Oakland, California is a major city in the Bay Area that includes the cities of San Francisco and San Jose. Although not as internationally famous as San Francisco, Oakland is an economic hub, and home to the largest port in Northern California. In addition, the city is known for its thriving art scene, and close proximity to a variety of coastal environments.
If you’ve been planning a trip to Oakland or the Bay Area as a whole, give this guide a read. It can help you learn the importance of visitors medical insurance, some fun things to do while you visit, and some important guidelines to keep in mind.
Visitors Medical Insurance for Travelers in Oakland – FAQs
Getting sick or hurt while at home is enough of a chore; and that’s when you have your own doctor and health insurance to depend on. When it happens during an international trip, it introduces a whole new level of stress. But it doesn’t have to be this way. With visitors medical insurance, you can get the medical care you need while visiting the USA with far less hassle and expense.
Do I need visitors medical insurance for Oakland?
Tourists visiting the USA are not subject to any legal obligation to buy visitors medical insurance. You’re free to go without it and take your chances, if you want. But when you consider how expensive medical treatment in the US is, it is probably better that you don’t take that chance. Get visitors medical insurance so you can receive necessary medical care for a predictable price.
Why buy visitors medical insurance before traveling to Oakland?
The domestic health insurance from your home country won’t be accepted in the United States. Just the same, you cannot be covered by the health insurance of a family member that lives in the US while you’re visiting them. So, are you prepared to pay for a $10,000, $50,000 or larger medical bill if you suddenly get in an accident or come down with a serious illness? Because that’s what the hospital could charge you if you don’t have insurance. The only viable option to protect your health and your finances is visitors medical insurance.
Oakland’s Most Popular Places for Travel
Neighboring San Francisco may be more well known, but there are numerous attractions in Oakland that will beckon you to the East Bay. Here are a few of our top suggestions.
Chinatown
Oakland’s Chinatown is one of the oldest in the United States, dating back to when the first Chinese immigrants began arriving in the area in the 1850s. Highlights of Oakland’s Chinatown include the famous Palace restaurant on Franklin at the corner of 7th Street, annual dragon boat races, and the exciting Oakland Chinatown Streetfest with concerts and vendors that has been held each August since 1988.
A Renowned Arts Scene
Oakland claims it has the highest number of artists per capita of any city in the United States. Whether this is true or not is hard to prove. However, it is apparent that Oakland is packed with art galleries. Take a trip to the Downtown or Uptown areas, and spend a day exploring works from local artists to get a feel for Oakland’s unique culture.
Paramount Theatre
Originally built in 1931, this Art Deco-style concert hall regularly hosts live musical and theatrical performances, lectures, and screenings of classic movies. Unlike most theatres, the Paramount is run by the community. They banded together to save it from destruction, and today it is run as a nonprofit organization with public tours available in addition to scheduled performances. Visitors seeing the ornate fixtures and lights of the Paramount are sure to feel like they’ve been transported back to the golden age of Hollywood.
Oakland Coliseum
If you’re a fan of baseball, or just want to enjoy a slice of Americana, spend a day watching the Oakland Athletics play a Major League Baseball game at the Oakland Coliseum. Interestingly, depending on the way the Coliseum is configured for that day’s game it can either be the largest or smallest capacity Major League Baseball stadium in the US, with capacity ranging from 34,077 to 64,829 depending upon whether the upper deck of seating is open or not.
African American Museum and Library at Oakland
Oakland has a long history of African American culture, and it is proudly displayed at the African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO). Today, the AAMLO features over 160 different collections relating to seminal African American figures like Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. The museum’s two galleries offer rotating exhibitions of African American culture, history, and art.
Key Guidelines for Travelers in Oakland
Before traveling to Oakland, it pays to be equipped with a bit of local knowledge. Here are a handful of tips that can help you get the most out of your trip.
Best Time to Visit
One of the advantages of being located on the San Francisco Bay is that the temperatures in Oakland are heavily moderated by the ocean. It never gets extremely hot or cold here. Throughout the year, you can expect high temperatures between 60-70°F, and overnight lows between 45-55°F. However, the most popular time to visit if you enjoy being outdoors is between July and September, as this is the period when the city gets the least amount of rain. Regardless, it’s still good to pack an umbrella.
Local Transportation
Oakland is one of just a few large cities in the USA that’s easy to navigate without a car. In fact, nearly 25% of Oakland residents regularly get around without one. There are numerous bus and train stations throughout the city, and over 160 miles of protected bikeways, making Oakland the seventh-most bicycle-friendly city in the nation. You certainly can rent a car or grab a cab or rideshare to get around, but Oakland is extremely welcoming to pedestrians when compared to most US cities.
Natural Risks
Due to its location near the San Andreas Fault, Oakland can be subject to seismic activity, including earthquakes. The most famous of these was the Loma Prieta earthquake that occurred in 1989, killing 63. However, events like these are exceedingly rare, and buildings in Oakland are constructed with seismic activity in mind. Just follow the advice of local officials to stay safe in the extremely unlikely event of an earthquake.
Crime and Safety
Sadly, Oakland is considered one of the more dangerous major cities in the United States. However, most violent crime is restricted to certain specific neighborhoods. Still, tourists would do well to stay on guard by not walking alone at night. Also, avoid carrying unnecessarily large amounts of cash, or flashing expensive jewelry.
Getting to Oakland
Although Oakland is served by Oakland International Airport, the vast majority of international visitors to the city will first fly into the much larger San Francisco International Airport, which receives flights from destinations around the world. Once you’ve arrived at SFO, there are a variety of train, bus, and automobile options to get you across the Bay to Oakland.
Before You Travel to Oakland – Do This
- Pack some warm clothing. Oakland never gets particularly hot, even at the height of summer. It’s not a bad idea to pack a sweater or windbreaker for those chilly mornings.
- Get a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) pass if you plan to travel around the Bay Area. Numerous discounts are available for students, seniors, and those making below a certain income level.
- Protect your finances from unplanned expenses with visitors medical insurance.