Looking for housing, share costs during BADCamp

Ali Torkzadeh's picture
public
Ali Torkzadeh - Tue, 2008-09-30 15:35

Hello, I am flying in from LA into Oakland to attend Badcamp and looking for housing offers, or share hotel room, or anything to cut down costs. I think best to rent car at airport (although I am sure it will be expensive to park it in Berkley). Any advice or offers to share would be appreciated.


You may not need a car

aasarava@drupal.org's picture
aasarava@drupal.org - Tue, 2008-09-30 16:09

Ali, you can save some cash if you don't get a car. OAK airport has a shuttle bus ($3 i think) that'll take you to the BART station.

You can take BART to Downtown Berkeley for a few bucks. The Downtown Berkeley stop is several blocks from the UC Berkeley campus -- not too far to haul a backpack or pull a rollerbag, but a little far for lugging a suitcase.

Depending on what you plan on doing aside from BADCamp, BART can take you into San Francisco for about $4 each way.


options in Berkeley

dbershad - Tue, 2008-09-30 22:24

Ali-
I lived in Berkeley for 5 years and every time family visited they would stay at Grandma's Rose Garden Inn. It's located on Telegraph Ave only about a 15 minute walk to campus. Im not sure what the rates are but you might want to look into it.
Deanna

Suggestions for lodging?

Ali Torkzadeh's picture
Ali Torkzadeh - Tue, 2008-09-30 20:35

Hi asssarava, thanks for the tip. I prefer to take public transportation when its possible. (For LA Camp, it was a struggle; the bus drivers at Union Station didn't know where the convention center was 4 miles away).

Any suggestion on lodging? I looked at this place http://www.beausky.com/berkeley_hotel_rooms.html thinking it might be cheap, but still $119 to $169 range the website says. Do you know of any less expensive options, like stay further out and then walk or take bus?

View Larger Map


Hostel

tbartels - Tue, 2008-09-30 21:43

I have stayed at a few different Hostels in SF, the prices are usually about half of local hotels as long as you don't mind the shared facilities.

check out: http://greentortoise.com/san-francisco-hostel/index.php

Downtown Berkeley Hostel

rocket777's picture
rocket777 - Tue, 2008-09-30 22:18

Downtown berkeley also has a hostel run by YMCA.
This is accessible via Bart stop at Downtown Berkeley and you can walk to the University campus.
Here's the link
http://www.baymca.org/dt/downtown-hotel.aspx

I have stayed here before.


$45-$60 at YMCA sounds

Ali Torkzadeh's picture
Ali Torkzadeh - Tue, 2008-09-30 23:32

$45-$60 at YMCA sounds great. Thank you. I wrote to them. Is is safe?


The YMCA -- It's closed down

Ali Torkzadeh's picture
Ali Torkzadeh - Tue, 2008-09-30 23:43

The YMCA -- It's closed down until Feb 09.


Sorry to hear its closed

rocket777's picture
rocket777 - Wed, 2008-10-01 05:05

For future reference.
Yes, its safe.
Many foreign students here in the area for a semester's worth of ESL classes stay there.
Berkeley in general is safe, especially the downtown area and the area around campus.

You should also check options on University ave, there are a couple of motels there, its a bit of a walk to campus, though.


Berkeley crime map

Amazon's picture
Amazon - Wed, 2008-10-01 05:33