I was going to suggest the Ritz at Half Moon Bay as an option as it is an easy drive to SFO on your last day but it is well out of your price range. Could consider some B&B's in this area if you want to be closer to SFO like Mill Rose Inn, Zaballa house or Old Thyme Inn. Several options in the Monterey bay area. The Monterey Plaza is quite nice and you may be able to get in midweek for $150 to $200. Close to the aquarium. Pacific Grove has alot nice B&B's like the Gatehouse Inn, Gosby house, Green Gables, and Martine in the same price range.
I might prefer to suggest Carmel as a place to spend one night. I like the La Playa for the price and location. Also consider Clint Eastwood's place, the Mission Ranch.

Wow - thanks for all those suggestions. That will keep me occupied for a while looking at all those!!!

What time of day will you be getting back from Yosemite? Perhaps you just want to stay on the SF Peninsula (within 15 miles of SFO) and do dinner in one of the towns nearby (I live in one of them, as does StuDudley, and might have a suggestion or two depending on your taste and wallet!)

Sorry for hijacking the post - but i'm interested in an anser to the same question and was looking to be closer to the airport. Can you give me any recommendations on the SF peninsula. Pacifica was also somewhere we'd considered just by map location -what's it like please?
thanks!

just came back from SF area..Went toMonterey and 7 Gables was in the midst of outside renovation (scaffolds etc).Agree that area is great spot.Have breakfast at the little restaurant just past 7 gales on the point--great views and good service.Aquarium is amust see.
If you dont want to go that far,we stayed in Palo Alto, visited Stanford campus,went to Rodin museum there, lots of very good restaurants,shops etc.Stanford Inn is close.Half moon is very nice too, and the drive up 1 to SF is very scenic,if you like heights.Have fun

dizzyb, are you looking for someplace just to sleep and eat before going to the airport, or are you looking for a full day's "sightseeing"? If the former, there are nice hotels near SFO (Hyatt Regency, Marriott, etc.), and Burlingame has some very nice restaurants. If the latter (i.e. sightseeing), I would agree with the last poster, who recommended Palo Alto -- its a very nice town, and has the Stanford Campus with its Rodin Museum, etc. Let us know what you're looking for.

PS--car rental logisitcs---The car rentalprocess is a little difficult at SF.First,if you can join one of the car rentalclubs,like Hertz Gold, go for it,because youll avoid the long lines at the rentalcounter.It cost me $25to join. After you get your bags,rent a baggage cart--$3,because your going along way.Go down from baggage claim by taking elevator,follow the lines in the floor for AirTrain, take elevator up to top floor take train and follow directions to car rental.Getting our of AP is tricky so follow signs carefully.If you can get a car with GPS do it, its worth the $7/day,especially if your not used todriving on the right side of the road--have fun.

Hi bigbomoho

What's the process like for returning rental cars at SF airport? DMlove kindly pointed out that the rental drop off is off site to the airport. How long would it take to get from one to the other?

We still need to decide where to spend our last night but after suggestions here Carmel/Monterey looks like the favourite choice as the aquarium in Monterey looks very interesting.
Thanks

I rent cars twice a year to/from SFO. I find it to be quite easy. Upon arrival at SFO you go upstairs after clearing immigration and customs. Take the monorail to the car rental station. A monorail car comes about every 5 minutes and the ride takes about 5 minutes.
Upon arrival to the car rental stations you wait in line to process your car rental papers. The wait has always been less than 5 minutes for me. You than go to the parking garage, load up, than drive off. If you are a member of one of the car rental clubs you can just go out and bypass the check in area. I am a member of Hertz and National but somehow Avis always gives me better rates when I do a one way to SFO. Return of a rental is even easier as all you need to do is drive up to the appropriate garage level and park your car in line and someone will come up and check you in. Grab your luggage and take the monorail to either the international or domestic terminal etc.

my comments were arrivng in Terminal C,domestic--good that Intl terminal is easier.Id still rent a cart to drag around luggage,and go for a GPS with all the driving your doing.The rail system itself is very fast,so no issue there,just the logistics of carrying the luggage.
Monterey is terrific,good choice.Depending on how fast you drive and traffic, Id figure 2 hours from SFO.Traffic around San Jose can be very bad going South on 101 between 4 and 6,and heading north between 8 and 10AM.Taking 280 rather than 101 would avoid some of those delays,and its a much more scenic route.This last weekend i saw 3 police giving out tickets between Palo Alto and SFO on 280.When we were at the aquarium.they fed the otters at 10:30 and the tuna in the big tank at 11:30--quite a site

dmjapril, last night some friends came in and were renting a car and then meeting us for dinner. They were still waiting for their luggage at the baggage claim at 7:23 (when they called), and arrived at dinner, car rental and all (dinner very close to airport) at about 8:05. So baggage claim, monorail to car rental place, standing in line and getting car, and driving to dinner, about 45 minutes (10 of which was driving to the restaurant). And my friend walks VERY slowly LOL!

be sure to bring along sweaters et al for the evening,and even daytime.There may be a 30 degree swing between SF and Monterey in the daytime,and in he evening temps will drop into 50s in Palo Alto from 80s duting the day

Thanks for all your help. Getting quite excited - just 2 weeks to go now!!!

if you do go to Monterey and want a fun good lunch with a great view try the Fishhopper on Cannery row just a block from Aquarium.They have a very good Dungeness crab (get the whole thing without the shell on top)

Dungeness crab is not in season. If you're here at Thanksgiving, then you can devour it with great delight. Fish Hopper? Hmmm...as a general rule, we locals avoid the wharf restaurants like a plague. Having said that, if you must go, Abalonetti is the best on the wharf. Their calamari is exquisite.