Hi,

My husband and I are planning to take a trip to San Francisco and Napa in August. We would arrive in SFO on a Wednesday morning, spend a few days, then rent a car Sunday morning, drive out to Napa and then drop the car back at the airport to catch our flight Wednesday night.

Neither of us are very familiar with the area. We're looking into some properties on airbnb.com (where you can rent rooms or apts for short stays). We'd like to be able to walk from wherever we're staying to whatever plans we have for the day (haven't done too much research yet so I don't know exactly where those plans will be). Can anyone comment on the following three locations:
1. Treat Ave near 24th Street
2. 26th Street near S Van Ness Ave
3. Dore Street near Folsom Street

Also, are there any stops that we should make on the way from San Francisco to Napa? (Not sure where we'll be staying there yet either, mid-range suggestions would be welcome!)

Thanks,
Michelle

Have you tried googling the areas that you listed? I googled each and with the exception of #2, got a quick idea of what the areas are like.

Treat Ave Near 24th looks quiet, but I'm not sure...San Francisco residents can tell you better. I just know that if you go down 24th, it's a bad area, and if you go up, it gets better (toward Dolores).

Dore near Folsom looks like this:
http://www.dbarchitect.com/projects/slideshow/34.html

I just stayed in a loft from airbnb.com. It was nicely situated in Hayes Valley and was literally just steps from a coffee shop and a new restaurant. I walked a lot, actually, and was tempted to just stay in Hayes Valley the whole time!

http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/25198
(that's my long-ish review at the top)

None of these are in good locations for a visitor. Two are deep in a less than desirable area of the Mission; and the Dore location is not that great, unless you happen to be a 20-something urban hipster.

I agree with SAB. We lived 1/2 block off 24th Street & Castro for many, many years. My wife worked with an "all women" house/apt maintenance crew that "supported" properties near all the places you listed. So we're quite familiar with these areas.

Here are some better options:

My favorite neighborhood in SF is the Noe Valley. Good transportation options & lots of cafes, restaurants, shops, bars, coffee houses, tea houses and lots of neighborhood charm. Here is something I posted a while back about places to stay in the Noe Valley.
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...valley-bbs.cfm

My three favorites are:

1st choice on Elizabeth. Best location. 1/2 block from J-Church, 4 blocks downhill/uphill from BART.
1/2 block off 24th St with lots of restaurants, cafes, bakeries, cute non-chain shops, Whole Foods, banks
http://hidden-cottage.com/cecilia.html

tied for 2nd choice:
28th St off Church - OK loc, but not best
www.sanfranciscogardencottage.com

Up a hill from 24th, on 22nd
www.vrbo.com/273193

Things to do & see in the bay Area:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mendations.cfm

Stu Dudley

Re your inquiry about Napa-what do you consider "mid-range" ?
What do you want to get out of your visit to Napa ?

On your way up to Napa on Sunday AM you could drive around the Marin headlands, or take the 1st Mill Valley exit and visit Tennessee Vally and hike out to the beach or you could continue up Shoreline Hwy (hwy 1)and Panoramic Ave to stop by the Muir Woods if you have yet to witness the redwoods-the early bird always does better here, especially in August.

Lots of other destinations up Hwy 1 to Stinson Beach, Pt. Reyes National seashore and beyond-lots of detours
around here would still carry you over to Napa
You could prowl touristy Sausalito or not so touristy
Tiburon.

Simply depends on what you'd like to see and do and how long you want to take to get to Napa-do keep in mind the
Sonoma County is also a great place to visit !


R5

I LOVE airbnb but I wouldnt stay in any of these properties if you paid me. All in very funky undesirable neighborhoods and I LIVE here.

If you want to use airbnb look for
Noe Valley
Castro
Inner Sunset
GG Park


SOMA/Mission - where your selectiuons are- is dicey if you don't know the 'hood
As I offered for another poster if you want me to look at any possible properies I'll bn happy to do so.

I also live here, and I'd be happy to stay in the Treat and 24th location, but I don't disagree -- it IS a funky neighborhood (but funky in a good way these days). I took a walk there last week, and found it to be lively and fun (it was daytime, don't know about nighttime). The other two - not so much. One is in a completely non-residential neighborhood and the other is in a residential neighborhood that has always been "sketchy".

In 2005, we went to SF and rented a car with no itinerary or plans. Drove up the coast and spent the nite in Napa. Stunning! If you use your GPS, you can call a hotel in advance of getting there.We continued up the coast all the way to WA. I'll never forget it!

Sorry, but Napa is not on or near the coast!

Hmmmm...
The town of Napa is nice enough in parts, yet
no one I know wold call it "stunning".
I would not risk not having reservations in Napa,or Sonoma
or out on the coast, especially in August.

It appears Kim is a newbie here at Fodors, as of today.
Perhaps she'll return to clarify about her night
in Napa...
:-?

R5

Thanks so much for all your feedback. I've redone my airbnb search with the advice you've given.

How do these locations sound?
1. Castro between 19th and 20th
2. 9th Ave near Irving street
3. 25th street near Sanchez

razzledazzle, re Napa we'd like to spend $200-$250/night if possible. We'd like to go to a few wineries, spend lots of time outdoors and eat some great food.
Sounds like there are many possibilities for places to stop on the way to Napa. I will have to look into your suggestions and see what jumps out at us!

I lived at 30th and Sanchez before I moved to the burbs years ago, so I say yes, that's a terrific neighborhood! It really is a very good location, close to 24th Street, which is the walking/eating/shopping street.

Castro between 19th and 20th - same.

9th Avenue near Irving Street - okay area, but you'll be eating a LOT of Asian food -- markets and restaurants and shops are all Asian (Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, you name it) in that neighborhood. It's not really as convenient a neighborhood for tourists as the other two. although it is closer to Golden Gate Park.

Sorry, I was thinking 19th and Irving. 9th and Irving is less Asian-themed than 19th and Irving. It's still not as good a place to stay as the other two!

9th and Irving is a nice location and I can't quantify whether the locations in Noe Valley are better because it would depend on the apartment/house. It is as convenient to tourist attractions as Noe Valley, since both would require taking transportation; it certainly is convenient for all attractions in Golden Gate Park such as the Tea Garden, DeYoung, Academy.

Where could we stay that would not require taking public transportation to tourist attractions?

You'll get more fog at the 9th/Irving location. Nice area, however. It will be further away from the most popular tourist spots (except GG Park & the Haight/Ashbury area).

We lived 2 blocks from the 25th/Sanchez location for 7 years. PERFECT. No "restricted" parking in that area - yet (except for street cleaning). Two blocks to the J-Church which will get you quickly downtown & anywhere along Market east of Church St. Three blocks to the 24-Divisadero which will get you to other interesting places directly north.

I posted something about my favorite restaurants in the Noe Valley a few days ago
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...y-planning.cfm

Castro between 19th & 20th is a steep hill. My VW Bug chugged up that hill many times - until I traded it in. That was the last time I drove a stick shift too.

I prefer the Noe Valley over the Castro & the Inner Sunset.

Stu Dudley

>>

What is the alternative means of transportation?

>>Where could we stay that would not require taking public transportation to tourist attractions?

Napa River Inn in downtown Napa along the river is a good choice in your price range, if you book in advance. Napa is the furthest south of the Valley towns, but tends to have less expensive options than the other towns. The entire Napa Valley is within a scenic drive from here.

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