I was thinking the same thing -- the Four Seasons is an entirely different class of property w/ much higher rates.

wekeewoody: I stayed there in the summer of 2013, high season, and went on Expedia and paid $1,032.55 total for 2 nights at the Four Seasons and that total price included airfare, from L.A. (Burbank Airport) and taxes. I have the Expedia print-out in front of me.

Happy Travels!

"DebitNM on Apr 17, 14 at 5:44am
"I took the bus from the Pier building area, as it goes along Market Street. "

Oh, take the F Streetcat instead of the bus; so much more fun!"

Thanks, Debit: I've probably taken it before as I've been going up there since I was a child. Maybe next time I'll take it. But, the bus was convenient and had only about 4 people in it at it's starting point which was great as I wanted to avoid crowds of people. Smiles.

Happy Travels!

Park 55 looks promising too; I like the mention of air-conditioning, having stayed at a Joie de Vivre hotel that lacked it. Usually July is chilly, but this time we had our usual heat nemesis following us.

Sounds like I need to do a lot of checking on specials.

Underhill: Yes, check for different specials, at various hotels, and during different times of the day and night. The prices change every other second it seems.

As for the Four Seasons, I have never paid $500. for a room at any Four Seasons. Back when I first started staying at the S.F. one in summer of 2007, I think it was, my room was around $275. and I got a free upgrade and a meal from the bar lounge, included for each day that I was there.

My most recent deal that I got in summer 2013 was a really good one. And according to my print-out, in front of me, I booked it 2 days before I actually flew up there although I started looking about 2-3 weeks prior. You never know what might pop up so don't give up on any hotel that you might be interested in. Keep checking. Perseverance can pay off. Good luck to you.

Happy Travels!

Hmmmm...has anyone stayed at the Inn at the Presidio? I actually stayed there way back when it was the BOQ but wonder how it is now that it's become a hotel.

We saw the inn while doing a City guides free walking tour. It looked lovely, but it is really out of the way for most things a visitor would want to do. A bus ride will get you back and forth, but it was long, with all the stops.

We stayed at the Inn at the Presidio back in September.

We loved it and loved staying in this part of the city for a change.

We walked all over the Presidio. There are lots of interesting nooks and crannies and then of course there are the viewpoints and the beaches on the coast side. It was a nice walk to the Marina and Fort Mason. Another nice walk took us to the Golden Gate Bridge. We walked across it.

We found plenty to do, but as stated above, some consider its location out of the way. If you've been to the city before and have done most of the things a visitor would want to do, it might be a nice change of pace. It was for us.

We walked to places 15 to 20 minutes away for dinner. There are some places on Baker Street. I did a google map and there were several good places to eat within a 20 minute walk.

We stayed in a suite on the third floor that had a view of the GG bridge.

Based on photos, the Monaco's rooms have been redone.

It's my favorite hotel in San Francisco. Love the vibe and the staff is outstanding.

Can't wait to return - hopefully this summer.

I agree weke that if you aren't going to be wanting to do the usual visitor sites and rather a stay to enjoy the locale of the area, The Inn at the Presidio would be a great choice.

Deb, perhaps a stay there is in your future?

The Presidio is an odd area in that so much of it is under construction, being dug up or being revamped, yet it remains a very peaceful location.

Right across the street from the Inn is an archeological dig that is exposing the foundation of the original Spanish settlement.

Heading to SF in October, most likely! Maybe we will stay there...

It sounds very appealing, as our trip is primarily to see the art exhibit at the Legion--so staying in the Presidio would put us fairly close.

My DH was born in SF, and we've visited the city many times--but there's always something new to see.

I think the location is good for return visits, but not ideal for first time visitors. A friend's wedding reception was at the Presidio and it was a gorgeous venue.

After reading the rave reviews of the Inn on the tripadvisor site I made a reservation for the end of July. I'll report back after our stay; we decided to drive down, since parking at the Inn is only a big $7.

Have a great time Underhill.

We had dinner one night at the Baker Street Bistro. Good French food. It is a low key, neighborhood place. Another night we ate at Sociale. A little more upscale. Italian, but it too had a very comfortable neighborhood feel to it. We walked to both.

Do think about taking this great walking tour:
http://www.sfcityguides.org/desc.html?tour=1

And also going to the Disney Museum; right in the Presidio. It is NOT for kids, it is about Walt Disney
"From Mickey Mouse to Snow White, from Mary Poppins to Disneyland, Walt Disney’s artistry and imagination helped define 20th-century America. The Walt Disney Family Museum brings his legacy to life and invites viewers to find their own creative inspiration in his story.
The museum illuminates Walt’s fascinating life: his tremendous successes as well as his disappointments, and his unyielding optimism as he worked tirelessly to advance the art of animation. Walt was a risk-taker who influenced popular culture through pioneering animated and live-action films, television programs, theme parks, and other new technologies. His story is told through innovative, interactive galleries. Visitors get to know Walt through early drawings and animation, movies, music, and listening stations featuring his own voice, among others. A 13-foot model of Disneyland as Walt originally envisioned it is a perennial favorite with museum goers.


http://www.waltdisney.org/

Thanks for the restaurant (very welcome) and walking tour recommendations. We'll add the military cemetery to the list as well.

For what it's worth, our favorite "San Francisco" hotel so far is Inn Above the Tide in Sausalito. It is on the water overlooking the bay and just a short ferry ride to San Francisco. Beautiful views.

That goes on my list for another trip.