We are visiting our granddaughter and children in Berkeley and will stay at a hotel for 7 nights. We are trying to decide between staying at the Hotel Durant or the Berkeley City Club. We have gotten decent rates for both. Any suggestions?

Several years ago, we used several rooms at the Rose Garden Inn in Berkeley for out of town family gathering for a wedding. We thoroughly enjoyed this B&B. Check out www.rosegardeninn.com. I don't know how it fits into your budget, or desired location. Also, it has been about 5 years since we were there.
The buildings are beautiful old bay area style architecture, the breakfasts were very nice. At the time, they also had wonderful dinners, in fact we had the rehearsal dinner at that location. Hope this helps.

I like the Durant - but the area can be a little sketchy. Well, that's true for the entire area. The rooms at the Durant are small, but it has a nice atmosphere, and the bullet holes from the madman are still evident in the ceiling for a little bit of modern Bezerkeley history.

Durant is nice and refurbished a few years ago... great location to walk downtown... if you dare! ( Funky coffeehouses, that sort of thing.) Pick the closest on to her home... and be happy.

Hi, thanks, we did stay at the Rose Garden and were not thrilled. We were initially put in a small room w/o a closet even though we were going to stay 10 days. We complained and they moved us. We were going on a day trip and wanted to take some ice with us in the room ice bucket. The manager became enraged and told us to leave the hotel. We did and went to the Claremont. I cannot understand for the life of me why all these guidebooks recommend this place. Perhaps if you got rid of the manager/owner it might be a decent place to stay.

Has anyone stayed at the Berkeley City Club? You all are scaring me with this thing about being at the Durant because it is downtown. What does that mean?

Hi Diana, Well , in Berkeley you just never know what is going to happen! Here's my story: About 12 years sgo I was invited to attend a wedding there and I made a reservation for just one night. They were very nice, helpful with directions and the room was quaint. The hotel was perfect. We went to the wedding and reception (in beautiful Tilden park - go there if you can)and planned to return to the hotel to change clothes and then walk to a coffee house, maybe listen to some live music. Here's the kicker: Unbeknownst to us, it happened to be the 30th anniversary of the "People's Park Riots" and the town had gone crazy! Fires were set in trash cans, police cars were overturned and I believe one person was killed that night. When we got back, we were unable to return to our hotel because streets were blocked. It was dark and very confusing (looked like a war zone) and I was afraid to keep driving around in circles with all of the police sirens going, I was worried about getting lost. I explained to a nice officer that we were from out of town and asked for help getting back to the hotel parking lot. Needless to say, we didn't walk anywhere that night! Long story, sorry! The hotel is lovely! I would stay there again. Ask you granddaughter which place will be most convenient. I would stay there again, that date I took with me on that weekend is now my husband of 10 years!

Hi, Diana. I live not too far from the Durant. It's not downtown, but in the Southside neighborhood near the famous or infamous Telegraph Ave. Southside can be pretty funky, with homeless folks and the pierced people, as well as loads of students of course since it's right near campus. But if you've already been to the Rose Garden I guess you've seen the Telegraph Avenue scene and survived. It's definitely urban, but I don't think you need to be afraid of it. It's also only about 15 minutes walk from the Elmwood neighborhood, which is genteel yuppieville. Why don't you ask your daughter what she thinks?

Unfortunately Berkeley is short on good hotels in nice neighborhoods. If you want a more sanitized neighborhood, you could go back to the Claremont or stay at the hotel out at the Marina - I forget its name. There's also the French Hotel on north Shattuck in the "Gourmet Ghetto" but I have no idea what the rooms are like.

Wow! Too bad about the Rose Garden Inn.

The hotel at the Marina is the Radisson Marina Berkely, www.radisson.com.

I stayed there two years ago on a business trip. Nothing fancy as I recall. Just a no frills with all the basic comforts. dinning room was pretty good, as I recall.

Or maybe a recommendation from me ain't so good. Good luck, Diana.

Hi again thanks for all the input. Our children live in the hills of North Berkeley on Cedar. So it would be nice to be near them. Still deciding. We were told the French Hotel was a bit noisy. Anybody know? I am suprised nobody seems to know about the Berkeley City Club. One Guide Book said if it wasn't for the small rooms it could be considered a 3 star hotel.

Diana: have not stayed there, but friends on business trips to town have stayed at the Shattuck Hotel, which is quite close to campus--not sure about rooms, and if you have family in Berkeley I'm sure you will not be shocked to pass a panhandler or two when you are downtown.

The Marina hotel mentioned is convienent and the most "normal" suggestion if you need to be in Berkeley as it is not as old as some of the other and rooms are more standard sized--right near the bay so nice area as long as you have a car. There is also a Holiday Inn in Emeryville, which is almost part of Berkeley and still convienent if you have transportation. There are several brand new hotels in Emeryville.