We are looking for extended stay rental recommendations, anywhere in California. We would like more than a B & B.We will be storing our household goods and travelling , starting in Ca. where we live. We can get bonus timeshares for 350. to 600 week, but would like to experience other locations than those in timeshare bank. Thank you ,Joyce

Where in California? We rent a month at a time at Summerfield Suites in West Hollywood. They do an excellent monthly rate and as in all of California (I think) once you stay over 30 nights all the tax is taken off for the whole stay. We always stay 31 nights. There are a number of Oakwood Suites all over California, but they always seem to be in too much of a "business" location for me.

Thankyou Patrick, actually we are flexible and want to travel throughout the State. Joyce

If you go to "Monterey Bay vacation rentals" on yahoo you'll find some condos that rent. Also some of the condos in Lake Tahoe rent by the month.

Joyce-While the Summerfield Suites are a good chain to consider, I don't know if I'd recommend the West Hollywood location. This is a primarily gay neighborhood and while it offers a lot of amenities, the lifestyle may not be to your liking.

One would have to be pretty homophobic to not like the West Hollywood location. It is within two or three blocks of the hottest "hetro" places in LA- the hot and trendy new Momba restuarant, Asia de Cuba at the Mondrian, The House of Blues, and all the clubs and restaurants along Sunset Blvd on the edge of Beverly Hills. If you walk along Santa Monica Blvd. a couple blocks (between the Summerfield and Momba and other hot restaurants), you will pass a couple of gay bars with dancing that are open wide for view -- nothing nude or wild, but you will know they are gay from the hundreds of young men there. If this bothers you, then yes, you would be wise to avoid the area. In fact, you will then need to find a detour between Hollywood or downtown or the Melrose area and getting into Beverly Hills, because this is the main route. Incidentally the Summerfield Suites sits in a residential block just one block from Sunset Blvd and one block from La Cienega, as well as one block from Santa Monica Blvd.

In San Francisco there's a very charming-looking, extended-stay apartment house on Pine St. called the Pierre Suites. You can find more info at www.pierre-suites.com. It is on the border of Nob Hill and you can just walk to the corner and hop on the cable car. You are walking distance to a few restaurants and grocery stores. It's a residential neighborhood but if you are staying for a period of time you probably want to "live like a native." Have fun! And please bring your open mind to California!

Thanks to all for the time and responses. Joyce