I posted an earlier thread on this topic in the general interest but since I have followup questions about the San Francisco area, I figured I would post a new thread here. I have two questions:

1) My wife and I were thinking of staying right by Fisherman's Wharf. Is there any hotel in that area that anyone could recommend or not recommend?

2) With all the public transportation options and the cost of parking a car at some hotels per day, we were thinking of not renting a car since everything we want to see is either accessible by public transportation or doing a tour. Should we think otherwise? Please let me know.

I know that our trip will not be until around September-October 2008 but I figured I would start doing some research now. Any assistance that can be given would be greatly appreciated.

The Hyatt at Fisherman Wharf is nice. There is no need for a car. Either a cable car, your feet, or a taxi work. SF is a great place...I know yo uwill enjoy.

Hello spb825 and a Happy [upcoming] 10th Anniversary to you and your wife.

You are absolutely correct in thinking that a car would be a liability rather than an asset. Parking will set you back approximately $25.00 per day and, even if you decide to bite the cost and get the car anyway, you really do not need it within the San Francisco proper, where narrow streets, mad traffic, one-way streets, and parking are a nightmare. Having said that, if you wanted to take a day trip to Sonoma or Napa, you would be limited to a bus (large or small) tour with other people imposing on your Anniversary. So, if you were thinking of doing a day trip to, say, Sonoma, perhaps you could then rent a car for that day. Just a thought.

Now, why would you want to stay by Fisherman's Wharf?? You will be "done" with the wharf in an hour and the whole general area is sort of seedy, IMO. Now, if you had small kids with you, perhaps then, since there are various nonsensical kid attractions there, but since this is a romantic Anniversary trip, go for--well--romance.

May I recommend a lovely, small, and rather inexpensive choice right in the middle of Union Square, across from Saks Fifth Avenue (who could ask for more) and a Cablecar stop? It is also within an easy walking distance to just about everything in SF, including fabulous shopping opportunities, good restaurants, and divey ones--but delicious--places in China Town. You are also a 15-20 minute walk from North Beach/little Italy and the lovely hangouts there. This place is our all-time favorite and I should probably recommend it rather sparingly, but please 'google' Chancellor Hotel in Union Square and see whether it would suit your needs. Very nice people work there, so you could warn them that it is an Anniversary trip and they will hold a nice room for you, pre-order flowers, chocolates, make dinner reservations whatever.

Anna Roz
Anna Roz

Anna,

I couldn't believe it when I read your recommendation of the Chancellor Hotel. My husband and I have been married for 13 years and have been to SF 5 times and have stayed there every time. We love it!!

There were days we rented a car and went on a day trip but the car rental is within walking distance and you just return the car the same day.

I still have my yellow duck from our first visit.

The doorman, Ben, worked there for over 43 years before he passed away several years ago.

Small, but clean and very pretty. Street car stops right outside their door.

Good suggestion.

Thank you Anna and dhl56 for your recommendation. I found that the general manager of the Chancellor Hotel, Wes Tyler, frequents another forum on another site and people have said on that site that he is very helpful.

I have a few more questions: In regards to sightseeing, would it be better for a first-timer to SF to go with a tour company or drive ourselves to all the different sights? Also, can anyone recommend tour companies that they have used while in SF?

Hello spb825,

A short general tour would be a good introduction to San Francisco. You could note the areas that interest you and return if you wish for a closer look. For touring on your own within San Francisco, obtain a MUNI pass - they come in day or week increments and you can walk down to the kiosk at Powell and Market to purchase. Much better than taking a car around the city. Rent a car for a day or two's worth of short excursions outside of the city - Point Reyes, Santa Cruz, etc.

Happy Anniversary (a bit early)!

One more romantic lodging option to consider. My husband and I spent one of anniversaries in SF at The Archbishop's Mansion. It's a beautiful and historic building with gorgeous suites and excellent service.

We booked the master suite for our stay, think it was called Don Giovanni, and it was absolutely lovely and huge second room, multiple fps, etc. After we had been there several days, we returned to the hotel early one evening to get ready for dinner out and we walked in to the middle of preparations for a wedding that night. All was perfect except the future bride was in tears...very sad. We went to our room and got a call from the desk that they had inadvertently double booked our suite for our last night and the newlyweds wedding night. We immediately offered to move if space was available so the inn sent us out for a quick cocktail (on them), packed and moved everything in our suite to another lovely suite in less than an hour.

We returned to a chilled bottle of champagne from the bride and groom with a heartfelt thank you note and an invitation to their wedding and reception. To top it off, the hotel comped our suite and now we have this wonderful and very romantic memory of a special place.

It's a bit off the beaten path, but you'll know you're somewhere special. Have a wonderful 10th!

You can take public transportation from any hotel to any tourist destination.

There are 2 major systems: BART is a light rail to/from SFO and OAK (NOT going to Fishermen's area, only to downtown) and MUNI - a system of buses and trolleys and light rails inside the city.

This is what you need: a MUNI map - it has all bus routes in color, easy to use and a fast pass for as many days as you're staying in the city.

In any city, a tour of the city is advisable, after that you can decide where you want to return to explore more.

If you like to walk and enjoy beautiful views, you might consider staying at a B&B or motel in the Marina district. Muni buses will take you anywhere you want to go, and in the evening, you can walk along the Bay in the newly restored Marina Green with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Fort Point, Alcatraz and sailboat races

If you are in SF on a Wed. night..go to the Top of the Mark Hopkins hotel and hear LaVay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet lickers play jazz and swing. Its a beautiful venue with a great view, and its fun to watch the swing dancers who arrive in period clothes to dance.

I too question why Fisherman's Wharf? - very touristy and a little tacky. I also recommend staying downtown or Marina. The Arch Bishops Mansion is a great choice although not so easy to get to and not much around it. A lovely small boutique hotel just off the Embarcasero across from the Ferry Bldg. is the Harbor Court. There is also a a fairly new hotel Hotel Vitale in same area. The Ferry Bldg is a great place to eat and just walk around. If you are there on Saturday,they have a wonderful farmer's mkt. If you want to visit the Wharf you can catch the fabulous old "F" car and take that down to the wharf, The Cannery and the cable car turn around. If you stay around Union Square you could easily catch the cable car and take it across town, or do theatre or shopping . The Donatello is very nice and just off Union Square area near the theatre district. I would rethink Fisherman's Wharf

I would recommend staying in Union Square over Fisherman's Wharf - more central.

As far as a car, I recommend you rent a car for one day - to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge and take photos from the other side. With a car, you can also go up to Twin Peaks and get to see more of Golden Gate Park more easily (including the windmills on the Pacific side). There's also the experience of driving down Lombard Street (and up it on the way there, which is actually more of a rush) and driving through Pacific Heights to see all the crazy big houses is really cool. Aside from that, many of which are niceties, walking and public trans will do you just fine.

I recommend passing on the tour or guide or whatever. San Francisco is very tourist-friendly. Everything is pretty easy to find. This may help:
http://piytravel.com/pages/where/na/...isco_brief.piy
Click through to the map, if you like.

Enjoy!