a solid two-hour drive from Pittsburgh).

As far as rentals are concerned, the vast majority of apartments in the Laurel Highlands are found in the area in and around Ohiopyle thanks to the numerous (and popular) parks that are nearby. Despite this, there are some pretty awesome Airbnbs/VRBOs found elsewhere in the Laurel Highlands too, and we did not want to overlook a few of them (specifically some in the furthest reaches of Somerset County).

As such, while most of the Laurel Highland apartment rentals featured below are within close proximity to Ohiopyle State Park and others nearby, some can be a considerable distance away. As such, we strongly encourage you to check the maps prior to making any bookings as the driving times for stops on your itinerary could be significant if you do not notice this in advance.

Notes: All images are credited to Airbnb/VRBO and their respective hosts. We have not personally stayed in the below rentals, but frequently book apartments when traveling and think the properties have many of the highlights we look for when renting- namely great locations, amenities, and reviews to name a few. These will be highlighted in more detail within the article although booking conditions may have changed since the initial publication. If you are looking for Airbnbs near the ski resorts in the Laurel Highlands, we recommend clicking the previous link to check out that guide specifically for more options tailored to winter visits!

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15 Airbnb Rentals Near the Ski Slopes in the Laurel Highlands

When you think of hitting the ski slopes in the Laurel Highlands, you may consider visiting in a day trip or perhaps even staying at the lodge on-site (especially at Seven Springs).

But what if you were wanting something a bit more intimate? Well, we are quite fortunate to have a number of great Airbnb rentals located on resort property and within a short drive nearby. So whether you're looking for a ski-on, ski-off townhome rental or a budget-friendly cabin a short drive away, we wanted to highlight some of our favorite options on the popular rental site!

This guide is broken up into sections based on ski resort (Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, and Laurel Mountain) as well as those that are located on-property (ski-in, ski-out style) and those that are located off-property and require a short drive to reach the resorts. 

Notes: All images of rentals are credited to Airbnb and/or the respective hosts. We have not personally stayed in any of the Airbnbs featured in this guide; however, we are frequent Airbnb travelers and selected these properties for having the things we look for when inquiring about stays- namely great reviews, their location, amenities, and more. These will be highlighted in this guide and please remember that amenities can and do change. Finally, if you book a ski-in, ski-out option be sure to visit the lodge when you arrive to pick up your lift ticket prior to hitting the slopes!

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15 Cool Pittsburgh Airbnb, VRBO, and Apartment Rentals

While we would say that the Pittsburgh Airbnb and apartment rental scene is small but growing, we have to admit that there are some pretty amazing properties in the region you may want to check out.

After looking through many of the properties listed on the service, we found a few pretty amazing options located in (or quite close) to the city that we absolutely had to share today. So if you're looking for a getaway with Airbnbs in Pittsburgh, you may want to put these options on your radar.

If you're looking for more information on the best neighborhoods to stay in and questions to ask your host, be sure to scroll to the end of this guide for detailed information as well (or click here to jump to it)!

Disclaimers: All images are credited to the respective booking platform (Airbnb/VRBO) and hosts. While we are frequent customers of these services, we have not personally stayed in the below properties. We reviewed many of the apartment rentals in Pittsburgh for what we normally look for when traveling, and simply think these are quite unique, interesting, and in most cases also have fantastic locations such that we would likely inquire about them if we were travelers. These reasons will be highlighted below. Amenities may have changed since initial publication and should be confirmed prior to booking.

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Kimpton Hotel Monaco Review – Modern Comforts and Dog Friendly Space

The Kimpton Hotel Monaco in downtown Pittsburgh is often considered to be one of the best value options in the city, but it wasn't until we stayed overnight that we started to understand why that is.

Yes, this one has relatively affordable rooms downtown, but it also backs it up with a high quality stay all around. So after visiting this one for a weekend stay, well, call us fans!

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Omni William Penn Hotel Review – A Historical Ambiance

I was eagerly anticipating my visit to the Omni William Penn Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh as this historic hotel is perhaps the most iconic of any in the city. One step in the lobby and you feel transported to a different time.

But sadly, this does not translate over into the room nearly as much, and I have to say- I was fairly let down from my stay here.

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5 of the Best Hotels Near Heinz Field in Pittsburgh

As it comes to all of our guides about hotels near the stadiums, it would be easy for us to list the five hotels close to Heinz Field and be done with it. Unfortunately, that is a bit boring (and a bit impractical even) as the Pittsburgh hotel scene offers a number of options for those coming in for a Steelers game.

So if you are looking for hotels near Heinz Field, we have a few options for you, both in terms of their location, amenities, and practicality!

Note: A few hotels featured in this guide are found in the North Shore right next to Heinz Field. Traffic becomes pretty crazy on game days, so if you are coming in just before the start of a game or departing shortly thereafter, plan for significant delays.

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