Are you renting a car or will you all use public transit?

What price range for hotel?

You do know that Healdsburg is a 2-hour drive from SFO?

You should group your visits to Berkeley and El Cerritos together simply because they're both in the East Bay (Healdsburg is north, Palo Alto is South.

You could just stay in San Francisco all nights and do day trips - the Berkeley campus is easily accessible by BART, and the Stanford campus is easily accessible by Cal-Train. Only El Cerrito would be hard without a car.

I would stay in the East Bay, some place like the Claremont, for two or three nights rather than make daily trips to and from SF across the Bay Bridge to Berkeley and El Cerrito if you are not going to actually spending time in SF itself.

FYI sf, El Cerrito is reachable by BART.

I didn't know that (I work in SF and live south)!

I agree with staying in the east bay IF you're not going to spending time in in SF itself, I just assumed you would be.

Thanks for the input. We'll be renting a car and driving to Healdsburg to spend the first night at a friend's vineyard. Then back down south. We'll need a hotel with parking; I'm hoping for $100 - 150 per night but don't know if that's unrealistic. Sounds like we should use BART for visiting Berkeley and drive to El Cerrito and Palo Alto?

You are going to need 2 rooms, so I hope you $ amount is per room? Most hotels in SF will charge A LOT [$35 -50 +] per night. I would work it out so that you go from Healdsburg to Palo Alto and then turn the car in and use BART to Berkeley and El Cerrito.

http://www.columbusmotorinn.com/ has suite rooms that will sleep 4 and free parking, but it will run close to $300 a night.

They have several "sister" properties that are similarly priced, use the link on the left side of the page to see them.

Dang - lost my post getting the webpage.

I would check out the Motor Hotels and B & B's along Lombard - some of which are off the street and not noisy - and I have stayed at the Chelsea Inn on Lombard - which was not noisy.

see: http://tinyurl.com/795bexg and also: http://www.lombardstreethotels.com/

I was trying to 20 mins ago - will try again:

"We'll need a hotel with parking; I'm hoping for $100 - 150 per night but don't know if that's unrealistic."

You won't need a hotel w/ parking if you get rid of the car after visiting Healdsburg. "Hotels" don't have free parking - and very few have rooms sleeping 4 for $150. Some "Motels", like along Lombard Street, will just fit w/i your budget and have limited/space available free parking. Some are OK, and some are nasty.

Here is one of the better budget motels (avoid the other travelodge on Lombard Street as well as several of the properties on tomsd's link. )

http://www.travelodgepresidio.com/

Staying IN SF with a car @ $150-ish a night is doable but not in a 'hotel'.

Maybe you should post on or just read Trip Advisor. Those people know all the hotels in SF that have free parking in your price range.

It will be easier to drive the 4 of you around to visit the campuses rather than trying to rely on and pay for round trips for 4 people on public transportaton. Since I live within driving distance to SF we have to park our car and then we generally walk around SF but we have the car to use when we need to leave the city and go out a bit. Provides the freedom you may want as you visit the campuses.

the other thing you might do after healdsburg is stay on the Peninsula (Palo Alto area) and drive to the East Bay.

A car rental could be $50 a day by the time you figure in the rental,fees, taxes, and then the gas etc. Add to it $30 or more for parking overnight and I think public transit is cheaper. Also, you don't have to try and figure out how to get there.

If the OP finds lodging in the Cow Hollow area with free parking you can't beat the freedom having your own car provides.

Amen Suzie. Cow Hollow or the Marina have great things to do and it's so easy to walk around - and there is good bus service to downtown SF also.

And no idea what Janis means by "nasty" hotels on Lombard St. Haven't seen any pole dancers hanging out there?

Some do have traffic noise - so check that out and some do have first come first serve parking - but there are a couple of other lots nearby that offer relatively inexpensive overnight parking. Believe you can also park overnight at street metered parking - but you have to be ready to move it - or feed it in the morning.

Some of the motels on Lombard St truly are nasty. Some have obviously not been updated in 40+ years. If you had actually driven down Lombard instead of posting in your pajamas in San Diego, you would know that.

the Super 8, the Days Inn (REALLY bad), the Alpha Inn (probably worse), the Economy Inn (definitely worse)

If you don't believe me -- check TA

There are some nice places on Lombard . . . but there are just as many BAD ones.

Agree with Janis here - those 3 on Lombard are nasty and are often used to house homeless families. Noting wrong w/ that but as the hotels have city contracts that pay $$$$ per night for shelter there's no incentive to keep the places clean .
If you stayed in Berkeley you might find cheaper rates for rooms but you'd still need two rooms or a suite.
There's a holiday inn express in Berkeley, one in Walnut Creek, kinda far out but you parking is free in WC I believe.
I think the $150/night even WITH parking for a fee is going to be very hard in SF>

Gee - "Nasty" seems to be de rigueur right now, eh? Especially for people who themselves don't live in SF?

Even if some of the Motels along Lombard might not be up to everyone's liking - there other hotels on/around Lombard that are just fine (again - see Chelsea Inn - which is quiet with parking - and does have rooms with 2 Queen beds and a sofa if you all want to be "close" http://www.chelseamotorinn.com/ ) - and you are right in the prime area of SF - not across the bay in crazy Bezerkeley, or way out in the East Bay burbs in Walnut Creek, which is a nice residential area - but not where you really want to experience what the city of San Francisco has to offer.

Again, the Marina/nearby Cow Hollow are two of the best areas in SF - and we lived there for years..................

Well, I liked Sausalito too..................

BTW - if you stay along Lombard St. - you are close to the Golden Gate Bridge - which you can reach from Headlsburg fairly easily.

And you are close to 19th avenue - and on to 280 down to Palo Alto/Stanford.

We visit Stanford from San Francisco quite a lot-- weever put 2 kids through and have one who just finished her sophomore year there. And we generally include a visit to family innthe east Bay. All this is very easy and pleasant from a hotel in the Financial District, close to a BART station.

I suggest you turn in the car and add the $100 or so you will save on rental and parking to your hotel budget. You'll enjoy your stay in San Francisco more if you stay right in the downtown area ( Union Square East or Finan.Distance) where you can walk to restaurants and sights.

CalTrain will take you very close to the Stanford campus; we walk but there is also a free shuttle. UC Berkeley should similarly be easy with BARt. Your friends in ElmCerrito could pick you up at the BARt station for your visit there.

YES -- the Chelsea Motor Inn is nice. However, in summer it would cost $170 to $190 for this family - IF they can even get in since it is usually booked up. And yes, it is close to the GG bridge, but isn't all that convenient for visiting the East Bay or Palo Alto.

(When one hasn't lived in the area for 40 or 50 years, the advice is sometimes just a tad 'stale' )

Regarding the UC Berkeley campus visit: I think I'd want to have a car, if possible. Yes, you can walk to campus from BART, but the campus is pretty big, is on a hillside, and has some wonderful sections to explore where a car would be advisable to get a good taste of what is offered. Definitely walk around campus. But also drive around the perimeter - up by the Greek Theater, the Cal Stadium, Strawberry Canyon, the Botanical Gardens, etc. There are many neighborhoods around the campus periphery that would be fun to explore.

I'm not sure of places to stay in Berkeley but check out the Berkeley City Club. It is a classic spot near campus with beautiful architecture. Hotel Durant is trendy but may have some street noise. There is also Shattuck Hotel. Hotel Claremont might be above budget, although it does have great views. There are some hotels on the Berkeley Marina also.

If you do stay in Berkeley, you will be close to your friends in El Cerrito, and you can very easily take BART into San Francisco.

And if you stay in San Francisco you can easily get to Berkeley as well.

LOL. For someone who doesn't even live in SF herself - Janet sure has strong opinions.

I walked down beautiful Union St http://www.unionstreetshop.com/ and Chestnut St http://www.sanfranciscodays.com/marina-chestnut/ three times last year - and they are still very very nice/friendly/SF - albeit a little bit more expensive than when we lived there.

And hey - you can also visit the Palace of Fine Arts http://www.sanfranciscodays.com/marina-chestnut/ and walk along the Marina Green, http://www.yelp.com/biz/marina-green-park-san-francisco and it doesn't get any better than that.

And the rates at the Chelsea Inn are quite reasonable for what you get - and to stay in the Marina - with parking - at a nice place - it can't be beat IMO.

And no place is close to everything - but the Marina/Lombard St is close to getting over to/from Marin/Healdsburg - via the Golden Gate - and if one really knows how to get from SF to Palo Alto - one would know that from the Marina - heading out 19th and down 280 to the Peninsula/Stanford - it's very convenient.

And yes, you have to give up a bit to get over to Bezerkeley - but once you have visited there - IMO - that will probably be plenty for your first trip.

Actually - for investment purporses - I once owned a condo in El Cerrito (never lived in it) - and from the Marina in SF - you could probably get there just about as fast going over the Golden Gate and San Rafael bridges - as you could by going over the Bay Bridge if there was traffic.

You could also take BART over to El Cerrito - and have your friends pick you up.

Tom don't know what your beef is w/ Janis and i don;t care but you have NOT stayed in any of the hotels Janis is talking about on Lombard st. I live in SF, have lived here for over 30 years, have worked in social social service s here and the 3 Janis mentioned ARE dumps where they house homeless families.

Oh please, who still refers to Berkeley as Bezerkeley? Seriously?

Some people post like they have a real vested interest in where the OP chooses to stay.

Tomsd is notorious for posting out of date, inaccurate and totally b.s. travel advice. Ignore him axel

Hey - the info I have provided (with web pages) - is so that a visitor/poster can just google away and hopefully - will understand the benefits of staying by/around the beautiful Marina/Cow Hollow areas.

myztery: Even if 3 motels might be "dumps" as you call them - and that you are or have been in social work - there are OTHER reasonably priced motels/motor inns along Lombard St. that are fine - or certainly acceptable - some with traffic noise - but did you not read that I HAVE stayed at the Chelsea Inn (repeat - HAVE stayed there) and liked it very much. It was QUIET and had free parking.

I have also have also kept up to date during my annual/sometimes 4 times a year - trips back to SF (where we still have family and many friends) - and with reviews of other places to stay along Lombard St. and some of their sister/recommended hotels - such as the Columbus Motor Inn, which has also been recommended by other posters here - as well as a couple places in Cowhollow (including B & B's) - and also - some places off Lombard down by the Presidio. Hey - even Yelp likes the Columbus Motor Inn: http://www.yelp.com/biz/columbus-motor-inn-san-francisco

And Suzie - that is going back in time to call it Bezerkeley - my bad -- however - I still think Berkeley is crazy enough. Yes I do - even though I enjoyed - waaaay back when - dating a cute artist who lived there.

BTW - matnik? Specific examples please of my "out of date, inaccurate and totally b.s. travel advice" - which incidentially - many posters have thanked me for.

Q2: Are you still living in Pahoa? http://www.hippy.com/havens.htm

And as far as Janet - she has been on my case ever since some visitors from the UK decided to drive from SF to Lake Tahoe on a Friday afternoon - because they wanted to wake up in Tahoe - rather than staying in/by SF and going up the next morning, and Janet was "directing" them to do.

If I recall one of her posts correctly - Janet does not live in SF.

What the H€ll does that link [Q2]have to do with anything? Pretty rude.

Easy Debit. It's hot enough in Albeq already.

"And as far as Janet - she has been on my case ever since some visitors from the UK decided to drive from SF to Lake Tahoe on a Friday afternoon - "

Bull c^%p! I've been 'on your case' because you post more out of date/irrelevant 'advice' than any other fodorite I've ever seen.

You joined last Nov. and your very first thread was about eating in NYC . . and proceeded to endear yourself by posting >>BTW I also have probably have dined at more fine restaurants than the two of your combined.<< (If you only knew who your were talking to w/ that one )

And then pulled the 'I've been grading meat for over 60 years' card to explain that no one else could possibly know what they are talking about.

Then there is the 'problem' of you monopolizing many threads where you post 5, 6, 7 times in succession. Uno mas, uno mas, uno mas!

The OPs don't know who to listen to and who is blowing smoke. I don't post to a lot threads that have already gone off in a ditch, because the cat fights only confuse the poor OPs even more. It is sad.

THAT is why I'm on your case . . .

Clear enough?

I always assumed the consecutive postings were out of fear someone would beat him to the idea so instead of gathering all thoughts and relevant information and posting in one useful and coherant reply, he posts what he can quickly to get it in and then keeps posting.

Suzie - aren't you the one who liked Cow Hollow? Instead of chiming in with whatever - why don't you post something meaningful for the visitors - such as specific information about Cow Hollow places to stay, and the like?

And, yes, I sometimes post consecutively because when I go to retrieve a webpage (which provides real information) - I lose the post.

As for jan - since she is apparently from the UK - or her parents were - she was particularly incensed when I told a UK couple that they could drive to Lake Tahoe from SFO on a Friday afternoon in March - and yes - it might take some time, but if they wanted to sleep at the ski area - go for it. Which they did!

I again ask - specifically what information I have posted that is erroneous? Concrete examples please.

And yes - I did say I can grade meat - and we used to raise beef in Oregon. Every year - we would sell some but we would always keep a steer and butcher one every year and cut it up/deep freeze it, with the help of a professional butcher friend of ours.

We did it on the counter in the workshop - and we also did that with the deer we shot - every year - as we were good hunters. My dad was a Doctor - but he was raised on a big farm/ranch in North Dakota - and we had several acres in Oregon where we also raised sheep and goats, geese and chickens, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables.

BTW - you do know they now raise Wagyu/Kobe Beef in Oregon, right? Here is one of the places: http://www.suttoncreekcattlecompany.com/

Questions?

janis, et al--my mother used to say never wrestle with a pig, you both get dirty but the pig loves it.

Yes, it is a pity when a poster seeks to dominate threads with their misguided (I'm being kind) opinions, but many of you have been around long enough to remember people like the San Jose troll, and to remember that eventually they disappear.