The Hotel Durant is my favorite place to stay in Berkeley and quite frankly, it's the only place I do stay in Berkeley. It is my hotel of choice when I am visiting the university for business. The location is unbeatable as is the service and the in hotel restaurant. I often have breakfast and lunch meetings at Henry's Grill when I am in town, because it's easy for people to get to, there is parking and the food is good. I always appreciate the friendly, helpful and professional staff. They make me feel welcome and make my stay beyond pleasant. I recommend the Hotel Durant to all my colleagues from the University of Michigan who need to travel to Berkeley.

Homecoming weekend was our third stay at the Durant. Yes, this weekend is crazy with all of the furniture removed from the Lobby to make way for the giant bar for the overflow from Henry's, and the limited parking due to the bar and barbeque outside. This was expected and not a problem, and it was understandable that the Lobby ladies' room (one toilet!) had a huge line (the men's room turned into a second ladies' room, relegating the men to the outdoor port-a-pots).

Best part of the Durant is the location in its proximity to the Cal campus and all of the action, followed close on its heals by Henry's, which is a great bar. The rooms are comfortable, but tired, especially for the price paid for the rooms. The lighting is dreary. On our last trip a bedside lamp blew and smoked and was never replaced and the lightbulbs in them are scary. The overhead light is too small to adequately light the room, and the overhead fan is noisy and does nothing.

In the morning, there is coffee offered in the Lobby until 9 or 10, and the regular coffee jug is perpetually empty, with patrons repeatedly requesting more coffee.

Internet service is generally very good, but t.v. channels minimal.

I stayed at the Hotel Durant during homecoming game this past weekend and was plesantly surprised that the staff were much, much pleasant than last year. The bellmen were very helpful and the front desk clerks were very friendly yet professional.

After asking around what brought these changes, I found out that there's a new management company that's running the show. Moreover, it was great to learn that the new owners are planning to renovate the hotel next year. We stay at Hotel Durant primarily due to its location. I'm looking forward to next year when they renovate the hotel! This place will be a gem!

Chose to stay at the Durant due to the price and close proximity to the Claremont (attended a wedding reception there).

The pros - ability to park ($15), easy check-in, bed was very comfortable, the room was clean and it was inexpensive (compared to the Claremont).

The cons - hotel staff took my car keys after I parked (so if you have two sets - keep one so you can leave whenever you want), sink was in the bedroom/sleeping area, due to the location of the hotel there were practically no cabs going by the hotel (and calling one took about 1/2 an hour), the walls are thin (could hear neighbors watching TV at 6 a.m.) the room was small as well (think Europe) and I heard that some rooms had murphy beds... fun for kids, but not so for adults.

All in all, we just stayed at the Durant due to price and location - I wouldn't stay there again though. I would opt for paying more and staying elsewhere. I heard that the Durant is the 'nicest' hotel in Berkeley - so parents, bring your earplugs! It was an okay stay, but wouldn't recommend this place to my friends.