Two fine midrange hotel options in Oakland are the Waterfront Plaza Hotel, 10 Washington St., Jack London Square (tel. 800/729-3638 or 510/836-3800; www.waterfrontplaza.com), and the Oakland Marriott City Center, 1001 Broadway (tel. 800/228-9290 or 510/451-4000; fax 510/835-3466; www.marriott.com). Most major motel chains also have locations (and budget prices) around town and near the airport. If you want to stay near the fabulous shopping and dining neighborhood of Oakland's Rockridge and pamper yourself with a great gym, outdoor pools, and lit tennis courts, your best hotel bet (though it's undoubtedly overpriced) is The Claremont Resort & Spa, 41 Tunnel Rd., Berkeley (tel. 800/551-7266 or 510/843-3000; www.claremontresort.com), a grand Victorian hotel (with modern rooms) that borders both Berkeley and Oakland. It ain't downtown, but it's just a quick drive to all the action, and it is one of the area's prettiest options.
