Hotel and Airport Information

Hotels

We have reserved blocks of rooms at two Palo Alto hotels, right next to one another. These are directly across from the Stanford campus and a 10 minute drive to the synagogue as well as all other weekend festivities.

To get the special rate, you must make your reservations by phone and mention “Josh Kirshenbaum’s Bar Mitzvah”.

Note that these rates are only guaranteed until September 27^th.

NOTE: This page originally incorrectly stated that the rates were guaranteed until the 29^th. The correct deadline is Tuesday, September 27^th.

The two hotels are

For $99/night, the Sheraton Palo Alto, 625 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, (650) 328-2800, www.sheraton.com/paloalto
For $139/night, the Westin–Palo Alto, 675 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, (650) 321-4422, www.westin.com/paloalto

There are, of course, lots of other hotels in the area, but these are likely some of the best rates that you'll find anyplace you'd like to stay.

Airports

The two airports convenient to this part of the Bay Area are San Francisco International (SFO) and San José International (SJC). San Jose is a few miles closer, but it's about a half-hour drive from either airport.

Driving Directions

The directions for getting to the hotels are essentially identical from either airport: get on 101, get off at Embarcadero Road, turn right at El Camino, and the hotel will be on your right. The only difference is that from San Francisco, you'll get on 101 going south, while from San José, you'll get on 101 going north.

Taxis, Shuttles and Limos

Taxis are a pretty pricy way to get here. Yellow Cab estimates $57.00–$64.55 from San Jose and $64.50–$74.17 from San Francisco.

There are a number of companies offering shuttles to and from the airports. Here are a few. (Please check with the company for the latest prices.)

From San Francisco

SuperShuttle advertises $26 each way for the first passenger and $10/each way for each additional passenger, up to a total of nine, for a shared van. You can get your own van for $85 each way.
South and East Bay Shuttle advertises $24 each way for the first passenger and $10/each way for each additional passenger, up to a total of nine, for a shared van. You can get your own van for $69 each way.
BayPorter Express charges $95 each way for a seven-person van.
Rym Limo charges $79 each way (+ $4 airport tax). They also have a 10-passenger limo (call for rates).
More options can be found at the airport's ground transportation page.

From San Jose

SuperShuttle advertises $26/person each way for a shared nine-person van. You can get your own van for $75 each way.
South and East Bay Shuttle advertises $29 each way for the first passenger and $10/each way for each additional passenger, up to a total of nine, for a shared van. You can get your own van for $69 each way.
Rym Limo charges $59 each way (+ $4 airport tax). They also have a 10-passenger limo (call for rates).
More options can be found at the aiport's ground transportation page.

Public Transportation

By far the cheapest, if least convenient, option is to take public transportation. The hotels are about a third of a mile from the Palo Alto Caltrain station.

From San Francisco, take BART from the airport to the Millbrae Caltrain station, and take Caltrain south to Palo Alto. Two zones are involved, so the Caltrain fare would be $4.75/person, $2.25 for seniors, youths, the disabled, and medicare cardholders. BART from SFO to the Millbrae station is $1.50/person. (Depending on when you go, you might have to take BART to Millbrae by a more roundabout route, changing in the San Bruno station, which may increase the fare.)
From San Jose, take the free #10 shuttle from the airport to the Santa Clara Caltrain station, and take Caltrain north to Palo Alto. Two zones are involved, so the Caltrain fare would be $4.75/person, $2.25 for seniors, youths, the disabled, and medicare cardholders. Alternatively, take the 522 bus north from the Santa Clara Caltrain station to the Palo Alto Caltrain station for $2.00/person.