Can anyone recommend a good hotel in the Walnut Creek area? Most of the reviews on tripadvisor.com aren't very good for the major hotels (Holiday Inn, Marriot), and we need something for the night before surgery. From what I've seen, the Concord Hilton and the Renaissance are the best...but I'd love to hear from anyone with specific knowledge. Thanks.

Well, very nearby Walnut Creek is Lafayette (like one exit)
and the Lafayette Park Hotel is very, very nice. If you are going to Kaiser or John Muir I feel it would be pretty easy.
http://www.lafayetteparkhotel.com

Best to you !
R5

I agree that the Lafayette Park Hotel is an excellent choice, and it will be easy to get to either hospital from there.

My parents live in Walnut Creek. As you have noticed, there isn't a lot offered for lodging there. When they have guests that either prefer to stay at hotels, or more guests than they can handle, they always have them stay at the Marriot. This summer when I was down there, my mom actually pointed out where it was since she had just had friends that stayed there. She went it to their rooms and said it was nice.

Which hospital are you headed to? John Muir I am assumming? If so, this hotel is very easy to get to JM from.

I would not opt for the Concord hotels. While Concord is adjacent, the traffic between where the hotels are and the hospital is heavy, and not what I would suggest for a visitor.

The Lafayette Park Hotel, as mentioned already, is beautiful and very easy to get to from Walnut Creek. I have not stayed there since my parents are so close, so can't comment except for the lobby and restaurant. But the location is good.

For work I stayed at the Renaissance Club Sport. I thought it was great. Nice gym and close to the BART.

I would stay there again.

The Marriott is a wonderful place. We stayed there a couple of years ago, and would stay there again. They also have a complimentary shuttle service available for BART and for places in a certain radius.

Thanks for the suggestions. The Lafayette Park seems just what I was looking for. Recent reports on the Marriott aren't too good, which is a shame as I like that chain.