where to stay in San Francisco

[rh71]

Recommendations for decent 3*+ hotels, don't need anything extravagant. Will be there for 2 days... sightseeing mostly. Never been in the area. Do we stay in the main city area so we're close ?

We have a car (driving to SF) - is that a problem in the city and hotel parking ?

Priceline lists the following areas:
Cathedral Hill
Civic Center Area
Fisherman's Wharf
San Francisco Airport (SFO)
San Mateo
South San Francisco
Union Square East - Embarcadero
Union Square West

map

 

[macwinlin]

I don't think you will really need a car in the city of San Francisco since most places are within walking distance. Plus, public transportation is great (I think it is, compared with LA), with buses, the world-famous trolleys and BART. And parking, from what I heard, can be hard to find and expensive.

I remember staying in SF with my parents and sister in one of the chain hotels (Best Western maybe? I can't remember) a few years ago. The hotel and its parking was decent although I think we could have a better hotel for the price outside of the city. And it didn't look safe to go out after dark.

 

[Baked]

Sure you can park in the hotel parking lot, just don't expect to drive around in it during site seeing, you won't find any parking spots on the street at the downtowna and tourist areas, parking enforcement is crazy, and parking fee is very expensive. Public transportation can take you anywhere, and I mean anywhere. Get a deal from travel sites on the 4 star hotels in the downtown area and on the hills (more expensive).

 

[habib89]

the public transportation is alright.. there's museums, shopping, cable cars.. all that stuff in downtown, so you won't really need to drive anywhere...

however it'll be pretty expensive, i'm sure, to stay in downtown... i'm not really sure where you could stay though.. since i just stay at my parents house, and i don't think they'd allow you to stay there.. if you're looking to go on the cheap, i'd stay away from union square and fisherman's wharf... i dunno.. 2 days doesn't seem like enough to tour the city if you ask me.. tons of great restraunts.. tons of museums and stuff to visit.. did i mention restraunts??

 

[rh71]

"downtown" is the union square area ?

 

[Sex Smurf]

Who is "we"? If it's just you, stay at Castro street. If it's you and family, take the other suggestions please.

 

[macwinlin]

I think Union Square is part of the whole downtown area. I was there the last time since there were places to shop there.

 

[Riceball]

Union square is the main shopping hub of the downtown area. I live in SF so I'll answer what I can but I don't know about hotel rates

 

[KLin]

I stayed at the Mark Hopkins in January. Nice hotel, but it's around 200 bucks/night.