Where to stay/things to do near SJC?
Oct 13, 2013, 7:02 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Canada
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Where to stay/things to do near SJC?
I am doing a mid-November MR to SJC. I see public transit is a no go so I will be renting a car.
Where to stay? The Sheraton SJC is a no go (middle of nowhere!). San Francisco is expensive, and I read in another forum about the Doubletree SJC for $75 (incl. breakfast) - a good deal. Any other recommendations?
I am also interested in driving to Sacramento to see an NBA game? But, its a 2 hour drive. What to see/do enroute? Also, where to buy cheap Kings tickets?
Where to stay? The Sheraton SJC is a no go (middle of nowhere!). San Francisco is expensive, and I read in another forum about the Doubletree SJC for $75 (incl. breakfast) - a good deal. Any other recommendations?
I am also interested in driving to Sacramento to see an NBA game? But, its a 2 hour drive. What to see/do enroute? Also, where to buy cheap Kings tickets?
Oct 13, 2013, 10:53 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: On the road, 24/7/365
Posts: 3,467
Personally, I'd try to avoid the rental car. Save the car money and consider staying in downtown Palo Alto or Mountain View...or even San Jose. All are served by Caltrain/light rail. Caltrain will get you to San Francisco.
(I don't know the logistics of getting there, but there is a light rail connection just locks from SJC. Taxi?)
If you do go with the car, Monterey isn't terribly far, though it's the wrong direction from...
Sacramento can be a really long drive at commute times - much more than two hours. And there isn't much to see/do in between. There's an amusement park in Vallejo (don't know much about this), Jelly Belly factory, UC Davis and surrounding area. You could swing by some wineries without too many additional miles.
Add: I'd avoid Santa Clara without a car. Some fine hotels, often at good prices, but NOTHING nearby other than an amusement park.
(I don't know the logistics of getting there, but there is a light rail connection just locks from SJC. Taxi?)
If you do go with the car, Monterey isn't terribly far, though it's the wrong direction from...
Sacramento can be a really long drive at commute times - much more than two hours. And there isn't much to see/do in between. There's an amusement park in Vallejo (don't know much about this), Jelly Belly factory, UC Davis and surrounding area. You could swing by some wineries without too many additional miles.
Add: I'd avoid Santa Clara without a car. Some fine hotels, often at good prices, but NOTHING nearby other than an amusement park.
Last edited by 365RoadWarrior; Oct 13, 2013 at 11:01 am
Oct 14, 2013, 8:34 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: On the road, 24/7/365
Posts: 3,467
What I should have mentioned is that Palo Alto and Mountain View have nice, walkable restaurants and shops in which to spend an evening, before/after hopping public transit to another interesting destination.
Oct 16, 2013, 2:06 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
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How much time is there between your arrival at SJC and your departure? Much of the time an MR means a quick overnight stay. For that I would generally recommend staying close to the airport and making simple plans-- like NOT driving 120 miles each way to Sac'to to see a ball game. But if you're turning your MR into something more resembling a weekender then it's reasonable to branch out while you're in town.
Oct 17, 2013, 12:42 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2000
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If you can book the Doubletree SJC for $75, grab it. I have stayed there many times before an early morning departure and it is a very nice hotel.
1) If you are interested, take a look at the Tech Museum -
http://www.thetech.org/
2) There are lots of wineries open for tasting within 30-45 min drive. Of course, be careful with the driving if you taste a lot.
3) Drive to Santa Cruz (45 minutes) and visit the beach and the Boardwalk or hang out downtown and have a good meal. Or head over to Felton (just before Santa Cruz) and visit Henry Cowell State Pk and see the giant redwoods.
1) If you are interested, take a look at the Tech Museum -
http://www.thetech.org/
2) There are lots of wineries open for tasting within 30-45 min drive. Of course, be careful with the driving if you taste a lot.
3) Drive to Santa Cruz (45 minutes) and visit the beach and the Boardwalk or hang out downtown and have a good meal. Or head over to Felton (just before Santa Cruz) and visit Henry Cowell State Pk and see the giant redwoods.
Oct 17, 2013, 2:18 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2002
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It's hard to say without knowing your likes and interests. Do you want to keep costs minimal and see SJ or do you want to make a trip out of the MR? You can actually get a decent hotel and spend a night up in Napa/Sonoma, then check out and go to your game, and stay near SJC before your flight. Or go south and hang out in Monterey/Carmel for a night.
If you've never been, check out Santana Row - the most "exciting" shopping/dining area advertised in SJ. Or outlet shopping at the Great Mall.
There are plenty of tickets on Stubhub.
If you've never been, check out Santana Row - the most "exciting" shopping/dining area advertised in SJ. Or outlet shopping at the Great Mall.
There are plenty of tickets on Stubhub.
Oct 18, 2013, 5:57 am
#8
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
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Santana Row is exciting in the same sense that reading the dictionary is exciting; it's not about having all the right words, it's more about putting them together properly.
If you could substitute hockey for basketball and the Sharks are in town, it would be lot easier to get to from the Doubletree.
If you could substitute hockey for basketball and the Sharks are in town, it would be lot easier to get to from the Doubletree.
Oct 18, 2013, 3:42 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2012
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There is no hockey game that weekend in San Jose.
by doing the game saturday night, you will then have all day sunday to explore.
with the BART strike happening...unsure how that affects CALtrain if you want to use it to go into SF.
Another option if you do the basketball game on Sat night is then you could drive up into Napa on Sunday, drive back through SF, then return to SJC at night.
Oct 18, 2013, 8:41 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: UA gold; WN A; PC plat; Marriott Gold
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personally, i would try to get a rental car (check hotwire, aaa.com/hertz, hertz's 14.99 prepaid weekend special http://www.hertz.com/rentacar/q-13480376/prepay-and-save-$14-99-weekend-special-special-offer).
you can get around via public transport. at SJC there is a free city bus (
http://vta.org/schedules/SC_10.html) that links SJC with the santa clara caltrain station, as well as the VTA light rail system.
you can get around via public transport. at SJC there is a free city bus (
http://vta.org/schedules/SC_10.html) that links SJC with the santa clara caltrain station, as well as the VTA light rail system.
Oct 19, 2013, 4:48 am
#11
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
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They have cut back on the free shuttle bus on weekends -- last time I tried it, it only ran once every 30 minutes, which really is annoying for such a short run that is still a bit too long to walk in either direction.
Oct 21, 2013, 11:53 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: SNA
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 239
Couple of inexpensive reco's to help keep your MR cost down 
In San Jose, the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is an interesting way to spend a couple hours, if you're into such things, and then you can get cheap eats at Falafel Drive In. I recommend a banana milk shake and falafel sandwich.
In San Jose, the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is an interesting way to spend a couple hours, if you're into such things, and then you can get cheap eats at Falafel Drive In. I recommend a banana milk shake and falafel sandwich.