Can anyone reccomend a good and original hotel in San Francisco and LA @($100 - $150)?
Thanks!

There's so much info already on this site--do a search for "San Francisco Hotel". Don't know what you mean by original--do you mean old or unique? You might look at the San Remo which is a restored mansion of the Gianini family (founder of Bank of America). But, you'll have to share bathrooms and no TV. Great location in North Beach and most likely in your budget. LA is tougher at that price.

Thanks Kam!

Specificaly i am looking for somewhere unique (that is not part of a large chain) possibly the best way to describe what we are looking for is a "boutique" hotel.

Andrews Hotel o Post Street..great little boutique hotel..with a great continental breakfast set up buffet style on each floor in the a.m. does not advertise..doesn't have to.. Absolutely in your $ category

Thanks also Parot Mom.

Do you know if they have a web site?

The big hotels sometime run specials. I stayed at the Hilton at Union Square for $99 per night and the Holiday Inn at ChinaTown for $179 for TWO nights. Both were well located but next to ChinaTown was great!

Off the top of my head, think the following should be in your price range and are unique little hotels. Andrews (as above), Bed and Breakfast Inn, Bedford, Juliana, Union Square, Vintage Court, Petite Auberge, Marina Inn, Villa Florence. Villa Florence is especially nice--has Kuleto's restaurant in it and is located on Powell just across from Union Square. Many of these probably have sites. Also try www.sfgate

Also add Hotel Triton to your list to check out.

Sunset magazine had an article about boutique hotels some time last year(?)...if you or someone you know subscribes to it, they had pictures, maps, etc.

Another vote for Andrews Hotel. We stayed there for 3 nights in the spring and it was great value for money. $115 with a buffet breakfast served in your room. Perfect location and a pretty boutique style hotel. They do have a website:www.andrewshotel.com

We stayed at the White Swan Inn and loved it. It's a a B&B/small hotel. Very clean, very pretty inside, great breakfast and in a convenient location. And it's in you price range. The Petite Auberge is a sister inn and is located a few doors down, but we liked the White Swan much better. Don't know the website off the top of my head.

I have the perfect hotel for you. I was looking for the same type of hotel in Feb. and came up with the Griffon Hotel. We stayed there and loved it. I have done the big hotel in SF. I wanted a boutique style hotel this time. The location is perfect. It is located at 155 Steuart St., right on the bay. You can walk out the door and walk along bay, you can walk as far as Fisherman's Wharf if you so desire. It was fun to just get out and walk. There is a pier that people walk on and fish from. You can see the Bay Bridge( all light up at night) and palm trees from your bedroom window. (Ask for bay view room) There are also great restaurants very close by. Boulevard, a reknown SF restaurant, is at the end of the block. Just steps away. A new restaurant, called Lapis, is located on bay, just minutes away. My Uncle, who is a native of the area has a friend, who is tied into the latest in the restaurant scene, who recommended it. It was great. Very attractive decor and suppose a great view of bay(we were there at night in Feb.) Also, we enjoyed the Fog City Diner. Good food, fun atmosphere and a fun bar. Check it out as you walk by.
Back to the Griffon. It is a small hotel that makes you feel like you're part of a secret. The amenities are first rate, but the bayview room we had was small. I felt it was a small price to pay for the view at night. They also have a great restaurant and bar called the Red Herring. You can walk to Union Square, but the public transportation is cheap and nearby. Another thing I liked about staying at this location is that you are away from Union Square. Union Square depresses my these days.
You can check out the hotel's website at Hotelgriffon.com. If they show no availability, I would call them, that is how I got my reservation, and you can also request a bayview. This something you deffinitely want. The phone numbers are (415)495-2100 and (800)321-2201 Good Luck!