The Claremont Hotel Club & Spa

Claremont Hotel Club & Spa wishes everyone a Safe & Happy 4th of July!

Happy Independence Day!

Claremont Hotel Club & Spa, an official Cal Alumni Association partner, offering CAA members special discounts!

The Claremont Hotel Club & Spa,  an official partner of the Cal Alumni Association, is pleased to offer special discounts to CAA members. Make the us your home away from home while enjoying the excitement of the games, concerts and performances!

CAA Members receive 10% off *:

    * Room rates, Sunday through Thursday, use code GOBEARS
    * Spa services and retail, except on Saturday
    * Banquet menu prices for social catering events

Wednesday Cal Alumni Happy Hour 6-10pm
    * 15% off Paragon Bar & Café Bar menu
    * Drink Specials: $4 draft beers $5 wine $6 well drinks

Athletics at Memorial Stadium - Only a mile from Memorial Stadium and with accomodations, choice of 2 restaurants, retail shop stocked with Cal Gear and a shuttle to the stadium, The Claremont Hotel, Club & Spa is perfect for those pre and post game celebrations! Don't forget the Cal Football Post-game Radio Show at the Paragon Bar & Café this Fall! The Claremont Hotel, Club & Spa is a proud Corporate Sponsor of ISP Sports and Cal Athletics. Click to view upcoming Football and Basketball schedules.

Greek Theatre - Two miles from the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa,  the William Randolph Hearst Greek Theatre is located on the UC Berkeley Campus in the foothills overlooking the San Francisco Bay. The Greek Theatre is an outdoor, very intimate venue with events scheduled May through October. Click here to view upcoming concerts.

Cal Performances - Cal Performances is the UC Berkeley-based presenting, commissioning and producing organization for world-class music, dance and theater events. The Claremont is the perfect place to dine before a show, just over a mile away; you have enough time to wine and dine before enjoying the fine arts! Click here to view upcoming performances.

Whether it's sports, concerts or performances, enjoy the priviledges of a CAA discount here at the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa. Click here to book a Cal Alumni Special rates*.

*You must present your Cal Alumni Association card to receive these specials offer.

July 4th Fireworks at Berkeley Marina - A full day & evening of fun activities then enjoy a peaceful rest at the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa!

Only in Berkeley can you enjoy all these activities with free admission!

Come enjoy the biggest party on the South Shore of the Berkeley Marina from noon-10PM.

Then enjoy a peaceful rest at the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa. Celebrate the Red, White and Blue Berkeley style!

• Music, dancers, jugglers
• Live entertainment Noon - 9 pm
• Arts & Crafts booth
• International Food booths
• Face painting
• Giant slide
• Beautiful Beach
• Kids Adventure Playground 11 am - 8 pm
• Arts & Craft booths
• Free Sailboat rides 1 pm - 4 pm
• Dragon Boat rides 2 pm - 6 pm
• Grand Fireworks Display - starting 9:30 pm at the end of the Berkeley Pier

Free admission. Alcohol-free event. For more information, click here.

Claremont in the Community

The Claremont Hotel, Club & Spa has long been committed to involvement in our community.  We are particularly focused on celebrating and supporting our community’s first responders.  Over the Memorial Day weekend, we made our annual pilgrimage to area fire stations to deliver some delicious and well-deserved barbeque to the hard working firefighters who keep us, and our entire community safe year-round.  On the menu was barbeque chicken, roasted corn on the cob, a refreshing salad and, of course, dessert!  This is just one small gesture on our part to let them know how much we value their dedication.  The Claremont Hotel asks you to join us in saying thank you the next time you see a firefighter!

 

The fun is here at Kids' Club Summer Adventure Day Camp and Tennis Camp - Claremont Hotel Club & Spa!

The fun and excitement is here for the kids at the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa! No boring summer days at the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa Kids' Club as our summer camp program includes art, group fitness games, sports, recreational tennis and swimming!

Summer Adventure Day Camp

Kids's Club
June 21 - August 27
Monday - Friday
9 am - 3:30 pm

Summer Adventure Day camp is a full day program for children ages 5 to 10 years old. Each day consists of arts and crafts, outdoor group games, recreational swimming, tennis and a weekly field trip to a local Bay Area attraction! Pre-care is available beginning at 8am and after-care is available until 6pm.

For more information contact Elena Carrillo, Camp Coordinator at 510.898.0037 or email ecarrillo@claremont-hotel.com

Tennis  Camp

June 7 – August 27
Morning Session 9am-12pm
Afternoon Session 1pm-3pm
Full Day Session 9am-3pm

Fun and the enjoyment of tennis is our first priority. We welcome your child to come and enjoy an exciting week of fun and healthy exercise! Camp will involve kids’ in tennis related drill games and activities while focusing on increased stroke production, consistency and match play.

For additional information contact Carlos Martinez, Tennis Coordinator at 510.549.8517 ext 852 or email cmartinez@claremont-hotel.com

Look your best on your wedding day at the Claremont - "Happily Ever After" Health & Wellness Program will get you fit & ready for your special day!

The Happily Ever After Health and Wellness Program is offered exclusively to couples who book a wedding at the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa, the Club’s elite personal trainers together with the Spa’s award-winning therapists will ensure that each and every bride and groom will be in tip top shape from head to toe in time for their big day. 

With each of the four programs they will focus on the mind, body and spirit - each customized to fit the goals, time frame and budget of the bride and groom. 

aFIRMations

• 5 Personal Training Sessions
• 50-Minute Pedicure
• 1 Day Spa Ritual before the big day at Spa Claremont

$ 425.00 per person

Best Food Forward

• 10 Personal Training Sessions
• 50-Minute Manicure
• 50-Minute Pedicure
• 1 Day Spa Ritual

$795.00 per person

New Beginnings

• 15 Personal Training Sessions
• Two 50-minute Spa Treatments of choice
• 2 Days of Spa Ritual

$1,235.00 per person

The Runway Bride (Bride) & Groomed for Life (Groom)

• 20 Personal Training Sessions
• Two 50-minute Spa Treatments of choice
• 3 Days of Spa Ritual

$1,575.00 per person

Brides and grooms are also invited to partake in the Claremont’s Nutritional Counseling services. Individual 50-minute sessions are offered for $150.00 per session and duets for $185.00; price for a series is available upon request.

Given the Claremont Hotel, Club and Spa’s idyllic setting and its storied reputation as a romantic retreat, the destination is a natural choice for weddings.  Adding to the allure are the property’s renowned rose gardens, its castle-like architecture and impressive views. Everything from the most intimate affair to a 300-person extravaganza can be accommodated in more than 20,000 square feet of newly renovated event space, including a poolside arbor.

To inquire about hosting a wedding at the Claremont and the “Happily Ever After” packages, please call 800.551.7266 or visit The Claremont Hotel Club & Spa. 

Memorial Day Weekend at the Claremont Hotel!

Memorial Day weekend marks the symbolic start of summer: the weather warms up, schools are winding down and families everywhere are taking their first trip of the season.  All cause for celebration here at the Claremont Hotel!  And celebrate we do with special offers and events.

The Claremont Hotel will host a poolside Memorial Day barbeque at our Bayview Café on Monday.  This event is a special treat for our Hotel guests and members of the Club at the Claremont.  We will have music, drinks and amazing food prepared by Executive Chef Josh Thomsen and his team.  The grill is ready to be fired up after a winter of hibernation.

If you haven’t yet made plans for your three-day weekend, we would be happy to welcome you!  We have a few rooms left and we are offering our popular Beat the Heat package over this holiday weekend.  The Beat the Heat package is remarkably affordable, and this weekend the rates start at $219 per night.  The package includes room, tax, facilities charge (regularly $24 per night), overnight parking (regularly $24 per night), and a $20 per day credit at any of our restaurants, including Meritage.

As our guest you will be able to enjoy two heated pools, plus our Kids’ Activity pool, take a turn on our tennis courts, prepare your body, mind, and spirit for summer in one of the fitness classes or at Spa Claremont, or simply relax on the deck at Paragon.  Spa Claremont has extended its hours on Sunday and Monday so you can schedule a treatment at your convenience.

We love summer here at the Claremont.  The outdoors calls us to leave our computers and spend time with friends and family rediscovering all that the Bay Area has to offer.  So get out there and explore.  Just know we have a comfortable bed and a cozy room ready for you when you come back from your day of adventure.

Berkeley Traveling Facts brought to you by the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa!

This week we thought we'd give you some traveling info and facts about Berkeley!

All travelers coming to the East Bay, will find Berkeley's central location in the San Francisco Bay area a convenience and an asset with 3 major airports serving the area (Oakland International, San Francisco International and San Jose International) and 3 BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) stations!

We have the convenience of location and we have the Mediterranean-like weather too! Here is a look at the average seasonal temperatures as a guide.

                           MAX      MIN    MEAN     RAINFALL

Spring                  63        48         56           2.50"
Summer              70        54         62             .38"
Fall                       70        53         61           8.22"
Winter                  56        43         50         12.06"

Driving:

You need a driver's license! You can make a right turn on red lights, unless otherwise noted. Seat belts are the law! You can't use a cell phone when driving unless you have a hands-free system. Remember no texting either!

A good number to keep handy if you're driving to learn 24 hour road conditions is 800-427-7623, the California Department of Transportation. For local and regional traffic info, dial "511" or visit www.511.org. Non-emergency highway patrol call (707) 551-4100, emergency call "911".


Parking:

Colored Curb Markings: Painted curbs mean that parking is controlled.  Curb color rules:
Yellow Curb: Reserved for commercial use for loading and unloading merchandise or materials.
Red Curb: Designated “no stopping, standing or parking” under any circumstances.
Green Curb: Short term, restricted or limited time parking.
White Curb: Passenger loading zones.
Blue Curb: Designated for vehicles displaying valid Disabled placards or Disabled Person license plates from any state.

Sales tax is 9.75%
Legal drinking age is 21. Bars are open until 2 am. Liquor stores are open seven days a week.

A fun fact:

If you see the giant sundial at the foot of the Berkeley Pier, it was donated by Sakai, Japan in 1974, our oldest sister city! Berkeley became a sister city to Sakai, Japan on March 15, 1966!

So fly into Berkeley, drive around, park your car, enjoy the weather while seeing our giant sundial and enjoy the splendors of this great city while the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa indulges you!

Ready for a visit yet?

 

Berkeley Wine Festival Comes to a Close

Tonight we celebrate the successful conclusion of the first annual Berkeley Wine Festival here at the Claremont Hotel!  The Closing Reception will be a chance to taste wines from this year's participating wineries, get a sneak peek at what might be on the schedule for the 2011 Berkeley Wine Festival, and share stories of this year's highlights.

First we want to extend a huge thank you and congratulations for this year's participating vintners: Larry Maguire from Far Niente, Chris Benziger from Benziger Family Winery, John Williams from Frog's Leap, Jack Bittner from Cliff Lede Vineyards, Dan Duckhorn from Duckhorn Wine Company, Daniel Baron from Silver Oak Cellars, Dennis Cakebread from Cakebread Cellars, and Damien Parker from Joseph Phelps Vineyards, plus all the wineries who poured at both the Opening and Closing Receptions.  Each of you went above and beyond to bring your passion for wine to all the dinner attendees.  You also brought some outstanding wines!  The lucky folks who attended the dinners were delighted by the quality of the wines you provided, as well as the generosity of your hospitality.  Again, thank you!

We also cannot reflect on this year's festival without giving credit where it is due.  Executive Chef Josh Thomsen did a phenomenal job of creating and preparing amazing food for each winemaker dinner.  His menus reflected his deep passion for fresh food and his skill at pairing each dish perfectly with the wines brought in by the vintners.  Simply put, guests at every dinner were blown away by Chef Thomsen's food.  It is no wonder that Star Chefs named him a Rising Star Chef for 2010!

Tonight we will look back at what this year’s Berkeley Wine Festival has meant, but we also will be looking at how we can make the 2011 Berkeley Wine Festival even more successful.  We look forward to partnering with new vintners and to bringing more of our local community into the Festival.  It is exciting to consider that we are at the beginning of what can become the wine festival of the East Bay!

Tickets are still available for tonight’s reception at www.berkeleywinefestival.com.

Chef Thomsen at the Opening Reception

What are your Summer plans?

As children, we all looked forward to summer vacation with breathless anticipation.  Once Spring Break was over, we eagerly tracked how many school days were left before we were free to sleep in, play with friends and enjoy balmy evenings spent grilling in our back yards.  And, of course, the highlight of summer was the family vacation.  Where will we go this year?  What new adventure awaits and what stories would we have to share with friends when we returned?

What are your plans for summer this year?  Berkeley is perhaps the best place to stay in the Bay Area during summer.  We don’t get as hot as our inland neighbors, but the infamous San Francisco fog typically burns off in Berkeley by mid-morning, revealing bright blue skies and warm sunny days. Plus, the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa has several packages that will make your summer planning just a bit easier for you and your pocket book.  Here are just two examples to get your mind thinking in vacation mode!

• Beat the Heat at the Claremont! This package invites you to escape the sometimes oppressive heat of summer, without sacrificing your time in the sun.  Lounge by one of our three pools during the day, or book some time on our tennis courts and work on your serve!  The Beat the Heat package includes your room, a $20 food & beverage credit at Bayview Café (our poolside café!), access to all of the world-class facilities at the Club, including our fitness center and classes, ten tennis courts, and the pools, and you won’t have to worry about the facilities charges or parking charges, as they are also included in the package price.  Beat the Heat packages start at $179 per night and are available from May 21st through September 6th.  This is an outstanding summer value and perfect for that quick weekend getaway!

• The whole family will be thrilled with our Family Fun in the Sun package.  There are so many activities open to guests of the Claremont Hotel that you can fill an entire week and not know where the time went!  The Family Fun in the Sun package gives guests a chance to sample everything we have to offer.  With your room you have the choice of a $100 credit for either the Club or the Spa.  Take advantage of the Club with swimming or tennis lessons, or enroll your children for a week of fun at the Kid’s Club Adventure Day Camp.  If relaxation is more your speed, take advantage of Spa Claremont’s many body and skin care treatments and pair them with a yoga class or two at the Club.  This package also includes breakfast for two adults and two children at Meritage, an in-room movie with popcorn, plus parking and facilities charges.  Family Fun in the Sun packages start at $299 per night and are available from May 21st through September 6th.  Bring your family for a week of fun and togetherness!

The Claremont Hotel Club & Spa is much more than a place to stay.  We offer you and your family an experience that will create memories for years to come!