We have set aside a block of rooms at Executive Inn and Suites in Oakland, which is a very good value, convenient to the Oakland airport, and offers a free shuttle directly to our wedding venue. We would love it if as many people from out of town stayed at the same place as possible to maximize togetherness.
To make reservations, please call the hotel directly at 510-536-6633 before Friday, July 19, and mention group GR302TW (The “in honor of Lawhon & Gohlke wedding” group). Rates are $129 for rooms in the Executive Inn (the building that is connected to the pool and hot tub area) and $149 for rooms in the Best Western Plus Bayside (the former “Suites” building, which has been more recently remodeled), regardless of whether the rooms have one or two beds.
Rooms have free high speed internet, complimentary parking, free breakfast, and shuttles to and from the Oakland airport and mass transit. We really liked the hotel when we visited it, and the two of us plan to stay there the night before and the night of the wedding.
Otherwise, if you choose to book another hotel, we encourage you to find a deal on a site like hotels.com, priceline.com, hotwire.com, etc., or book a hotel with your flight.
The Bay Area can be an expensive place to visit. Expect to pay $150-250/night for a decent hotel and make sure you look at reviews online (at the above sites as well as perhaps at yelp.com).
For those not planning to stay in Oakland, many areas of San Francisco are quite lovely. Our initial research leads us to think the Union Square area might be a sweet spot: plenty of hotels, lots of restaurants, close access to transit (BART trains and MUNI buses) and cabs. We do recommend you avoid the “Tenderloin” in San Francisco — there are many better places you can stay.
(Side note: We keep mentioning transit since that’s how we usually get around, but it’ll be fine to rent a car or to drive here — we will have secure parking that will be serviced by a shuttle of some kind on the day of the wedding.)