Where to Stay in Northern CA
August 5, 2013 9:16 AM Subscribe
My son and I are heading out next week to California so he can visit UC-Berkeley and UC-Santa Cruz. What city is the best to pick a hotel in as a base point?
We're visiting the schools as part of a longer road trip that takes us from Denver to Orange County, then up the coast into Oregon. We have some places to stay lined up but I'm looking for suggestions for a city/place to stay while we're hitting UCSC and UC-Berkeley. I was thinking somewhere in San Jose but I'm open to better options.
We're visiting the schools as part of a longer road trip that takes us from Denver to Orange County, then up the coast into Oregon. We have some places to stay lined up but I'm looking for suggestions for a city/place to stay while we're hitting UCSC and UC-Berkeley. I was thinking somewhere in San Jose but I'm open to better options.
If you want to pick a single point between the two stay in San Francisco. Because then you get to stay in San Francisco. Then it is a great drive down the coast to Santa Cruz.
Don't stay in San Jose. It is not a compelling place.
posted by jeffamaphone at 9:29 AM on August 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
Don't stay in San Jose. It is not a compelling place.
posted by jeffamaphone at 9:29 AM on August 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
Not San Jose. Neither Berkeley (the city) nor Santa Cruz (ditto) are anything like San Jose, and if he goes to one of them, he will be spending far more time in those towns. Seconding the advice to visit each place overnight - yes, that's kind of a drag, but you won't get a decent feel for either place by visiting for a few hours and then decamping to San Jose. They're not that far apart, so sleep in Santa Cruz one night and then continue on to Berkeley for the second and then on to Oregon.
posted by rtha at 9:30 AM on August 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by rtha at 9:30 AM on August 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Absolutely stay in each town. They are not just miles apart, but worlds apart. Also, from San Jose to Santa Cruz is about 60-90 minuts down 17. San Jose to Berkeley is about 60-90 minutes up 580. And it's San Jose, which....meh.
If money is no object, stay at Chaminade in Santa Cruz. It's a lovely hotel. If money is an object, the Super 8 gets a good review and IIRC, it's walkable to the Boardwalk.
I'm not in love with any of the hotels in Berkeley. Again, if money is no object, you might want to check out the Claremont. There's a Holiday Inn Express and a Super 8 in Berekely. Berkeley is kind of dodgy, it just is. Unless you're on campus, then it's okay.
There's a Doubletree at the Berkeley Marina, and that would be MY preference. Also, Skates by the Bay is there, and I've always really liked that place. They were serving Starbucks coffee in 1982.
I'm willing to bet that USSC is the winner. But if it's a toss up between the two, either way, your kid wins.
My Dad is a Berkeley grad. FWIW
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:38 AM on August 5, 2013
If money is no object, stay at Chaminade in Santa Cruz. It's a lovely hotel. If money is an object, the Super 8 gets a good review and IIRC, it's walkable to the Boardwalk.
I'm not in love with any of the hotels in Berkeley. Again, if money is no object, you might want to check out the Claremont. There's a Holiday Inn Express and a Super 8 in Berekely. Berkeley is kind of dodgy, it just is. Unless you're on campus, then it's okay.
There's a Doubletree at the Berkeley Marina, and that would be MY preference. Also, Skates by the Bay is there, and I've always really liked that place. They were serving Starbucks coffee in 1982.
I'm willing to bet that USSC is the winner. But if it's a toss up between the two, either way, your kid wins.
My Dad is a Berkeley grad. FWIW
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:38 AM on August 5, 2013
I would definitely stay in each town a night, if possible, so you can get a feel for them. And if you are set on staying in the middle, stay in SF.
posted by radioamy at 9:46 AM on August 5, 2013
posted by radioamy at 9:46 AM on August 5, 2013
There's a Rodeway Inn on University Ave. in Berkeley that is possibly the cleanest hotel I have ever been to. (They're also really nice if you happen to lock yourself out of your room.) I used to live in Berkeley and honestly did not find it dodgy in general, but everyone has their own comfort levels. Every city has dodgy areas. Part of getting an education is learning how to deal with them.
posted by corey flood at 9:55 AM on August 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by corey flood at 9:55 AM on August 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
I echo the advice to stay a night in each place. They aren't that far apart, and very different cultures.
The Hotel Shattuck Plaza in Berkeley is very convenient (if not the cheapest option.) I haven't stayed there, but toured the place and saw guest rooms when we were considering hosting an event there. I find Berkeley one of the least dodgy cities in the Bay Area, and I live here.
posted by gingerbeer at 10:14 AM on August 5, 2013
The Hotel Shattuck Plaza in Berkeley is very convenient (if not the cheapest option.) I haven't stayed there, but toured the place and saw guest rooms when we were considering hosting an event there. I find Berkeley one of the least dodgy cities in the Bay Area, and I live here.
posted by gingerbeer at 10:14 AM on August 5, 2013
You haven't said what your criteria are (price, geographic convenience to both schools, a fun/scenic/exciting/college-y place, etc.) so it's hard to advise you. For geographic convenience I'd go with San Jose. I suspect it'd win in terms of price-per-hotel-quality over Santa Cruz or San Francisco, too (not sure about Berkeley).
posted by bac at 10:19 AM on August 5, 2013
posted by bac at 10:19 AM on August 5, 2013
Best answer: Stay a night in each most definitely. Even if you wanted to visit SF I'd tell you to stay in Berkeley, since it's much much cheaper, a little bit more sane, and a quick BART ride away. Do not under any circumstances stay in SJ, it's depressing and really not at all something he'll ever visit much.
My commute living and working in SF is actually longer than folks that work in SF and live by an East Bay BART station.
posted by kcm at 10:42 AM on August 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
My commute living and working in SF is actually longer than folks that work in SF and live by an East Bay BART station.
posted by kcm at 10:42 AM on August 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
FWIW, I went to Berkeley. My dad either stayed in San Francisco or at the Doubletree at the Marina when he came to visit. My mother stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on University usually, but did stay at the Travelodge once and it's pretty crappy. Supposedly the Rose Garden Inn on Telegraph is nice. I had a roommate whose parents stayed at the Best Western on University, which I think was also fine. If you're used to walking, you can walk from the Holiday Inn Express to campus. The Best Western is further and the marina further still (you could walk from the Best Western I think, but not the marina). Berkeley really isn't dodgy, but it's definitely not clean or tidy, which I think skews people's impressions.
posted by hoyland at 11:05 AM on August 5, 2013
posted by hoyland at 11:05 AM on August 5, 2013
Best answer: I think if you have time, stay in each town, as others have suggested. If you don't want to do that, I'd pick one town or the other and stay there and drive to the other to check out the school. There's not much point in staying in SF to check out Berkeley and Santa Cruz. Berkeley and Santa Cruz (as towns) have similar politics but they're different places. Berkeley is a lot more urban, while Santa Cruz is a redwood forest on the edge of an ocean. I can tell you which place I'd rather be, but you'll have to see both to places to decide. Neither is SF or San Jose, so staying in those places is a waste of your time and money.
posted by tylerkaraszewski at 11:20 AM on August 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by tylerkaraszewski at 11:20 AM on August 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
Just for fun, you might want to stay at the Faculty Club right on the Berkeley campus. Not fancy at all, but it's a historical landmark, super cozy clubby accommodations right on campus. My mom and I did that and I loved it.
posted by biscuits at 11:22 AM on August 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by biscuits at 11:22 AM on August 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
If money isn't a problem, stay at the Dream Inn in Santa Cruz. You'll be beside the ocean with an easy walk to downtown, rather than inland in Chaminade's more country-club environment.
posted by anadem at 12:43 PM on August 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by anadem at 12:43 PM on August 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
I am also a Berkeley grad, and recommend you spend a day at each campus rather than having to worry about getting back to your accommodations in a different city further away. My family usually stayed at the Best Western on University Avenue, which isn't quite walking-distance close to campus, but is cheaper than other closer options. If you want to go cheaper still, the Marriott in Richmond is also fine, and Richmond is just a 5-10 minute drive from Berkeley. These are both your standard, I just need a clean, comfortable place to sleep type hotels.
I've also stayed at the Waterfront Hotel in Oakland, which is in Jack London Square. It's a few BART stops or 15-20 minute drive away from Berkeley. They've got great beds, are right on the Marina, and are all in all a nicer experience than your standard Best Western/Holiday Inn/etc. Staying here won't really give you a better feel for Berkeley though.
I don't think it's worth it to stay in San Francisco, unless you plan on taking an extra day or two to explore the city itself. Otherwise, you're just needlessly paying extra to sleep in SF.
posted by yasaman at 1:37 PM on August 5, 2013
I've also stayed at the Waterfront Hotel in Oakland, which is in Jack London Square. It's a few BART stops or 15-20 minute drive away from Berkeley. They've got great beds, are right on the Marina, and are all in all a nicer experience than your standard Best Western/Holiday Inn/etc. Staying here won't really give you a better feel for Berkeley though.
I don't think it's worth it to stay in San Francisco, unless you plan on taking an extra day or two to explore the city itself. Otherwise, you're just needlessly paying extra to sleep in SF.
posted by yasaman at 1:37 PM on August 5, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks to everyone for advice. The majority say to split up the stay between the two locations, which I think we'll end up doing.
posted by jazon at 3:08 PM on August 5, 2013
posted by jazon at 3:08 PM on August 5, 2013
I went to Berkeley, and my husband went to Santa Cruz. After we moved in together we lived in between in Fremont, which is a fairly easy driving distance to both schools, but I strongly agree with all of the posters here that the atmosphere has nothing in common with either college town. Staying in both if you've got time sounds like a good plan.
The Bancroft Hotel in Berkeley is a block from campus and would give you a good feel for the southside neighborhood that a lot of undergrads live in. (Possibly including the noise -- they have a bar downstairs. Probably good to stay on a higher floor.)
In Santa Cruz you might consider looking for a bed and breakfast. There are plenty of hotels there but the touristy part of town near the boardwalk is so different from the wonderful little neighborhoods.
posted by gerstle at 9:57 PM on August 5, 2013
The Bancroft Hotel in Berkeley is a block from campus and would give you a good feel for the southside neighborhood that a lot of undergrads live in. (Possibly including the noise -- they have a bar downstairs. Probably good to stay on a higher floor.)
In Santa Cruz you might consider looking for a bed and breakfast. There are plenty of hotels there but the touristy part of town near the boardwalk is so different from the wonderful little neighborhoods.
posted by gerstle at 9:57 PM on August 5, 2013
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posted by brainmouse at 9:21 AM on August 5, 2013 [8 favorites]