Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn

Patch community, I need your help.

My husband has a friend who is coming to visit the Bay Area from Los Angeles. He is bringing his two young boys and wife for a mini-vacation. They asked about local accommodations and, well, I was basically at a loss.

Now, when I was young and my family went on vacation, we stayed with the family we were visiting. For example, my parents would take over the room of one of my cousins, that cousin would sleep on a couch or with a sibling, and my sister and I would sleep on the floor of whatever room my parents were sleeping in.

Come to think of it, my dad has a friend who is traveling to the United States from Finland this summer. He is not just taking over a room, my sister is going to live in our family room for three weeks, while the visiting family stays in her house. Sure, it’s a bit of an inconvenience. But we’re all happy to do it.

When I asked my husband if his friends were going to stay with us downstairs, he mentioned that they were looking for a place nearby where they could spread out a little more.

But where?

There’s the out on Bay Farm and the on Webster. And isn’t there by the at ?

Is that it? Don’t we have anything with a little hometown pizazz? I thought we might have a few bed and breakfasts on the Island, but I can’t find any listings.

The family asked about The Lafayette Park Hotel and Spa and The Club Sport Walnut Creek Hotel. Sure, they’re both beautiful, but costly. And dealing with traffic through the tunnel might remind them too much of LA to ever want to come back!

So I'm asking you Alameda, have you stayed somewhere in Alameda or close by? Where do your friends and family stay when they're visiting? Inquiring minds want to know.