hbark

Is anyone familiar with the Ramada Inn Limited, 240 7th St? We're looking for a location close to a BART, decent neighborhood, etc. Never been to San Francisco before.

Rate is good, includes "limited parking" (whatever that means) and cont. bfast.

Thanks for any opinions.

hbark

Or how about the Ramada Plaza Downtown, 1231 Market street. Also a good rate, and it says the BART and other public transportation is right there?

Thanks

kikahead

I too would chose a different hotel--to get to Union Sq. from there you have to go through a seedy area of Market. The actual hotel is nice but the neighborhood may be a little too colorful for your taste.

OliveOyl

ttt

clarkgriswold

What dates are you looking for? And you want a hotel with parking, right?

FainaAgain

Please reconsider. This area is not safe, at daytime it may be OK if you're used to seedy areas, but after 6 pm it's run by homeless, drug dealers, etc. Not all BART station areas are safe. If parking is an issue look at Van Ness corridor, Cow Hollow, Fisherman's Warf areas.

SAB

I join in the recommendation that you select another location. I'm not a SF alarmist and neither are the previous posters , but the 7th Sreet area is seedy .

BayArea

The only person I would encourage to lodge on 6th, 7th or 8th St would be someone I really didn't like.

Many posters have been talking about great deals that they get on Priceline. The prices seem exceedingly reasonable to me, you might go that route.

You mention parking which makes me think you will have a car. You might investigate parking it at one of the city lots, there are several threads which discuss this. IF it's a rental, perhaps you could look into having it only for the days you plan to make trips out of town.

hbark

Thanks to everyone who answered here. Really appreciate it.

As far as a car, we hope NOT to have one while we're in the city, hopefully there is public transportation of sorts to get to lots of places.

We'll be in the city for 3 nights, then will rent a car to down the coast a bit for 1 night, go to Sequoia/Kings and Yosemite for 4 nights, then back to SF for another 3 nights. I was hoping not to have a car while staying in the city.

So -- I know there's probably a zillion posts on here about hotel recommendations. Bearing in mind that we're not wealthy or anything (the hotels I mentioned above were about $110/night, I can do that), where would you recommend a couple tourists like us stay????

Thanks so much!

kikahead

Priceline all the way!!! See betterbidding.com. (Union Square, South of Market and the Financial District are all near BART. Civic Center (where the Ramada is) should probably be avoided. The Mosser Victorian (across from Marriott on 4th St) can be inexpensive--when are you coming here? Also the SFCVB sometimes has random deals--check out their website. For $110 I would be SHOCKED if you didn't find anything on priceline.com--people have been reporting 4* at around $60.

hbark

Thanks.

But I've never used Priceline? I was concerned that they make you pay for the place before you know what it is? What guarantee is there that they won't pick some inappropriate place ??

Pardon my ignorance about Priceline, please ... and thanks again for your help!

SAB

I just topped (that is brought to the top of the menu) a couple of threads discussing Priceline and SF hotels. They are good place to start.

don512

If you go to biddingfortravel.com, you will find a lot of information about bidding on Priceline including a list of hotels for each bidding area. In april, I was able to get the Hyatt Regency in the Embarcadero for $50 a night. Although I did not keep my car once I was in the city, I could still have paid the $38 a night parking and still saved $20 more than what you are talking about. Priceline mostly deals with major chains, so I say at least check it out. They have sure made a beliver out of me.

Seamus

Not sure about the Ramada Limited on 7th, but the one on Market is a dump - nice lobby with marble and stained glass but the rooms are seedy at best, with tiny, musty bathrooms. The only thing it has going for it is the Starbucks in the lobby.
Have you tried www.accomline.com or www.quikbook.com? They usually have some good deals in SF.

joesorce

Hope you are booking your weekends in the city and your weekdays in Yosemite, for best rates and lighter crowds.

Check out destinationcoupons.com for the Holiday Inn Express not far from Fisherman's Wharf.

Also check rates at columbusmotorinn.com, we have always enjoyed our stay here.

For real San Fran bargains, you have to stay down by the airport and on the weekends. It is quite a trek into the city via bus & train.

don512

I will agree with joesource about the Columbus Inn. It has been a few years since I stayed there, but it was nice, offered free parking and a location which can't be beat in my opinion.

kikahead

hbark- did you end up finding a hotel in your area & budget? Did you try Priceline?

hbark

Thanks for your suggestions! We are planning on using Priceline, been studying the biddingfortravel website, etc.

Was about to do it yesterday (Sunday), then my wife said "why are we doing this now, when we're not going until September?" and I confess that I didn't want to argue with her, so we'll try it a few weeks from now.

Unless someone can give me a good argument to do it now!!??

I'm an advance planner type, etc. while she's more of a last minute, always late person. Oh well, 23 years of marriage and we're still at it!

kikahead

I can't give you a good argument to do it now (your wife is the boss)--did you ask biddingfortravel.com for advice? The main reason to do it now would be because then you have additional time to bid if your first one is rejected. Ask Sheryl (the admin) at biddingfortravel--just be sure to do the request correctly or you will be mercilessly scolded! She can tell you when is a good time to start your bidding.

don512

I agree with kikahead that it wouldn't hurt to go on and start bidding. But for the time being, I would bid low since you have plenty of time for rebidding. Who knows, you may come across a bargain. I bid in November for an April stay at the Hyatt Regency and was really suprised when I got it for $50 a night. Good luck!!!