See this thread for Yosemite help.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...t=0&dirtyBit=1

Last thing, as I was just investigating Costanoa for our own stay there (for a mini getaway).

Didn't notice but when you use the website, be sure to look for the photos section for more images...and also, pull down menus for info on comfort stations (restrooms) etc.

Sounds pretty cool.

I second trippinkpj regarding staying on Lombard (between Gough to the East and Divisidero to the West) near Marina Dist at Chelsea Motor Inn, or one of the other nexpensive hotels in the area. There are lots of casual and some cheap eats on Union and Chestnut Streets. The local, and best inexpensive Mexican take out is on Buchanan just to the North of Union street, very good!!! I used to live there, and the motels on Lombard were $85, now about $125. From Union street there are many busses to downtown. Go up a few blocks from Union to Broadway, go to the end for a great view looking north. If you want a short, but exciting drive, go over the Golden Gate Bridge and head for Stinson Beach. Hair pin turns, great views for about 1/2 hour. You will pass Muir woods on the way, so make sure you go there if you have not seen giant redwoods before. Anyway, you end up at a very cute town and a beach (ok, some days it has wind and sharks, but its beautiful) To get back without all the windy roads, keep going north, head east on Sir Francis Drake, that will take you back to 101, go south back to SF. IF SF is too expensive, google hotels in marin county, and there is one in Larkspur by the ferry terminal, with Ferrys that go direct to SF's embarcadero hotel area.
have fun

I actually got a $79.- rate last October at Coventry Motor Inn on Lombard. So ask about "specials". I think I found mine on the internet and then called them and they honored the rate.

For S.F. -- definitely agree about dumping the car once you hit the city...

Also agree about checking out Priceline using biddingfortravel.com first to strategically bid. Yes they only guarantee a room for two people, but my experience has been that once you pay Priceline, you are then dealing directly with the hotel and you can make a request to the hotel for 2 beds and an extra roll-away, which you will probably have to pay for but you could get a great deal on priceline.

In that case, I would aim to be in the Union Square area where you have easy access to many parts of the city - including the airport - right on the MUNI/BART - Market line.

For Union Square hotels, check-out The Pickwick on 5th St. just below Market near Nordstrums. A friend of mine recently got it for $89/night directly through the hotel -- of course, you may need to pay for a roll-away for a 3rd person and tax, but the convenience and time-saving of being in this area would be worth it.

Good luck!

Definitely look at Motel6.com for inexpensive lodging. Super 8 is a notch up. The other tip is to try to schedule stays in cities (SF, LA) for the weekends, and use the midweek for stretches along the coastline.

In Los Angeles, consider coming over the weekend and staying downtown. There will be virtually no traffic and you can get a great rate on hotels. Also you could use the Metro Red Line to access Universal Studios.

Use Travelocity, Orbitz or Hotels.com to research prices and then check the individual hotel websites. The trouble with Priceline is that they will not guarantee more than one bed that sleeps two people. So it really doesn't work well for families.

Lompoc is a city that has a surplus of lodging in the relatively expensive area around Santa Barbara, due to the Vandenberg AFB nearby. The Motel 6 and adjacent Quality Inn are both good values. At the Quality Inn you get a breakfast included which always helps with kids.

I stayed at the Pickwick for $89.- in 2004, and for $99.- with free parking in 2005. It was in a good location, rooms clean although I think the rooms (the ones I stayed in) are a little small for 4 people. It was fine for our two people/ two beds.

Who's the fourth person?

kali says "a single dad and two teenagers". My math tells me that's three people, but then I'm not that good at math...

Sorry Easy, I meant to say three. I think it would be crowded for "more than two". LOL!

trippinkpj: as our muscle-bound governor liked to say "no problemo" (LOL!). Not knowing exactly how many people are involved makes it difficult to suggest hotels.

Furthermore, as kali has not come back to enlighten us as to whether the two teenagers are both boys/girls or one boy, one girl - it's difficult to know how many rooms to suggest.

Hopefully, things will get cleared up in the end and kali will have a fine time in California!

Thanks everybody for four suggestions !!! It's in fact a boy and a girl. We will try to stop at Yosemite. It seems a beautiful park. Everybody has so many ideas for us that we'd have to stay for the summer. Anyways, thanks a lot !!

The youth hostels are quite nice in northern California -- and some of them on the coast like Pigeon Point Lighthouse have wonderful settings. Check out http://www.norcalhostels.org for details. I also use www.travelzoo.com for good hotel deals.

Santa Barbara hotels usually have two night minumums on the weekends, so do call ahead.

There are 3 youth hostels in SF that are reasonably priced - you might be able to book a family room. the one downtown (theatre district) has 4-bed rooms - check out website:
http://www.hiusa.org/usa-hostels/ca/sanfran.shtml
..also one just across the golden gate bridge ... i think fort baker

Four people in a youth hostel adds up to pretty much the same as a decent private hotel room at a budget-to-moderate hotel.