San Francisco and Monterey Hotel Recommendations
 

Can anyone recommend a hotel in San Francisco and Monterey? Will be traveling with two teens 14 and 16. Budget probably around $600 a night per room but quite happy with something cheaper! Also quite happy to book large suite, etc., to be shared. In San Francisco, would appreciate hearing best neighborhood recommendations to visit/stay in.

Many thanks.

Do you have a specific area in mind? We like the Regency Hyatt down near the Embarcadero.

Thank you...no particular area just something that's fairly central if possible I guess. I'm afraid I don't know much about the city. I will check your suggestion. Thank you.

I like the location of the Monterey Marriott.

Love the Monterey Plaza Hotel, great fire pit looking over the bay. An ocean view room would be nice if in your price range. Resort charge includes parking and wireless fees.

At that budget, you should have your pick of SF hotels. Personally, I find the Hyatt to be a bit far removed. It isn’t a bad location, just not as central as some of the competition. I would lean more toward something like the Westin or the Nikko. The Palace might also be a good choice if you can get a refurbished room. Hotel Zetta is also worth a look.

I like the location of the Intercontinental hotel in Monterey.

As for San Francisco, I’d recommend you search on booking.com for hotels in Union Square (main shopping district), Embarcadero (which is where I work, and where the Hyatt Regency is, and would be my first choice) and financial district (fine hotels, but a little dead nights and weekends).

Hyatt Regency in SF would be my first choice. Across the street from the Ferry bldg, on the California Street cable car line, on the Embarcadero so reasonable walks to AT&T in one direction, an the piers and Exploratorium in the other direction (or take the streetcars), direct BART connection from SFO (though for a group of four I'd just take a taxi)

The Intercontinental (the Clement) in Monterey would be fabulous.

I really liked the Hotel Pacific in MOnterey. They have huge suite rooms with 2 doubles and then a completely separate area that is like a living room with a fireplace, even if no walls. I think I drove to some other parts of Monterey and parked for sightseeing.
https://www.hotelpacific.com/suites

Only issue is their suites with two doubles are relaly double beds, I think, not queens/kings. I didn't have one, just a king stuie, but don't think they'd describe them that way if they were larger beds.

Love the MontereyPlaza Hotel

You're getting some good tips; a few thoughts: we're just back from an overnight in Monterey (we live in the bay area and lived in Monterey long ago) and were pleasantly surprised by Casa Munras, a hotel that's been around for quite a while but has clearly been refurbished. It's more $250/night range so you could get 2 rooms if desired. It is close to the "action" on Alvarado Street and well located for driving around, but it is not a lux hotel nor is it adjacent to the Aquarium. Monterey Plaza also nice-only stayed there once year ago. If you head into Carmel and are around for breakfast, head to the Little Swiss Cafe (local haunt). Great walks around the point from Monterey side around to Pacific Grove.

In SF, 3 main areas most folks seem to stay are are 1. downtown/Union Square (the old classic hotels like the St Francis, Hilton, Sir Francis Drake); 2. Embarcadero/South Beach (Hyatt Regency); and 3. the Marina, with a fair number of smaller family oriented hotels/motels on the straight part of Lombard street, north part of the city and not far from Presidio, but a bit far from downtown.

Union Square's quite central/downtown for good or for ill; cable cars, restaurants, shopping. Embarcadero has great walks/views along the water, Ferry building complex, ferry boats to Sausalito and elsewhere, restaurants like Slanted Door but all levels. The Marina has a nice Chestnut Street for restaurants, shops, strolls and is not far from the Presidio, which has some interesting spots and is lovely open space, but again is a bit removed from downtown. As noted, Embarcadero has a BART stop to get downtown (Montgomery St stop for Biz district, short walk up to Chinatown; Market St stop for Westfield Center etc.). Thinking back to traveling with our lads at those ages, I'd probably go with Embarcadero/Hyatt or if downtown, would use one on/near Union Square.

Market St stop for Westfield Center etc

just a very minor correction in case you’re looking at a map - that last stop mentioned is “Powell St” rather than Market St (a lot of the stops are on Market St, the stations are identified by the cross streets).

The advice given by Annw is spot on no would add that the motels along Lombard Street are just that , motels. With a budget of $600 a night, it sounds to me like that’s not what you’re looking for (although it’s great if you have a car, because several of them have free parking)

Thanks, sf - yes I could not think of Powell St name last night!

Ann W gave you good advice and I am a big fan of the Ferry Building. I know the Hyatt building from the outside and it's impressive.

But... with two teens, it might be fun to stay closer to Union Square, to people watch, browse a bit. Union Square doesn't get a lot of love on this board, but it is fun. I mean, the Uniqlo store with those flourescent steps in different colors? And if you are going to stay by Union Square--you can't do better than the Westin, as Travelgourmet mentions. When they use the words "grande dame" about a hotel, the Westin is one that fits that bill. It would be great to get a room overlooking the square.

In addition to the other Union Square hotels mentioned, there are at least two Marriotts very close to the square.The San Francisco Marriott on Union Square was nice when we stayed there several years ago, but I do see there's some remodeling going on later in the fall, so check the dates. The JW Marriott is done being remodeled. and it's also really close to the square.

My favorite hotels in San Francisco are the Ritz Carlton club on Market street and the Fairmont at Ghirardelli Square. I would think a one bedroom would be in your price range although they do have 2 bedroom suites as well. They are basically large condos. My favorite regular hotel is the Ritz Carlton. Large rooms and good location close to China town and Union Square. The Hyatt is a generic 4 star close to the Ferry building. Might check out the hotel Vitale nearby but I have not stayed there. The Westin is huge and on Union sq. Its ok. The JW is nice but rooms are small and I think you would need two. I find the Palace rooms to have a cold vibe.
I think the Monterey Plaza would be a good choice for Monterey. Huge rooms and quite nice. Have also stayed at the hotel Pacific which is also pleasant and the rooms will hold four. Monterey Marriott is close and is a generic 4 star. You might consider the La Playa hotel in Carmel.