- lsktravelz@gmail.com
Do you want to visit the Bay Area? LSKTravelz flew to Oakland for a fun-filled weekend of dance and fellowship. The Bay Area encompasses cities and metropolitan areas of San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland. We arrived in Oakland Thursday to meet up with friends from Atlanta and North Carolina.
Even though we found an inexpensive fare to Oakland from Chicago, the return flights were more expensive. However, I used my companion pass to help bring down the cost of the nonstop roundtrip flight. I added a friend as my companion, and we split the $294 fare. Kim and Lynn also split the cost of their flight. Click on this link to learn how to save money by earning a pass twice a year without accumulating 135,000 points.
As an Amex Platinum cardholder, I enrolled in the Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status. Benefits include early check-in and late checkout (when available), automatic gold status, and more. My room was on the 16th floor with a city view. Because Lynn is a Platinum Bonvoy Member, she receives access to the M Lounge for complimentary beverages and snacks throughout the day. My checkout was at 2:00PM, but Lynn received a 4:00 checkout. If you are not a member of a hotel rewards program, sign up now.
We enjoyed a complimentary breakfast in the M Lounge on Friday. Yes, I tipped the lounge staff. However, the crew wanted everyone to break bread together at Iron & Oak in the Marriott before we started our day on Saturday. Please order the perfectly cooked French Toast. You will not be disappointed.
The Alcatraz Tour can be an all-day event. We walked to the ferry from the Marriott, cruised to the Ferry Building, and walked to Pier 33 to catch another ferry to Alcatraz. After a brief introduction, we sat in on a video presentation and then toured the jail using an audio presentation. I learned a lot as I walked the halls of Alcatraz. If you are looking for something to do when you visit the Bay Area, take the Alcatraz Tour.
Although we could have visited Alcatraz and Fisherman’s Wharf the same day, we used the Clipper Card to catch the train to the San Francisco Cable Car the next day. While you wait in line, watch how the staff prepares each car for the next trip. Instead of starting at Pier 1, we began at Pier 39. Do not leave Fisherman’s Wharf without trying a cup or bowl of chowder and calamari at Wipeout Bar & Grill. I also tried a Boba adult beverage. In addition, there is a Biscoff Coffee Corner across from Wipeout.
If you visit the Bay Area in August, there are several things to do, like the Ferrari Challenge in Sonoma. If you want family entertainment, there is a Hot Wheels Monster Truck Tour at the Chase Center in San Francisco. Finally, Trader Vic’s celebrates their anniversary in August. The hospitality group turned 90 years old and celebrated 80 years of the invention of the Mai Tai while we were in town.
Although we paid $75 to attend a weekend of events, most of our crew went to the Saturday party. We showed up at 10:00PM; the party ended at 1:00AM. We danced until the party was over. Instead of attending dinner on Sunday, we created a Gospel Brunch at the home of one of our friends. Fortunately for us, it was not about the parties. We had so much fun just hanging out together.
Even though I redeemed a $50 gift card, I spent most of my budget on the hotel reservation. I did not share a room. However, we saved money using the M Lounge to pick up water, tea, coffee, and pop. In addition, the crew packed alcoholic beverages in their checked luggage and miniature bottles in their carry-on.
