BDI International Conference, November 6-8, 2015

Transcription

1 BDI International Conference, November 6-8, 2015 Co-hosted with the Institute for South Asia Studies and the Subir & Malini Chowdhury Center for Bangladesh Studies, University of California, Berkeley Information on Airport, Hotel and Local Transportation in Berkeley, CA Conference Location: The Clark Kerr Campus (Conference Center) is located south of the main UC Berkeley Campus. Clark Kerr Campus - UC Berkeley 2601 Warring St, Berkeley, CA Phone: (510) (8:00am 5:00pm) Nearest Train Station: Downtown Berkeley BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) Station, Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA. BART is basically a subway train system of the San Francisco Bay Area. The conference venue is about 1.5 miles by walk (25 minutes) and 1.5 miles by driving/taxi (10 minutes). One of the recommended hotels (Hotel Shattuck Plaza) is just above the BART station. Nearest Airports: There are three major airports in the San Francisco Bay area. These are SFO (San Francisco International Airport), OAK (Oakland International Airport), and SJC (San Jose International Airport). Participants from USA should choose between SFO and OAK based on the cost of flight. The ride from any of these two airports to a hotel will be equally convenient except that OAK is closer to Berkeley. Participants arriving from Bangladesh have only one choice for airports, which is SFO. SFO (San Francisco International Airport): 25 miles (40 minutes driving if no traffic) Car: You can rent a car from the airport. Taxi: Costs about $75-$90 depending on traffic condition, metered. Door-to-Door Van: Basically shared taxi, costs approximately $38 for one person and $10 extra for each additional person. You can make online reservations. When you have your baggage and are ready for Ground Transportation pick-up at the airport, please call BayPorter Express at any of the phone numbers listed below to confirm your seat(s) on the next shuttle. BayPorter will board passengers every hour on the hour from 8am to 10pm daily. You will be directed to the nearest boarding area around the airport. They will drop you at your hotel door which makes it convenient. For details visit: or call BayPorter Express Airport Shuttle Service at (415) , (510) or (877) Train: You can take the BART (train) right from inside the airport to Downtown Berkeley BART Station, Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley. Depending on the airport terminal where you arrive, you might need to take a short airport shuttle (monorail, light-train) ride to the SFO BART station. To reach your hotel, you will take the Pittsburg/Bay Point train (Yellow Line); transfer at the MacArthur station; take the Richmond train (Red Line); and get off the train at the Downtown Berkeley station or Berkeley North station depending on which hotel you are staying in. It will cost $9.25 for a BART trip from SFO to Downtown Berkeley station and $9.30 for a trip from SFO to Berkeley North. You can then walk to the hotel or take a taxi (cost about $10). For BART fare and schedule, please visit:

2 Rides from Volunteers: Our Bay Area local volunteers may be able to give rides from the airports depending on the time of the day. Almost all of these volunteers are highly successful in their own professions and many have PhDs. We are not making any firm commitment that we can guarantee you a ride, however, it might be possible for us to arrange a ride for you depending on your time of arrival. Please contact Sukomal_Modak@yahoo.com for more details. Among all the methods described above, the Door-to-Door Van service costs reasonably a low amount and is very convenient. However, if you are planning to stay at Hotel Shattuck Plaza, you can travel by BART conveniently. OAK (Oakland International Airport) 16 miles (26 minutes driving if no traffic) Car: You can rent a car from the airport. Taxi: Costs about $50-$60 depending on traffic condition, metered. Door-to-Door Van: Basically shared taxi, costs approximately $29 for one person and $10 extra for each additional person. You can make online reservations. When you have your baggage and are ready for Ground Transportation pick-up at the airport, please call BayPorter Express at any of the phone numbers listed below to confirm your seat(s) on the next shuttle. BayPorter will board passengers every hour on the hour from 8am to 10pm daily. You will be directed to the nearest boarding area around the airport. They will drop you at your hotel door which makes it convenient. For details visit: or call BayPorter Express Airport Shuttle Service at (415) , (510) or (877) Train: You can take a short airport shuttle (monorail, light-train) ride on Air Bart to Coliseum station. Then you will take the BART (train) to Downtown Berkeley BART Station, Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley. To reach your hotel, you will take the Richmond train (Orange Line) and get off the train at the Downtown Berkeley station or Berkeley North station depending on which hotel you are staying in. It will cost $2.50 for a BART trip from Coliseum to Downtown Berkeley station and $2.65 for a trip from Coliseum to Berkeley North. You can then walk to the hotel or take a taxi (cost about $10). For BART fare and schedule, please visit: Rides from Volunteers: Our Bay Area local volunteers may be able to give rides from the airports depending on the time of the day. Almost all of these volunteers are highly successful in their own professions and many have PhDs. We are not making any firm commitment that we can guarantee you a ride, however, it might be possible for us to arrange a ride for you depending on your time of arrival. Please contact Sukomal_Modak@yahoo.com for more details. Among all the methods described above, the Door-to-Door Van service costs reasonably a low amount and is very convenient. However, if you are planning to stay at Hotel Shattuck Plaza, you can travel by BART conveniently.

3 SJC (San Jose International Airport, San Jose, CA) 50 miles (60 minutes driving if no traffic) Car: You can rent a car from the airport. Taxi: Will cost more than $125 (estimated). Door-to-Door Van: Not available. Train: Not available. Rides from Volunteers: Not available. This airport is not really recommended. This can be a choice for those who would like to stay with friends and/or relatives in San Jose or vicinity. Hotel Information: Among the hotels listed below, the Hotel Shattuck Plaza is the best one. It is close to UCB campus, close to the BART station, and right at the downtown. However, it is expensive as well. The other expensive options are Hotel Durant, Bancroft Hotel, and DoubleTree by Hilton at Berkeley Marina. Among the reasonable and inexpensive choices are La Quinta Inn Berkeley and Golden Bear Inn. BDI will reserve a few rooms at Golden Bear Inn which can be shared (on payment) by the participants at low cost. If you are interested in sharing rooms at Golden Bear Inn, please contact Dr. Sukomal Modak at Sukomal_Modak@yahoo.com. With the help of the local community, BDI will arrange rides to and from the conference venue to the following hotels (morning & evening): Hotel Shattuck Plaza, La Quinta Inn Berkeley and Golden Bear Inn. Hotel Shattuck Plaza (Should be the first choice if cost is no bar) 2086 Allston Way (at the intersection of Shattuck Ave and Allston Way) Berkeley, CA This hotel is located at downtown Berkeley. This is near the BART station, bus station, and at easy access to airport by public transport. Many different kinds of dinning places are nearby. This is on the west side border of UCB campus. We will volunteer to provide rides to and from the conference venue. Tel: (510) Toll Free: (866) Web: Conference Rate (subject to room availability): Participants will receive the UC Berkeley discount ($174/night) if they mention that they are part of the ISAS UC Berkeley Conference. Not many rooms are available for Nov 7 th so the discount may not be available. Please ask for the discount anyway when making your reservation. Regular Rate: $ per night, $ with AAA discount, $ with advanced purchase. Applicable taxes are additional and not included in these rates.

4 Cancel Policy: 24 hours prior to arrival, no cancellation with advanced purchase Star Rating: 4* (This is internet based rating.) Distance from Clark Kerr Campus: 1.5 miles by walk (25 minutes), 1.5 miles by driving/taxi (5 minutes) Distance from the BART station: 20ft (1 minute) Hotel Durant Berkeley 2600 Durant Avenue Berkeley, CA This is located on the south side border of UCB campus. Many different kinds of dinning places are close by. The BART station is about a mile away. Rate: $ per night, $ with AAA/AARP discount, $ advanced purchase; applicable taxes are additional and not included in these rates. Participants will receive the UC Berkeley Family and Friends discount (10%) if they mention that they are part of the ISAS UC Berkeley Conference. Cancel Policy: 24 hours prior to arrival, no cancellation with advanced purchase Star Rating: 3.5* (This is internet based rating.) Phone: (510) Fax: (510) Web: Distance from Clark Kerr Campus: 0.6 mile (walking 10 minutes) Distance from the BART station: 0.6 mile (3 minutes) Hotel Bancroft 2680 Bancroft Way Berkeley, CA This is located on the south side border of UCB campus. Many different kinds of dinning places are close by. The BART station is about a mile away. Rate: It appears all rooms are booked now. Please look for availability in future. Star Rating: 3.5* (This is internet based rating.) Phone: (510) Web:

5 Distance from Clark Kerr Campus: 0.6 mile (walking 10 minutes) Distance from the BART station: 0.6 mile (3 minutes) DoubleTree by Hilton at Berkeley Marina 200 Marina Blvd. Berkeley, CA This is located on the bank of the San Francisco Bay. There is a small harbor and a park nearby. There is a walk-way deck that goes about a mile into the bay. This will provide nice and quieter ambience. However, this does not have good access to public transport. This hotel is located within 3 miles of downtown Berkeley. The nearest BART station is about 3 miles away. There is a bus stop close by, but it is not on the major bus routes. The nearest dinning places are at the downtown, which is within 1 to 3 miles. This hotel is only recommended if you rent a car. Rates (all rates vary with time, reserve early): $ $259.00/night; applicable taxes are additional and not included in these rates. No special negotiation has been made so far. Please call to find out or visit their website. Star Rating: 4* (This is internet based rating.) Phone: (510) Fax: (510) Web: Distance from Clark Kerr Campus: 5 miles (driving 15 minutes) Distance from the BART station: 3 miles (12 minutes) La Quinta Inn Berkeley 920 University Ave. Berkeley, CA This is located near the intersection of University Avenue and San Pablo Avenue. This will provide nice and quieter ambience. This does have good access to public bus transport and taxi. However, unlike Hotel Shattuck Plaza, it is far away from the BART station. This hotel is located within 2 miles of downtown Berkeley. The nearest BART station is about 2 miles away. The nearest dinning places are close by. The hotel provides free breakfast. We will volunteer to provide rides to and from the conference venue.

6 Rates (all rates vary with time, reserve early): Standard Room: $ per night and $ with AAA/AARP discount (Individual) Standard Room w/two Beds: $ per night (Group rate) Suite 1 King Bed: $ per night (Group rate) Applicable taxes are additional and not included in these rates. Star Rating: 2.5* (This is internet based rating.) Phone: (510) Web: Distance from Clark Kerr Campus: 4 miles (driving 15 minutes) Distance from the BART station: 3 miles (12 minutes) Golden Bear Inn 1620 San Pablo Ave Berkeley, CA This will provide nice and quieter ambience. This can provide inexpensive accommodation to participants. Friends will be able to share rooms. This does have good access to public bus transport and taxi. However, unlike Hotel Shattuck Plaza, it is far away from the BART station. This hotel is located within 2 miles of downtown Berkeley. The nearest BART station is about 2 miles away. The nearest dinning places are close by. The hotel provides free breakfast. We will volunteer to provide rides to and from the conference venue. Rates (all rates vary with time, reserve early): 1 Queen Bed: $90.00 per night and $81.00 with AAA/AARP discount 2 Queen Beds: $ per night and $94.50 with AAA/AARP discount 1 Family Room (2 Queen and 2 Tween Beds): $ per night and $89.00 with discount Applicable taxes are additional and not included in these rates. Star Rating: 2.5* (This is internet based rating.) Phone: (510) Fax: (510) Web: Distance from Clark Kerr Campus: 4 miles (driving 15 minutes) Distance from the BART station: 3 miles (12 minutes)

7 Driving Directions: Westbound From Highway Exit at Berkeley/Tunnel Road and continue west on Tunnel Road, which becomes Ashby Avenue 2. Just past the Claremont Hotel, turn right on Claremont Avenue and make an immediate left onto Claremont Boulevard 3. Continue on Claremont Boulevard, which becomes Belrose Avenue and then Derby Street as it turns left 4. At the next stop sign, turn right onto Warring Street (Clark Kerr Campus is on your right) 5. Continue one-half block and turn right into the Southwest Parking Lot Eastbound From Highway Exit at 51 st Street and Telegraph Avenue 2. Turn right and proceed east on 51 st street for two blocks 3. Turn left onto Telegraph Avenue for approximately 1 1/2 miles 4. Turn right onto Dwight Way 5. At the second stoplight, turn right onto Warring Street (left is Piedmont Ave) 6. Clark Kerr Campus is located on the left at 2601 Warring Street 7. Continue past the main horseshoe shaped driveway to the next entrance for parking in the Southwest Parking Lot Northbound From Highway Exit right onto Ashby Avenue 2. Turn left onto Telegraph Avenue 3. Follow directions 4-7 for Eastbound from Highway 24 Southbound From Highway Exit right onto University Avenue 2. Follow University Avenue east for approximately 2 miles to Oxford Street 3. Turn right onto Oxford Street, which becomes Fulton Street 4. Turn left onto Dwight Way and proceed east for approximately 1 mile 5. Turn right onto Warring Street (left is Piedmont Avenue) 6. Follow directions 6 and 7 for Eastbound from Highway 24 From Highway Exit to Highway 24 East, Walnut Creek/Berkeley 2. Follow directions for Eastbound from Highway 24 Westbound From Highway Continue west on Hwy 13, which becomes Tunnel Road at the first stoplight 2. Follow directions 2-5 for Westbound from Highway 24

8 Parking Information: Street parking around the Berkeley campus is limited, and the City of Berkeley requires a permit to park on city streets. Vehicles without permits are subject to two-hour parking restrictions between 8:00 am and 7:00 pm, Monday through Saturday. Alternative options include using public transportation or parking at public lots. The UC Berkeley parking lot nearest to the conference venue is Clark Kerr Southwest Lot. This is a restricted parking lot which needs R permit. For more details: Parking Map: NOTE: IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THESE, PLEASE SEND AN TO: Sukomal_Modak@yahoo.com with copy to muquddus@pvamu.edu.