I tried a "search" but can't come up with good advice for my needs. I am not looking for a motel on Lombard Street, and I do not need free parking . . . or any parking, for that matter.

I am flying down for a weekend to visit family, but need to stay in a hotel downtown. In the past, I have stayed on or near Union Square, but this time I will take BART from the airport, so I am thinking of a place near the Montgomery St. BART station. I prefer a "boutique" hotel over the biggies, but I would like to keep the price under $250. I don't need easy access to shopping, nightlife, etc., as I will mostly be enjoying time with the rest of the family. But I do need "safe" in case I return rather late at night.

The location of the Galleria Park (corner of Sutter and Kearney) looks perfect, and the price is right. Is there any reason I should look farther?

(The Diva at only $30 more per night is tempting, but I'm not sure the location is as suitable for my needs on this trip. Am I correct? Or would the walk from the Powell St. BART station to the Diva be just as safe and comfortable? I suppose if it is questionable at night I could always get someone to walk me back. Would that be worth it to say there?)

Thank you for your help, as always!

Enzian, when you "return late at night", where would you be returning from, the BART station or elsewhere?

Well, that's a good question---I don't actually know. This is a family celebration and party, so I don't know what activities are planned or where.

On further thought, I'm quite sure that late at night (meaning 10 or so) someone would be happy to accompany me back to my hotel so I wouldn't be walking alone, say up Powell or Geary.

So I guess my question is more about the general advisability of the area immediately west of Union Sq., versus the Financial District location of the Galleria Park. I have spent a fair amount of time in SF over my lifetime, but not on my own, and recently I read some negative comments about the area around the Powell St. BART station. That is what prompted my search for something farther east.

But perhaps it is not really a valid concern?

Galleria is purfect, jump on it if you can. RESERVE NOW.

As for walking at night, it's safe. If from BART, at night you want to get off on Powell, walking down Powell is safe alone.

Galleria is not exactly in financial district, and it doesn't get deserted at night.

Let me look up Diva.

Oh, Diva is on Geary @ Mason-Taylor. I still like Galleria's location better.

I like the Galleria location better too. . .

But the Diva looks amazing. Maybe I shouldn't consider that?

It turns out the main party (Saturday night) will be at a place in North Beach. I will have someone walk me back, definitely. But that also favors the Galleria location, doesn't it?

(I never should have looked at the Diva website. Just had heard of it somewhere and yielded to temptation.)

I will have someone walk me back, definitely.

It's a pretty long walk through not-so-populated areas (meaning fairly empty on a late Saturday night -- Kearny Street once you get out of North Beach) from North Beach to the Galleria Park Hotel (and BART doesn't go anywhere near North Beach). I'd think you'll take a cab just that one night.

My daughter stayed at the Hotel Diva a couple of times in the past 3 years, and really liked it. Good location on Geary/ Theatre district.

The party is near Broadway and Stockton. Since Kearney St. is empty at night, if there were several of us walking together, would it be OK to walk back over Nob Hill on Powell or Mason?

I know 10 years ago I walked all over that area at night (between the top of Nob Hill and Union Square area). I just don't know what it like now.

The worst thing you will encounter on Kearney or Stockton at night is the sight of someone sleeping in a doorway. Between Broadway and Bush is not exactly a high street crime areas like the Tenderloin.

Sounds like it would be no different than walking around Seattle at night (as long as we stay far from the Tenderloin)?

Hi enzian, if you don't want to walk just take a taxi back to your hotel. And have a good time in SF!

Hi LoveItaly---thanks! I'm looking forward to it.

I know this sounds strange, but taxis make me uncomfortable when I am by myself. I'm hoping someone at the party will want to walk back with me.

So . . . anyone else have an opinion on Hotel Diva versus Galleria Park?

Bus lines 30 and 45 will take you back to Galleria. Or Diva They run along Stockton.

Check the MUNI website how late they run. $1.50 or if you're over 65 only 50 cents.

Hi again enzian, isn't it funny how we are all so different. I have taken taxis by myself several times at night and always felt completely comfortable. But there is no way I use Muni by myself at night. I have no knowledge of Hotel Diva enzian thus can't offer any advice.

If it helps, I'm looking at a hotel near Union Square, the Parc 55. I was able to get really nice rates, well under your $250 limit.

An added plus, if you happen to take the BART, it's a short walk from the Powell station.

It's been a while since I've been in that area of SF, so have forgotten how it is at night. But it is near the area you're looking in.

Good luck, as I try to figure out whether I want to stay at the Hyatt Fisherman Wharf or the Parc 55 next month!

Hi mcnyc---I have stayed at the Parc 55 in the past. As I recall, it was a lovely hotel (the bathroom was all marble and almost as large as most hotel room bedrooms). Between there and the Hyatt at Fisherman's Wharf, I guess it would depend on where you want to be located---closer to shopping/restaurants (Union Square) or to the tourist attractions and parks like the Presidio (Fisherman's Wharf).

For this trip, I ended up booking the Galleria Park, with an internet special price around $145.

Ooo, nice. I found Parc 55 for $10 more for the period that I need it. I'm just trying to remember if there is street parking around that area.

I guess we'll stay at the Hyatt this time around. It's hard for me know where to look in San Francisco since I know it, but I don't. I'm always with friends when I'm here, and they just take me around to where I need to go.

I don't think there's any street parking around the Parc 55 area. As I recall, we paid $30 per day on top of the room charge for parking!

Ouch! I believe it's similar pricing over at the Hyatt. The price of convenience.

Thanks enzian for your help!