Emeryville Train Arrival (San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley: rental car, rental, good hotels)

[DigPlantWeed]

The Mr and I are doing a rail vacation and will arrive at Emeryville at 4:00 pm on a Saturday. Avis closes at 1 pm. Hertz at the Courtyard hotel closes at 1 pm. Enterprise is closed Saturday and Sunday.

We are only staying one night but would like to rent a car, stay in Napa or Yountville, and visit around Napa Sunday before boarding our next train.

Any locals with recommendations on where to get a car? Do we need to get a shuttle busu to Oakland Airport to get wheels?

[DigPlantWeed]

Do we need to get a shuttle busu ...

< grabbing back that extra 'u' >

[jade408]

Yes I think so. All of the car rental spots in Oakland close at 1 or 12 on Saturday. The Enterprise in Berkeley might be open, and it isn't far. That's all I can think of.

[rkwalton]

Just head to BART and rent a car from one of the Oakland Airport locations. It's not ideal, but that's probably the closest spot that will give you rental car locations that are open.

In general, Enterprise is the rental company that has the most decent hours. (Their rates aren't bad either.)

[humboldtrat]

Originally Posted by DigPlantWeed

The Mr and I are doing a rail vacation and will arrive at Emeryville at 4:00 pm on a Saturday. Avis closes at 1 pm. Hertz at the Courtyard hotel closes at 1 pm. Enterprise is closed Saturday and Sunday.

We are only staying one night but would like to rent a car, stay in Napa or Yountville, and visit around Napa Sunday before boarding our next train.

Any locals with recommendations on where to get a car? Do we need to get a shuttle busu to Oakland Airport to get wheels?

Having taken trips on Amtrak, don't expect to get into Emeryville at 4pm. Amtrak is notorius for being late - sometimes hours late. Amtrak does have its own bus that takes passengers into San Francisco and stops at about 4 different places in downtown SF.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by humboldtrat

Having taken trips on Amtrak, don't expect to get into Emeryville at 4pm. Amtrak is notorius for being late - sometimes hours late. Amtrak does have its own bus that takes passengers into San Francisco and stops at about 4 different places in downtown SF.

I don't find that unilaterally the case, but it you are taking the Coastal Starlight or the train that originates in Chicago, it will probably be late. The short haul trains are much better.

The biggest headache for Amtrak here in the Bay is the shared tracks with the freight traffic, so if you are traveling at a time freight is likely to arrive, Amtrak priority is lower than freight.

[DigPlantWeed]

Thanks everybody. We will be arriving from Chicago on the California Zephyr. We were only going to stay one night before taking the Coastal Starlight up to Seattle. It's looking like kind of a PITA to get a car and all the good hotels in Napa and Yountville seem to be booked (or want a two-night booking). So we are thinking we'll just take the 10 pm Coastal Starlight that same night. Hopefully the Zephyr won't be 5 hours late arriving in Emeryville!

[rkwalton]

If it's a short layover like that maybe see if there are ZipCars around the station. If so, join Zipcar, book it and make sure you have your Zipcar with you when you arrive.