In need of some help
 

We are planning a trip to CA.<BR>There is a lot of bad things about San Fran on this site. So, what are the "god areas" in SF?<BR>Then, is it difficult to drive up the Pacific coast if you are from Europe?<BR>Then, what carrental should we use?<BR>And how much time should we reserv for the trip up from LA to SF?<BR>We only have 3 weeks vacation!!!!<BR>Hoteltips: How does Farmers Daughter in LA sound? And if we decide to stay in SF, how does Cow Hollow sound?<BR>Or should we skip SF and stay in Sausalito or Tiburon? Hoteltips in these areas are welcome too.

I think you are definitely in need of lots of research! Try doing a text search first,using the words San Francisco, read as many guide books as you can,get some idea of what part of the city you would like to be in,what kind of hotels you like and the cost.<BR>I would recommend staying in the city,Tiburon and Sausolito are good for a day,but you will want to be in the city.There is so much to see and do!<BR>Good luck and have a great trip!<BR>

Mona,<BR><BR>I think that if you decide to visit the San Francisco area, you would be better off staying in Sausalito or Tiburon. They have great views of SF, and you will not have to put up with the negative aspects of staying in town. I have lived in the SF area for about 15 yrs., and unfortunately, alot of the negative comments about SF are true. If you decide not to come up to SF, I would spend some additional times on the Pacific Coast. (www.monterey.com)should give you some idea about things to do in the area. The coastal scenery around Monterey, Carmel, and further south in Big Sur is spectacular.

The drive from LA to SF is something that you will want to take a few days (or more) to do. <BR><BR>You'll want to follow Highway 1. I have done this drive a number of times and typically spend a few nights in San Diego to go to the zoo and walk the beaches (San Diego is a few hours south of LA) taking a side trip down to Mexico (45 minute drive from San Diego), a few nights in Santa Barbara, a night in Ojai or Cambria, I stop at the Hearst Castle, drive through Big Sur and spend a few nights in Carmel or Monteray (I usually bike the 17 mile drive near Pebble Beach - a much better experience than driving - you can rent bikes at Monteray Plaza). <BR><BR>I am not crazy about Cow Hollow - I usually stay at one of the more expensive hotels in Union Square since I travel alone and it feels safe. Don't miss walking over the Golden Gate and the tour of Alcatraz.<BR><BR>I also spend a few nights in wine country - Sonoma is less touristy than Napa. I usually go to the Sonoma Mission Inn and spa. My favorite place in wine country is Oakville - Cakebread Winery, the Oakville Grocer (great picnic supplies), Robert Mondavi (excellent tour) and Plumpjack are all in this area.<BR><BR>3 weeks is plenty of time (I usually do it in 10 days). <BR><BR>With 3 weeks on your hands, you may want to consider a drive out to Yosemite as well.

If you are starting from LA and driving north the trip up the coast should be fine. It is far easier to drive north than it is to drive south. Driving north puts you on the mountain side of the road and an awesome view of the ocean without feeling like you'll drive off the edge.<BR><BR>Coming north you might want to stop in Santa Barbara as others have said or go a little further. Ojai would not be as far as Santa Barbara and is quite a bit in-land. <BR><BR><BR>Be aware that being from Europe you may not be able to cross into Mexico as eaily as americans do. Before you do this you should make sure you will have no problems returning. BTW Tijuana is not a good destination so you may want to save Mexico for a different vacation.<BR><BR>There are many car rental companies available. National, Budget, Enterprise,etc. If you smoke you may want to mention this as many car rental agnecies in CA do not allow smoking in their cars.<BR><BR>Three weeks is plenty of time to explore the coast and as Linda above says you even have time to go to Yosemite.<BR>

A very big THANK YOU to Katie, Carla and Linda.<BR>I´ve been surfing the internet a lot, but I think it is better to get information from people who has been there. So, Cow Hollow is not to recommend? Good to know! <BR>Then about the car rental, is it Avis or Hertz?<BR>And then about the driving, is it difficult to drive in LA? Can you easy get lost and end up in the desert instead of in Santa Barbara? <BR>Any suggestions for hotels/B&B:s/motels in Sausalito or Tiburon?

Thank you too, X!<BR>Didn´t see your answer before I posted mine. Do you have more suggestions for stops along the Pacific Highway?<BR>Maybe I should say that we are planning on staying in LA for 3-4 days and then in Sebastopol (north of SF) at a friends house. So we will probably see a lot of the winecounty. The last 5 days we are thinking of spending in Pacific Grove, to relax the most before going home to the grey reality.<BR>I´m very greatful for answers. Thank you!

Mona,<BR>Cow Hollow can be a beautiful area to stay. It is largely residential except for one street of shopping, cafes and restaurants - Union Street. It is nestled at the base of Pacific Heights and has a great feel. But I would say that you should describe what you are looking for and then people can respond directly to your interests.<BR><BR>If you want to be in the heart of the city - Union Square is it. If you want to be near touristy attractions, then maybe you should stay in Fisherman's Wharf. If you want Bohemian culture, then maybe North Beach is for you. If you want less of an urban setting, Tiburon or Sausalito might be a better choice for you.<BR><BR>The posts on this site about this city are filled with hyperbole and extreme reactions. San Francisco is a very safe and friendly city. I think you will find coming from Europe that it fits with your idea of what a city is and has to offer.<BR><BR>Have a wonderful visit!

Thank´s Sharon!<BR>We are looking for a not so expencive but clean place to stay. And it must be in a safe area. Last time we stayed at Powell Hotel in 1997. That´s why I think it would be better to stay in the Fisherman´s area now. We didn´t see so much of it last time. (very busy with shopping on Market street) :)<BR>But I think things are different these days. Is it realy true about these homeless people? Last time only one came up to me and asked me for money. I probably looked so dum (beacause we don´t have this where I live) that he went on walking and left me standing there looking like a questionsmark(?).<BR>Sorry about my spelling!!

Mona,<BR>I have lived in the city for the last decade and plan to live here the rest of my life. I might be a bad person to ask about the homeless because I love my city - warts and all. I have never felt unsafe because of a homeless person. I have been approaced, but a kind response usually gets the person to leave me alone. This will probably get a whole bunch of people to share their bad experiences now, but I have not had one myself.<BR><BR>Anyway, here are some hotel recommendations that should fit your requirements. Are you looking for any specific amenities? Do you want atmosphere?<BR><BR>Cow Hollow:<BR>HOTEL DEL SOL (see Fodor's review) <BR>3100 Webster St., San Francisco, CA 94123, USA <BR>Phone: 415/921-5520 or 877/433-5765 <BR>Fax: 415/931-4137 <BR><BR>BED AND BREAKFAST INN <BR>Location: 4 Charlton Ct., at Union St., <BR>San Francisco, CA 94123, USA <BR>Phone: 415/921-9784 <BR>Fax: 415/921-0544 <BR><BR>PACIFIC HEIGHTS INN <BR>Location: 1555 Union St., <BR>San Francisco, CA 94123, USA <BR>Phone: 415/776-3310 or 800/523-1801 <BR>Fax: 415/776-8176 <BR><BR>I can recommend others if you give me more of an idea about what you like in a hotel.

Sharon!<BR>I´m not used to travelling a lot so I don´t have a lot of expiriences from hotels. But one thing I like is friendly staff. Clean place, that´s not so bad! And then again the safety thing!<BR>We, ourselves, are living in the archipelago, so you can imagen that we don´t need any fancy things. A roof over our heads in a clean and safe area, not so far from Fisherman´s Warf.<BR>Many criterias don´t you think?<BR>Do you have any expirience of hotels and motels in LA too?<BR>

Mona, I'll second the recommendation for Hotel Del Sol. The staff is great and they will give you many recommendations on restaurants in walking distance, sights to see, etc. You can walk from there to Fisherman's Wharf, if you don't mind walking about a mile along the bay, a beautiful part of the city. Cow Hollow is a very safe part of town.<BR><BR>I agree you should add Yosemite to your trip. Three weeks should be plenty of time to see it all. What time of year are you visiting?

Mona,<BR>I think you will be quite happy with Hotel del Sol. Here is their web site. take a look and if you do not like it, I will try to give you another choice. http://www.thehoteldelsol.com/<BR><BR>Where in LA do you want to stay?

Mona,<BR><BR>In answer to your question about the awful homeless problem yes, it is true. I hate to say it but I have to admit the truth about my city. Be very aware of your surroundings.

Susan!<BR>We are planning on going as soon as possible. I´m studying right now and hope to get reade with that before the end of this year or at the latest next spring. Last time we where there it was october-november, so maybe it will be april-may this time. Do you think I´m starting the planning too early if it is going to be next spring?

Sharon!<BR>We don´t have a clue where to stay in LA!<BR>Last time we stayed at Beverly House hotel.......that doesn´t exsist anymore.<BR>Some ideas we have picked up from internet. <BR>Farmers Daughter motel located in Fairfax area very near Farmers Market and Melrose. Don´t know enything about it. Do you???<BR>I´m most greatful for your answers!!<BR>(Did I write that once already?)

I checked out the Hotel Del Sol..it looked very nice. Do you know if there is any breakfast places nearby. We eat A LOT in the mornings!! :)<BR>A complimentary breakfast is not enough.<BR>And then once again about the homeless, are they around Fisherman´s Warf too??<BR>I thought they where more around Market Street?

Mona, May should be lovely. I just spent the day in San Francisco on Sunday (Mother's Day) and it was gorgeous and sunny. The parks were full of people flying kites and playing with their kids. The bay was dotted with sailboats and the skyline was clear and glittering from the view across the Golden Gate. Always bring sweaters and long pants to San Francisco, as the weather is often cool. In my opinion, it is never too early to start planning. That's one of my favorite parts of travel and why I'm on this board. <BR><BR>As far as breakfast is concerned, I wouldn't count on a big spread from the Hotel Del Sol. There is a coffee place in walking distance called the Coffee Roastery, also La Nouvelle Patisserie, where you can get lovely breakfast pastries and good java.

You forgot to mention that all the millions of SF homeless were chasing the tourists and then barbequeing them in an open pit South of Market. As a person who has lived in SF all of my life, I find it quite discouraging that they use a spicy barbeque sauce. Anybody in SF with class knows the sauce should be smokey variety.<BR>What wine goes good with tourist?

Sharon!<BR>It sounds lovely!! I think we settle for april-may then!<BR>Thanks for the good tips. I will print them and save them for our trip.<BR>Send in some more if you can.<BR>And then to NoWay: I heard that Olvi is a good thing that goes with tourists. Do you even know what that is?

Noway,<BR><BR>How about the trash in streets being blown around by the wind. It really adds a touch of class to a third world city. All we need now is some raw sewage flowing down the street.

Webster's Dictionary:<BR>"third world city" (thurd wurld sitty):<BR>SEE SAN JOSE.<BR><BR>Mona: I think it's a foreign beer (Scandinavian?) that takes it's waste by-products and sells it in all the finest San Jose gourmet food shops.

Mona,<BR>There are some nice breakfast spots on Union Street as well as Chestnut (both within walking distance from the hotel). There is always IHOP on Lombard... a chain that has cheap breakfasts 24 hours a day... I hate the coffee but love the pancakes.<BR><BR>Unfortunately, the best breakfast spot on Union, Doidge's, has gone out of business. But you will have plenty of other choices.<BR><BR>Peter D's (Van Ness at Pacific)<BR>Union Street Cafe (Union Street)<BR>Perry's (Union Street)<BR><BR>There are more... this is just a start.

NoWay,<BR><BR>San Jose third world? That's laughable. In Money Magazine's most recent rating of the 300 best metropolitan areas to live, San Jose is rated as #5. Hardly a third world ranking. I hate to see what San francisco's ranking is.<BR><BR>

Yeah, money magazine didn't do one this year: "In the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, we decided to abandon our plans to provide our traditional rankings of "The Best Places to Live". Instead, we decided to celebrate the city we love in words and photos that highlight the mix of people and places that make New York such a rewarding place to live."<BR><BR>If they had you can bet San Jose would have taken a dive as did the dot coms. Everything about SJ has gone down the tubes recently. All the big deals to improve downtown are collapsing every day. It's always gonna be San Jose no matter what you SJ cheerleaders say about it.<BR><BR>

xxx, you are revealing yourself. You've pointed us to this article in Money Magazine many times. It is outdated information as much has changed in silicon valley since this article was printed. Also, for most people, Money Magazine is not the measure of a great tourist destination. I wouldn't call San Jose "third world" but methinks you praise it too much.

x, traveling man,<BR><BR>I guess that your education did not go beyond high school. Notice I said the "most recent" Money Magazine survey. <BR><BR>Center City San Jose has most definitely been and continues with its revitalization. Just recently,the City approved a high rise luxury apartment complex along first street, will be building an impressive City Hall, is in the process of building the only joint City/University library in the country, and this does not include the many new hotel rooms and office space downtown, and the opening of the Improv Comedy Club in the Jose Theater, among other developmenmts. I can't seem to figure out why you are in denial

Oh yes here's the latest on SJ:<BR><BR>A sour economy has pushed commercial vacancies to 15 percent. Work has yet to start on the House of Blues, a Hollywood-headquartered nightclub chain once scheduled to open downtown last summer with the help of $5.7 million in city subsidies. Opening of the comedy theater has been pushed back to this fall.<BR><BR>And in March the Palladium deal collapsed -- either because of the economic downturn or the city's refusal to pad the project with more money, depending on the source who's talking.<BR><BR>For all its reputation as a city of high-tech innovation and creativity, San Jose has struggled for decades -- even during boom times -- to create a downtown that consistently attracts retail businesses and shoppers.<BR><BR>Loyal customers, downtown workers and events at nearby art houses and the Compaq Center have kept many newer restaurants and veteran businesses afloat. But on the average early weekday evening, the downtown core can still be a lonely walk among graffiti-etched windows bearing "space available" signs.<BR><BR>In the '80s and '90s, the city, acting through its Redevelopment Agency, tried to lure San Jose's suburban residents downtown by subsidizing construction of high-end retail stores. The $27 million Pavilion shopping center opened on First Street in 1989 with 119,000 square feet of tony shops.<BR><BR>But in less than two years, the inward-facing mall was almost half-empty, the victim, some say, of a bad design and a tenant list that included many of the same chain stores that could be found in outlying malls closer to homes and offering free parking.<BR><BR><BR>The Redevelopment Agency tried again in 1996 when it pumped $5 million into a United Artists movie theater next to the Pavilion. Without enough moviegoers, it closed in early 1999.<BR><BR>Now, after the Palladium pullout, city officials are talking with CIM, a Southern California-based company that has proposed a smaller, more concentrated revitalization plan for the city's downtown.<BR><BR><BR>

So, I just went to the Money Magazine site http://money.cnn.com/best/bplive/details/SANFR_CA.html<BR><BR>San Francisco "Quality of Life" is ranked number 4 for the Leisure Index and number 3 for the Arts Index... Hmm not bad. <BR><BR>San Jose is ranked #11 and #111 respectively. http://money.cnn.com/best/bplive/details/SANJO_CA.html<BR><BR>Now chill on this silly argument.

Sf # 1 in mass Transit, SJ # 39<BR><BR>SF airline flights rank #20, SJ rank #76.<BR><BR>These are what are important to travelers!

Ouch! David, (I mean "xxx") I hope that didn't hurt too badly. Sharon is right. Mona doesn't have San Jose on her itinerary so let's leave this issue alone.

X,<BR><BR>The Palladium deal was not the right thing for the City from the start. What the City has planned will be much more successful because of the plans to help the current businesses coexist harmoniously with the new development and preserve the historic buildings in Center City. Therefore, the Center City core will have a character all its own rather than the cookie cutter chains than Palladium wanted to promote that are already out in the suburbs.<BR><BR>The problem with the United Artists theaters was not the number of movie goers, but the second rate films that United Artists was playing. All the top films were being show at the AMC and Century theaters.<BR><BR>Of course let us look at San Francisco's Downtown. It also closes up on weekday evenings, has it's share of graffiti, urine soaked doorways, and panhandlers. <BR><BR>Bottom line, any city will have its share of undesirable places. That is what living in a city is all about. So if you don't like seing that type of stuff, I would suggest that you hook up your trailer and move out to the country.

Sharon, X<BR><BR>The SF visitor's bureau has you quite busy. I like the way you pull your numbers out of thin air. So Money Magazine is now the authority on everything?

You crack me up David err... XXX. Any time someone tells the truth about SJ you tell everyone to disregard us and then go on to alledge that we live in trailers. What a sad, sorry life you lead.<BR><BR>BTW: Don't go on about how I'm all for SF. I don't live there, never have. I will not ever suggest that a traveller coming to our fine state make a stop in San Jose. And neither should you. It's unfair to suggest that someone spend any part of their CA experience in or around SJ.

sharon's Pet peeve: people who only have the courage to state opinions when they can do so anonymously.<BR><BR>I quote Money Magazine only because a poster above did.<BR><BR>Mona,<BR>My apologies for what this post has become. I hope you have the information you need. If not, try a new post.<BR><BR>Sharon

X,<BR><BR>Wow your really defensive. The truth about SF is too much for you to take. You just can't stop yourself from misleading tourists into visiting SF. Gee, give it a rest. I guess the urine odor in the afternoon breeze has really clouded your brain.

Again with the SF reference. Helllooo can't you read. I don't suggest anything about SF I just want to clear up the misconceptions you create with regard to SJ.

The Top 10 Cities for business by fortune magazine:<BR>Rank City<BR>1 Dallas<BR>2 San Jose<BR>3 Austin<BR>4 New York City<BR>5 Atlanta<BR><BR><BR>In terms of "absolute quality of life," San Jose comes in at number one. This is from http://www.rps.psu.edu/jan2000/citylights.html<BR><BR>

X,<BR>No misconceptions about San Jose here. These are the facts, read them and weap.

Two years have gone by and things have really changed in and around SJ. It's sad that some can't get a grip on that fact. It doesn't really matter what a magazine ranks cities as does it? Anyone who took one trip there to check things out would happily return to their home city glad to have not made fortune's list!