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Getting to and From Oakland/Berkeley
If you frequently fly from SFO or Oakland Airport . . . or you're moving to the city, looking for temporary accommodations . . . or helping visiting friends get a deal on a hotel . . . you can use Kayak search and other tools to find rates and book.
BERKELEY & OAKLAND HOTELS
Because downtown Berkeley and Oakland don't have the number of hotels you'll find in San Francisco, prices are not always as competitive as in the city. The largest concentrations of hotels are in the Oakland Airport area and in Emeryville, on the border of Berkeley and Oakland.
Downtown Oakland
Downtown Oakland has seen increasing and interesting development, with the recent addition of some popular restaurants in the historic downtown area. During the day, the downtown area is vibrant with human traffic. At night, downtown Oakland is a bit too quiet and, in some areas, still a bit sketchy.
For anyone seeking a vibrant nightlife scene, San Francisco is a better bet. The Downtown Oakland area is, however, an easy walk from 12th Street BART station which can take you throughout the Bay Area.
Oakland Airport Area
The Oakland Airport area is about 10 miles from downtown Oakland and about 15 miles from Downtown Berkeley. It's convenient for access to the airport but lacks the character you'll find if you stay closer to either Berkeley or Oakland -- or in San Francisco. There are very few interesting amenities nearby. And if you're looking for a hotel walking distance to restaurants or BART, the Airport area is not your best bet.
If you have a car, you may find better rates closer to the airport. And the drive to the Berkeley and Oakland areas is about 20 minutes, without traffic. Between Oakland Airport and Oakland/Berkeley, there are several hotels along the water, adjacent to the freeway -- which can be a compromise between the two locations. The The Executive Inn Oakland is a good option if you're considering this location.
Jack London Square
Jack London Square (Oakland) is in a pretty location, facing San Francisco across the Bay. Like Downtown Oakland (just 12 blocks away), Jack London Square is a bit under-utilized and quiet at night but if you're into jazz, Yoshi's Jazz Club is just across the street from the square, and there are several bars and restaurants within walking distance.
There's a ferry terminal at Jack London Square, serving San Francisco. The closest BART stop is at 12th Street in Downtown Oakland (12 blocks).
Downtown Berkeley
The hotels in Downtown Berkeley are limited, so popular hotels like the Hotel Durant near UC Berkeley tend to get booked, especially when students and parents are visiting campus. You'll find several B&Bs in the area, which may be an option if you need to be near the campus.
Check the Berkeley & Oakland Bed and Breakfast Network for some options.
Emeryville
Emeryville is home to Pixar and has much new development, shops, and restaurants. If you have a car, Emeryville is not far from Berkeley and Oakland -- it's an easy drive that doesn't require freeways (although you can access Berkeley and Oakland quickly via freeway during non-rush-hour times).
Hotels in Emeryville include the Sheraton, Courtyard Marriott and Hilton -- all modern and relatively new by East Bay standards. It's also close to the waterfront, and minutes from I-80 which takes you across the Bay Bridge and into San Francisco.
FIND BEST HOTEL RATES
Kayak searches hundreds of hotels and travel services for deals. The links below will initiate a Kayak search.
Find a Hotel in Oakland, California - Compare Prices - Kayak
Find rates on Oakland hotels
Find a Hotel in Berkeley, California - Compare Prices - Kayak
Find rates on Berkeley hotels
Find a Hotel in Emeryville, California - Compare Prices - Kayak
Find rates on Emeryville hotels
Find a Hotel in San Francisco - Compare Prices - Kayak
Find rates on San Francisco hotels
FLYING FROM OAKLAND AIRPORT
Flying Southwest Airlines
You won't find Southwest flights through sites like Kayak. Check flights and airfares directly at the Southwest website.
Flying jetBlue and Virgin America
JetBlue and Virgin America offer some special amenities such as an MP3 library and pay-per-view movies (Virgin) or free wireless and DIRECTV (jetBlue). Both Virgin and jetBlue flights to and from the San Francisco Bay Area can be found using the Kayak search above.
Jet Blue flies out of San Francisco and Oakland airports.
- Jet Blue Website
- From Oakland, Jet Blue flies to: Long Beach, CA | Boston, MA | New York JFK | DC Dulles
- From SFO, Jet Blue flies to: Salt Lake City, UT | Austin, TX | Boston, MA | New York JFK
Virgin America began service out of San Francisco International Airport in 2007 -- and does not fly out of Oakland.
- Virgin America Website
- From SFO, Virgin flies to: Seattle, WA | Los Angeles, CA | San Diego, CA | Las Vegas, NV | New York JFK | Washington DC
Kayak for Flights
Click on the link and type in the name of your origin city to get flights and airfares to Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose.
Search Flights to Oakland - Compare Prices - Kayak
Kayak search of available flights to Oakland International Airport
Search Flights to San Francisco - Compare Prices - Kayak
Kayak search of available flights to San Francisco International Airport
Search Flights to San Jose - Compare Prices - Kayak
Kayak search of available flights to Mineta San Jose International Airport
Using TripAdvisor
Trip Advisor posts reviews submitted by travelers, on destinations, hotels, and attractions. The number of reviews can range from just one, to hundreds. It's a good way to get an overview of what other travelers are saying.
Ultimate Hotels
Ultimate Hotels reviews the top 50 boutique and luxury hotels in San Francisco. The site will help you define some of the popular hotels in the area.
Other Popular Travel Services
Three additional travel services not included in a Kayak search: