mouseeeee

Where is the best place in SF to stay? We have 2 kids (11 and 9). We'll be doing Alcatraz and the Wharf.....any suggestions?

sf7307

Stay at the Wharf - my cousins stayed at the Holiday Inn Express with their 3 daughters and they thought it was fine, and very convenient. There are lots of choices, including at least one higher-end hotel (Argonaut?).

How long will you be here? And when?

shanek

We spent 5 days at the Columbus Motor Inn with our 2 children of similar age...http://www.columbusmotorinn.com/

We initially chose it for the free parking, but would still stay there again even if we didn't have our own vehicle.

Nice big rooms, quiet location yet still very close to the wharf, cable car etc.

There is a bike hire place right next door in case you want to take the kids on a cycle trip across the bridge. Its a great day out if the weather is favorable.

Rastaguytoday

San Francisco's public transportation is pretty good. It's called MUNI.

This gives you more freedom as to where you might stay. The children will like Fisherman's Wharf and all the tourist stuff in that area.

If the Giants are at home, take them to a baseball game.

Tomsd

My favorite in the Marina area is the Chelsea Motor Inn - on Lombard - a sister hotel I believe to the Columbus Motor Inn. You can walk from there to the Marina Green/SF Bay - and that area has good bus service (Muni) to downtown on several lines. You can also get off at Hyde and Union (via the 41 Union bus) and catch the cable car there if you like, perhaps easier than trying to catch it at Ghiradelli/the Wharf or downtown.

traveldawg

If you are a veteran one of the best places to stay in SF is MARINES MEMORIAL. Do a search on Goggle. The prices cannot be beat and the breakfast is free also with a free happy hour. One of the best secrets in SF as it is an historic hotel dedicated to honoring active and veteran members of the military. Very close to Union Square but the cable cars will get you to the wharf.

stevews

Although there are many great places in the city to stay, the most commonly recommended locations are Fisherman's Wharf and Union Square.
Union Square is a premier designer and name-brand shopping area of San Francisco. The Wharf is a fine place to spend a couple of hours, but to some Union Square is the City. There is a wide variety of hotels, cafes, bars, restaurants, shops, etc., that are unique to San Francisco. In Union Square you will have a mix of locals, business travelers and vacationers. Union Square is also a center for transit and all other areas are easily traveled to via bus, cable car, BART, metro or taxi. With regard to safety, there is a difference especially at night. There is more activity at Union Square into the night with the cable cars stop running at 1 AM or so, the theatres and the bars are letting out. This means there are more people out and about. Most people feel safer in active areas. Fisherman's Wharf gets quieter at night and there are not as many people on the streets around the hotels and things mainly because the attractions are closed, transit is limited and families are putting their little ones to bed.
While, Fisherman's Wharf has history, the fog coming in on the bay, the fishing boats and the sounds of water laping and the sea lions. It feels like vacation! It is a short and easy walk between the Alcatraz ferries, Girhardelli Square and Pier 39. As well a beautiful walk along the waterfront further down along the Embarcadero.towards or to the Ferry Building.

SAB

As an actual current, longtime resident of San Francisco, I have the usual resident's dislike of the Wharf, and usually do not recommend it to visitors. However, I have one exception, first time visitors with children. Whether we residents like the area or not (usually not), it is family friendly and there are lots of attractions to amuse pre teens and teens. I work near the Wharf (it's god's little joke on me) and it is a hub of tourist activity for families--bike rentals, segway rentals, go car rentals, tour buses, the Quacker tours, Pier 39, In and Out Burger, cable car turnarounds, historic streetcars, and many other "attractions"--not the least of which is the view. I would not recommend the Wharf for sophisticated travelers or for adults without children, but it suits kids.

sharona

I was in San Francisco last summer with a 14 year old niece and a 12 year nephew along with a couple of other family members. We stayed at the Courtyard Marriott Fisherman's Wharf, which was the perfect location for us. I looked long and hard for a hotel with 2 queen beds, rather than 2 doubles, and this was the one I found. It's a good location, being one block off of the water, and basically right behind In 'N Out Burger. We were well-situated for the Wharf and Ghiradelli Square. It's a typical Marriott, well-kept and clean. They also had a couple of coin operated washers and dryers which were in constant use (a time or two by me), a welcome addition when you've been traveling for more than a week and traveling with only a carry-on.

sf7307

I am also a long-time resident and I agree completely with SAB, except I don't dislike the area (I don't frequent the many t-shirt shops or Ripley's, but on a nice day, the walk along the bay/Embarcadero, Alcatraz, the walk in the other direction up and over to Fort Mason and the Marina Green and Chrissy Field -- all good!) I would not choose Union Square with young kids (teens maybe) unless you all love to shop!

d_claude_bear

I agree with Tomsd about the Chelsea. We have stayed there several times. The Fillmore bus (22?) right at the corner goes up over the hill to the Japan Center, and the shops/restaurants from the top of the hill on down to Geary are worth a walk-through. A bus along Lombard, just across the street from the motel, goes to the Golden Gate Park, and other buses also go right into the Italian area (North Beach) and Chnatown. There are two weeks worth of interesting restaurants on Union Street, Chestnut Street, Steiner Street, etc.

sf7307

The Chelsea is a perfectly nice motel. One advantage of the hotels on Lombard is that you are equally close walking distance to both Union Street (not Union Square) and Chestnut Street, which have a seemingly endless supply of places to eat, shop and people-watch.

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and what a hill that is! One of the best for finding out what San Francisco's famous hills are all about!

Tabernash2

traveldawg, thanks for the tip on the Marine's Memorial club in SF! It looks fantastic and DH is eligible. Yay! Time to plan another visit to SF.