Now what do I do?
Apr 3rd 2013 | 7:57 am
#46
Thread Starter
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 17,529
From: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Re: Now what do I do?
Extended Stay America hotels are all around California with kitchenettes in each room. They are not as fancy as Residence Inn or Marriot Suites and don't have a pool but the rooms are fairly large, clean, and pretty well maintained for between about $60-$120 per night depending on the location. Some are within a mile or so of a Bart station so you can normally take a short bus ride to Bart. If you go all the way down to Fremont (prices in the $60-$70 range), there are three within 3 miles of the Bart station. On the peninsula, there isn't Bart but Caltrain to San Francisco but the room prices are more expensive on that side of the bay (probably nearer to $120 per night) but Caltrain runs through cities such as Palo Alto, Los Altos, and others that you might want to visit. Generally if you book for a week, the discount is about $5 per day.
No matter which side of the bay you stay on, you can get to the other side by switching in San Francisco or other stops that have both systems. Amtrak can get you to Sacramento and down south but other than buses and ferries, there isn't many public transportation ways to get to Marin county or Napa. Getting up or down the coast highway will be a challenge without a car.
In San Jose, there is a light rail system as well as plenty of busses to get around. Many of the suites in San Jose are near the low end of the price range but are normally not near the light rail or Caltrans.
Fremont is actually a pretty nice city about the physical size of San Jose with 1/4th the population with the Mission San Jose district, the Niles district which was where the original westerns and Charlie Chaplin movies were made, and plenty of open space and hiking trails through the east foothills.
No matter which side of the bay you stay on, you can get to the other side by switching in San Francisco or other stops that have both systems. Amtrak can get you to Sacramento and down south but other than buses and ferries, there isn't many public transportation ways to get to Marin county or Napa. Getting up or down the coast highway will be a challenge without a car.
In San Jose, there is a light rail system as well as plenty of busses to get around. Many of the suites in San Jose are near the low end of the price range but are normally not near the light rail or Caltrans.
Fremont is actually a pretty nice city about the physical size of San Jose with 1/4th the population with the Mission San Jose district, the Niles district which was where the original westerns and Charlie Chaplin movies were made, and plenty of open space and hiking trails through the east foothills.
Apr 4th 2013 | 7:49 pm
#47
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 14,683
From: Bay Area, CA
Re: Now what do I do?
I hope you enjoy it!
Apr 5th 2013 | 4:23 am
#48
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,678
From: San Francisco Bay Area
Re: Now what do I do?
Last night I looked at prices for that chain and it appears that the weekly prices for the less expensive areas are in the $70-$80 per night range (about $10 higher than predicted earlier). I believe the reason for the difference is that that rates are seasonal and I stayed at them during the winter months where rates are probably lower.
Prices are confusing since weekend rates may be very low but weekday rates can be very high. In fact weekend rates in the less expensive areas could possibly be in the $60 range and even similar prices in some more expensive areas but skyrocket to the $90 or more during weekdays in the lest expensive areas and to the $120 or more in the more expensive areas. Although I previously stated that weekly rates save you about $5 per night, it appears that the savings are more in the $10-$30 range per night and depends on the location of hotel.
If you decide to use that web site, try to figure out what you want to do and try different combinations since their pricing is confusing.
Prices are confusing since weekend rates may be very low but weekday rates can be very high. In fact weekend rates in the less expensive areas could possibly be in the $60 range and even similar prices in some more expensive areas but skyrocket to the $90 or more during weekdays in the lest expensive areas and to the $120 or more in the more expensive areas. Although I previously stated that weekly rates save you about $5 per night, it appears that the savings are more in the $10-$30 range per night and depends on the location of hotel.
If you decide to use that web site, try to figure out what you want to do and try different combinations since their pricing is confusing.
Apr 5th 2013 | 4:29 am
#49
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 89,088
Re: Now what do I do?
Also ask if the hotel has AARP member rates.
Apr 5th 2013 | 7:10 am
#50
Thread Starter
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 17,529
From: North Norfolk and northern New York State
