We can't find any affordable hotels in downtown San Francisco but have been able to get a great deal at the Four Points Hotel San Francisco Bay Bridge in Emeryville. We will be renting a car. Is it going to be too far away from the major attractions to be convenient. Is the area in any way interesting itself? It is our first visit to San Francisco and we are travelling all the way from Egypt so any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

The traffic is quite heavy and it can be stressful. If you post specifics as to what you are looking for in the way of a room you could solicit ideas. There is much expertise on Fodor's. If I were you I would look for a closer hotel. Gail

I agree. Do not stay in a hotel outside of the City. The amount of money saved will not be worth it. San Francisco is a good city to walk in but an awful city to drive in or to. Your best bet is to find a reasonably-priced hotel in the city center and forget about renting a car.

I agree with Gail and Emily. You will waste time and money by staying outside of the City. There are many reasonable motels on Lombard St from which you can get public transportation anywhere in the City. Unfortunately I don't know names of specific motels in that area. Maybe some one will post some of them. Also, you need to contact San Francisco's web site--Visitors and Convention Bureau
Good Luck

Per the previous suggestion to stay on Lombard Street, you might try the Cow Hollow Motor Inn at 2190 Lombard. We stayed there several years ago and it was reasonably priced (about $90), very clean and pleasant, and had free parking. It was walking distance from the marina and Fisherman's wharf and easily accessible to public transportation.

Another vote for staying in the city. Although the room may cost more, you won't need the rental car, so you will save that cost and the very high cost of parking a car in downtown San Francisco--you will have to put your car in a garage if you drive in from Emeryville as on-street parking is very limited. My recollection is that parking is easily $20 a day. If you stay in the city, you will not want to rent a car--it is a burden rather than an advantage.

In my opinion, one the most enjoyable things to do in San Francisco is walk the city neighborhoods, which is much easier if you stay in the city. You will lose a lot of time each day driving in and out--traffic is very heavy. Also, if your hotel is convenient, you can return to it in the afternoon for a rest or to freshen up. Have a wonderful time--San Francisco is my favorite place to visit.

Not sure what "affordable" is for your budget, but The Chancellor is just one of several smaller, very pleasant hotels in the Union Square area...We stayed at the C two years ago and paid, I think, under $125 a nite...Union Square is centrally located for walking to shopping, Nob Hill, etc...and there's a streetcar that runs right past the hotel.

I agree with the others: stay in San Francisco without a car (unless you really need one for day trips). Sorry to be negative, but the Four Points is right in the middle of a bunch of shoppping malls and high-tech office buildings -- not an interesting area for a vacation unless all you want to do is shop, mostly at big chain stores. Although Emeryville is right across the bay from SF, the bridge traffic can be horrendous, and the parking in SF is sure to be even worse.