Hotels, Travel, Meals, etc.

Venue Hotel

A limited block of rooms for User Meeting attendees has been set aside at the Marriott Hotel Walnut Creek, the meeting venue, which is convenient to the Walnut Creek BART stop and about a ten-minute drive from the JGI. The room rate for this limited-room block is $101/night. Rooms in the block will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and will be held until March 2, 2012. (After this date, the discounted rate will be contingent upon room availability and the hotel's occupancy). Government ID will not be required to receive this rate; however, you will need to mention the correct reservation code (see below) when you make your reservation.

Other Hotels

For more information about other hotel options, contact JGI Travel Coordinator, April Birtola

LBNL Guest House

For those coming to the meeting who also have business at LBNL, consider staying at the Berkeley Lab Guest House, a 30 minute drive from JGI. Rates begin at $99 per night and include tax and parking. Contact Jen Zerfas or call the front desk at (510) 495-8000 for help making your reservation.

Visas

Participants from outside the United States should allow ample time for issuance of a visa if one is required of visitors from their country. Because of random in-depth security checks, the issuance of new visas can take up to three or even four months, so be sure to apply early.

Visa Waiver Countries

Citizens of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) do not need to apply for visas to attend the User Meeting, as long as they have a machine-readable passport. (These are tamper-resistant and incorporate biometric identifiers in compliance with guidelines established by the International Civil Aviation Organization). If you are a traveler from a VWP country and you have a machine-readable passport, you may enter the United States using just your passport and your registration confirmation.

Non-Visa Waiver Countries

Citizens of countries not participating in the Visa Waiver Program will need to request a Business (B-1) visa at the nearest U.S. Consulate. Please present at the Consulate your registration confirmation along with your valid passport. We urge you to do this EARLY, as there are often delays in this process. Official letters of invitation (without financial commitment) to help overcome administrative difficulties in some countries can be sent upon written email request to the meeting administrator, Marsha Fenner.

More information

• US Citizenship and Immigration Services
• Visa Waiver Program
• US-VISIT program

Airports

The most convenient airports to Walnut Creek are San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Oakland International Airport (OAK).
The Oakland airport is closest to Walnut Creek, but SFO offers a slightly easier connection to the regional train system, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), which stops near several Walnut Creek hotels. (Local shuttle service to your hotel can be arranged through the hotel.) Rental cars, shuttles, cabs, etc. are also available from both airports. See the links below for further information.

SFO (San Francisco International Airport)
OAK (Oakland International Airport)
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit)
SFO via BART
OAK via BART
Map and driving directions to JGI

Meals

Coffee breaks and a lunch will be served during the User Meeting each day. The Marriott also offers a full breakfast at its Main Street Grill. Additionally, evening receptions will be held during the poster sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday.

For a list of local restaurants, download our Walnut Creek guide.

 

Shuttles and Cabs

Shuttles and cabs are available from Oakland and San Francisco airports.

Oakland airport shuttle information
San Francisco airport shuttle information

Shuttles between the Marriott and JGI

There will be a shuttle service running between the JGI and the Walnut Creek Marriott during User Meeting activities. (2012 shuttle schedule coming soon).

Public Transit

From Oakland Airport

Get on the AirBART shuttle (tickets are $3), which takes you to the Coliseum BART stop. Board a Richmond-bound train. Transfer to a Pittsburg/Bay Point train at 12th St. (Oakland City Center). The train fare is $3.30. Get off at the Walnut Creek station. From this station, walk east on Ygnacio Valley Road, away from the freeway. Turn left onto N. California Blvd., and then take a slight left onto N. Main St. (total distance is 3/4 mile). The Marriott also has a complementary shuttle to and from BART.

From San Francisco Airport

BART stops inside the international terminal at San Francisco International Airport. The free AirTrain shuttle provides connections from other terminals to the SFO BART station, though all are within walking distance (5-15 minutes). From SFO, take a Richmond or Pittsburg/Bay Point train. Passengers on Richmond-bound trains will need to transfer at 12th St. (Oakland City Center). The train fare is $6.90. Get off at the Walnut Creek station. From this station, walk east on Ygnacio Valley Road, away from the freeway. Turn left onto N. California Blvd., and then take a slight left onto N. Main St. (total distance is 3/4 mile). The Marriott also has a complementary shuttle to and from BART.

Driving

From Oakland Airport

(Estimated travel time: 30 minutes)

• Follow Airport exit signs onto AIRPORT DR.
• Turn RIGHT onto HEGENBERGER RD.
• After traveling about 0.8 miles, take the I-880 NORTH ramp.
• Travel about 1.5 miles and follow signs to get onto I-980 EAST.
• I-980 merges with and becomes CA-24 after about 4.4 miles.
• Travel 13.5 miles on CA-24 EAST through the CALDECOTT TUNNEL.
• Take the I-680 NORTH exit on the LEFT towards CONCORD/SACRAMENTO.
• Travel 0.3 miles on I-680, then take the N. MAIN ST exit.
• Turn left at N. MAIN ST.
• Travel approximately .2 miles on N. MAIN ST and then turn right at the light.

From San Francisco Airport

(Estimated travel time, non-afternoon commute hours: 50 minutes)

• Follow the SFO Airport EXIT signs to US-101 NORTH
• Take US-101 NORTH towards SAN FRANCISCO.
• Follow the signs to get onto I-80 EAST.
• Cross the SF Bay Bridge on I-80 EAST.
• Take I-580 EAST EXIT (towards HAYWARD/STOCKTON/DOWNTOWN OAKLAND).
• Stay on I-580 EAST until you reach the CA-24 EAST exit (towards BERKELEY/WALNUT CREEK).
• Take the CA-24 EAST exit.
• Travel on CA-24 EAST approx. 12.5 mi. through the CALDECOTT TUNNEL and past PLEASANT HILL exits.
• Take the I-680 NORTH exit on the LEFT towards CONCORD/SACRAMENTO.
• Travel 0.3 miles on I-680, then take the N. MAIN ST exit.
• Turn left at N. MAIN ST.
• Travel approximately .2 miles on N. MAIN ST, and then turn right at the light.

Parking

Valet parking will be available at the Marriott for a reduced rate. Check in at the registration desk for discount stickers.

Contacts