Update on 10/24: The discounted room rate expired on October 20 and there are no more rooms available at the discounted rate.
Update on 10/13: Discounted rooms at the Marriott are almost sold out. There are no rooms available for 11/7 at the discounted rate. You can make a reservation for a room at the non-discounted rate for 11/7 along with other nights at the discounted rate by calling the reservations line: 1-888-236-2427. Please tell them your group rate code: cfscfsa
Discounted rooms are available for $139/night. This rate will be available until October 20 or until the group block is sold-out, whichever comes first.
Courtyard Oakland Downtown
988 Broadway, Oakland, California 94607
Update on 10/24: The block of rooms at the Courtyard is sold out.
Update on 10/18: We have just added a small block of rooms at the Courtyard Oakland Downtown. The Courtyard is across the street from the Marriott and has discounted rooms available for $139/night. Call 1-888-236-2427 to reserve a room at the Courtyard. Please tell them your group rate code: cfscfsa
Alternative Lodging Options
The Oakland Marriott City Center (where most conference events take place) is in the City Center neighborhood and near Old Town, China Town and Jack London Square. This pdf from Visit Oakland lists hotels by neighborhood.
Couchsurfing.org is an online network that connects travelers with locals across the globe. Travelers can search the online database of locals who have volunteered to offer a couch or some sort of lodging. Travelers and local hosts can create profiles and rate their experiences to facilitate this traveler-host matchmaking process.
If you would like to try to find a local host on Couchsurfing.org, the first thing to do is to join the site and create a profile if you do not already have one. This profile, as well referrals from other Couchsurfing.org members (Couchsurfers), can help potential hosts understand who you are, what you would be like as a guest, and whether you are trustworthy. Provide as much detail as possible on your profile. Ask your friends if they are on Couchsurfing.org, and if so, ask them to write a referral for you. If you know other conference-goers who are just joining Couchsurfing.org, you can write referrals for each other. (Try using the Bulletin Board to find other conference-goers using Couchsurfing.org.) You can also participate in activities with local Couchsurfers to build your references. Couchsurfing.org will also give you the option to verify your profile for $25 by entering a code you receive on a postcard. It can help others to know that you are trustworthy, but it is not required to use Couchsurfing.org.
We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with the city to find a host location that is convenient. Ask your prospective host as much information as possible about what it will be like to get from their place to the conference: how close they are to downtown, how close they are to a major bus route, and how safe it is to walk in their neighborhood. (See conference transportation information.)
Finally, you will have better luck finding a host if you submit your couch request with as much advance notice as possible. Some hosts can accommodate guests at the last minute, but many will have already made other plans.
Lodging
Marriott Oakland City Center
1001 Broadway, Oakland, California 94607
Update on 10/24: The discounted room rate expired on October 20 and there are no more rooms available at the discounted rate.
Update on 10/13: Discounted rooms at the Marriott are almost sold out. There are no rooms available for 11/7 at the discounted rate. You can make a reservation for a room at the non-discounted rate for 11/7 along with other nights at the discounted rate by calling the reservations line: 1-888-236-2427. Please tell them your group rate code: cfscfsa
Reserve your room
Discounted rooms are available for $139/night. This rate will be available until October 20 or until the group block is sold-out, whichever comes first.
Courtyard Oakland Downtown
988 Broadway, Oakland, California 94607
Update on 10/24: The block of rooms at the Courtyard is sold out.
Update on 10/18: We have just added a small block of rooms at the Courtyard Oakland Downtown. The Courtyard is across the street from the Marriott and has discounted rooms available for $139/night. Call 1-888-236-2427 to reserve a room at the Courtyard. Please tell them your group rate code: cfscfsa
Alternative Lodging Options
The Oakland Marriott City Center (where most conference events take place) is in the City Center neighborhood and near Old Town, China Town and Jack London Square. This pdf from Visit Oakland lists hotels by neighborhood.
Tight Budget?
You can use the Bulletin Board to find a roommate and share costs, or try Couchsurfing.org to stay with a local for free. See Couchsurfing tips (below) for more information.
Couchsurfing.org
Couchsurfing.org is an online network that connects travelers with locals across the globe. Travelers can search the online database of locals who have volunteered to offer a couch or some sort of lodging. Travelers and local hosts can create profiles and rate their experiences to facilitate this traveler-host matchmaking process.
If you would like to try to find a local host on Couchsurfing.org, the first thing to do is to join the site and create a profile if you do not already have one. This profile, as well referrals from other Couchsurfing.org members (Couchsurfers), can help potential hosts understand who you are, what you would be like as a guest, and whether you are trustworthy. Provide as much detail as possible on your profile. Ask your friends if they are on Couchsurfing.org, and if so, ask them to write a referral for you. If you know other conference-goers who are just joining Couchsurfing.org, you can write referrals for each other. (Try using the Bulletin Board to find other conference-goers using Couchsurfing.org.) You can also participate in activities with local Couchsurfers to build your references. Couchsurfing.org will also give you the option to verify your profile for $25 by entering a code you receive on a postcard. It can help others to know that you are trustworthy, but it is not required to use Couchsurfing.org.
We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with the city to find a host location that is convenient. Ask your prospective host as much information as possible about what it will be like to get from their place to the conference: how close they are to downtown, how close they are to a major bus route, and how safe it is to walk in their neighborhood. (See conference transportation information.)
Finally, you will have better luck finding a host if you submit your couch request with as much advance notice as possible. Some hosts can accommodate guests at the last minute, but many will have already made other plans.
Happy surfing!