Patrick, I think you're right about spending the night in Emeryville. We were visiting our daughter in Berkeley, and were quite happy with staying in Emeryville. It's a new-ish development with upscale shops, and not really full of character, but it's perfectly fine.

Plus, we had a water view from the Courtyard Marriott, and it was actually quite nice.

Sorry to hear about Lee's brother. Hopefully, you can enjoy Lake Tahoe while you're there.

Patrick, Berkeley is easily accessed from Emeryville. Maybe the hotel would offer a free shuttle. If you have time for dinner, there are some great little ethnic restaurants in Berkeley.

One in particular where we ate had great Indian cuisine. Can't remember its name, but could get it for you if you're interested. Also, an amazing pizza place in Berkeley, where they make just one pizza flavor per day, and people line up to get it. Now, that's a smart business plan IMHO! Another place had great savory crepes. Lots of diversity in Berkeley.

Peace Out, thanks. Like I mentioned above Priceline will probably be the option if we decide to stay on the East Bay. All four Priceline options seem great. The three in Emeryville are a little more convenient and ALL seem very nice, or the one in Berkley would be fine too -- just a tiny bit more inconvenient. Two of the Emeryville hotels have beautiful settings on the water -- not that it makes much difference for just one night and an early morning departure.

Thanks, Peace Out for the suggestion, but I am NOT looking for restaurants in the area at all. That's simply not an issue in this case.

Hi Patrick- Yes, it's a good idea to be prepared for all weather possibilities on your Truckee leg. San Francisco usually has great weather in October.

I don't know if you're interested in staying a night or two in Squaw Valley, but wanted to recommend a place we stayed last summer, the Squaw Valley Lodge.

It's a very nice condo/hotel complex, at the base of Squaw Valley ski area. There's a village area right there, with restaurants and shops, and the gondola is right there, too. You can easily walk everywhere. If you have a car, they have a nice parking garage included in their price.

You can go to the top of the mountain on the gondola, walk around, get a snack or a drink. I don't recommend the restaurant/gondola package, though, as the restaurant didn't look that special for the price.

If you're interested, we got a very good price through Squaw Valley Central Reservations, 1 800 545 4350, working with Sue.

Just thought I'd mention it in case you're interested.

Since we are staying with Lee's sister-in-law who is now all alone in their huge home in Northstar -- no, there's no reason we'd spend a night at Squaw. Yes, that's a great place. We've been over there for lunch, and have always wanted to go to Plumpjack for dinner but never have.

Patrick, I don't know if this helps, but the Woodfin is right at the Emeryville station so you could stroll over there in minutes. If you're not planning on going out on the town it's also a parking lot away from the Borders bookstore and the funny Emeryville food court for cheap food, which could occupy you for the the few hours prior to bedtime.

The Four Points Sheraton and the Courtyard are the next closest. Both are across the street from the Bay Street shopping area, though on different sides. It's a quick stroll up to the train station from either, but if your traveling companion needs help then they may be slightly too far for easy walking.

Thanks, Peg. I've looked at a map, but was a little unclear if the train tracks themselves caused a problem walking to the station from some of those places. My partner has NO problem walking -- and we'd prefer walking to waiting for and then loading onto and off a bus -- easier for us. So that is good information. Is the Hilton Garden Inn (forerly Holiday Inn, I think) also walking distance?

Priceline seems to do a total of 5 hotels in the 2.5 star category for Berkeley/Emeryville which they lump together:

Woodfin
Hilton Garden Inn
Courtyard
Four Points

and the Doubletree Marina Berkeley which is a little further away.

I'm thinking any would be good. Right now all are $120 or above a night, but looking at Bidding for Travel, whichever I get should be about $60 to $65, so this may be a definite Priceline bid for me.

Meanwhile, I think I'll pick one of the first four that has the best rate and make a cancellable reservation just in case.

Patrick, I've read rave reviews of Google Earth, if you know how to use it, maybe it's possible to look up if you can walk? Just a (silly maybe?) suggestion.

I think there is a wire fence along the railway, but also a bridge-type overpass over the rails, but can't be sure.

I'm relying on PegS's comment that you can walk --at least from the other two. Meanwhile I booked a room at Four Points for $120 senior rate. The other were all at least $169 discounted. But I think I'll still bid Priceline when the time gets closer. I might still bid for Embarcadero area first, but I'm not holding my breath getting anything at a good price there even on Priceline, and frankly I think I'd just as soon have that extra hour in the morning by already being in Emeryville.

I did call Amtrak and she told me that yes, I can book the bus from Embarcadero to Emeryville the night before our train reservation included for free, so I think if we do that, we'll take BART from SFO to Embarcadero -- walk the couple blocks and then take the bus over to Amtrak in the evening for our stay at Four Points or wherever.

And funny you mention Google Earth. I was trying to do something with that the other day. I've downloaded it and used it before, but now I couldn't seem to find out to actually use it. It seemed to keep telling me about "buying membership" or something.

Patrick, look what I've found!!

At the bottom there is an overpass mentioned

http://www.dot.ca.gov/rail/go/amtrak...ille/index.cfm

Had no idea this website existed. Hail to Google :))

OK. But I'm not sure what that means. Those are driving instructions, right? I've seen lots of overpasses from interstate highways that I wouldn't consider walking. Or do you think overpass to the market means a walking overpass?

Thank you, editors for getting this thread back on track. And thanks for all the good advice here.

To summarize, I have Four Points Emeryville booked at senior rate of $120 but will probably bid later on Priceline. We will probably take BART from SFO to Embarcadero for $10.70, walk the two blocks to get the bus which is free and let it take us to Emeryville Amtrack in the evening where we'll either walk (or take a taxi if need be) to our hopefully near by hotel. Sounds like a plan!

Sounds like a plan. Have fun on your trip.

The Embarcadero has nice little food shops, you know. Pricey, though. It's a good place to sit by the water and take a break.

Do you mean the Ferry Bldg? Yes, I know. Sitting at one of the oyster bars having a beer and fresh oysters (or a crab salad) is one of life's pleasures.

Hello Patrick, I am so glad you got this all planned out so well and your plan sounds perfect! Wish we were at the Ferry Bldg. as PeaceOut mentioned. Weather wise it would be a perfect day for it!

Yes, the Ferry Building. I forgot that the Embarcadero is a much larger area. Wish I was there now!

NEARBY POINTS OF INTEREST
Emeryville Public Market (across tracks from station via overpass) shops and markets.

Yes, walking overpass.

Bringing this back up because I haven't checked it in awhile and just thought of it. Glad you've booked your room, Patrick.

I found this picture of what I think they refer to when they say "overpass." I've never been on it, but they MUST have an elevator, you'd think. This little bridge is the "overpass" that goes over the tracks to the station:
http://www.the4cs.com/~corin/photos/...6090907010.jpg

This is Amtrak parking lot I believe, so in this picture your back would be to the station. The building with the blue roof in the left side of the picture is the Woodfin hotel, and the low brick-colored structure in front of you where the palm trees are is the Borders bookstore.

Thanks Peg. I called the Four Points where I tentatively booked and they said that it is an easy walk from the station as well. They didn't mention that overpass, but from the map I looked at, it probably works for it too. And surely it has an elevator at both ends!

If I bid Priceline for the area and end up with the Doubletree Berkeley (which seems often to be the case judging from Bidding for Travel) then I'd have to add in the cost and inconvenience of a taxi both on arrival at the Amtrak station via the bus and again back to the station in the morning.

OK, I went to visit my friend in Antioch, bus to Emeryville.

In San Francisco, the bus came 10 minutes earlier, so everybody had enough time to settle in. The bus stop is only a pole with the Amtrak schedule on it, it's on Embarcadero Blvd, a few yards away from the office.

Patrick, do you need more details on the SFC stop?

The bus took us to Emeryville station, to board the train you need to go through the waiting area, no need to walk around like some passengers did :)

Now, the overpass. Go through the waiting hall, and to your right. It looks like 2 jail towers with a barbed wire overpass :)) Yes, both sides have elevators, I walked over to see it for you, both worked, people were using them.

The other side is by the Borders bookstore.

Thanks, Faina. Looks like we'll be taking the bus over the night before our train. We'll take BART from SFO to Embarcadero and then catch the bus to Emeryville. I guess I'll find the stop -- just south of the Ferry Building along the Embarcadero? Is it on the water side or the other side of the Embarcadero?

Dear Patrick:

Faina is correct: just a pole with the schedule. We have done the Amtrak/Emeryville/SF deal from Sacto several times. Caught the bus at Market Street, right across from Powell St. turn table and also at the Embarcadero. Just to the S. of the Ferry Bldg, same side.

Several other stops in the city.

Good luck,

MY

The bus stop is on the water side of Embarcadero, approximately between Market and Mission. If you see Sinbad's restaurant sign, you are in the right place. There are benches to wait for the bus.

All buses stop there. The office may still be opened, if you need anything, it's right across the restaurant entrance, almost on the water.

Michelle, do all Amtrak buses stop on Market St now? I remember, there was a schedule, some stop on Market, some go to Pier 39, is it different now?

Faina:

I don't know about now. Several years back I thought it stopped at all the stops, each time. Caltrain station, Market, Embarcadero, Hyatt, Pier 39? Maybe it has changed?

MY

As everything and everybody are quiet I took the liberty to post a GTG, please reply to this thread:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35156610

Neo, I highly recommend the Woodfin, it is only about 3-4 years old and right across the parking lot from the Amtrack Station.

You can take a cab from the Ashby Bart Station in Berkeley.

thereyet

The Woodfin would be my first choice but not at $200 a night plus tax just for a short sleep and early departure. $90 savings for the Four Points is significant.

Let me ask again.

I see that the West Oakland BART station is only a little over 3 miles from the Four Points in Emeryville, and Mapquest says 8 minutes. Does it make more sense to just take BART from SFO to West Oakland, then a taxi, than to take BART from SFO to Embarcadero, then the Amtrak Bus to Emeryville?

Patrick, you don't want to be at this station in the evening. Not safe. And I doubt there will be any taxis in that area.

OK, I just assumed there were always taxis outside BART stations. I'll go back to plan A.

Oh Patrick, I am glad you are listening to Faina as I so agree that you do not want to be at the West Oakland BART station.

L'Italy, we have to take him on a field trip :))

Now you guys have me all excited. The West Oakland BART station could be the most exciting part of the trip from the sounds of it!

Yep. We all love this station. Through BART windows.

Or do you mean ... barred windows!!

SFO to Ashby Bart station in Berkeley.

1.5 miles, not a "bad" neighborhood, almost always a taxi available. :)

http://maps.google.com/maps?client=f...=en&tab=wl

thereyet

Sorry that link didn't work.

try this,

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sadd...11055&z=13

Hmmm. Although I see that does take a BART transfer along the way, if I'm reading it right.