Decided to stay in SF for first weekend we arrive from Fri. to Monday. Have booked Rex Hotel - anyone stayed there? Good location, etc. Leave SF on Monday - Please help: Will rent car on Monday and head to Yosemite - directions to get out of city and on way to Yosemite - where to stay and how many days to plan on Yosemite before heading for coast above SF. All help appreciated.

Do a search for Hotel Rex and you'll see my review of it. Ignore the fact that I said I stayed at the Mosser. I stayed at the Rex and loved it.

WHEN is this trip? Anytime soon? Yosemte books up far, far ahead. If you are talking about lat in the Fall or next year - try for a room at Yosemite Lodge.

Actually this trip is Sept 8th this year. We may have waited to late to go to Yosemite? What's it like if you stay outside of the park?
And is it necessary along the coast north of SF to book rooms in advance. Didn't want to be tied down to a tight schedule, so hadn't booked anything yet except the first 3 nights in SF at Hotel Rex. Planned on leaving on the 11th to go to Yosemite. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Call 1-866-875-8456 to see if there is any availibility at Yosemite Lodge (you can book on-line but need to phone to see what dates are open)

I would definitely try for the Lodge first - but it is pretty late. Good luck. Maybe there is a cancellation. There are some properties just outside the park (and some even inside the park boundaries) but they are quite a long drive from the Valley.

As for the north coast - your stay will include some weekend days - and almost everywhere requires a 2-night stay on weekends. And places do book up on weekends pretty far out.

Thanks janisi. I'm on the east coast, so can't reach the lodge yet this morning, and internet is being updated, I'll keep trying this morning. Yesterday I had looked at Groveland, which I thought was close to Yosemite, what's your imput on that in case I can't get YL.

Yosemite Lodge is booked, but Wawona Hotel is available - do you know anything about it? Thanks

Include Cote Tower while in the city.

There's a view NOT to miss. Take the first exit after crossing Golden Gate, as though going down to Sausalito, but then make the left under Hwy 101 and drive up the mountains to the lookout area nearest the bridge. The view across the bay, looking through the bridge is spectacular!

Sure - the Wawona is a bit of a drive into the Valley but it is a fine place to stay. And it is near the best grove of big trees in the park. Do not expect "posh" though.

BTW - RESORT2ME means Coit Tower.

for another alternative outside of Yosemite take a look at Evergreen Lodge... rustic but fun. Stayed there for Thanksgiving with my family last yr.

Wawona is great. There's a lot of history there and you will be amazed that people came by train many, many years ago. It's a typical turn of the century vacation hotel.

You might find something in Bodega Bay for your coastal stay - such as Inn at the Tides.

Sounds like a lovely vacation!