Host Hotels
Airports
Transit
Driving
Weather

Scheduling note:

Play starts Friday morning, May 23, 2008, at Stanford University’s Taube Tennis Center and Stanford West Tennis courts for all players, except World Team Tennis participants. Last matches on Monday, May 26, 2008 are World Team Tennis finals, and they conclude at 6pm.

Travelocity can book all your travel arrangements

Travelocity is the official travel partner for the USGO 2008. On Travelocity's USGO Page, you can book your hotel, airline, rental car and anything else you need in connection with your travel to the Bay Area. USGO travel page coming soon...

Sheraton Palo Alto

Reservations at USGO rate: www.starwoodmeeting.com

Hotel Whitcomb San Francisco

Email: res@ramadaplazasf.com
Ask for the "USGO" rate

Host Hotels: Sheraton Palo Alto &
Hotel Whitcomb

We have negotiated a rate of $95/night plus taxes at the Sheraton in Palo Alto and $89/night at the Hotel Whitcomb in San Francisco. If you stay at the Sheraton Palo Alto, you can walk over to Taube Tennis Center–it's less than a 1/4mile and you can hop the Marguerite Shuttle on Friday and it will take you to the Stanford West Tennis Courts (Marguerite runs only on Friday of the tournament). You pick up the Marguerite at the Palo Alto Caltrain Station right next door to the Sheraton–be sure to board the "counter-clockwise" bus to get to Stanford West tennis courts. The "clockwise" bus will take you near to Taube Tennis Center, but it's probably quicker to walk to Taube. If you stay at the Hotel Whitcomb, you can take Caltrain to the courts, or you have the option of driving, and should allot about one hour driving time, parking, etc.

Housing:

If you'd like to have a local player host you for the weekend, send the tournament director an email usgo@gltf.org We'll do our best to find you a happy home here in the Bay Area.

Airlines/Ground Transportation:

Which Airport? The San Francisco Bay Area is served by three international airports, and any one of them will serve you well in your journey to our tournament. If you’re staying in San Francisco, the San Francisco Airport (SFO) and the Oakland Airport (OAK) are closest. If you’re staying in Palo Alto, where Stanford University is located, you have a 3rd option and that is San Jose Airport (SJC). In fact, SJC is closest of the 3 airports to Palo Alto, but neither airport is more than a 30 minute drive from Stanford.

Which Airline? We've arranged special airline discounts for you thru American Airlines and Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air.

Which ground transort? If you're staying at the Sheraton Palo Alto, you can take public transit to get there, or you can make arrangements with SuperShuttle (discount code: WZN89), which is offering us a shuttle van discount from the airport to the Sheraton Palo Alto, or you can rent a car with Avis Rental Car, our tournament rental car partner. Note that the Sheraton Palo Alto is a really short walk to the Taube Tennis Center and about one mile from Stanford West Tennis Courts, both are lovely walks thru the Stanford campus from the hotel. For public transit, take BART from either SFO or Oakland airports to the Milbrae/Caltrain station and transfer to the southbound Caltrain, which will take you to the Palo Alto Caltrain Station. Exit there and walk one short 1/2 block to the Sheraton Palo Alto. From San Jose Airport, you take the VTA bus #10 to Santa Clara Caltrain Station (watch out, VTA uses a retarded system of two #10 buses–you'll want the bus with a destination to Santa Clara Caltrain. Get on the northbound train and exit Palo Alto Caltrain, and then walk one short 1/2 block to the Sheraton Palo Alto. If you're staying in San Francisco, take BART to any downtown SF Station (you shouldn't fly into San Jose if you're staying in San Francisco).

Transit:

The San Francisco Bay Area has good transit service, even on the weekends. Caltrain serves the Palo Alto Caltrain Station with trains running about every 15-20 minutes on Friday, and hourly on the weekend. On Fridays, the Marguerite Shuttle van will pick you up at the train station and take you to the courts. On the weekend, the shuttle does not run, but the tennis courts are only about a one-mile walk through the lovely Stanford Campus from the train station. Caltrain links with BART and Muni service in San Francisco and Oakland. In addition, plenty of VTA buses run up and down El Camino Real and will drop you off a short walk from the tennis courts. Go to 511.org for complete transit information for the Bay Area.

Special Transit Offer: Any player pledging to take transit to the tournament will receive free transit passes and will be guaranteed of not having to play before 9:00am any day of the tournament. If you’re interested in this special offer, please check the appropriate box on the Application Form and the tournament director will notify you of your schedule. Your transit passes can be picked up at the Draw Party. But you have to take transit to the tournament. Don't worry, you'll enjoy it a lot!

Driving:

If you're arriving Thursday afternoon/evening, traffic could be a bit stalled, as the Bay Area continues to struggle to improve our mobility–so give yourself a little extra time. On Friday, May 23, 2008, traffic could also be a little difficult. So keep allowing extra driving time. And remember that out in California, we like to take off early on Fridays, especially long holiday weekends. Likewise, traffic Monday afternoon later could be slow. Plan accordingly!
Driving directions to Taube Tennis Center

Weather:

The weather in Palo Alto should be pleasant and warm, unlike some of our past tournaments at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Expect daytime highs of around 73° F (23° C) Nightime lows will reach about 52° F (11° C). For those nights you spend in San Francisco, things can get a little cooler than Palo Alto, and if the fog rolls in, things can get down right cold. So bring a warm jacket or good windbreaker.