It looks like we'll fly into SFO, arriving about 5:30 PM on a weeknight in October (which will seem like 8:30 PM to us coming from Miami).
The next day we want to take the Zephyr train up to Truckee. It leaves at 8:55 in the morning. So it seems it might be wise to get to Emeryville or near there for the night. How? And any ideas where we stay for the night -- nothing special -- just decent accomodations.

While I'm at it. We'll return to Emeryville by the train and want to go into San Francisco for a few days. How do we do that? Options?

And yes, I now realize I misspelled Emeryville in the title, but I can't change. My dad was Emory -- so I have a right to make the mistake. I thought it was named for him. LOL

Welcome to CA, Patrick! Emeryville is good Priceline territory.

From biddingfortravel.com, here's what you'd be likely to get:

4 Star
The Claremont Resort and Spa

2 ½ Star
Woodfin Suites Hotel-San Francisco Bay Bridge
Courtyard by Marriott Emeryville
Hilton Garden Inn (formerly Holiday Inn San Francisco Oakland B/Bridge
Four Points Sheraton San Francisco Bay Bridge
Doubletree Berkeley Marina (formerly Radisson)

2 Star
Extended StayAmerica Oakland-Emeryville

Any of the 2 1/2* would probably be OK. Check for current bid levels at BFT.

Regarding returning to SF, I think Amtrak provides a bus bridge into SF, or for a more dramatic entrance, you could make your way to the ferry and cross the Bay that way.

Keep us posted on your plans.

If you'd rather stay in San Francisco - Amtrak has a bus that will take you right to the Emeryville station

http://www.trainweb.org/amtrak/wc_emry.html#SFE

Betsy, interesting about Priceline. I had glanced at that and saw that Berkley is lumped in with Emeryville, but now looking at a map, I didn' realize how close the hotels for Berkley are -- particularly the only 2.5 star they list. I had already looked at the others on that list and find prices of $120, so Priceline might be an option if I could get something for half that -- not willing to gamble for a much more than that.

The transportation to there from SFO does seem a little involved. There is an Avis right next to the Amtrak station, so I thought about renting a car just for the one day. I haven't pursued that with discounts yet, except to find initially it would cost $145 for a compact! Ouch!

I really don't see any point in getting transportation into SF itself just to sleep and then get up early and still have to get transportation over to Emeryville in the morning. I think it makes much more sense to get near the Amtrak station on arrival.

If you change your mind and don't want to stay in Emeryville overnight, the connecting Amtrak bus to/from Emeryville is included in the ticket price (or Oakland Jack London square if it fits the schedule - here is another overnight idea for you!)

All you need to do is to reserve the train not from EMY, but from SFC - this is the train station on Embarcadero at the foot of Mission St, 1 or 2 blocks off Embarcadero BART.

If you fly into SFO look also if there is an Amtrak bus scheduled from the airport - they have pick-ups there, but not every bus.

Let me know if you need help with navigating Amtrak website, or you can call their 800 number, my experience is that they are helpful and knowlegeable.

By the way, don't forget about age discount - they may start from 62. I don't remember for sure.

It is so straightforward getting into San Francisco. And even though your body clocks will say 8:30 - you'll still be looking for a nice dinner.

Not sure if it is still the case - but the Amtrak bus used to be free if you showed a train ticket.

If it was me - I'd PL a hotel in Union Square East and take the bus (or even a taxi) across to Emeryville in the A.M..

But if you want to stay in Emeryville - I'd pick the Hilton Garden Inn. Many rooms have wonderful views of the Bay Bridge and San Francisco. It is right next to the water and there is a nice path if you want to take a short walk.

"Not sure if it is still the case - but the Amtrak bus used to be free if you showed a train ticket." - they now print an additional ticket to give to the bus driver, but the price is included in the train price.

As for hotel, I would get a room in the Embarcadero area, close to bus station. The bus ride itself is about 20'.

was posting the same time as FainaA - she knows about the fare for sure.

here is a link to the H. garden inn http://www.hiltongardeninn.com/en/gi...tyhocn=SFOBBGI

(I'd still stay in the city though )

was posting the same time as FainaA - -- TWICE!

Get back to work

When I took the Zephyr eastbound, I stayed between Mission & the Castro (Parker Guest House) in SF and caught a cab (about $40) to Emeryville; took about 20 minutes to half-an-hour, if I remember correctly. So it is do-able from SF to Emeryville, although perhaps having that extra evening in SF proper is irrelevant to you.

When I took the train in 2005 westbound, a bus waited for us in Emeryville (for Zephyr passengers at no extra cost)to go to various destinations in SF including in front of the Ferry Building. All Zephyr passengers going into the city seemed to be taking it.(Ferry stop was ~$10 cab ride to Mission/Castro.)

Faina, I think I've pretty well navigated the site -- and yes our senior fares are about $36 each -- what a bargain! I wouldn't even think of renting a car and driving to Truckee with those prices available.

But I didn't realize about the connecting bus to the Ferry Building in SF. I see the bus departs exactly an hour before the train departs from Emeryville -- or at 7:55 AM. That's still kind of rough for us (don't forget I have an Alzheimer's patient to get up, dressed, shaved, and ready to go in addition to myself -- mornings are a big ordeal for us, which is why we avoid morning flights now, too) But at least with it being an Amtrak bus and meeting up with the train, that might be a good idea. And that's great to know for coming back to SF, that we can go right to the Ferry building for "free".

janis, I was going to argue your point about staying in SF, but with this added detail of easy transport to the Amtrak station in Emeryville, I'm starting to agree -- and especially since the Emeryville hotels are no bargain either!

Yes, Patrick, I remember, but getting to Emeryville from SFO may be a pain too.

Are there East Bay shuttles? Do they run by reservation only, or regularly? I don't know the answers.

Checked Amtrak - unfortunately, the SFO pick-up is discontinued.

Another solution would be bus-train-bus combo, leaving San Francisco 9.45 am, arriving Truckee 3.35 pm, but this means one more stop (Sacramento) and 2.5 hrs on bus. The connecting bus in Sacramento is waiting for you there, just make sure you get on the right one. We use that going to South Tahoe.

One more thing: the station is listed as Ferry Building. It's on the right side, there is a pole with Amtrak schedule, and some benches by the water. There is an office too, across from Sindbad restaurant.

Meanwhile, I started playing with hotels. I often get Hyatt senior discounts at half price, but they are already gone for our date at the Hyatt Embarcadero (wouldn't that be wonderfully convenient both for coming from SFO and to get the bus in the morning?) But the LOWEST price there is $439 -- I assume over $500 with taxes. Ouch. Even the senior discount price at the Grand Hyatt is about $350 with taxes! So it looks like Priceline for a night there would be the alternative -- I haven't done a lot of other hotel searching. I'm wondering with those prices and discounts already gone more than 2 months out if there is something major going on in SF October 16.

Faina, I did see that bus/train/bus combination to Truckee and that is a possibility as it gives us an extra two hours in the morning. It kind of defeats the idea of the train up through the mountains instead of the intersate we've driven so many times, though!

But I'm also curious if you can book the Amtrak bus from Embarcadero to Emeryville station NOT in conjuction with the train? Couldn't we take BART from SFO to Embarcadero, walk the block or two and take the Amtrak bus from there over to Emeryville? I'm thinking in the evening on our arrival if we had a less expensive hotel near the train station that one near Embarcadero. I brought up schedules for that bus, but it doesn't have a "click" option to price it.

And what are you doing in Truckee?

This would be a possibility, and the last time I looked it was $8 each way adult, I thought of meeting somebody in Emeryville, but now the website would not allow it!

As weird as it gets... from SFC to BKY (Berkeley, 4 min away) the same price $8! And buttons to buy. $6.80 one senior one way.

I guess, they've blocked "bus only" option.

No, don't think of taking BART to Berkeley BART and train stations are far apart there. The only one is Richmond, please don't go there, not safe.

Patrick, when you decide whether or not you need that bus from SF to Emy, call the 800 number, maybe they sell tickets over the phone (no additional charge, mailed to your home address) but not on the website?

No,no. I was talking about taking BART from SFO to Embarcadero in SF. That's easy isn't it? Or does it require a change? I've never taken BART from SFO.

Suzie, Lee's brother and his wife have lived at Northstar at Tahoe/Truckee for years. His brother just passed away from cancer. We're going out to stay with Lee's sister-in-law for a few days. It's been a nightmare trying to book tickets as the airlines have cut flights and schedules have become impossible from Florida to Reno. This morning I found AA's new fall specials of $99 each way Miami to SFO non-stops -- and especially attractive since both directions depart around noon -- easy for us! So it's not only about $600 less total than anything we could find to Reno, but infinitely better schedules as well and we get some SF time. The train idea seemed like a bonus, and Barb won't have to drive to Reno to pick us up -- just down the road to Truckee.

Now I hate to spend most of that $600 savings on a single night in SF! We're coming back to SF after a few days at Tahoe, probably staying at the Columbus Motor Inn.

So maybe if I can keep Lee's internal clock going, we can go to bed early on arrival in SF, and when I get him up at 5 AM, he will "think" it is 8 AM, like at home?

SFO - BART is easy. Get off the plane, follow signs to AirTran - monorail to BART. AirTran is free.

BART is one line to San Francisco, any train goes through the city.

Well I'm very sorry for the reason you are visiting the area. It will be quite lovely. I hope you have a safe trip and I'm sure you will provide great comfort to Lee's SIL.

So lucky to live near Norhtstar.