Anonymous wrote:Hyatt Regency Embarcadero

This.

I also vote for the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero. We enjoyed walking north along the coast from there. Also the area outside is featured in the U2 documentary Rattle and Hum which was a nice bonus for me since I’ve seen that a hundred times.

look on 3rd street in SoMa.

Hyatt Regency Embarcadero

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big Sur as a daytrip seems ambitious, maybe too much so. Have you considered going north instead? You could do Sausalito and Muir Woods and see some coast? I don’t think you need to drive that far to see gorgeous scenery.

yeah that was where i was leaning. DH liked the look of the dramatic cliffs around the Big Sur area. If there's anyway to NOT drive 6 hrs round-trip in a day and still see something resembling that closer to SF, i'd love it.
- OP

Big Sur is Big Sur. There's something very magical about it. That said, I absolutely would not do it as a day trip from SF. The Marin headlands are stunning. And the drive down 1 along the coast towards Santa Cruz has some beautiful cliffs.

Not sure on pricing, but there's a couple of lodging options in the Presidio if you're looking for something different. Way easier to have a car there than most other places in SF.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big Sur as a daytrip seems ambitious, maybe too much so. Have you considered going north instead? You could do Sausalito and Muir Woods and see some coast? I don’t think you need to drive that far to see gorgeous scenery.

yeah that was where i was leaning. DH liked the look of the dramatic cliffs around the Big Sur area. If there's anyway to NOT drive 6 hrs round-trip in a day and still see something resembling that closer to SF, i'd love it.
- OP

I think you can find cliffs extremely close by. I think if Big Sur as a weekend getaway trip, not a daytrip. I am no expert, have just visited family in the area a lot, but we love going just north of the Golden Gate Bridge (can combine with seeing the Japanese tea garden in the park) to the fort up there and Sausalito or watching surfers in Pacifica (down cliffs) or hang gliders taking off (Ft Funston?).

My experience with Big Sur is you drive to a lookout, look, drive on, pull over, look, drive, repeat, etc. It’s s lot of scenic drives, followed by going to a fancy hotel. I think you would find it a tough car day.

Big Sur from San Francisco is not most most people consider a day trip.

We enjoyed the Argonaut Hotel in Fisherman’s Wharf.

Anonymous wrote:Big Sur as a daytrip seems ambitious, maybe too much so. Have you considered going north instead? You could do Sausalito and Muir Woods and see some coast? I don’t think you need to drive that far to see gorgeous scenery.

yeah that was where i was leaning. DH liked the look of the dramatic cliffs around the Big Sur area. If there's anyway to NOT drive 6 hrs round-trip in a day and still see something resembling that closer to SF, i'd love it.
- OP

Anonymous wrote:Adding on - we'll have a car since we're doing the day trips to things. I realize for being in the city we'll want to park it but adding that as ease to the airpot/etc wouldn't be a factor.
- OP

The city proper is quite small so if you stay within SF it doesn’t matter. You could stay in the burbs though. That might make more sense.

Big Sur as a daytrip seems ambitious, maybe too much so. Have you considered going north instead? You could do Sausalito and Muir Woods and see some coast? I don’t think you need to drive that far to see gorgeous scenery.

Adding on - we'll have a car since we're doing the day trips to things. I realize for being in the city we'll want to park it but adding that as ease to the airpot/etc wouldn't be a factor.
- OP

Union square yes there will be homeless it’s a city

It’s most convenient to get anywhere else and train from airport is super easy just walk a block or two to a hotel . BART is safe.


Or stay near the Embarcadero. Also convient to many things

Lighthaven

I did a search but I'm not finding all that much useful - I'm sure there is a prior thread on this that i'm missing...

DH, DD17, DS13 and I planning to go to SF over 2025 spring break for a few days. We'd have two half days for seeing the city (arriving Weds afternoon; flying home Sat but in between doing a Berkley visit one morning and a day trip drive to Big Sur on Friday). I 100% realize this means we'll just have a taste of the city not the full experience by far.

Where would be best to stay - as in, any specific hotel recommendations? I've seen some recommendations for Knob or Russian Hill but there seem to be virtually no hotels in those areas. Also ones for "North Beach" but I'm not finding hotels that say they are that area either. I'd like to stay at around $400 per night all in (with taxes) at a 3 to 4 star spot. $450 all in is ok too if that's impossible in a nice area.