What would be a good neighborhood and motel or hotel to stay in Oakland for one night while visiting friends in Alameda?

we are going to Alameda next week and we are staying at the Hampton Inn at the Oakland airport. (a Hilton hotel). Relatives who have stayed there before liked its location and the price was reasonable. Its also nice because parking and internet are free.

I have thought about staying at the Lake Merritt Hotel when I see the Christmas Revels next door. It's across from the lake with a pretty view. You can actually take a gondola ride on the lake.

http://www.lakemerritthotel.com/

The Claremont Hotel is a great place to stay. It is a beautiful historic hotel with great views of the bay and SF skyline.

The Waterfront Hotel at Jack London Square in Oakland is a great location also.

http://www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/sanf...bay/waterfront

Why not stay in Alameda? http://www.marinavillageinn.com

I'd stay in Alameda, too, if you can find an acceptable place. The only place in Oakland that I would "choose" to stay is the Claremont (a beautiful resort hotel), although Lake Merritt would be a nice neighborhood to stay in. Oakland airport hotels are NOT in a nice neighborhood -- okay if you need to be near the airport, but absolutely no reason to stay there otherwise.

The Claremont, although very nice, is quite a distance from Alameda--you might as well stay at a hotel on the Embarcadero in SF and take the ferry to Alameda for a visit. Jack London Square is a good location--so much so that a number of SF chefs are opening new restaurants there.

I agree with SAB on everything. The ferry to Alameda is maybe 20 minutes(passengers only). You will not need a car if your friends can meet you @ the ferry unless you plan other visits out of SF.

BTW~the ferry to Alameda leaves from The Ferry Building so you can take in Ferry Plaza and perhaps the Saturday Farmers' Market.

Check out Hotel Vitale which is within walking distance of the ferry in SF.

I agree with the other folks who posted, don't overlook the Jack London Square area there, closer to Alameda. Kincaids is a good restraunt right on the water.

A place that I never see mentioned but is worth keeping in mind is the San Leandro Marina Inn right on the water. It is maybe ten minutes to the Oakland Airport, they have a shuttle available. The room are clean, quiet and Horatio's next door serves excellent food.

Do you have to drive to your friend's house in Alameda? If so, then the excellent suggestion of staying in SF might not work for you.

Alameda itself would have a few good choices and the rates are better than in Oakland.

We stayed at the Marina Village Inn one year and it was adequate, not fancy, but right at the Marina. The train noises on the opposite shore in Oakland were far enough away not to be too noticeable.

That's why on the map below, I wouldn't choose anything on the Oakland side, like the Homewood Suites. Notice the train tracks runs right alongside the freeway.

http://maps.google.com/maps?client=f...ed=0CCkQtgMwAA

Don't expect too much of the hotels on Alameda, they're basic.

I'm intrigued by the couple of recommendations for Jack London Square. I go to Oakland 4 times a year for work and collegues have always warned me away from that area--they say bad hotels and restaurants, and isolated. Has that changed? I've never been there at all so maybe these collegues are full of hot air? I always stay at the covention center Marriott which is walking distance from where I need to be, but sometimes it's full, and I'd like to know about other acceptable options. I never have a car so the Claremont doesn't work for me.

BTW~I live in Oakland. Lake Merritt and Jack London Square would not be my choice of places to stay. Lake Merritt can be dicey at night and there is limited public transportation options(BART)which would involve walking. Jack London Square is just so very limited,imho.

I personally would not stay anywhere in Oakland or Alameda unless necessary. I used to have to stay there 1 or 2 nights every month or so. It was absolutely dreadful. There are some nice areas in Oakland (and some awful ones) but the only hotel in one of the nice areas is the Claremont. I've eaten in Jack London Sq lots of times, but staying there would be the best of several bad options IMO.

If your friends can pick you up at the ferry -- I'd definitely stay in SF and take the ferry. You can priceline in the Financial Dist/Embarcadero zone and be in a hotel likely right across the street from the Ferry bldg . . . .