6 ms·

Hosting this in MV is just... weird. All the hotels suck, there's no food, nothing touristy to do, etc etc. I don't understand your note about costs. Google ha

Hosting this in MV is just... weird. All the hotels suck, there's no food, nothing touristy to do, etc etc. I don't understand your note about costs. Google has infinite money. Even mid-tier meetings are held at Moscone, so I don't think it's that expensive. Are the I/O hordes really going to be visiting the Google Campus? For what reason? It's pretty weird.

tdicola 11y ago
That weekend is also Maker Faire (5/20-5/22) just up the road in San Mateo, so something to consider checking out if you're in the area for IO.
- alain94040 11y ago
  Indeed: Maker Faire: May 20-22 Startup Conference: May 19 Google IO: May 19-20 http://thestartupconference.com/tips-for-first-time-attendees/ http://thestartupconference.com/tips-for-first-time-attendee... </plug>
drl42 11y ago
Moscone center is undergoing renovation.
- objclxt 11y ago
  Not Moscone West, where they have held IO in the past.
calbear81 11y ago
I lived in Mountain View down the street from Google the last few years but here's where people will/should be going: Hotels: If you want something nice, you're going to go to Palo Alto or Downtown San Jose. If you're fine with budget basics, hit all the hotels along El Camino between Sunnyvale and Palo Alto. Personally, I would choose the Hampton Inn on Moffett Blvd. between the 101 and Central. It's clean, pretty cheap, and two blocks from Castro St. with all the restaurants and stuff. Restaurants: Castro St. and Downtown Palo Alto are your best bets. There are a lot of options on Castro St. so expect it to get crowded but the food is actually pretty damn good. This is not Michelin rated new American food like in SF, so stick to the Asian options if you don't want to go wrong. Get Hot Pot at Little Sheep or Sushi at Sushi Tomi or any of the other 5 ramen places within walking distance. In Palo Alto, you can get finer dining options. Touristy Things: The museums and cultural options are more limited so take a short CalTrain ride directly to SF if you want that. If you have the weekend to spend, Mountain View is about an hour closer to Santa Cruz than SF is so head over there to get your tan and enjoy the beach.
- ataylor284_ 11y ago
  Last time I was in the area, I stayed at the Domain Hotel in Sunnyvale. About a 15 minute drive to Google and nice enough. And for touristy things: the Computer History Museum just down the road from the Google campus is definitely worth a visit.
  - calbear81 11y ago
    In that same plaza is Laser Tag and not to mention that the Sports Page bar has outdoor sand volleyball courts and beer pong tables.
    - MaxScheiber 11y ago
      Laser Quest closed about a month ago (as did everything else in that plaza). If I remember correctly. LinkedIn purchased the real estate.
      - calbear81 11y ago
        Wow... that is sad. Many fun times were had there with my team.
- mwfunk 11y ago
  Agreed, there are tons of hotels and restaurants and things to do in the area, just not necessarily in walking distance (which is easily ameliorated by taking a fraction of the money saved from cheaper hotels and renting a car).
  - tamana 11y ago
    And by sitting in traffic, you save money that would have been spent on things to do!
- shostack 11y ago
  Also lived down the street from them (right near Shoreline and Central. The traffic will be horrible on Shoreline and 101. Thank god I don't live there anymore. But yes, plenty of good options in the area and surrounding areas. Also, for touristy things, people should consider going up to some wineries in the Santa Cruz mountains. Pichetti, Ridge, and some others are great options and fairly close. But seriously--the traffic...
dottrap 11y ago
I'll speculate that the Google employees/engineers that are asked to change their commute every day for this event might be a consideration. If you are going to be tourist, there are plenty of ways to get around. Monterey Bay is also another really nice spot and MV gets you an hour closer.
jtmcmc 11y ago
I suspect that shoreline holds a LOT more people than the Moscone.

tdicola 11y ago

That weekend is also Maker Faire (5/20-5/22) just up the road in San Mateo, so something to consider checking out if you're in the area for IO.

alain94040 11y ago
Indeed: Maker Faire: May 20-22 Startup Conference: May 19 Google IO: May 19-20 http://thestartupconference.com/tips-for-first-time-attendees/ http://thestartupconference.com/tips-for-first-time-attendee... </plug>

drl42 11y ago

Moscone center is undergoing renovation.

objclxt 11y ago
Not Moscone West, where they have held IO in the past.

calbear81 11y ago

I lived in Mountain View down the street from Google the last few years but here's where people will/should be going: Hotels: If you want something nice, you're going to go to Palo Alto or Downtown San Jose. If you're fine with budget basics, hit all the hotels along El Camino between Sunnyvale and Palo Alto. Personally, I would choose the Hampton Inn on Moffett Blvd. between the 101 and Central. It's clean, pretty cheap, and two blocks from Castro St. with all the restaurants and stuff. Restaurants: Castro St. and Downtown Palo Alto are your best bets. There are a lot of options on Castro St. so expect it to get crowded but the food is actually pretty damn good. This is not Michelin rated new American food like in SF, so stick to the Asian options if you don't want to go wrong. Get Hot Pot at Little Sheep or Sushi at Sushi Tomi or any of the other 5 ramen places within walking distance. In Palo Alto, you can get finer dining options. Touristy Things: The museums and cultural options are more limited so take a short CalTrain ride directly to SF if you want that. If you have the weekend to spend, Mountain View is about an hour closer to Santa Cruz than SF is so head over there to get your tan and enjoy the beach.

ataylor284_ 11y ago
Last time I was in the area, I stayed at the Domain Hotel in Sunnyvale. About a 15 minute drive to Google and nice enough. And for touristy things: the Computer History Museum just down the road from the Google campus is definitely worth a visit.
- calbear81 11y ago
  In that same plaza is Laser Tag and not to mention that the Sports Page bar has outdoor sand volleyball courts and beer pong tables.
  - MaxScheiber 11y ago
    Laser Quest closed about a month ago (as did everything else in that plaza). If I remember correctly. LinkedIn purchased the real estate.
    - calbear81 11y ago
      Wow... that is sad. Many fun times were had there with my team.
mwfunk 11y ago
Agreed, there are tons of hotels and restaurants and things to do in the area, just not necessarily in walking distance (which is easily ameliorated by taking a fraction of the money saved from cheaper hotels and renting a car).
- tamana 11y ago
  And by sitting in traffic, you save money that would have been spent on things to do!
shostack 11y ago
Also lived down the street from them (right near Shoreline and Central. The traffic will be horrible on Shoreline and 101. Thank god I don't live there anymore. But yes, plenty of good options in the area and surrounding areas. Also, for touristy things, people should consider going up to some wineries in the Santa Cruz mountains. Pichetti, Ridge, and some others are great options and fairly close. But seriously--the traffic...

dottrap 11y ago

I'll speculate that the Google employees/engineers that are asked to change their commute every day for this event might be a consideration. If you are going to be tourist, there are plenty of ways to get around. Monterey Bay is also another really nice spot and MV gets you an hour closer.

jtmcmc 11y ago

I suspect that shoreline holds a LOT more people than the Moscone.