If you live locally or can stay with a local friend you can commute to the conferences and just pay the $990 tuition. Or you can stay in local hotels or you can stay in a private room in a shared on-campus apartment.
On-Campus Apartments
A private bedroom in an on-campus apartment (reserved for graduate students during the school year) is $285 for the three nights of the conference checking in on Thursday, June 11, and checking out on Sunday June 14. (There will be no graduate students in these apartments during the conference.) Each attendee staying in these apartments will have their own bedroom and share the kitchen and bathroom. The apartments are very nice modern furnished apartments. However, please note that the beds are extra long but narrow (36 x 78 inches) and only 4 inches thick, so sleeping comfort can be an issue. Each apartment building has a large common living room and laundromat. All apartments have free wifi, as does the entire campus. The apartments are located about 400 yards from the main workshop and dining areas.
An additional night’s stay before and/or after the conference is $95 each night for the convenience of attendees who want to arrive earlier and/or leave later.
Nearby Hotels
Below are listed the hotels/motels within 7 miles of St. Mary’s College, one of which is in Lafayette 4 miles away, and the rest in Walnut Creek ranging from 5 to 7 miles away. There are no hotels in Moraga. There are more hotels/motels in Walnut Creek that are farther than 7 miles, but we have not listed these, nor have we listed any of the approximately two dozen hotels/motels in Oakland or in Berkeley (ranging from 10-20 miles away. Descriptions are from the hotel websites. We expect to add more hotels to this list soon.
There are also local Airbnb rentals, and some of these may be in Moraga, but these are changing from day to day, and so we do not list these.
The disadvantage to a hotel or an Airbnb is that you will need transportation to and from the hotel or Airbnb each day. However, Uber and Lyft drivers are usually plentiful because this is an upscale area.
Lafayette
Lafayette Park Hotel and Spa
4 Star Yelp Rating
About 4 miles from St. Mary’s College—Listed prices about $250 per night
Description: Upscale, French-chateau-inspired hotel with a poolside spa & a bistro, plus a free local shuttle.
3287 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette, CA 94549, (855) 382-8632,
www.lafayetteparkhotel.com
Walnut Creek
Diablo Mountain Inn
3½ Star Yelp Rating
About 5 miles from St. Mary’s College—Listed prices about $109 per night
Description: Set in a commercial area less than a mile from Interstate 680, this low-key budget hotel is a 14-minute walk from Walnut Creek BART station.
2079 Mt Diablo Blvd, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
(925) 937-5050
www.diablomountaininn.com
Walnut Creek Marriott
3½ Star Yelp Rating
About 6 miles from St. Mary’s College—Listed price about $159 per night
Description: Offering views of Mount Diablo, this upscale hotel offering dining, a pool & a gym, plus a free area shuttle, and an 11-minute walk from the closest BART station
2355 N Main St, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 (925) 934-2000
www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/oakwc-walnut-creek-marriott
Holiday Inn Express
3½ Star Yelp Rating
About 7 miles from St. Mary’s College—Listed prices about $119 per night
Description: Contemporary lodging with an outdoor pool, plus a free breakfast bar, underground parking & WiFi.
2730 N Main St, Walnut Creek, CA 94597 (925) 932-3332
Renaissance ClubSport Walnut Creek Hotel
2½ Star Yelp Rating
About 7 Miles from St. Mary’s – Listed prices about $199 per night–Note that there is no street parking or self-parking so if you have a carx you have to use valet parking, which costs at least $30.
Description: Laid-back quarters in a casual hotel with an outdoor pool, a spa & a fitness center, plus dining
2805 Jones Road, Walnut Creek, CA 94597 (925) 938-8700
www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/oakbr-renaissance-clubsport-walnut-creek-hotel
There are another ten hotels in Walnut creek about 8-9 miles from St. Mary’s College and in Oakland about 10 miles from St. Mary’s with comparable price ranges. We expect to add more listings soon.