BERKELEY INFORMATION

The City of Berkeley
The City of Berkeley is of great historical, academic, and architectural interest. It lies across the Bay from San Francisco, about 20-30 minutes by public transportation. The weather will be cool (10-15C; 50-59F) and there is a good chance of rain.

Conferences Venues
Bancroft Hotel: Conveniently located across Bancroft Avenue from the Department of Anthropology and the Hearst Museum of Anthropology.
Alumni House: For both Saturday and Sunday sessions.

 

CAMPUS MAPS

- download .pdf file of all maps

 

BERKELEY ACCOMODATION

Accommodations
There are numerous hotels and bed & breakfasts in Berkeley. Most of these have reduced prices for UC-related events. For instance the Bancroft Hotel charges UC guests $127 a night for a double room (same price for one or two people). The Faculty Club and the Women's Faculty Club on campus have slightly smaller rooms and lower rates. A selection of hotels on or near campus are listed below.

Arrangements for Students: We hope that students might be able to share rooms with Berkeley students. We will put out a call to ask those who are willing to accommodate out of town students in their rooms or apartments (Don't expect luxury!) Student participants who might wish to lodge with Berkeley students or other members of the community, please write directly to Nelson Graburn graburn@berkeley.edu and to tourism@berkeley.edu.

Some useful addresses
VERY AFFORDABLE
The Berkeley-Albany YMCA Hotel across from the post office in downtown Berkeley. It is a block away from BART (the train that goes to the SF Airport) and just a couple of blocks from campus. Accomodation at the YMCA will book up early, so you may find it difficult to obtain a reservation here. In early December the YMCA apologized, but said they believed to be booked through February.
www.baymca.org/dt/downtown-hotel.aspx
(510) 848-6800

MODERATE
The Downtown Berkeley Inn is located behind our main library and across the street from Berkeley High School. The Inn is also very close to campus and BART (the train that goes to SF Airport) and just a block away from our main street downtown. As of early December the Downtown Berkeley Inn did have rooms available - the best rate being $89.
www.downtownberkeleyinn.com/
(510) 843-4043

The French Hotel is located on Shattuck Avenue and is approximately a 20 minute walk from campus. The French Hotel is a small hotel in the midst of Berkeley's "Ghourmet Ghetto." Rooms have queen-size beds and are $105 per night. Be sure to book early and mention that you are a conference participant to secure the University price of $95 per night.
(510) 548-9930

A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE
The UC Berkeley Faculty Club is located right in the middle of campus, so you may need to book early to be assured a room. This is a very cool venue in the heart of campus - a dark old redwood building built in 1904 on the edge of Strawberry Creek.  As of December 1, 2010 they have about 5 rooms with a bath at $120 single occupancy, $130 double occupancy, and 3 rooms with a shared bath at $120 single occupancy, $130 double occupancy.  The rate includes tax and a continental breakfast.
www.berkeleyfacultyclub.com/hotel/
(510) 540-5678

The Women's Faculty Club is also a central-campus destination, but is a member's-only club and non-members cannot make reservations. However, the TSWG can make reservations on behalf of conference particpants. As of early December, the Women's Faculty Club still has rooms available. Contact the TSWG directly to request rooms at the Women's Faculty Club.
graburn@berkeley.edu (please state dates needed, single/double, and max. price.
For information about the Women's Faculty Club, please see:
www.womensfacultyclub.com
(510) 845-5084 or (510) 642-4175; Fax: (510) 204-9661

The Hotel Bancroft - This is the venue for our opening Banquet and it is located right across the street from the Anthropology Deptartment. Designed in 1928 by Walter T. Steilberg in the Arts and Crafts style, this National Landmark Hotel has one queen bed in each room, and complimentary continental breakfast, but no elevator, and none of the guest rooms are wheelchair accessible. The Hotel Bancroft offers a “UC Berkeley Rate” of  $129 per night.  The key words to use when booking the room are “UC Berkeley Rate.”  
www.bancrofthotel.com
(510) 549-1000

The Hotel Shattuck Plaza is right down town - an easy walk to BART and campus, making this one of the easiest accomadations to reach by public transportation. Built in 1910 by the family of Francis Kittredge Shattuck, this was Berkeley's first hotel. Following a multi-million dollar renovation, this has become Berkeley's newest boutique hotel. As of December 1, 2010, the hotel reports having a number of rooms availalbe for dates of the conference. Conference participants are entitled to a 17% rate discount from their best available rate. Book early to confirm the discounted rate. In order to get the discount by online reservation, go to the link below, enter your dates of stay, click "Book Now", click on "Corporate Rates", and enter the code: uofc10. Cancellation policy is 24 hours prior to arrival.
www.hotelshattuckplaza.com
(510) 845-7300

The Berkeley City Club is a private club for both men and women, and a meeting place for Berkeley's arts and culture community. Built by architect Julia Morgan in 1929, the "Little Castle" has been renovated and is an exciting destination hotel for architecture lovers. As of December 1, 2010 the Berkeley City Club reported having a number of rooms available. Ask the receptionist for the "UC Berkeley Rate" as participants in the Tourism Imaginaries Conference. The UC Berkeley Rates are $120 weekdays, and $145 weekends.
www.berkeleyhistorichotel.com/
reservations@berkeleycityclub.com
(510)848-7800

SAN FRANCISCO
Also, since our conference venue is so close to BART one could conceivably stay on Union Square or near Market Street in San Francisco and take BART over to the conference in the mornings (about 20 minutes ride + 10 minute walk).

 

BERKELEY TRANSPORTATION

Transportation from the Airport to Berkeley
When you arrive at San Francisco, there are a number of ways to Get to Berkeley as follows.

1.BART (this is our "Metro"). There is a BART station right in the Airport. Signs are everywhere. You can walk there from the International Terminal, or walk or ride a ?people carrier? from the domestic airport. You have to buy a ticket from a machine which takes both Cash and credit/debit Cards. The fare is about $7 but you might want to buy a $20 ticket if you are going round trip, or want to get to San Francisco during your stay. You buy a Ticket to BERKELEY (DOWNTOWN). If you get a direct train it will say : RICHMONT (daytime only). You can get a train to PITTSBURGH/BAY and it will direct you where to change (at BALBOA PARK or OAKLAND CITY CENTER for the Berkeley Richmond train. About 1 Hour. Walk or take a taxi when you get to Berkeley.
www.bart.gov
or use m.bart.gov from your mobile device for real-time train schedules
also useful: iBart app for iPhone

2. BAYPORTER...
This is a shuttle van which takes you directly from the Airport to your house or hotel in Berkeley. You have to call them once you are through customs and have got your baggage. 1-877-467-1800 They will tell you where to meet the shuttle and how long you will wait. BAYPORTER costs $37 to Berkeley and another $15 for a second person at the same address. It will take 40-65 minutes depending on the traffic. You may share the van with 5 or 6 other people going to Berkeley.
www.bayporter.com

3. TAXI.
There are taxis waiting on the road outside the baggage area. It will cost you $60-70 to get to Berkeley + a tip. But if you share (up to four people) it costs only $15 or $20 a person. It will take 35 to 60 minutes depending on traffic.

4. RENT-A-CAR.
If you are a couple or a family, and want to explore the Bay Area and Northern California before or after the Conference, you could rent a car at the airport. Make your reservation on line ahead of time. The cost of rental and petrol is much cheaper than in Europe (especially if your car insurance or credit card pays for the cost of insurance). You take the "people mover" (rail shuttle) upstairs at all terminals. It will take 10-15 minutes to get to the car rental locations.