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March, 2010:

Stay at Scranton PA Hotels for Leisure, Business, and More

Whether you are in Scranton Pennsylvania for work, leisure or vacation, the benefits of your downtown Scranton PA lodging accommodating all your needs is a priority. Often the value in a work conference or family trip is found in the convenience and relaxation of the very place you go to rest and rejuvenate. What better way guarantee your time spent in Scranton is time well spent than to guarantee your total comfort in one of the fine hotels around the area?

For Those Visiting for Leisure

For those who are headed to Scranton for leisure, what better way to relax than to surround yourself in a hotel that is pleasing to your senses. Elegant, beautifully decorated and clean surrounds help travelers to relax and more importantly, enjoy their surroundings. Along those same lines, more spacious rooms, comfortable beds, in-room movies and room service are just some of the features that will assist in your comfort, when spending time IN your room matters.

Scranton PA Hotel Amenities for Business Travelers

For the business traveler, Hotels in Scranton offer several handy amenities to make your necessary time away from home, easier. Services such as 24 hour Business Centers, complimentary high speed wireless, in room voice mail and complimentary shuttle services help you to get your work done timely and efficiently. Plus if you need a way to blow off steam after a day of meetings you should make sure to get a Scranton hotel with a fitness room.

Location Matter with Scranton Hotels

When location matters, you will find several choices that are convenient walks to local attractions.

Saving time and frustration is often as important as saving money. Hotels in Scranton offer a wide variety of on-site dining choices. Ways to relax are also found under one roof, in hotels that feature upgraded Jacuzzi suites, massage services and swimming pools.

When you are looking for your destination hotel, take the time to consider one of our beautiful and valuable locations. You will find that it will be well worth the money spent, to protect and nurture your peace of mind.

Important Things to Look for in Scranton PA Wedding Halls

There are various wedding halls in the scenic Scranton, PA and if you are trying to choose the perfect one for your wedding there are some factors to consider.

Size of the Venue is Very Important

Every wedding hall is a different size and can hold a certain number of guests. It is important to know how many guests will be attending the wedding so you can pick a wedding venue that can accommodate that number of people. When you are on the search for the perfect wedding hall make sure that it is the right size for the wedding. Quaint resorts in Scranton, PA usually accommodate smaller parties while larger parties may be better off at a downtown Scranton PA hotel. Always check with the venue of interest to find out the maximum amount of guests they can have.

Does The Venue Cater To Your Needs?

Some wedding halls cater to your needs and others do not. The wedding venues that cater to you will provide tables, chairs, decoration, meals, and a full bar. There are also wedding halls that provide the reception room and some tables and chairs but leave the decorating and the catering up to you. The type of hall that you should go with depends on what you want for your wedding reception. If you would prefer your wedding to be catered by your absolute favorite catering service and you have a particular florist you want to use than you may want to choose a wedding hall that leaves those options up to you. If you are stressing over the wedding and would prefer the details be taken care of by the wedding hall itself than an all inclusive wedding venue would be the better route to go.

Ceremony & Reception in the Same Location

When choosing a Scranton wedding reception hall you may also want to consider if you want the ceremony and the reception to be held in the same location. The wedding ceremony could be in the chapel and a separate events hall could be rented out for the wedding reception. There are places that do have a wedding chapel and a reception hall on the same grounds. There are also wedding venues that are usually hotels that can reserve a certain number of rooms for the wedding party to stay in. If you are planning on having your guests from out of town stay the night make sure the venue reserves those rooms.

Many Sights and Sounds to Experience When Visiting Austin Texas

Even though the unofficial slogan is “Keep Austin Weird”, there is nothing weird about the city of Austin. Located in Central Texas, it is home to an eclectic group of people who take pride in calling Austin home. There is something for all different tastes in Austin. From historical tours, college sports, museums and a happening live music scene, there is sure to be something there for you. Additionally, there is plenty of lodging in lodging in Austin, TX, around these great attractions.

Historical Sites

If it is history you are interested in, visit the State Capitol Building. Take a tour of Bremond Block, an area with 11 historic homes built in the late 1800′s. Pay your respects to a variety of Texas heroes, including Stephen F. Austin at the Texas State Cemetery. Make sure you see the historic Millett Opera House on a trip downtown.

Museums for Adults and Children

A must see is the Austin Children’s Museum with a variety of interactive exhibits that your whole family is sure to enjoy. If it is art you are interested in, pay a visit to the Austin Museum of Art. Your whole family will enjoy the Bob Bullock State History Museum featuring Austin’s only IMAX Theater. To finish your museum experience, a must see is the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum.

A Wide Variety of Sports

If it is college sports you love, be sure to check out the University of Texas Longhorns. Their football teams as well as their basketball teams will not disappoint. If you’re interested in professional basketball, make sure to catch the Austin Toros, a NBA Developmental League team. Also check out the Austin Aztex, a relatively new pro soccer league team.

Music for all Tastes

Austin was given the name the Live Music Capital of the World in 1991 for a reason. Since Austin is said to have the most live music per capita, there is surely something for you to go out and listen to. In March, the SXSW Conference is held where presentations are given showcasing new things in music. There are a variety of music festivals like the ACL Music Fest and the Urban Music Fest to attend as well. Don’t miss checking out a variety of live music performances downtown or in the SoCo area.

Hotels in Austin

Austin, with all it has to offer is awaiting you. Come, visit and stay awhile in some of the fine hotels in the area. You can bring you pets along too because there are many pet friendly hotels in Austin Texas available.

Vacation Destinations in Texas: Houston versus Austin

Texas is known as the friendly state so any vacation there will be wonderful. The name Texas comes from the Caddo Indian Tribe and it means “Hello Friend”. No matter if you vacation in Houston or Austin you will feel welcomed and appreciate all the cities have to offer.

Houston Texas – Much to see

There is a huge difference between vacationing in Houston as opposed to Austin. During the oil boom of the 1980’s, Houston grew into a large metropolitan city with big buildings and a bigger amount of traffic. There are over six hundred hotels and ten thousand restaurants that cater to tourists. Houston has a large number of museums to visit. Spend some time at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Museum of Fine Arts and the Holocaust Museum. The Children’s Museum of Houston and the Space Center will provide hours of entertainment for families that are visiting. Marvel at the incredible Wall of Water as thousands of gallons of water falls sixty four feet a minute. Enjoy some quiet time at the Villa De Matel Convent.

Austin Texas – Capital City

Austin may be the capital of Texas but the atmosphere is more laid back and mellow than in Houston. The tranquility of the Colorado River seems to inspire the artists, musicians, and writers that come to Austin.
Most of the attractions in Austin happen outdoors. Spend a morning strolling through the Japanese Gardens at Zilker Park. Rent a kayak or canoe or just enjoy a riverboat ride at the park. Cool off with a dip at the Barton Springs Pool. This spring fed pool stays a cool sixty eight degrees all year. Finish the day with a picnic at Mount Bonnell or check out the Austin TX fine dining.
If you enjoy history, spend some time at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum learning about our former President. Enjoy a Duck Tour that will show you the main attractions of Austin. An authentic amphibious military vehicle is used to travel the streets of Austin. The high point of this tour is when this military vehicle or duck drives right into the river. Ride a Segway to the Congress Bridge to see the bats that nest there or rent a bicycle to travel the streets of Austin. If you’re looking for more exercise after that make sure you stay at a Austin TX hotel with a fitness room.

Decide which Texas city is best for you!

Hopefully this will give you a better idea of what each city has to offer and which city is the best choice for your next vacation.

Pittsburgh's Convention Center and Business Meeting Area Options

Pittsburgh is a major metropolitan area and is therefore littered with a series of meeting rooms and hotel convention centers. The possibility of usage for these places should be determined by pricing and accessibility along with a sense of how long the facility will be in use. Here is a rundown of the city of Pittsburgh’s preferred meeting rooms, hotels, and convention centers.

David L Lawrence Convention Center

The David L. Lawrence Convention Center, a 1,500,000- square foot exhibition building that is located neatly along the scenic Allegheny shoreline. The David L. Lawrence boasts of having 313,400 feet of presentation accommodations and has two, 250-seat lecture halls. For those traveling from out of town, there are plenty of hotels near the Pittsburgh Convention Center.

The Doubletree in Pittsburgh

If you’re looking for business meeting areas in Pittsburgh or a hotel room near the convention center, The Doubletree suites and Pittsburgh City Center is an excellent choice. The rooms of the Doubletree in Pittsburgh hold Queen and King-sized beds, provide cable television, and furnish the inhabitant with a large writing and working space with comfortable seating. All of the other “extras” are added as well to make sure that each guest has a very pleasant stay. Doubletree provides the businessman/woman with several options on meeting room styles with intimate boardroom-style settings, the classroom style meeting space, or a theater-style room.

The Renaissance Pittsburgh

The Renaissance Pittsburgh on 107th Street is a grand, historical brick building in the down town region of the city. The hotel is 10,000 square feet of history and elegance with a colorful and cheery modern atmosphere. The 291 rooms feature wonderful antique furniture, like four-poster beds and cherry finished writing desks with brass fixtures. Parking depends on where and when. There is valet parking at $25. The off-site parking fee is $5, or you can choose to park all day for $10 in the garage, across from the hotel. For meeting rooms, the Renaissance Pittsburgh offers 10 arrangements, including their “Symphony Ball Room”, which has a seating capacity for 350.

Visiting Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh

It’s the time of the year when students visit colleges and universities either to get a look at where they’ll be starting in the fall or to help them decide which school they would like to attend. In Pittsburgh, PA, two of the more popular places for college are Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh. But before you travel to Pittsburgh to visit either of these schools there are some travel plans you should iron out first, like the route you will take, and where you will stay while you’re visiting. Fortunately there are easy ways to get to the universities, and there are plenty of Duquesne and University of Pittsburgh hotels in the area.

Traveling to Pittsburgh

By air

Most major carriers fly into Pittsburgh International Airport. There, travelers can rent a car or take a limousine, taxi or charter bus.

The Port Authority provides public transportation from the airport to many Pittsburgh destinations including Duquesne University for only $2.60.

Transportation arrangement for senior and handicapped visitors may be made through ACCESS. Qualified travelers should make arrangements in advance by calling (412) 562-5353.

By car

If you’re coming from the east, chances are you will be taking I-76 to I-376. Those coming from the south will probably come up I-79 and then take I-376 to get into the city. If you’re coming from north of the city, taking I-79 to I-279 is probably the best route. Finally, if you’re coming from the west, you’ll either take I-76 to I-79 to I-279 or I-70 to I-79 to I-376, depending on whether you’re in the northwest or the southwest.

Hotels Near Pitt and Duquesne

Visitors have a plethora of Pitt and Duquesne University hotels. Those willing to pay extra may choose lodging located less than a mile from campus. There are also many modestly priced accommodations that aren’t much farther.

Eating in and around Pittsburgh

The food choices are endless around Pittsburgh. No matter what a traveler’s tastes, they can easily be satisfied without wandering far. For casual dining, the options range from fast food, Chinese food, pizza, cafes and diners. The more refined palette can also find satisfaction from pricier restaurants serving seafood and steak.

Whatever visitors might need, it’s a good bet they can find it near the college they are visiting.