Although Birmingham in many ways feels like a friendly small city, the metro area extends over 4,034 square miles and continues to spread in all directions. The Magic City comprises many smaller cities, all separated by driving, rather than walking, distances. Public transportation is limited to a bus system that is convenient primarily just within the downtown and University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) campus. As a result, it is useful either to select a hotel in the neighborhood where you plan to conduct most of your business or sightseeing, or to rent a car and buy a good road map to help you navigate.
Luxury Hotels
Three hotels vie for the title of best in Birmingham, and each is uniquely appealing in its own way. For historic elegance and a central location, the beautiful Tutwiler has long been a favorite of business and features balconies in many rooms. Also downtown is the slightly smaller Crown Plaza Redmont Hotel, another beautifully renovated older building that offers excellent views of the city. By contrast, the Wynfrey is a modern, opulent edifice located approximately 20 minutes from downtown, adjacent to the huge Riverchase Galleria in Hoover. Another high-end option, Embassy Suites, is easily accessible along U.S. 280, within a few minutes’ drive of charming downtown Homewood.
If luxurious accommodations are not the main priority, you can always just choose your accommodations based on location. Birmingham’s hotels are situated in six main geographic clusters: Downtown, Southside, Homewood & Mountain Brook, Southern Suburbs, West, and Airport, North & East.
Downtown
Although Birmingham’s downtown is just beginning its renaissance, the area puts visitors within walking distance of some of the city’s most historic architecture; attractions such as the Alabama Theatre and McWane Science Center; and the central business district and government office buildings. Downtown is intimately tied to the rhythms of the business world. As a result, many establishments close on weekday evenings and weekends, leaving this area surprisingly quiet and sparse for a city center.
The downtown Sheraton Civic Center, which specializes in accommodating conference groups, offers great views of the city and of its pleasant central atrium. In addition to the luxury hotels discussed above, there are several modestly priced options: Adam Inn, Holiday Inn-Redmont, and Villager Lodge and Village Lodge Apartments. La Quinta West is inexpensive, although it is located farther from the city center than the others.
Southside
Among the many advantages of staying in Southside is that fact that it puts you near some of the most vibrant nightlife and eclectic shopping in the city, particularly around Five Points South and Pepper Place. Proximity to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) makes the area convenient for visitors with business at the college or medical center, especially since parking at the hotel can help avoid UAB’s abysmal parking situation. (Several metro-area hotels offer shuttle service to UAB.)
The Pickwick Hotel offers Art Deco-inspired décor in the heart of Five Points, along with small but busy meeting facilities. Adjacent to the UAB campus are the Radisson Hotel Birmingham, Parliament Medical Center Hotel & Suites and Best Western Medical Center Inn.
Just Over the Mountain: Homewood and Mountain Brook
On or near 280, you can find the nicely landscaped Mountain Brook Inn; the inexpensive yet comfortable Hampton Inn Mountain Brook; and Courtyard Birmingham Homewood, which is designed for business travelers and which sits just across the street from Brookwood Mall.
Homewood’s Wildwood retail and dining area, located at the Lakeshore Drive exit off I-65, includes several chain hotels and motor inns including La Quinta Inns & Suites Birmingham Homewood, Suburban Lodge, Howard Johnson Inn, Microtel Inn and, for extended stays, Studio Plus.
Southern Suburbs: Vestavia, Hoover, Alabaster, Pelham and Helena
Traffic on 280 through the southern suburbs is notoriously heavy, so if you plan to spend most of your time downtown or in the Southside/UAB area, you may want to stay in another part of the city. This part of the metropolitan area, however, is very convenient for travelers doing business with the many corporations that have campuses or locations around Riverchase in Hoover and all along U.S. 280, especially in the Inverness area.
Two upscale options are the Birmingham Marriott Hotel and the Sheraton Perimeter Park South. The Courtyard South Colonnade and Hampton Inn Colonnade are close to The Summit and Colonnade shopping and entertainment centers. For extended stays, try the Homestead Perimeter Park South or head south on 280 to the Studio Plus Inverness.
Along I-65, the main north-south route through the city, Vestavia Hills offers the Comfort Inn Vestavia, Motorlodge Vestavia Motel, and Hampton Inn Birmingham/Vestavia Hills. Farther south on I-65 in Hoover and the Riverchase area are the Courtyard Birmingham Hoover, Riverchase Inn and La Quinta Inn & Suites Hoover/Riverchase. Heading south out of the city, your options include The Retreat in Alabaster and Best Western Inn and Comfort Inn in Pelham.
West
Travelers heading to Tuscaloosa often stay on the west side of Birmingham, where you can also find VisionLand Theme Park, Watermark Place outlets, the Bessemer Civic Center and other points of interest. Most western accommodations are inexpensive or moderate, including places such as the Fairfield Inn Birmingham West and such Bessemer hotels as the Masters Economy Inn, Days Inn and Best Western Bessemer.
Airport and North
Air travelers will find many national chain hotels and motels near the Birmingham International Airport, including Holiday Inn Birmingham-Airport, Camellia’s, Birmingham Days Inn Airport, Key West Inn Birmingham Airport, Ramada Inn Airport and Motel Birmingham. For long-term stays or for suites, try the Best Western Rime Garden Inn & Suites, located off I-20 near Century Plaza and Eastwood Mall.
North of the city you can find a few moderately-to-inexpensively priced inns, such as the Suburban Lodge of Centerpoint, Roebuck Parkway Inn, Jameson Inn in Trussville and the Hampton Inn in Fultondale
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