San Francisco or Marin hotel recommendations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where will you be coming from? With that proposed itinerary, you really don’t need to stay in SF at all (then again you miss out on emerging the city has to offer but I guess that’s your prerogative). If you want to take a trip up the coast you could stay overnight in an AirBnb along the way.

We are coming from DC and heading to Yosemite via Lake Tahoe. I have been to San Francisco a lot and kids have never been to California so they want to do coastal stuff instead of city stuff--though if we had more time, we would happily fit in city stuff. We are open to suggestions on how to spend our short time there!

Are you flying into SFO? If your ultimate destination is Yosemite, I would just drive up the coast and stay along Route 1 near Point Reyes. There's lots of little inns of varying price points and then you don't have to worry about doubling back to your hotel in the city. If you REALLY want to make a coastal trip out of it and aren't afraid of driving, keep going towards Mendocino and stay in Gualala. Point Arena Lighthouse looks like no other place in CA.

[Anonymous]

Just a quick note to say that Muir Woods now requires reservations in advance and regularly sells out. Learned that the hard way on a trip in January...

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm the Water's Edge poster. I think you'll like it. We also stayed with teens, FWIW, and went to Lake Tahoe after a couple of days there. Enjoy! If you're looking for an activity, our teens had fun rafting on the Truckee River.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP for the warning on needing a reservation to go to Muir Woods! We are similarly headed to San Fran (with older teens) and looking for things to do, including coastal activities. Are there any other places of note that require advance planning (but didn’t used to)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just a quick note to say that Muir Woods now requires reservations in advance and regularly sells out. Learned that the hard way on a trip in January...

Yes, reservations are required for Muir Woods. Muir Woods was nice, but more spectacular was Muir Beach and Muir Beach Overlook. Short drive from Zmuir Woods with views as spectacular as Big Sur, without the crowds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a big city and a big county. Might want to help narrow it down a bit by preferred location or activities or something.

I'm traveling soon to the Northeastern United States. Can you suggest an affordable hotel?

There is no need to mock.

OP here, and I will be booking at the Waters Edge. Thank you to the person who made that suggestion.

Well, but there is sort of a need to mock- as stated above, the original question was too broad, and you haven't narrowed it down. I'll give you an example- maybe your Marin location is important to be able to take a ferry or bus into SF or maybe to the Golden Gate Bridge. Staying in Sausalito makes a lot of sense for that- but the Waters Edge hotel is in Tiburon, which yes is close to Sausalito but much less accessible without a car. That's why adding specific information is helpful for requests like this.

What is going on lately with people all over this board policing how people ask, nitpicking, chastising for not asking exactly the right way, then being condescending? OP just told you she booked a hotel. You can rest.

PP here who always presses for some more details. I always think of it like this- if a friend said "I am going to San Francisco, what hotel would you recommend?", my first response would be "what area do you want to stay, or what are you planning on doing"? They would probably also mention if their kids were coming, etc. Generally they would have already mentioned when they are going, of course. That's why these questions always arise- they are natural things that would shape a recommendation, and they would normally come up naturally in an in-person conversation. They are pretty important in being able to give a considered answer/response. That's why its frustrating when people don't include some of these basic pieces of info.

It’s not too broad. SF hotels are clustered around Union Square and the northeastern side of SF. My favorite area is the western side around Gooden gate park but it’s more residential. Marin is not that big either.

[Anonymous]

Please do not call it San Fran. Nails on a chalkboard.

[Anonymous]

Hi Muir Woods poster. Thank you so much for all of the tips! We got passes and parking. Will visit the trees and make a point of getting to Muir Beach and Muir Woods. There used to be a nice hike from the woods to the beach. Is that still a thing? We used to go in a group and leave a car by the beach and park another at woods so we could do a one-way trip rather than a loop. Any idea if this could now be solved with an uber pickup at Muir Beach?

[Anonymous]

Open to any other suggestions for having a good day at Muir Woods and beach! Seems like lots changed since I lived in Cali!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Open to any other suggestions for having a good day at Muir Woods and beach! Seems like lots changed since I lived in Cali!

We don’t call it Cali anymore. That’s changed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi Muir Woods poster. Thank you so much for all of the tips! We got passes and parking. Will visit the trees and make a point of getting to Muir Beach and Muir Woods. There used to be a nice hike from the woods to the beach. Is that still a thing? We used to go in a group and leave a car by the beach and park another at woods so we could do a one-way trip rather than a loop. Any idea if this could now be solved with an uber pickup at Muir Beach?

Are you thinking of the Dipsea trail to Stinson?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PP for the warning on needing a reservation to go to Muir Woods! We are similarly headed to San Fran (with older teens) and looking for things to do, including coastal activities. Are there any other places of note that require advance planning (but didn’t used to)?

Alcatraz sells out in advance frequently.

[Anonymous]

The Orchard Hotel in SF was a lovely hotel and surprisingly cheaper than expected. Got the rec 10+ years ago on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a big city and a big county. Might want to help narrow it down a bit by preferred location or activities or something.

I'm traveling soon to the Northeastern United States. Can you suggest an affordable hotel?

There is no need to mock.

OP here, and I will be booking at the Waters Edge. Thank you to the person who made that suggestion.

Well, but there is sort of a need to mock- as stated above, the original question was too broad, and you haven't narrowed it down. I'll give you an example- maybe your Marin location is important to be able to take a ferry or bus into SF or maybe to the Golden Gate Bridge. Staying in Sausalito makes a lot of sense for that- but the Waters Edge hotel is in Tiburon, which yes is close to Sausalito but much less accessible without a car. That's why adding specific information is helpful for requests like this.

And think about your food preferences