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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.
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 Tutwiler Hotel and the Sheraton Birmingham offer deluxe accommodations, and are two of the city's best lodging options.
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.
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.
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.
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 Birmingham Hotels Guide
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