Recommended Hotel: Hampton Inn
Why: Spacious, Comfortable Rooms, Outdoor Pool, Friendly Staff
If you wish to be walking distance from the Hayward BART station, you can choose from the Days Inn or Hampton Inn. While the Days Inn is the cheaper option, guests consistently complain about this hotel across hundreds of online reviews. The Hampton Inn, on the other hand, gets consistently good ratings, so it’s worth paying the average $170/night on weekends and $226/night on weekdays. Parking, breakfast, and WiFi are all free. Guests speak highly about the spacious, clean rooms and the perk of having an outdoor pool. So even though the Days Inn is cheaper, we prefer the Hampton Inn for stays in the Hayward area.
Neighborhood Vibe: Hayward is a city that sits a bit south of Oakland in the East Bay region. The area was once known for salt production and a cannery, but those factories are long gone. Residents now are mostly people who have retired from the factory or another industry and families who work in transportation or education. The crime rate is a bit higher in Hayward than surrounding areas, so use caution in the evenings. 
Getting Around: From Hayward, it’s about 35 minutes to the Powell Street station in the heart of San Francisco via BART.
What to Eat: The neighborhood directly surrounding the BART station isn’t too exciting, but there are a few restaurants of note. Sivan’s Cafe is closest to the BART station and a great place to grab a sandwich and coffee before catching your train. Charlotte’s also does some nice sandwiches, but they’re best known for ice cream and sweets. 
Things to Do: Many buildings in Hayward are decorated with murals thanks to the Hayward Public Art Program. Downtown Hayward has beautiful architecture and is a nice place to walk around during the day or to take in a movie at Cinema Place. 
