Hotels
Our room block at the Marriott and the Comfort Inn are now full, especially for Wednesday and Thursday night. Several other hotels offered special rates for our conference; see below. Availability at these closest hotels may open up later, and we will post updated information if it is available.
This hotel that is also very nearby shows room availability as of February 12:
Motel 6 Ventura Beach 2145 E Harbor Blvd, Ventura, CA 93001 (805) 643-5100
Ventura Beach Marriott is our host hotel, with a special conference rate of $149/night. No rooms left for most nights, but you can check and see if anything opens up.
The Ventura Beach Marriott is about a block from the ocean and only a few minutes from Ventura Harbor and downtown Ventura, which both have numerous shops and restaurants. The hotel has a restaurant, heated outdoor pool and fitness center. Conference attendees receive free wireless in guest rooms and discounted parking ($7/day). Cut-off February 1. Call 805-643-6000.
Comfort Inn Ventura Beach No rooms left for Thursday night. Rooms may be available for other nights. Across the street from the Marriott, offers rooms for a conference rate of $108 for Wednesday and Thursday nights and $119 for Friday and Saturday nights. This rate includes complimentary hot breakfast at nearby Denny’s Restaurant, wireless high-speed internet, and parking. To make reservations, call 805-653-5000 and mention “Raspberry & Blackberry Conference”. The cut-off date for conference-rate reservations is January 22. Any cancellations made after 4:00 pm February 16 will result in a charge for the first night of the the reservation.
Holiday Inn Express Ventura Harbor Call 805-856-9533. Mention “Raspberry & Blackberry Conference. Rooms currently available for January 23 and 24 only. Conference rate is $149/night for single/double room. Cut-off date has been extended to February 2. Includes complimentary wi-fi, and breakfast. Discounted parking of $5/night. Additional nights may be added based on room availability. The address is 1080 Navigator Drive, Ventura, a little more than two miles away from the Marriott.
Best Western Plus Inn of Ventura The conference rate is $110/night Wednesday and Thursday and $140/night Friday and Saturday for a room with one queen bed. Rooms with two queen beds are $114 and $158. Cut-off date is now January 31. Call 805-648-3101 during normal business hours and ask for Carlos or Monique. The address is 708 E. Thompson Blvd, near downtown Ventura and about 1.5 miles from the Marriott.
Note that the free Downtown Ventura Trolley runs from downtown Ventura to the Marriott to Ventura Harbor.
Other Options: There are a number of other hotels in the area; you might check sites like www.hotels.com and www.tripadvisor.com or try www.airbnb.com If we learn that additional rooms open at any of our host hotels or deadlines are extended, we will share that information here.
Travel
By air:
• Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) 37.8 miles
• Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR) 60.3 miles
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) 69.7 miles
Shuttle services, taxis, and rental cars are available at the airports.
By car: The conference, at the Marriott, is at 2055 Harbor Blvd., Ventura, CA 93001. This is just off Hwy 101 (exit 68, Seaward Avenue). The Comfort Inn across the street is 2094 E Harbor Blvd.
California Mudslides: Mudslides in early January in Santa Barbara county, an after-effect of the fires, have closed Hwy 101 between Santa Barbara to Ventura. Efforts are underway to open this major highway as quickly as possible. Be sure to check current conditions and closures before driving into Ventura for the conference.
By train: There is also an Amtrak station in Ventura, 7 minutes away by car. Train may be a convenient way to avoid Hwy 101 road closures, if they continue, for those coming from the north.
Ride sharing: If you are interested in sharing a rental car, taxi, or airport shuttle, send NARBA your travel information (airport, arrival/departure times, and cellphone). We will put travelers in touch with each other.
