My sister and I are traveling to SF this Aug. and made a reservation at the Ramada Plaza Internation Hotel on Market Street. However, after reading the reviews on tripadvisor.com, I think we made a poor choice. We need help! We're looking for a clean place in a SAFE neighhborhood where public transporation is nearby. Any recommendations?

The Ramada on Market is in a very colorful neighborhood--I would suggest staying somewhere else. Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf, South of Market (by Moscone Convention Center) would all be better choices. I would avoid the Civic Center area (where the Ramada Market is located).

Union Square has just about every form of transportation there. Have you thought about using Priceline? What is your ideal budget per night?

I agree with Kikahead - cancel your reservation if you can. Lake, I live in the Union Square area, do you think shopping and theaters are threatening?

www.columbusmotorinn.com

Why don't you check out the Hyatt Regency at the Embarcadero. I've never stayed there (I'm a local) but I think the location is great. The embarcadero area is wonderful now and the cable car, Muni metro & BART are right in front.

Check out www.biddingfortravel.com and
then bid on Priceline. I always stay near Union Square. You can take the trolley to Fisherman's Wharf, shop at many stores, take the BART to Berkeley, etc. It is a very convenient location. I usually get the Grand Hyatt or Hilton for about $55 a night. Call after you your bid is accepted to request whatever your preference is, i.e. two beds, nonsmoking, etc. Both hotels allow for early check in.

Isn't the Ramada the old San Franciscan? If that's the case, it's not in Union Square at all. It's near the city hall complex, which isn't a good area at all for tourists. I happen to stay in Union Square every time I visit SF but I won't get into any arguments about it.

It's on Market @7th or 9th street, across from the fountain near the sunday market, civic center bart. Abi's just having fun, she always comes here when the schoolday is over.

I can highly recommend either the Cartwright or the Andrews in Union Square. I have stayed at both, they are both clean, safe (use you head as you would in any large city) and they are inexpensive. These are not fancy luxury properties, but we were more than satisfied. Check rates on quikbook.com for SF hotels, there are usually some good 'deals'.

Cecelia has long gone on to considering other alternatives on other posts. But in case others refer to this thread, some of what's above should not go without comment.

San Francisco does have some shabby, rundown, depressing areas where one has a better chance than in others of unpleasant encounters with distressed and distressing people. Despite some very imposing and interesting public buildings, the Civic Center neighborhood is one of those. That's where the Ramada Plaza is located, and unless one has business in the Civic Center, I would not recommend staying in the area.

The Ramada Plaza and the Civic Center are a considerable distance and in a distinctly different area from Union Square. It is true that some of the distressed or distressing wander into Union Square. In smaller numbers, they wander into Fisherman's Wharf, the Marina and North Beach too--wherever it's pleasant and exciting to be, and there are happy people around spending money and likely to be in a good mood for giving handouts.

It's a matter of taste and personal preference whether one prefers to stay in Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf, the Marina, or North Beach or in one of a number of other neighborhoods in the city which have some attractive small hotels or B and B's. Union Square has the most hotel rooms, but it's not the best choice for everybody.

However, any reasonable person being forthright in a discussion of San Francisco, and who has any experience in the two areas, would acknowledge that there's a vast difference in atmosphere between the Civic Center and Union Square.