Hello all,

It is always a challenge when a group of friends (let's say, 8 people) comes into town for a football or basketball weekend. I am wondering if anyone has any creative ideas for where a group of people can spend the night(s) with the idea of enjoying either a unique pro-Cal environment or at least a unique and fun group environment. Please note that I am NOT asking for hotel recommendations unless there is something truly unique about the hotel or there is some sort of Cal connection that enhances the game-day experience...For example, I'm not looking for recommendations for the Claremont Hotel, the Durant Hotel, the Lafayette Park Hotel and Spa, etc. Those are all well known. The type of place I'm looking for would not necessarily need to be in Berkeley, but bonus points for being close to Haas or Memorial or, if not in Berkeley, then close to BART.

After thinking it over, the only create ideas I am aware of are:

1) The Berkeley Lab Guest House (but I am disappointed at how the prices don't seem like any kind of deal to me -- $160 per night)
2) The Faculty Club (again, not particularly inexpensive at around $200-$220 per night), and
3) Use Airbnb to rent a whole house.

Anyone have any creative ideas?

Has anyone stayed at the Berkeley Lab Guest House or the Faculty Club? Good/Bad/Indifferent experience? Yelp reviews are OK to good for the Berkeley Lab Guest House, and very poor for the Faculty Club (the hotel portion of it).

Thanks in advance.

Easton Hall on Ridge Rd - part of the theological complex on the hill. As an alumnus of two Ridge Rd. co-ops, I got a kick out of staying there two weeks ago after the Bonnie Raitt / James Taylor concert at AT&T. It was clean, simple and the common areas are vintage Berkeley. We paid $153 plus tax for a queen with private bath but rooms with shared bath were less and it includes parking. Walked down to Shattuck and Vine for breakfast. I'd stay again in a heartbeat.

We usually try to stay at the Faculty Club. Although it is a very poor hotel, we like the atmosphere, and the location is perfect for most Cal events. It's a great place to be on football game days. Probably not good for groups, though as rooms can be very hard to come by. We have also tried the Berkeley City Club which is a unique facility that is very charming and close to campus. We also like the Hotel Shattuck Plaza, which has lovely rooms and a nice bar and restaurant. It usually has lots of fans from the visiting team, and it is on the expensive side.

We've stayed at both the Faculty Club and Lawrence

Faculty Club is great for location and post game bonhomie but when the place clears out it feels like The Shining. Plus the rooms are primitive.

Lawrence has the opposite problem. It is isolated and feels like a Courtyard Marriott. The views however are spectacular

Interesting thread concept. Since I graduated in 1970, I have never stayed overnight in Berkeley.
I did spend a couple of Saturday nights washing and folding Athletic Department laundry when the
football team was on the road back in the '70s' not really the same. While it's not the same as
downtown or Telegraph Berkeley, I always thought that the Claremont Hotel would be my choice
except for USC games when it is awash in Trojans.

How about one of the many encampments around town? Many near overpasses, convenient to freeways and BART.

NO offense, but you have some of the best areas in the world to visit: wine country, Marin, the City, etc. Why bother with dumpy Berkeley?

u didn't want a hotel recommendation, but the Claremont Hotel is one of the best hotels in the bay area and California.

The building looks like it's from a different era (like the Del in San Diego or St Francis in SF), has an amazing view of the campus and the entire bay area, is truly a resort hotel with a great fitness club, pool, tennis, free classes such as yoga, etc and some good restaurants.

it's also a walk through the parking lot to a great restaurant and a great bakery, both of which are very 'berkeley' in their uniqueness

does the Claremont qualify as a unique Cal experience? Not sure, but besides staying in the on-campus places you've already listed, I think it's got as much connection to Cal as any hotel in the bay area, except perhaps the Durant Hotel (which isn't nearly as nice)

Looperbear;842860636 said:

---

How about one of the many encampments around town? Many near overpasses, convenient to freeways and BART.

---

Looperbear...LOL...you're just plain bad.......

Looperbear;842860636 said:

---

How about one of the many encampments around town? Many near overpasses, convenient to freeways and BART.

---

Hmm k

wifeisafurd;842860651 said:

---

NO offense, but you have some of the best areas in the world to visit: wine country, Marin, the City, etc. Why bother with dumpy Berkeley?

---

Well, he DID say that it doesn't need to be in Berkeley, but should have easy access to Berkeley, as the main part of the trip would be a football or basketball weekend.

Anybody ever stay in that B-and-B that's on the west side of Telegraph, across from Willard Middle School? The one across the street from that crazy old dude's used bike shop? I park near there on game days and have always wondered if it would "fit the bill" for something like this.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions for slightly different or unique places to stay when visiting Berkeley. Shout out to Hearst Mining (my favorite building on campus, BTW) for recommending something I didn't know existed.

I thought I'd compile the results and add one more I've unearthed (the Berkeley City Club Hotel):

[U]Creative/unique places to stay in Berkeley[/U]
Easton Hall on Ridge Road Guest House
Berkeley Lab Guest House
Berkeley City Club Hotel
Faculty Club Hotel (warning: rather poor Yelp hotel reviews, it may be better just to eat or get married there!)
Airbnb (to rent a house)
The Rose Garden Inn and other Berkelely Bed and Breakfasts (there are quite a few of them).

[U]More Traditional Kinda Pro-Cal Hotels[/U]
Claremont Hotel
Hotel Shattuck Plaza
Durant Hotel
Lafayette Park Hotel and Spa

[U]Other Ideas[/U]
Yosemite
Napa
Marin
San Francisco

Please be aware that you may find any of these places awash in Trojans. Reminder: It is far better to properly dispose of Trojans rather than attempt to wash them.

There's also the women's faculty club which is separate from THE faculty club

What I miss about living in Richmond, CA...

http://www.hotelmacrestaurant.com/

My little slice of heaven. I haven't been there in years...but if its the same...its worth the drive.

Minot..... just curious as I've always thought about going to the Hotel Mac but its a drive from Sonoma County especially if I don't have something to do in the East Bay... did you enjoy if for the ambiance, the food or the bar?? Just curious as the posted food review from KQED was meh.... I'm hoping they are wrong!
Gracias,,,,

petalumabear;842863208 said:

---

Minot..... just curious as I've always thought about going to the Hotel Mac but its a drive from Sonoma County especially if I don't have something to do in the East Bay... did you enjoy if for the ambiance, the food or the bar?? Just curious as the posted food review from KQED was meh.... I'm hoping they are wrong!
Gracias,,,,

---

Well when I went the food was pretty great. The deserts were the best I've ever had lol.. I would say its the food that makes it special. But the restaurant has a real Old Timey feel to it.

[video=youtube;1FDlcwU-uZs][/video]


:justin:Lindsay