Unbelievable Pittsburgh Luxury: Wyndham Grand Awaits!
Okay, here's my brutally honest and slightly unhinged review of the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh, based on your exhaustive list. Buckle up, because this is gonna be a bumpy ride:
Title: Unbelievable? Maybe. Pittsburgh Luxury at the Wyndham Grand: My Pittsburgh Pilgrimage
Metadata:
- Keywords: Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh hotel review, luxury hotel, accessibility, Pittsburgh Spa, swimming pool, Downtown Pittsburgh, hotel amenities, best Pittsburgh hotel, wheelchair accessible hotel, family-friendly hotel, pet-friendly hotel, hotel with a view, on-site restaurants, Pittsburgh business travel, conference hotel, wedding venue Pittsburgh
- Description: My unfiltered experience at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh. From the (almost) perfect spa to the slightly awkward elevator rides, I dish the dirt (and the delightful details) on this iconic Pittsburgh hotel. Was it truly "unbelievable?" Read on…
The Descent into Wyndham Grand (and My Sanity): A Chaotic Review
Alright, so the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh. Let's get one thing straight: I'm not typically a "luxury hotel" kind of person. More like, "find a quirky Airbnb with questionable plumbing" kinda gal. But a Pittsburgh trip was on the cards, and the Wyndham Grand kept popping up. The promise of “unbelievable” piqued my interest, or at least my morbid curiosity. And boy, did I have an experience.
First Impressions: Glitter and Glitches
Right off the bat, the sheer scale of the place hits you. It's imposing, a gleaming skyscraper in the city skyline. The lobby is… well, it's grand. Think polished marble, enough chandeliers to light a small city, and a faint aroma of expensive air freshener. It all sets the stage… but wait, is the elevator music playing elevator music? Yes, it is! This is going to be interesting.
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag (Like My Emotions)
Here's where I have to applaud them… and then mildly scold them. The Wyndham Grand does seem to make an effort for accessibility, and that's a HUGE plus. The website boasts about wheelchair accessibility, and, for the most part, it delivers. Hallways are wide, and there are accessible rooms, which I'm told are thoughtfully designed. The elevators, bless their slow-moving souls, are accessible. But, and this is a big "but," navigating the sheer size of the place can still feel, at times, exhausting. It's like a sprawling empire, and you’re a little cog…
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes, and that is a big win.
- Facilities for Disabled Guests: Present-ish.
- Elevator: Yes.
- Getting around: A bit of a trek, even with the elevators.
The Room: My Sanctuary (and Occasional Prison)
Okay, let's talk about the room. Mine had a view that could stop a heart. Seriously, panoramic views of the city and the rivers… stunning. I mean, stunning. I'm not even a "view" person typically, but this was something else. I could stare at that skyline for hours (and I probably did).
- Air conditioning: Thank God, because Pittsburgh summers get sticky.
- Blackout curtains: Crucial for sleeping off that jet lag (or the previous night's shenanigans).
- Coffee/Tea Maker: Essential. Though the coffee wasn't amazing, it got me through the morning.
- Free Bottled Water: Always appreciated. Dehydration is not my vibe.
- Ironing Facilities: Never used them (because I live in sweats), but they were there, judging me silently.
- Mini Bar: I peeked; mostly overpriced snacks.
- Non-Smoking: Thank goodness. I can’t deal with stale cigarette smell.
- Seating Area: Okay for a bit of thinking.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Did I mention I was addicted to the internet?
- Additional toilet: Not in my room but available.
- Additional toilet: Not in my room but available.
- Extra Long Bed: Yes.
But here's the thing… the soundproofing wasn’t perfect. I could hear the distant hum of the city, which, on the one hand, was a nice reminder I was in Pittsburgh. On the other hand, I am a light sleeper, and it contributed to the occasional bout of tossing and turning.
The Spa: Bliss… and a Side of Chaos
Okay, this is where things got good. The spa. Oh, the spa. I love a good spa and this one at the Wyndham Grand, I'll be honest, almost converted me to the luxury life. The promise of “Body Wrap,” “Body Scrub,” “Massage,” “Sauna,” “Steamroom,” and “Spa/Sauna” was just too strong. It was gorgeous. Dimly lit, calming music, the whole shebang.
I booked a massage (a Swedish, if you're curious) and a deep tissue for later in the week. The masseuse was an absolute angel; she seemed to have a knack for finding every knot in my stressed-out shoulders. For, like, an hour, I was weightless. I drifted off, probably drooling. When I had a facial, I was like, "wow, is this what it's like to actually take care of myself?" The other massage was a bit more intense and even better.
However, a tiny hiccup: My appointment was a few minutes late. And well, I had to reschedule the deep tissue. Life ain’t perfect, right?
- Fitness Center: Yes! But did I use it? Nope.
- Foot Bath: Unsure.
- Gym/Fitness: Yes.
- Massage: YES!
- Pool with View: Didn't get the chance to.
- Sauna: Yes.
- Spa: Heaven. (Mostly.)
- Spa/Sauna: Double heaven.
- Steamroom: Even more heaven.
- Swimming Pool Yes and I didn't get the chance to swim.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Feast (or Fiasco?)
The Wyndham Grand has an impressive array of dining options. You've got restaurants, a bar (duh) and a coffee shop.
The main restaurant, supposedly, has "International Cuisine." I had a… well, not a bad meal, but not a mind-blowing one either. They had a pretty decent salad. Coffee/tea in restaurant? Yes. Soup? Yes. Western cuisine? Yes. Asian Cuisine? Yes. Vegetarian restaurant? Not so much. And boy, the service was… enthusiastic. Too enthusiastic, perhaps? I felt like I was constantly being watched, and the waiter's hovering made me feel like a caged animal. I mean, do I really need someone to refill my water glass every five seconds?
The pool-side bar was a nice touch, but I mostly stuck to my room service. The 24-hour room service was a lifesaver. I ordered a burger at 2 AM one night (don’t judge), and aside from being slightly overcooked, it was a glorious, greasy embrace of late-night indulgence. Yes, room service, you are the best part.
But the price of that burger… ouch. This hotel is not cheap.
- A la carte in restaurant: Yes.
- Alternative meal arrangement: Seemed to be possible if you requested it.
- Asian breakfast: Didn't try it, sadly.
- Bar: Yes.
- Breakfast [buffet] Didn’t order
- Breakfast service: Yes.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Yes.
- Coffee shop: Always a win.
- Desserts in restaurant: Yes.
- Happy hour: Seemed lively.
- Poolside bar: Yes.
- Restaurants: (See above)
- Room service [24-hour]: Lifesaver.
- Salad in restaurant: Yes.
- Snack bar: Probable.
- Soup in restaurant: Probably.
- Vegetarian restaurant: Not really
- Western breakfast: Probably
Services and Conveniences: More Than Meets the Eye
The hotel has a ton of services, probably more than I could reasonably take advantage of. They’ve got a concierge, dry cleaning, laundry service, a convenience store… the works.
- Air conditioning in public area: Always appreciated.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events: Yes.
- Business facilities: Looks professional.
- Cash withdrawal: Yes.
- Concierge: Helpful.
- Daily housekeeping: Excellent.
- Doorman: Very polite.
There was an elevator, of course, but after a while, I really didn’t want to take it.
On the other hand, the Wi-Fi was fantastic, and I needed that.
Cleanliness and Safety: The Pandemic Edition
The hotel seemed to take Covid-19 seriously, which I appreciated. They had hand sanitizer everywhere, and the staff wore masks. I did notice that there
Fort Worth TCU Game Day Getaway: TownePlace Suites Special!
Okay, buckle up, buttercup. This isn't your glossy, perfect travel brochure. This is the REALITY of trying to squeeze joy out of a trip to Pittsburgh, specifically, the Wyndham Grand Downtown. Let's see how this trainwreck… I mean, adventure… unfolds.
Pittsburgh Pilgrimage, or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Pierogies (Mostly)
Day 1: Arrival and the Eternal Quest for Wi-Fi (and Sanity)
- 1:00 PM: Arrived at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT). Okay, not awful. The baggage claim was… functional. My suitcase? Miraculously intact. (This is already a win, people. Let's savor it.) The airport shuttle, bless its heart, smelled faintly of overzealous cleaning product and… desperation? Felt fitting, honestly.
- 2:00 PM: Check-in at the Wyndham Grand. Wow. The lobby is… grand. Gold leaf, chandeliers, a certain level of opulent that suggests someone really wanted to impress. It felt a bit much, like the hotel was trying too hard to be fancy. But hey, clean aircon, that's the important part.
- 2:30 PM - 3:45 PM: The Wi-Fi. The eternal, frustrating quest for Wi-Fi. You'd think in this age of flying cars and self-stirring coffee, decent hotel internet would be standard. Wrong. It took a frustrating hour and a half of restarting my phone, muttering incantations, and borderline begging the front desk. Finally, after a stern lecture from a very tired-looking IT guy, I was kind of online. Now, the REAL work began.
- 4:00 PM: Wandered through the lobby searching for a vending machine of water bottle. It wasn't easy to find, which lead me to spend 20 minutes and 2 dollars.
- 5:00 PM: Decided to brave the city streets. First impressions? Pittsburgh is… hilly. So. Hilly. My thighs are already screaming. Took a wrong turn immediately and ended up staring at the back of a parking garage. (Classic.)
- 6:00 PM: Dinner: Primanti Bros. I'd heard the hype. I'd seen the pictures of sandwiches overflowing with fries and coleslaw. I was ready. The reality? A gargantuan sandwich that was slightly overwhelming, but delicious nonetheless. The fries? Soggy perfection. The coleslaw? I'm not a huge coleslaw person, but this one was… okay. The atmosphere? Loud. Lively. Pittsburgh. I loved it. Probably should have skipped breakfast this morning.
- 8:00 PM: Back at the Wyndham. Exhausted, slightly greasy, and utterly content. Watched some terrible TV and drifted off to sleep. The bed was comfy, blessedly.
Day 2: Bridges, Inclines, and the Unexpected Melancholy of a Museum
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast at the hotel (included, thankfully, after my expensive water bottle fiasco). Scrambled eggs that may or may not have been real eggs, but coffee that was hot and strong. Mission accomplished.
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Exploring the city's bridges. Pittsburgh is famously known for its bridges. I did my best to keep track of which one was which, but they all started to blur together after a while. They are impressively sturdy, though. And the views! Spectacular. Even the slightly grey sky couldn't detract from the beauty of the city framed by the rivers.
- 12:30 PM: Inclines! Duh! I rode the Duquesne Incline. The views again! Seriously, Pittsburgh, you're showing off with these vantage points. The sheer precipitousness of the journey was a little terrifying, to be honest. I clutched the handrail and mumbled prayers to my ancestors. The views from the top were worth the near-cardiac arrest.
- 1:30 PM: Lunch - a classic Pittsburgh Hot Dog.
- 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM: The Carnegie Museum of Art. Okay, this is where things got… weird. I wandered aimlessly around the art, nodding sagely at things I didn't understand. Then, I stumbled into a room dedicated to contemporary sculpture and… boom. A wave of sadness washed over me. I felt… profoundly lonely. Maybe it was the dim lighting, the echoing silence, the sheer ambition of the artists. Maybe it was just me. I stared at a particularly abstract piece and felt a tear roll down my cheek, which was annoying and embarrassing. I snuck out. Art… it’s complicated. (And I may have started to think about home)
- 5:30 PM: Wandered. Tried to find some food to distract myself.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at a random restaurant, that was good . Needed happy food. Got happy food.
- 9:00 PM: Back at the hotel. Recharged and ready for DAY 3.
Day 3: The Pierogi Pilgrimage and Saying Goodbye (Sort Of)
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. Again. I’m starting to feel it.
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: The Pierogi Tour! Okay, this was THE reason for the trip, really. I'd heard legends. I'd read reviews. I was ready to become one with the pierogi. First stop: a hole-in-the-wall place in an unassuming neighborhood. The pierogies were heaven. Soft, pillowy, perfectly browned. Loaded with butter and onions and… joy. Next stop: another place, another revelation. Each one a new flavor, a new texture, a new reason to weep with happiness. I’m not exaggerating. I ate pierogies until I thought I might explode. And it was glorious.
- 12:30 PM: Lunch. Pierogies. Again.
- 1:30 PM: The Andy Warhol Museum. I was skeptical. I’m not a huge art person, remember? But the Warhol Museum? Surprisingly engaging! The man was a fascinating enigma. And the sheer pop-art-ness of it all was a welcome distraction. Seeing his influence, the iconic work, and the sheer audacity of his vision… I liked it.
- 3:30 PM: Last-minute souvenir shopping. Pittsburgh has a lot of Steelers gear.
- 4:30 PM: Back at the hotel. Packing. Slightly overwhelmed by the amount of pierogies I've consumed. Possibly in a pierogi coma.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner nearby the hotel for a final Pittsburgh meal.
- 8:00 PM: Staring at the walls in my room.
- 9:00 PM: Heading to the airport.
- 11:00 PM: Flying home.
Final Thoughts:
Pittsburgh. It's a city of hills, bridges, and pierogies. It's not perfect. It's a little rough around the edges. But it's got a certain charm, a certain grit, that I actually came to love. I'm going to miss the pierogies. And the views. and the slightly rundown, but undeniably real, feeling of the place. I also suspect that I'm going to start craving pierogies in about a week. So, a good experience, I can be sure of that…
Escape to Paradise: Courtyard St. Augustine Beach Awaits!
Unbelievable Pittsburgh Luxury: Wyndham Grand Awaits! (Yeah... Maybe) - A Messy FAQ
So, like, the Wyndham Grand... is it REALLY "Grand"? Or just, you know, Pittsburgh-Grand?
Okay, alright, let's get this out of the way. "Grand" is a *relative* term, people! Look, I've stayed in hostels that were grander in, like, the… *idea* of grandeur. This is Pittsburgh. It's not Paris (though the views, sometimes, try to convince you otherwise). But… is it Pittsburgh-Grand? Absolutely. Think polished, not penthouse. Think impressive lobby, not imperial palace. You'll feel fancyish, but not like you accidentally wandered into a royalty convention. (Unless, like, you *are* royalty. In which case, you're probably not reading this, and also, can I borrow a crown?)
What about the rooms themselves? Are they actually... livable? Or do they smell like stale pierogies?
Okay, deep breath. No, they don't smell like pierogies. Thank God. They're… decent. The views are the real star here, truly. I had one room where the river, the bridges, it was just… wow. I actually sat there for like an hour, just staring. And then I remembered I needed to, you know, *do* things. The furniture is… fine. Comfortable enough. Clean, which is key. Had a minor freakout once because I thought I saw a tiny bug. Turns out it was just a speck of dust. My bad, Wyndham. But hey, you're keeping it CLEAN, so… points.
The location... is it actually convenient? Or are you stuck in a maze of one-way streets and confused squirrels?
The location? Actually, pretty darn good. You're right downtown, close to everything. The Cultural District is *right there*. Which is awesome, unless you're me and get hopelessly lost in the Byham Theater trying to find the bathroom (true story, and yes, I was judging a play at the time… mortifying). Walking, taxis, ride shares – all easy. Parking… well, that's Pittsburgh, baby. Expect to pay. And don’t even *think* about driving during a Steelers game. Just… don’t. You'll regret it. Like, deeply.
What about the food? The reviews are all over the place! Is the dining experience more "gourmet" or more "microwaved buffet leftovers"?
Okay, this is where things get… complicated. There's a restaurant, and a bar. The bar is fine. The food is the… well, it's *there*. Think elevated pub fare. I had a burger once that was surprisingly decent. Another time, the fries were, and I quote, "soggy and utterly disappointing." (I may have been hangry). The restaurant? Look, it’s not Michelin-star level, okay? But the view from the dining room? Amazing. It makes the slightly-overpriced-but-decent-enough food a little more palatable. Honestly, I’d probably go back just for the view and a glass of wine. Just set your food expectations… moderately. Or, you know, wander out and explore the amazing food scene Pittsburgh actually *has*.
The pool...is it a sad little puddle, or a real oasis? (And do they have tiny umbrellas for your drinks?)
Okay, the pool is… *fine*. It’s indoors. It’s a pool. It's not enormous. It *does* have a hot tub, which is a plus. Tiny umbrellas? Sadly, no. I checked. I asked. I was *very* disappointed. But hey, it's a pool! You can swim! Mostly. Sometimes it’s… crowded. Kids everywhere. I once saw a rogue inflatable flamingo. It was… memorable. So, manage your expectations, again. And maybe bring your own tiny umbrella. (I'm kidding. Mostly.)
Okay, so the service... are the staff friendly and helpful, or do they seem utterly bewildered by your presence? I've had *some* hotel experiences...
The service is… generally *good*. Not flawless. Look, sometimes you get a superstar, someone who makes you feel like the most important person in the world. Other times, it's a bit perfunctory. I remember once, I had a minor issue with my key card (typical, right?). The person at the front desk was… not thrilled. But overall, they’re decent. They try. They’re polite. They handle your requests. They're probably tired of tourists asking ridiculous questions. Cut them some slack, alright? They're working in a hotel. It’s a hard job. And tip well! They deserve it (usually).
Let's talk about the elevators. Are they a fast, efficient experience or a slow, sardine-can horror show? Because, seriously, elevators can make or break a hotel stay.
The ELEVATORS. Oh. My. God. The elevators. Okay, so, I had a *situation* with the elevators. It was, quite possibly, one of the most defining moments of my last stay. Picture this: I'm running late for a show at the Benedum. *Late*. I mean, "I’ll probably miss the first five minutes" late. I get to the elevator. It's packed. People are squished. The doors close. Then, *nothing*. We sit there. For what feels like an eternity. Someone starts muttering. Another person starts sighing dramatically. A small child starts crying. Finally, *ding!* The doors open. But… it’s not the lobby. It's... the parking garage. On the *wrong* level. We all shuffle out in confused silence. I have to then *find* another elevator, which takes forever. I got to the theater… just as the curtain went up. Breathless. Flustered. And completely mortified. So, yeah. The elevators? Can be a bit of a… *challenge*. Pack some patience. And maybe your own oxygen tank, just in case. And arrive REALLY early for anything important. Seriously. Elevator trauma. It scarred me, I'm not even kidding. Probably the #1 thing to be wary about. Okay, I'm done ranting about elevators now. Maybe.
Is it worth the money? Or should I just stay at my Aunt Mildred's and put up with the cat hair?
Okay, the big question. Is it worth it? That depends. If Aunt Mildred's has a killer view of the city, a luxurious bed, and doesn't mind you sneaking pierogies into the room…. stay there! (Just kidding… mostly). It’s not cheap. But it's *decentPopular Hotel Find
Post a Comment for "Unbelievable Pittsburgh Luxury: Wyndham Grand Awaits!"