cornelius01

We will be dropping rental car off at airport a day early and staying our last night at airport.
Which hotel would be the best one to take a shuttle or Bart into the city to Fisherman's Wharf for a few hours and to have one last good seafood meal.

tomfuller

For 1 night in San Francisco my choice would be between the Fisherman's Wharf HI Hostel (building 240 in Fort Mason) and the City Center HI Hostel (685 Ellis).
The Fisherman's Wharf hostel is in a park like setting with views of Alcatraz and the GG bridge. The City Center hostel has a $ 1 breakfast every morning and has easy access to BART and Muni buses. The idea of staying in a hotel close to the airport with takeoffs and landings all night does not appeal to me.
Can you check your heavy bags and just live out of your carry ons for 1 night?

sf7307

The OP wants to stay at the airport and BART/shuttle into the city.

Cornelius, what means 'best' to you -- closest to the airport? cleanest? least expensive? The airport has all sorts of hotels ranging from a Hyatt Regency and Marriott to a Motel 6 and Travelodge. Some of them are just north of the airport on the east side of the freeway, and some are south. Others are closer to the Millbrae BART stations on El Camino -- those are motels, but even then, there are upscale ones like the El Rancho, and less so, like the Millbrae Ritz.

I think ALL the airport hotels provide a shuttle to the airport and/or to the BART station.

StuDudley

Why Fisherman's Wharf?? - unless yo want to purchase some souvenirs (which you can probably get at the airport). The restaurants there are some of the lowest rated restaurants in the City (except Gary Danko & Ana Mandara). The Wharf is really tacky, IMO.

BART will not get you close to the Wharf. If you use BART, you will need to take a shuttle to BART from your hotel, then BART, then a "trolly" from the foot of Market St (Embarcadero BART station) to the Wharf. If you want to visit the "real" San Francisco, just stay at the foot of Market, visit the Ferry Bldg, walk along the beautiful Embarcadero, have dinner downtown near Union Sq, or the Financial district, or near/at the Ferry Building. What is your budget for dinner. Will you have wine/drinks (or both) with dinner??

Stu Dudley

janisj

If you want to stay at SFO (all the hotels have good sound proofing BTW) -- I'd bid for a 4 star on priceline. I usually get one of the good ones for $50-$65 a night but once got the Marriott for $35.

I personally wouldn't go to the Wharf for my last night. As mentioned, take the hotel shuttle to SFO and BART to the foot of Market/the Emarcadero. Lots of great places to eat w/i walking distance.

(and I wouldn't stay in a hostel in SF either -- for the same money you can stay in a full service 3 or 4 star hotel in the center of things using PL)

If your flight is early in the AM there is nothing wrong w/ staying at SFO. If the flight is mid-morning or later --I'd probably stay in SF.

SAB

Ditto on the idea of not going to the Wharf, you can find good seafood all over SF and the Wharf is not a place I would recommend to anyone for their last night in SF.

J62

I stay at SFO airport hotels a couple times a year on business, not by choice.

In my opinion it's a real pain taking the shuttle to/from the airport then catching BART. There can be a lot of waiting going both ways.

For what you want to do, which is enjoy a last night out in the city, I find it much better to return my car in the city, stay at a hotel not far from BART, and catch an early train to the airport.

All the rental car co's have several in-city locations where you can return the car.

sf7307

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If you can return the car downtown, staying in the city wouldn't be a bad idea, particularly if you're willing to priceline or hotwire your hotel. Be aware, however, that the in-city car rental locations tend to close pretty early -- 5 or 6 p.m. Don't know what time you were planning to return the car.

cornelius01

We are returning the rental car by mid afternoon and our flight out the next morning is at 9. I just thought would be easier staying close to airport and no hassle in the morning by just taking hotel shuttle.
Will change plans about going to F. Wharf and find nice seafood restaurant in other part of City. There is a Best Western Millbrae....is that convenient to getting into city for the last night?
Thanks for all suggestions.

sf7307

The Best Western El Rancho Inn in Millbrae is .8 miles from the Millbrae BART station. I'd guess the hotel shuttle goes there, too.

sf7307

There is a Fairfield Inn and Suites even closer to the Millbrae BART station. You can see it on googlemaps.