I'm no expert on Yosemite/Big Sur/Carmel but I *love* spending time in downtown San Francisco (I'm from Seattle). Just get a centrally located hotel and walk everywhere. That could easily be 3-4 days worth of activities for me, just kicking around the city.

You don't have to drink to enjoy Napa. It's very beautiful just to see. Rent a car and take a drive. There's a number of cute/sweet places to eat in the town of St. Helena that are not overly pricey or fancy.

I think your list is WAY too long for a one week trip.

Thanks, Suze. I know we can't do that all in one week - just a list of possibilities, so we could knock off the most obvious don't-dos first (if there are any)! St. Helena is a great tip!

When you say "centrally located," where exactly do you mean? I've read Stu's posts about areas of town, and would probably lean toward the Embarcadero or Marina areas just going on that, but I don't know if those are the best areas for walking around. We are good walkers - we walked everywhere we went in Rome a couple of years ago.

3-4 days MINIMUM for San Francisco itself. I would perhaps pick one other place and spend a couple of days there

Sure, just look at a city map. I usually stay near Union Square but just because I happen to know a fairly reasonably priced hotel I like there. But the Embarcadero would be a great choice too. Some people think it's "too touristy" but I like Fisherman's Wharf area too. Anywhere along those main cable car lines is fine for sightseeing on foot.

Also BART (the public transportation system) is your friend. Like if you want to go out to Berkley or Oakland neighborhoods, or even out as far as Walnut Creek is a pretty area to see.

For me I could easily spend the week in SF proper with a day trip out to Napa and another day out the BART line due east and be a happy camper.

Oops didn't finish, but a week at Yosemite, or a week along the California coast would also be great trips too.. just different. Montery/Carmel is very beautiful.

(California is state of my birth and I pretty much love it all -lol!)

Thanks, Dukey - that's about how long I was thinking for the city itself, so no worries there!

suze, I swear that "Downtown" was not on the Google Map when I looked earlier. Thanks! It's always been so funny to me that I've been to Canada and several countries in Europe, multiple times, but even though I'm from the US, I really haven't seen much of the US west of the Mississippi. So it's tempting to try to cram in a lot - but I know that'd be a bad idea! SF + one other place is probably what I'd like to end up with.

I'm waiting to hear from my friend on which options she'd like. We've traveled a lot together, and I tend to do most of the planning because it makes me happy (and it makes her happy to just show up!).

You are probably correct that "downtown" isn't the proper term for the central San Francisco core. Perhaps my mistake?

I think of where Powell meets Market and teh streetcars turn around as a pretty central spot of the city for reference:
http://www.streetcar.org/cable-car-lines.html

And use Union Square, Finnacial District, Chinatown, as other markers.

You really have time for 2 locations (it would be a whirlwind to try to squeeze in more). Personally, I'd suggest 4-5 nights in San Francisco, including a day-trip drive to the Sonoma area if you're so inclined (I love the drive through the Dry Creek/Occidental area), and 2-3 nights in the Monterey-Carmel area, with a drive down the spectacular coast. Napa and Sonoma are both nice with very pretty hills/views, but nothing like the coast (which is "world class"), and I wouldn't allocate too much time there if you're not into wine tasting.

Re the Embarcadero...I often stay there because there's a BART/MUNI stop in front of my usual hotel and it is easy to get elsewhere.

Remember as was said earlier, BART (and definitely the MUNI) are your friends. You can walk lots of places but after a while walking uphill can get kinda....OLD <G>.

I agree with sf7307 - San Francisco and Carmel/Big Sur.

We were in Big Sur and also Carmel for 3 nights this past weekend. We've been visiting this area for almost every year since '70. We never get tired of it. I do get tired of the wine country, however, and I would recommend that you not go there since you aren't a wine lover or a foodie. You'll find interesting villages similar to St Helena & Healdsburg in the Carmel area and in the various neighborhoods of San Francisco (Noe Valley, Haight, Hayes Valley, Union St, Chestnut St, Valencia St in the Mission, Polk St, etc).

I would find a hotel close to the Ferry Bldg along the Embarcadero.

Here are some ideas of things to do & see in the SF Bay Area
http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/san-francisco---stu-dudleys-recommendations.cfm

Stu Dudley

You could stay in San Francisco and have a fun day trip to the wine country. I prefer Sonoma County, specifically the wineries around Healdsburg. Check out www.wineroad.com for an interactive map of wineries and restaurants. From Healdsburg, head to the coast through Guerneville and Rio Nido to Bodega Bay and back to San Francisco through Sebastapol. Make a stop at Armstrong Redwoods in Guerneville for one of the most amazing examples of old grove Redwoods. Stop for a snack in Bodega Bay.

Do you like to ride bikes? Rent bikes from Blazing Saddles and ride across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito or Tiburon and take the ferry back.

A nice overnight trip would be to Carmel/Monterey/Pacific Grove. Do that at the end of the trip and return your car at the airport on your way out.

I was there for a week last March and did most of what you were hoping for - not Yosemite though. I spent three days/nights doing the stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway. One night Santa Cruz, one Monterey, one just south of Hearst Castle. That was a good amount of time to see the coast. Then I drove the inland highway route back up north and across the Golden Gate Bridge and spent the next night just north of Salsilito. Then one night in Calistoga which is north of Napa. Then four in San Francisco. So total 3 days coast, 2 Napa, 3 SF. So just over a week and while I didn't feel terribly rushed I'd say that's about a minimum to get a 'taste' of that part of California. If you like more in depth then you'd need to eliminate one place.

Here's my trip report (which I now see I never finished the SF part, but I did describe the coast and Napa valley part). And also link to the photos

http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/central-california-coast-pacific-coast-highway-napasonoma-and-sf.cfm

http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/central_california

Y'all are amazing! Thank you!

suze, I was serious, actually - when I looked at Google Maps earlier this afternoon, I didn't see anything about "Downtown," but when I looked after your post there it was clear as day. Maybe it's finicky about zooming? Who knows! Your markers and that link are really helpful - thank you for that!

Dukey, thanks - the Embarcadero area is sounding good! sf7307 and Stu, that plan is sounding pretty good to me as well, and I really appreciate the input. I hate to miss Yosemite, but it probably deserves its own trip. And Stu, thank you for the link to your post - I've seen it pop up every now and then over the years, but hadn't found it yet when I needed it!

Grassshopper, a friend of mine was just telling me about renting bikes tonight. I'll definitely have to check that out! And thanks for the tip on the redwoods. That's one of the things I'd love to see.

Isabel, thanks so much for your trip report - I have it bookmarked to read!

I usually find myself in San Francisco at least once a year. Stu may disagree, but for me, the trip is never complete without stopping at the Buena Vista Cafe for an Irish coffee or two and a large dose of people-watching.

Isabel, I just flipped through some of your PCH photos - I wish I didn't have to get some sleep, because I'd love to keep going tonight! They're gorgeous.

Thanks for the tip, Dave!

I work on the Embarcadero and I think you'll love it. It's vibrant but not frantic, great place for walking, loads of restaurants, easy access to other parts of the city.

isabel's is a good plan, if you don't mind changing hotels almost every night. Personally I don't, but some people do.

Also would suggest that you substitute Napa for grasshopper's suggestion of Sonoma County, especially when you're not much into sampling wine.

If you're going to be in Big Sur, you could probably skip Armstrong.

>>. Stu may disagree, but for me, the trip is never complete without stopping at the Buena Vista Cafe for an Irish coffee <<

We love going to the Buena Vista!!! I just don't like most everything else that's around it - except Gary Danko.

Stu Dudley

We've been to San Francisco a couple of times and one of the highlights of our second visit was the boat trip to Alcatraz. I found the former prison a real eyeopener (tiny cells!) and very atmospheric.
Even the boat ride was cool, great views of the city and the bridge.

<<<We love going to the Buena Vista!!! I just don't like most everything else that's around it - except Gary Danko.>>>

Stu, if you happen to be in the area for breakfast, we recently found a great spot - the Hollywood Cafe.

I have friends who did a segway tour in SFO - they said it was a lot of fun

http://sanfrancisco.citysegwaytours.com

My daughter and I walked across the Golden Gate bridge one day- fun.

Also love the Buena Vista-

If you happen to be in Union Square have lunch at Mocca, on Maiden Lane. Great little hidden gem.
http://www.unionsquareshop.com/pages/mocca.html

For dinner Belden Place (an "alley" of restaurants in the Financial District is a favorite.
www.belden-place.com

I love these suggestions! Thank you all so much! I'm hoping to get things somewhat settled with my friend this weekend. She's a hospital clinician so doesn't have nearly as much time at her computer as I do during the week. Definitely taking note of all of these!

Do you Yelp? Great place to get good local feedback on restaurants and activities.

You'll definitely need 3-4 days in SF alone. Plenty to do there, and lots of great restaurants and nightlife to keep you busy in the evenings. I'd probably stay in Union Square, Embarcadero, or maybe Fisherman's Wharf areas. The wharf area is a very touristy, and not well located for public transit to anywhere except downtown, so Union Sq would be my first choice.

In SF, you'll probably want to hit downtown/Union Sq area, Chinatown, North Beach, Fishermans Wharf, the Presidio, Golden Gate bridge, and a bunch of the museums. Do the Alcatraz trip. If you can get out to a neighborhood like Chestnut St in the Marina or Union St in Cow Hollow, they're very nice, with great restaurants and shopping. I like to just wander around Cow Hollow and Pacific Heights; it's just a beautiful area, with great views of the bay. The Mission is also a great neighborhood to wander around in (Valencia St), but it's definitely different.

For the remainder of the trip, I'd recommend skipping Napa and Sonoma since wine doesn't appear that important to you. While Napa and Sonoma are very pretty even if you're not into wine-tasting, I don't think the scenery is as good as the coast. So I'd suggest either of two alternatives (but not both). Both involve renting a car (you don't need one in SF).

Option 1, if you're feeling more aggressive: drive down Hwy 1 to Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur: First day, stop at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in Moss Beach. Check out Half Moon Bay. Have lunch at Duarte's in Pescadero. Drop by Ano Nuevo State Park. Hang out in Santa Cruz, get some burritos, and then go to the Boardwalk in the evening and ride the old wooden coaster. Spend the night in Santa Cruz. Second day, drive to Monterey, do the historical stuff and the aquarium, spend the night (in Monterey or Carmel). Third day, drive to Point Lobos State Park, do some walks, then drive down through Big Sur to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, come back up and spend the night in Carmel. (There are decent wineries in the Carmel valley if you want to slip one or two in.) Fourth day, take the inland route (routes 156 & 101, about 2hrs w/o traffic) back to SF. If you have time, stop in San Juan Bautista and check out the old mission and state historical park (maybe a two hour sidetrip). You could do this in three days instead of three and a half if you wanted, by spending the second night in Carmel, and driving back to SF late on the third day. The Moss Beach/HMB/Ano Nuevo/Santa Cruz stuff is probably the stuff to drop if you want to save more time; a two day trip to Big Sur and Monterey is feasible from SF, but it would be hurried.

Option 2: the less aggressive alternative, is to drive across the Golden Gate to the Marin Headlands, do some quick walks to take in the views, and then up to Mill Valley, over to Muir Beach, Muir Woods, and maybe up to Stinson Beach or Mt Tamalpais if you have time, and then back to the city. Or as an overnight trip, spend the night in Stinson Beach, Bolinas, Pt Reyes Station, or Inverness, and do Point Reyes on the second day.

Grassshopper, I do Yelp! I love that app. It has found me several delicious meals.

kbob, thanks so much for those itineraries! That's really helpful. Scenery is definitely more important than wineries, so I think that's the right track.

Kbob88 has given you excellent advice!

I would base in San Francisco and, if you get tired of it, rent a car downtown (it's cheaper than at the airport) and head out to Carmel/Monterey or Pt. Reyes/north coast or Sonoma/Napa for a couple of days. You might not get the most prized (and expensive) accommodations in those areas if you wait til the last minute, but you'll find somewhere you can stay the night while you explore the area.

On one of your sunny days in San Francisco, join the rest of youthful San Francisco for an afternoon in Dolores Park, at 18th St and Dolores, for gorgeous views of the city from the top of the park and a great, laid back, happy people scene. When you're tired of that, head into the Mission for good food and fun shopping.

On another day, take the bus up to Twin Peaks and be awed by the view; you can walk down to Market and Castro from there (about 30 minutes, operative word is "down"), and hop the F train to the Embarcadero.

These are just two ideas for spending your week in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Enjoy your trip!

Y'all are fabulous - thank you! We're now thinking about June 5-11 (airfare is cheaper midweek). Is there anything we should know about those dates - festivals or special California holidays or anything?

Northern CA is one of our favorite escapes from the Dallas heat, and San Francisco is one of the really unique US cities. The drive from SA to San Luis is the most scenic in the entire country and includes Carmel, Big Sur, etc. Take a sweater cuz it's always chilly near the water or walking Fisherman's Wharf. One suggestion I make to folks going to SA for the first time is to get up early one morning and cross the Golden Gate Bridge and go to Muir's Woods to see the redwoods. It's a short trip and as spectacular a stand of redwoods as you'll see anywhere. Parking is a real problem, so get up early and you can have the trees to yourself with no walking.

I am not recalling any special events June 5-11. The Giants will be playing at home, if you're interested in baseball. The city probably won't be too foggy yet. On the 8th or 9th you could go to the Mountain Play on Mt Tam above Mill Valley; this year it's the Sound of Music (http://www.mountainplay.org). It's a lot of fun; we go every year. If you go, you should hike down to Mill Valley afterwards. You could combine that with a few day trip to Mill Valley, Muir Woods, Stinson Beach, Pt Reyes, etc.

"The city probably won't be too foggy yet"

Don't count on that. I've spent many a June day pining for a glimpse of the sun. Although worse at the coast, they don't call it "June Gloom" for nothing.

June gloom is one concern I had, though I'd heard of it mostly in conjunction with San Diego. Would it be likely to be bad enough to postpone a trip to Big Sur, etc? Sorry, I'm new at California climate!

Thanks for the play suggestion, kbob! I'll check it out.

>> Would it be likely to be bad enough to postpone a trip to Big Sur<<

It could be.

We've been going to Big Sur pretty much annually since '70. We were there 1 1/2 weeks ago and it was beautiful. Our best weather is in mid/late Sept & early Oct. So, in Sept '08 and also '09 (can't remember exact years) we kept our eye on the weather forecast and decided in advance that we would only go to Big Sur if the forecast was for gloriously sunny & clear weather. One morning we got out of bed and the forecast looked fabulous. We double-checked the weather camera at Nepenthe and it looked clear. So we called the Big Sur lodge & made reservations, packed, and headed out. 2 1/2 hrs later when we got to the Big Sur area, it was socked in with fog and we could not even see the water. Both years. One of those years there was even an apology from the weather forecasters about the "glorious" weather that didn't materialize.

When we were there 1 1/2 weeks ago, we went to Carmel first an poked around for a couple of hours. The weather was fantastic in Carmel. As we headed south, we were engulfed in fog all the way to Big Sur. The village of Big Sur is actually inland and often does not get the fog that the coast gets. As we drove south of Big Sur - there was no fog at all. There was no fog in sight when we had drinks & dinner at Nepenthe, and no fog at all the next 2 days when we went to Pebble Beach to stay with friends. There was some fog on the day we departed.

Stu Dudley

June gloom is southern California term, we don't refer to the summer fog as June gloom as it happens all summer here on parts of the Northern California coast--as well as other times like this morning!! Stu has given you a very good example of how unpredictable fog on the coast can be. I was in Carmel every weekend in February and there was no fog--even though there was some in the City. Sometimes you just have to take your chances, unfortunately when you only have a few days that does not always appeal. Typically the fog burns off by the afternoon, if that is any consolation.

Thanks, y'all - that helps a lot. I know there's plenty to do in San Francisco itself even if it's foggy - I just don't want to go to Big Sur or Carmel and not be able to see the coastline! But I think we'd be okay even if we just had afternoons, and it sounds like even if one spot is foggy we could drive a bit and have a better view.

Due to my friend's work schedule and some things I have going on in the fall, June is the best time for us to go logistically, so unless it's usually pretty bad I have a feeling we'll take the chance.

July and August are the foggiest months. June, and especially early June is usually not too bad, although September is better. As SAB says, it usually burns off by the early afternoon. Just keep yourself a bit flexible, and you'll be fine. In SF, you'll probably only encounter fog out by the ocean and the GG Bridge (and Alcatraz too), if at all. Downtown shouldn't be too foggy in early June. BTW, often Santa Cruz is clear when Half Moon Bay and Monterey are foggy.

Word of advice~don't plan on bringing just shorts and tank tops! Layering is the key to enduring the fickle weather in SF. You'll most likely need a jacket if you go over the Golden Gate Bridge. I've never been on it when it hasn't been windy!

Thanks so much, kbob! That's reassuring. tenthumbs, thanks for the reminder. I learned that lesson in San Diego last August. We drove out to Joshua Tree for the day, so I was in a tank top and shorts with a thin little sweater, but when we got back to town we ate dinner outside and I was freezing!

One more question: How late would our flight need to leave in order for us to stay in Big Sur/Carmel/somewhere in that area the night before we head home - or should we even consider that? Google Maps says about 2.5 hours from Big Sur to SFO, but I have a feeling it would take longer with commuter traffic. I'm trying to decide whether to head straight to the coast when we get there and put our SF days at the end, or split up SF days, or give up a night to stay near the airport before getting an early flight back.

If you can fly out of San Jose, that will cut 30 minutes off your time back to the airport. Probably even a bit more, since it's quicker to return a car at San Jose.

But anyway, you can definitely drive up to SFO from Big Sur / Carmel the morning of your flight. It should take about 2 hours from Monterey / Carmel to SFO; 2.5 from Big Sur sounds about right; 1 hr gets you to the south edge of San Jose. (That's the non-coastal route; up 156 to 101) You'll encounter traffic around San Jose during rush hour (7:30am to 10am). If you're hitting SJ at that time, you'll probably want to take 85 to 280 to 380 to the airport (which is really no longer than 101 all the way through). I can't speak to the rush hour traffic through Monterey.

So your options are probably 1) leave Carmel after 9am, which gets you to SFO fairly close to 11am, as you'll miss San Jose traffic, or 2) leave Carmel before 6:30am, which gets you to SFO around 8:45 probably, as you hit San Jose before most of the rush, or 3) leave between 6:30 and 9, in which case you'll probably hit Monterey and/or San Jose traffic, but you should still be able to get to the airport in 3 hours or less, especially if you take 85 to 280. In any case, make sure you have 30 minutes of cushion in case disaster strikes.

You could also drive up to Santa Cruz and take 17 over the mountains to 85 to 280 to 380. But 17 is a risky road -- too much chance of some jerk having an accident on the pass and causing a huge jam. I wouldn't chance it if you're going to the airport.

Perhaps someone who lives down in Monterey / Carmel / Pacific Grove can chime in with some real world getting to the airport experiences.

kbob, that's really helpful - thank you so much. Since we're flying so far east, our flight options are pretty limited if we don't do a redeye (our total travel time for most flights is between 7-8 hours, plus we "lose" two hours!). So we'd need to be at the airport fairly early - for most flights, 9/9:30 or earlier. If we'd need to leave the coast that early anyway, it might be worth just driving to an airport hotel late that night and not stressing out.

Where are you flying TO??? Nashville? A lot depends on the final destination and whether or not you can get N/S service.

You can easily check timings using kayak.com and then make your decision. Personally, if I had a very e arly departure from SFO such as 6-7 AM I would come back the night before rather than the morning of but that's personal.

As to the weather concerns I can tell you from experience I have been to SFO in late June when the weather was absolutely spectacular IN the city and I mean on the "downtown" side of Twin Peaks...no rain, no clouds, no humidity...but as others have said there is a lot of variation depending on just where you are in the Bay area so pack accordingly.

I'm flying to Nashville; my friend lives in Memphis so she may fly from/to there instead. Either way, east! I've been using Kayak to look for flights but haven't found any nonstop. Our choices seem to be basically leave really early (7am or earlier) and get back at a reasonable time, leave at a reasonable time (~11am) but get home close to 11 or midnight, or take a redeye.

One of the most memorable thing we did in our overall memorable trip to San Francisco was renting bikes at Fisherman Wharf and riding across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, lunch there, and takinge the ferry back.

Thanks, Olga. The bikes have been recommended to us by several - I hope we can fit it in!

Any thoughts on this place?

http://www.vrbo.com/405569

I've been looking for hotels in the Embarcadero/Financial District area, but they are quite expensive compared to the rest of the city. The only one I've found under $200 so far, even with Hotwire, is the Hilton (link: http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/california/hilton-san-francisco-financial-district-SFOFDHF/maps-directions/index.html). The VRBO apartment is similarly priced, but I'm not sure if it's so far up on Nob Hill that we'd be exhausted trying to walk up! Both get good reviews, though the Hilton sounds like it's a bit outdated (no big deal for us).

That's a pretty good location. Definitely the top of Nob Hill! How exhausted you'll be depends on how good shape you're in, and how often you do it. Unless you're really out of shape, it won't be too bad. BTW, there aren't a ton of restaurants up there, although you'll be close to plenty of eateries in Union Sq, Chinatown, and North Beach. You'll just have to walk back up the hill after dinner!

If the apartment if really at Taylor and Washington, that's definitely "top of the hill". Even if you don't want to walk uphill, there are both buses (the 1California goes up Sacramento and down California) and the cable car serving that area. It's generally a very upscale residential neighborhood, and that corner is about 3 blocks from the big Nob Hill hotels - the Mark Hopkins, Fairmont, Stanford Court and Huntington. It's not the kind of area where you are somewhere as soon as you walk out your door - you have to go somewhere to be somewhere, but it is a very pleasant and attractive neighborhood. We ate at a decent restaurant within a block recently - Venticello. Nothing memorable, but solid.

Just so you know, that Hilton is actually in Chinatown, not really the financial district (although they abut each other).

Well, it might be worth it to walk off some of the food I'm sure we'll be eating! We're both in pretty good shape and we're good walkers, so it's not a huge concern - more an inconvenience. But very San Francisco! Thanks as always for the context, kbob. I'm hoping to get my friend on the phone this weekend and work out some of the details so we can start booking. The reviews did mention that the apartment is close to both cable car lines, so if we were in Union Square or the Embarcadero I guess that could be an option.

Unless someone corrects me, I'm leaning toward heading straight to Big Sur or somewhere on the coast when we arrive, and then saving our SF time for the end to make getting back to the airport easier. Plus if we arrive on a Wednesday, that would put us on the coast on weeknights (perhaps easier to get lodging than weekends) and back in SF on the weekend (possibly cheaper hotels).

sf7307, we were posting at the same time. That's really great information - thank you! I'm struggling to find the perfect place, so I know we'll have to give up something, whether it's accessibility or money. I hate giving things up, though!

A friend of mine told me that he usually stays at the Oakland Marriott City Center when he's in town - he said it's a ten-minute BART ride to downtown San Francisco. I'm a big proponent of staying central, but he made a case for it!

Don't stay in Oakland.

There is NO good reason to stay in Oakland!!

Ha - definitely noted! I do like consensus. Thanks!

And another DON'T STAY IN OAKLAND !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Many reasons why that is a BAD idea.

Stu Dudley

The Oakland Marriott is a couple of blocks from the train tracks. The engineers like to blast their horns even in the middle of the night. Your friend must be a sound sleeper!

If you have been on Hotwire, have you tried Priceline? you could get a hotel like the Hyatt or the Marriott at Union Square East for about $100-$125 plus taxes and fees.

I would suggest not staying up on Taylor and Washington unless it's a really fantastic apartment. It's pretty isolated and dark at night. I have sometimes walked to Nob Hill from Chinatown and to get up to the top you have to lean forward as if you were leaning into the wind in order to get uphill. Not many restaurants nor stores in the immediate neighborhood.

I would not stay in Oakland but I did stay in SFO at the Hilton Financial District and got a good rate on Hotwire. Its at the entrance to China town- there was a great Chinese restaurant across the street and up the block a bit- close to Embarcadero - we even walked to hotel from Union Square - it was a bit of a walk but then, we are walkers so no problem.

R&G Lounge? I ate there last night, and it was great!

Thanks for the votes, y'all - I think I sufficiently warned against Oakland! He might be a deep sleeper, I don't know. He and his wife live in LA and go to SF pretty regularly, so I figured he'd know, but I trust you all!

The walking isn't such<\i> a deterrent (though that hill does sound... fun), but isolated and dark is not great. I'll keep looking and keep that Hilton in mind (thanks for the review, sunbum!). I haven't tried Priceline yet but I will! I'm used to Hotwire and hotels.com, but have never actually used Priceline except for a car.

Check out the options on booking.com - I plugged in dates of June 8 - 11 and got several decent choices for less than $200/ night in SF.

Oh, thanks, hazel - I haven't tried that one yet!

It's a residential neighborhood and a quite upscale one at that. I wouldn't be at all concerned about it being "isolated and dark".

Thanks, sf - it's hard to know what to be concerned about when you've never been somewhere!

Okay, this one looks good to me, but what do y'all think of the location? It's a little closer to Union Square than that Hilton, same price (via booking.com) and gets very good TA reviews. Seems more near the action than that apartment.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60713-d618542-Reviews-Orchard_Garden_Hotel-San_Francisco_California.html

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=The+Orchard+Garden+Hotel,+466+Bush+Street,+San+Francisco,+CA&hl=en&sll=37.792253,-122.403917&sspn=0.010818,0.018797&oq=orchard+466+Bush+Street,+San+Francisco,+CA&dirflg=w&hq=The+Orchard+Garden+Hotel,+466+Bush+Street,+San+Francisco,+CA&t=m&z=15

We are in SF right now. We are staying at the Wyndham Canterbury, 750 Sutter Street. It is a very nice location, near Union Square. There are many restaurants and shops nearby. We have a one bedroom suite-a queen bed and a sleeper sofa in the living room. We have a small kitchen and dining area.

We had flights from Nashville and I got them on priceline-Frontier airlines. Our roundtrip price was about $300.

I have not stayed at the Orchard Garden, but have walked past. It is in a handy location, close to Union Square, transit options, Chinatown. Plenty of eatery options.

Thanks, nlg! That's good to know. I've found a couple of flight options for $330 but if we can't get those, it looks like it goes up to $380ish. Down side of flying in the summer, I guess!

Thanks so much, MichelleY. That's great to know!

Hah! $380, that's nothing. I just plugged my preferred (7-leg) Australia-NZ itinerary into Kayak.com and it came back with a best price of $6900 per person!

Needless to say, we'll have to revise that itinerary a bit...

Hahaha! Well, that does make me feel a little bit better, kbob. Sorry for you, though! Apparently we missed the cheap flights, so now I'm looking at more like $400 unless I want to drive to Memphis. This friend and I have traveled together several times, and usually prices are better from Nashville, but with Delta buying out Northwest it seems like it's flipped this time!

I haven't read the whole thread but have you looked at Southwest from Nashville to SFO?

I have, janisj (but thanks for the suggestion!). I love Southwest, and we used to be able to get good deals since Nashville's a hub. But lately they've been SO expensive, and the same is true for this too. It would be at least an extra $100 and often more, depending on the times.

We used to get dirt cheap flights to a few places (I've flown to Chicago for $98 round trip before), but I think those days are over!