Hotels in SF/Oakland area

Old Apr 11th, 2012, 05:58 AM
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Hotels in SF/Oakland area

We are taking our son and his family (there will be 6 of us with the two elementary-age girls) to the San Francisco area in later June. We are looking for hotel ideas. We are not set on staying in the city, but we have no idea of driving times from the outlying areas, or if a particular property is in an area we would just as soon not stay in. We have looked at suites and 2 room options.

We'll be flying into Oakland.

Any help some of the "regulars" here, or people with recent experience, will be appreciated. We don't mind driving a few miles, but would just as soon avoid driving an hour each way. Thank you.
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Old Apr 11th, 2012, 06:16 AM
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If you are going to SEE San Francisco, stay IN SF! Public transportation is very good for visitors to get around SF. Parking is VERY expensive in SF and truly a rental car is not needed. Walking is also easy.
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Old Apr 11th, 2012, 06:38 AM
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We are going to be there for a week, and will not spend all the time in the city. We are looking at probably 3 days in the city itself. The rest of the time will be spent exploring the area: Muir Woods/Marin Co., wine country, etc.
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Old Apr 11th, 2012, 08:33 AM
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You are far better to rent a car for each day trip out of the city. You can get good prices for just a single day, using Dollar Car Rental[there's one at Fishermans Wharf and another at Union Sq on O'Farrell street], and avoid paying for parking and having a car when you don't need it.

Pick the car up first thing in the morning, do your trip and then return it that evening. Skip paying overnight parking and the rental is less because you are not paying airport fees. Also, they have city specials sometimes so the price is even better.

We have done this on many of our visits to SF.
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Old Apr 11th, 2012, 08:44 AM
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What kind of budget are we looking at (Lombard Street/Fisherman's Wharf motel vs. Ritz-Carlton?)

Where do you plan to go outside the city other than Muir Woods and the wine country? Do you also plan to head south toward Monterey?
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Old Apr 11th, 2012, 12:33 PM
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Oakland is not a fun city to stay in for vacation. Stay in SF while seeing sights in that city. For the other trips you mention , I would move to a hotel or motel closer to them so you won't have to keep driving thru SF traffic to get to them.
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Old Apr 11th, 2012, 12:50 PM
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We haven't decided about Monterey yet. We have been there, but our family has not. We are more inclined towards moderate hotels, as we do not have need for the amenities that the higher end hotels offer. Typically we use the hotel for sleeping, not much else, unless they offer breakfast.
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Old Apr 11th, 2012, 01:15 PM
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If you have a car, you might want to look at any of the motels (some are nicer than others) along Lombard Street, as many of them have free parking. Ex. Chelsea Motor Inn, Cow Hollow Inn. Although they're on "motel row", the advantage (in addition to the free parking) is they're very close to two streets, Union Street and Chestnut Street, both of which are very popular for shopping, dining and people-watching. They're also easy access for sightseeing.

With two elementary-school age girls, I personally would skip the wine country, but if you're going to go, do it as a day trip from San Francisco. If you leave early morning, you could do Muir Woods and the wine country the same day.
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Old Apr 11th, 2012, 01:18 PM
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Oh, and I agree with Bob, Oakland should be "last resort" only. It would not be fun to go back and forth with six people, to a city that hasn't anything to offer tourists.
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Old Apr 11th, 2012, 03:21 PM
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As Gloria Stein once said about Oakland: There's no there there.

Actually - they have a decent waterfront/Jack London Square and chinatown area, but it's still an iffy area, IMO, and years ago - I practiced law at the Port of Oakland. commuting from SF.
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Old Apr 11th, 2012, 05:33 PM
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Gloria Stein . . . Huh? mixing up two people?

Not only is Oakland not a nice place to stay, it can be downright dangerous. Many of us have more recent experience than our friend tom . . .

IMO -- touring wine country w/ young kids isn't that great. Santa Cruz and Monterey would be much more family oriented. And there is a better Redwood park south of SF than Muir Woods north of the city. (Big Basin)
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Old Apr 12th, 2012, 05:08 AM
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Thank you all for your suggestions. It definitely gives us more to look at! Actually we were not looking at staying in Oakland, rather at some properties in Pleasant Hill area. Still exploring those options.
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Old Apr 12th, 2012, 06:07 AM
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The point of visiting San Francisco is to be IN the city. Stay in San Francisco. Don't stay in Pleasant Hill.
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Old Apr 12th, 2012, 09:35 AM
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Pleasant Hill makes no sense unless maybe you were visiting friends Contra Costa county.
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Old Apr 12th, 2012, 09:39 AM
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Staying in Pleasant Hill would be crazy. It's a 45-minute pricey BART ride into the city.
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Old Apr 12th, 2012, 10:47 AM
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janis - I ain't your friend - and quit dogging my messages.

Pleasant Hill has great weather - and is a cute little community - but to get from there into the city would take more time. If you found a place with a pool and the kids like that - it might be a decent alternative to staying in SF - which could have June Gloom, etc.
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Old Apr 12th, 2012, 10:53 AM
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And staying over in Marin (Sausalito, Mill Valley, San Rafael, etc) also usually has better weather than in the City.

Driving in from either Marin or Contra Costa areas is not that bad - if you go aftr the morning commute and return before the afternoon commute. Actually - driving across either bridge or Golden Gate) - is a visual treat.
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Old Apr 12th, 2012, 10:54 AM
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Typo. That's supposed to read: driving across either bridge - Bay or Golden Gate - is a visual treat.
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Old Apr 12th, 2012, 10:56 AM
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Sorry, Pleasant Hill is okay, but it's just a suburb like any other. The time (1-1/2 hours R/T) and expense ($9.80 per adult R/T, $3.60 per child R/T, for a total of $46.40 per day for the 6 of you of traveling back and forth to the city, added to the fact that you couldn't go back DURING the day, is just not a good use of time or money.
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Old Apr 12th, 2012, 11:29 AM
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Are you renting a car? Check www.carrentals.com, among other sites - for a weekly rental - and I would recommend you have a car for your stay. That way - you can drive into the City and back ($5 toll on the bridge - or that's what I recall - paid on your way in via the Bay Bridge) - if you don't stay in the city - and also that allows you to get to other places around the Bay Area.
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