If you are headed to the central valley of California odds are that you will pass right through the city of Fresno off of Hwy 99. Anyone coming up from Los Angeles trying to get to Yosemite National Park pretty much has to go through Fresno to get there. I recently made a trip down I-5 from Oregon on my way to Kings Canyon National Park and we went through Fresno on our way out. Fresno is an up and coming city in central California with a decent sized downtown region. Business travelers have several hotels to choose from including the Four Points by Sheration and the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center. It had been a decade since I last stayed in Fresno and the growth I saw was amazing. I had stayed near the Fresno Airport years ago while visiting some friends out at Fresno State University. The Historic Tower District is an interesting spot in the downtown region so if you are here on business try booking a room near that. If you are visiting students or your own children at Fresno State check out the Piccadilly Inn University hotel which is literally right across the street.
Many of my friends and family who live in the Bay Area still, use Fresno as a stopping off point for the night when they are traveling to the national parks of Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia. The good news is that Fresno supplies many family friendly hotels with reasonable rates year round. I prefer the Courtyard Marriott Fresno Airport location and the newer TownePlace Suites Fresno which is located on N. Fresno Street near the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center. For extended stays the Towneplace Suites are perfect with a kitchen area and a separate living area so you can relax and feel at home. Most hotel rates we saw in Fresno ranged from $80 to $120, but the cheaper hotels like the Vagabond Inn Executive had quoted rates as low as $49/night. Expedia is an excellent site to use if you want to quickly compare hotel rates on various places within Fresno. Keep in mind that not all districts in Fresno are considered safe at night as crime and gang activity is rampant. The downtown area hotels get great reviews online and those near the airport are also a recommended location. Make sure the hotel you are staying at has a working pool since the temperatures in Fresno can be over 100 degrees during the summer months and being able to cool off could be huge if you have a family with kids. Also, look for hotels with deals like FREE breakfast or high speed Internet access. For reviews on any of these hotels, do a search on Google for "Fresno Hotels" and a complete list will pop up with reviews you can read. Many have over 100 reviews done by travelers and customers just like you with pros and cons to each location.
Most Popular Fresno, California Hotels
Radisson Hotel & Conference Center - 2233 Ventura St., Fresno, CA. Phone # 559-268-1000. Adjacent to the Fresno Convention Center and easy access to Hwy 41 and Hwy 99. They have new Sleep Number Bed guestrooms and rates start at $129/night. The best spot for families and business travelers alike. The rooms are big, the beds are comfortable and the accommodations are first rate.
Four Points By Sheraton Fresno - 3737 North Blackstone · Fresno, California 93726. Phone # (559) 226-2200. One of the nicer business hotels in town, rates start at $150 and go to about $180 per night.
Piccadilly Inn University 4961 North Cedar Ave., Fresno, CA 93726. Phone # (559) 224-4200 or (800) 468-3587. This hotel is adjacent to California State University, Fresno. 190 rooms with 6 suites to choose from. Room rates are $100 to $180/night. Other locations include one at the Fresno Airport, one on Shaw Avenue, and the Piccadilly Inn Express on East McKinley Ave.
La Quinta Inn Fresno Yosemite - 2926 Tulare - (559) 442-1110. Near the Convention Center, City Hall, and all State and Federal Buildings. Room rates are between $90 and $120/night and includes free breakfast.
Vagabond Inn Executive Fresno - 2141 N Parkway Dr Fresno, CA 93705. Phone # 800-522-1555. Complimentary hot breakfast and Internet rates as low as $45.99.
TownePlace Suites Fresno - 7127 North Fresno Street - Phone # 559-435-4600. 3 Floors with 92 suites. Room rates are $99 to $169 with studios and 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom suites to choose from.
Fresno, CA Vacation Tips, Recommendations, and Advice: Suggestions for a better Trip!:
Fresno may not be the best city to take your family on vacation to, but it does offer some unique charactertistics. Fresno is the best city to stay in if you are headed to any of the big 3 national parks in California including Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia. Yosemite is only 55 miles from Fresno and Kings Canyon National Park is about the same. I do suggest not traveling in the peak summer months if you can help it since the weather can be excrutiatingly hot (100 degrees or more) and it's not always the best time to see the national parks. The shoulder months are best for reduced crowds and cooler weather. I've been in Kings Canyon when the temperatures over 95 degrees and it's almost impossible to enjoy yourself. Early June or September is the time to go through Fresno. If you happen to be in town during a Fresno State Bulldogs football game, try to get tickets since the games are very exciting and an experience you won't soon forget.
Do you have a quality site or product that belongs in this guide? We are always happy to evaluate or review new products and websites. Feel free to contact us at the email address below and let us know about you. If you have a demo product you'd like us to look at, please contact us before sending anything. Thank you.
BUYING GUIDES
