neshkah

I'm planning a trip to SF in May, and have no idea where to stay. I've looked at some hotels on line, and the nice ones are soooooo expensive (over $300. per night). Anyone have any recommendations for a place that costs less? I'd like a place that's either convenient to mass transit or to all the sights.. Also fairly quiet and safe.

Appreciate the help!

DebitNM

Themosser.com is in a great location, clean and well priced. They have rooms with private baths or some that use a shared hall shower/toilet which are kept very clean.

Rastaguytoday

It also depends on what days of the week you will be in town.

Weekends are usually less expensive.

This is a relatively inexpensive hotel that a friend always stays at when he's in the City. All rates include full American breakfast.
http://www.cornellhotel.com/rooms.html

Dinner there is supposed to be very good by the owner/French chef.

clarkgriswold

The Carlton, The Cartwright, The Parc55, The Queen Anne, The Columbus.

thursdaysd

I had the same problem last year, plus I didn't want to stay in the Union Square area. I'd have picked a B&B in the North Beach or Marina districts, but since I had little faith in my train arriving on time (turned out it was only 10 minutes late) I needed a place with 24 hour checkin.

I wound up at the Hotel Tomo (good rate through one of the online booking services, maybe booking.com) in Japantown. Maybe not a main tourist area, but on a bus line, and with plenty of places to eat nearby. And the Kabuki Spa....

PeaceOut

The Hotel Rex is charming. A member of the Joie de Vivre group.

janisj

Priceline . . . 4 star in the Embarcadero zone, failing that bid the Union Square East zone.

elnap29

We recently learned that hotel prices can vary wildly, depending on conferences in town. One day a room might be $200 a night, the next day it could be $600. If you have flexibility with your dates, you can see if the rates vary. Sometimes you can find this out by calling a hotel directly.

A few weeks ago we got a great rate at Kensington Park Hotel and really liked it. It was comfortable and friendly and close to transportation.

zootsi

We've stayed at the Hotel Kabuki in the Japantown neighborhood, The Laurel in Pacific Heights, and the San Remo in North beach. All are in nice neighborhoods. The Kabuki and Laurel are very comfortable 3* hotels, the San Remo feels more like a small European style inn.

Kal

We just stayed at The Pickwick this past weekend. It was the 3 star hotel "Moscone" area on Hotwire. $112 a night.

Small, "Euro-sized rooms" but very clean, fridge, flat screen/hi def tv etc and located 5th/Mission right out the backdoor of SF Centre Shopping Mall. Also has bar/restaurant.

Very short walk to street cars/cable cars/muni and in our case, the Amtrak bus stop.

easytraveler

Are you planning on renting a car?

Suzie

Bay to Breakers is in May also Google Developer Days from 5/14 -5/16 will take 3000+ rooms and then the American Psychiatric Assoc from 5/18 - 5/22 take 6600. Those are probably putting pressure on room rates.


Room77 is a good booking site for lower priced rooms rates.

Kal

We usually don't get our room for the Bay to Breakers 1 or 2 days before going down. White knuckle bidding on P'line.

easytraveler

If you want "safe", then stay away from the Tenderloin, which is about a block away from Union Square to the west.

If you want "quiet", then stay away from Lombard Street, which is also Highway 101.

Otherwise, the recommendations given are all pretty good.

sf7307

>>

It is designated as Highway 101 as it is the continuation of the 101 freeway from the Golden Gate Bridge to the freeway heading south out of the city. However, Lombard Street is just a very wide busy street lined with businesses (motels, restaurants, etc.) at this point -- 3 lanes in each direction, stoplight every other block. The rooms facing the street probably are fairly noisy.