Hotels in Tulsa

For a first visit to Oklahoma in September, we are looking for a hotel in Tulsa (and also OKC). We like to be in the middle of things without spending a fortune. However, this trip is to mark a special occasion so we are pushing the boat out a bit.

I am tempted by the Ambassador (and the sister hotel in Oklahoma, I believe, the Colcord). However, links on their web sites don%26#39;t always work (eg CONTACT US), and Emails to both hotels go unanswered.

Is this a measure of their lack of care towards their customers or is it just bad luck on my part?

Thanks.

PS How many people visit because of the Gene PItney song, I wonder?!?

Hotels in Tulsa

We have stayed in both hotels, and both are wonderful. They are clean, well designed, and full of personality. Every staff member we encountered at either hotel has been wonderful.

But you%26#39;re right; the web pages are terrible. We stayed at the Colcord last weeked, and they didn%26#39;t even have security for their on-line reservations page. But when I called and explained this, a very considerate young woman gave me the internet special over the phone.

Don%26#39;t let the web pages mislead you; the Amassador and the Colcord are both first-rate boutique hotels. I recommend them highly.

Hotels in Tulsa

The Ambassador is a really nice hotel, with a good restaurant (the Chalkboard) in the basement. I have stayed there and it is very nice and worth the price.

There are several B%26amp;B%26#39;s in Tulsa, which might be worth a stay. There are a couple within walking distance of Utica Square (open air high end shopping, many very nice restaurants) %26amp; Woodward Park (especially nice if you visit in April, when the azaleas will be in bloom), and a couple of others in the Brookside area (kind of a younger, more hip area).

I stayed at the Colcord on the internet special. While it is a nice hotel, with flat screen tv %26amp; all, it is overpriced for OKC. There are two very nice alternatives for much less within 2 blocks (Renaissance %26amp; Marriott). All are walking distance to OKC%26#39;s Bricktown area %26amp; the OKlahoma City bombing memorial--all worth the trip.

Bienvenidos a Oklahoma.

Either the Colcod has gone down or the prices vary. Last weekend, the Colcod was less than the Renaissance, same as the Sheraton, only $20 more than the Courtyard. Pays to look around.

I have stayed at the Ambassador and recommend it.

I have not stayed at the Colcord yet, but had dinner there Thursday and Friday at the Soleil Restaurant. It was so good Thursday, we went back the next night!

Actually we were attending the Big XII basketball tournament at the Ford Center, and the Soleil was both a convenient distance and took reservations. Worked out really well for my family.

Another suggestion for Oklahoma City is the newly opened historic Skirvin Hotel, also downtown in a convenient location.

Will you have a car while in Oklahoma?

Been away from here, sorry.

Thanks for all your advice. I have booked the Colcord in OKC (is that an acceptable abbreviation to locals, Murciano use to be a term of abuse in Spain,?). Still thinking about Tulsa.

Yes we will have a car. Flying in to Wichita KS on 14 September and flying out on the 19th. Colcord is booked for the Sunday and Monday nights. Nothing else booked at the moment. Thought about looking at one of the Route 66 museums west of OKC (?). Also, we like finding quiet, scenic backroads. We%26#39;ll have a 4xWD

Gracias!

The Ambassador is a beautiful hotel. The rooms are not huge but they are well designed and the service is excellent. It could be called a %26#39;boutique%26#39; hotel if you are familiar with the term. I booked about half the hotel for my wedding in 2001 and they handled everything without a hitch. I was at the Chalkboard restaurant in the basement only a few weeks ago and everything still looked great.

However, I do want to make sure I understand what you mean by being in the middle of things. There would not be a lot within walking distance from the Ambassador, because it is located downtown, and most things will close down evenings and weekends. However, if you will have a car or don%26#39;t mind calling for a taxi (they are unregulated and not available on the street) it is a VERY short ride to the places others have mentioned (Woodward Park, Utica Square). The Ambassador may provide shuttle services to some of these areas, I am not sure.

If you are looking for the mega-store, shopping mall, themed national chain restaurant %26#39;middle of things%26#39; then you want to stay at the Renaissance at 71st and Highway 169, in South Tulsa.

Personally, I would recommend staying at the Ambassador, renting a car (Tulsa is a very drivable city), and exploring the independent restaurants and shops of Cherry Street and Brookside, Utica Square, Woodward Park, and maybe take in an event at Cain%26#39;s Ballroom or the Tulsa Performing Arts Center.

Some yummy nearby small restaurants to consider:

Kilkenny%26#39;s - Irish pub; AliOli - Mediterranean inspired tapas; Tsunami - sushi; Ciao - Italian. If you want to try ';American'; restaurants, try Hideaway pizza or Bourbon Street Cafe - New Orleans style Cajun (both Oklahoma originals) or the upscale chain Charleston%26#39;s. For a special night, either the Chalkboard in the basement, or Fleming%26#39;s steakhouse in Utica Square.

Most grateful. This is very useful.

We will have a car, so no problems there.

You mentioned your love of quiet, scenic backroads. May I suggest that you spend one day visiting the Nature Conservancy%26#39;s Tall Grass Prairie Preserve (nature.org/wherewework/…tallgrass.html) and the Wooloroc Museum http://www.woolaroc.org/). Both are located in Osage County, northwest of Tulsa.

The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve is the largest protected tract of remaining tallgrass prairie in the world. The preserve contains 39,000 acres (158 km²) in what was the original tallgrass region of the Great Plains that stretched from Texas to Minnesota. The preserve supports more than 2,500 Bison and more than 400 plant species; many unique only to the tallgrass prairie. Several varieties of the tall grasses in the preserve grow to 10 feet (3 m) in height.

Woolaroc was established in 1925 as the 3,700 acre ranch retreat of oilman Frank Phillips. The complex contains a large, very nice museum with an outstanding collection of western art and artifacts, Native American material, one of the finest collections of Colt firearms in the world, and much more. Woolaroc also encompasses the Phillips%26#39; rustic lodge and barn, a wildlife preserve with Bison, elk, longhorn cattle and many other species of native and exotic wildlife, a nature trail and two living history areas.

Both of these will provide you with a quintessentially Oklahoma experience and the drive to them from either Tulsa or OKC (which is a totally acceptable abbreviation) should be quiet and pleasant. Enjoy!

That %26#39;s great. Just our cup of tea!. Will visit.

Good suggestions, BixB. But if you%26#39;re going to Bartlesville and the Tall Grass, be sure to stop by the only office tower ever designed by the great American artist, Frank Lloyd Wright. http://www.pricetower.org/

Price Tower is definitely worth a visit.