San Francisco - Hotel Suggestions

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the specific recc’s! Appreciate the alternative day trip advice.

The Hyatt Embarcadero looks great but said is $900+ a night while we are there.

We’ll check out the Argonaut. Welcome any other hotel options folks have that worked well for them.

[Anonymous]

We just stayed at Hilton Financial District. For us it was great- clean rooms, comfortable, across the street from Chinatown, walking distance to piers and waterfront, great view from room and only about $225 per night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just stayed at Hilton Financial District. For us it was great- clean rooms, comfortable, across the street from Chinatown, walking distance to piers and waterfront, great view from room and only about $225 per night.

Was it super "empty feeling" though? We'll be there on weekdays but I hate the feeling in DC of the downtown sections that feel "ghost-town-ish".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just stayed at Hilton Financial District. For us it was great- clean rooms, comfortable, across the street from Chinatown, walking distance to piers and waterfront, great view from room and only about $225 per night.

Was it super "empty feeling" though? We'll be there on weekdays but I hate the feeling in DC of the downtown sections that feel "ghost-town-ish".

No, not at all. The name says “Financial District,” but it’s actually between Chinatown and the Financial District. It’s an older property, but for us it worked out fine. There are lots of great restaurants in Chinatown, and Little Italy is close by too.

[Anonymous]

Not what you asked, but re: cliffs and scenery there’s no way I’d do Big Sur as a day trip. I’m 35 mins south of San Francisco and don’t like going to Monterrey for a day trip. Much closer to San Francisco (and my happy place) is Point Reyes. If you go on the road out past Hearts Desire Beach toward Pierce Ranch / the Tule Elk preserve you’ll see amazing views. Or you could go out to the lighthouse. The hike from Pierce Ranch around the point is beautiful if it’s not fogged in - I haven’t done the whole thing but the first few miles are amazing.

[Anonymous]

More of a motel than hotel, but we had a great stay at the Royal Pacific Motor Inn in Chinatown. It had free parking and was super conveniently located.

[Anonymous]

Go to Land's End and walk around to the Ocean Beach. Beautiful views and a bit away from the well traveled touristy parts although there is still some tourists going there. I used to live in SF.. You can also walk through Presidio and drive from Presidio to Land's End is very dramatic scenery. I used to hike there and go across GG bridge, which is also fun.

There are lots of car break ins in SF parking lots, be very careful. I have a family there and go yearly, it's gotten worse in this respect. I hope that local gov is doing something about these gangs. We saw hopeless tourists get their car broken into when they went for a 5 min sightseeing because they left their backpack in the car, don't do it! Don't leave anything in your car even if you want to take a quick photo. I suggest staying around Union Sq., Embarcadero like others suggested, but have to pay for parking. Hiking around in SF itself is going to give you beautiful views you won't see anywhere else. I suggest Lafayette park and Alamo and other urban hill parks just for the views and Twin Peaks. Berkeley has beautiful views too from campus, GL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to Land's End and walk around to the Ocean Beach. Beautiful views and a bit away from the well traveled touristy parts although there is still some tourists going there. I used to live in SF.. You can also walk through Presidio and drive from Presidio to Land's End is very dramatic scenery. I used to hike there and go across GG bridge, which is also fun.

There are lots of car break ins in SF parking lots, be very careful. I have a family there and go yearly, it's gotten worse in this respect. I hope that local gov is doing something about these gangs. We saw hopeless tourists get their car broken into when they went for a 5 min sightseeing because they left their backpack in the car, don't do it! Don't leave anything in your car even if you want to take a quick photo. I suggest staying around Union Sq., Embarcadero like others suggested, but have to pay for parking. Hiking around in SF itself is going to give you beautiful views you won't see anywhere else. I suggest Lafayette park and Alamo and other urban hill parks just for the views and Twin Peaks. Berkeley has beautiful views too from campus, GL!

Also avoid Tenderloin and most of Market St. It's always been gross for decades and it's bad now unless you enjoy seeing drug activity and sad forms of degeneracy.

Nicer yuppier areas for shopping would be Pacific Heights, Union St and around Marina. Not many bums there, I saw none when we went last Jan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:More of a motel than hotel, but we had a great stay at the Royal Pacific Motor Inn in Chinatown. It had free parking and was super conveniently located.

There are multiple motor hotels on Lombard st, which is another good area with proximity to Marina, Chestnut St, Union St and Museum of Fine arts. I've never stayed at any of them and cannot comment, OP has to read reviews, but the area is convenient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just stayed at Hilton Financial District. For us it was great- clean rooms, comfortable, across the street from Chinatown, walking distance to piers and waterfront, great view from room and only about $225 per night.

Was it super "empty feeling" though? We'll be there on weekdays but I hate the feeling in DC of the downtown sections that feel "ghost-town-ish".

No, not at all. The name says “Financial District,” but it’s actually between Chinatown and the Financial District. It’s an older property, but for us it worked out fine. There are lots of great restaurants in Chinatown, and Little Italy is close by too.

There’s no little Italy in SF.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just stayed at Hilton Financial District. For us it was great- clean rooms, comfortable, across the street from Chinatown, walking distance to piers and waterfront, great view from room and only about $225 per night.

Was it super "empty feeling" though? We'll be there on weekdays but I hate the feeling in DC of the downtown sections that feel "ghost-town-ish".

No, not at all. The name says “Financial District,” but it’s actually between Chinatown and the Financial District. It’s an older property, but for us it worked out fine. There are lots of great restaurants in Chinatown, and Little Italy is close by too.

There’s no little Italy in SF.

It’s not called “Little Italy,” but North Beach has a lot of Italian influence. It’s near Chinatown.

[Anonymous]

For Big Sur, stay overnight in Carmel. There are tons of small inns and bed and breakfasts. Monterey is little further north of Carmel. This is a really good option too. Big Sure is amazing.

Do you have small kids? The Henry Cowell park with redwoods and the old railroad is a big hit in Santa Cruz.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to Land's End and walk around to the Ocean Beach. Beautiful views and a bit away from the well traveled touristy parts although there is still some tourists going there. I used to live in SF.. You can also walk through Presidio and drive from Presidio to Land's End is very dramatic scenery. I used to hike there and go across GG bridge, which is also fun.

There are lots of car break ins in SF parking lots, be very careful. I have a family there and go yearly, it's gotten worse in this respect. I hope that local gov is doing something about these gangs. We saw hopeless tourists get their car broken into when they went for a 5 min sightseeing because they left their backpack in the car, don't do it! Don't leave anything in your car even if you want to take a quick photo. I suggest staying around Union Sq., Embarcadero like others suggested, but have to pay for parking. Hiking around in SF itself is going to give you beautiful views you won't see anywhere else. I suggest Lafayette park and Alamo and other urban hill parks just for the views and Twin Peaks. Berkeley has beautiful views too from campus, GL!

Just visited Big Sur and San Fran. We turned our rental car in after Big Sur and just walked and Ubered in SF. No worries about car break-ins, plus SF is really walkable.

FYI, San Fran isn’t nearly as bad as Fox News makes it. Most of the areas you go will be fine. Just like any big city, use common sense.

[Anonymous]

I recently stayed at the Marriott Fisherman's Wharf. It is at the bottom of Russian Hill and a short walk to the Pier.

[Anonymous]

I had a good stay at the White Swan Inn - the Abbey Suite would work for you.

https://www.whiteswaninnsf.com/rooms/abbey-suite/