I will be traveling to San Francisco in July and have tried to make an educated decision as to where to stay that is convenient to public transportation and reasonably priced. I am not seeking a luxury hotel. I made a reservation at the Star Motel on Lombard and also Comfort Inn by the Bay. Now I see that Royal Pacific near Chinatown/North Beach is highly recommended and has free parking. Comfort Inn has limited parking but a great view. Star Motel has free parking but a block to the bus line and Royal Pacific is highly recommended but the people there are hard to converse with. Could someone please give me some guidance. There will be just 2 females on the trip and safety is a concern. We will have a rental to park while there.

Go to www.hoteldelsol.com & see if you like this hotel. It comes highly recommended from Fodor's guide. I think this will be what you are looking for. I'll be staying there in September.

The newest darling in SF for parking and reasonable rates is Hotel del Sol on Webster. You can read opinions of it here in the Rant and Rave. Very safe neighborhood, in fact, a fun area in which to base--you can walk to trendy Union Street. The ones on Lombard, I think would be noisy in the summer if you wanted to open your windows. Many don't have a/c.

thanks for the suggestion about the Del Sol but I called and the best price is $165 and that is beyond my budget. Any other suggestions? The Comfort By the Bay sounds good but they don't guarantee parking! I wouldn't know what to do if I couldn't get a place to park. Thanks for your replies.

A few years ago, I stayed at the Columbus Inn on Columbus, which was right at the edge of Fishermans Wharf and North beach. The hotel lobby consisted of just the check-in desk but the rates were very reasonable and included free parking. I found the motel in the AAA tour book ,it was rated three diamonds. While I don't always trust AAA ratings the rooms were very nice, large and kind of like a Holiday Inn. The place was very conveniently located with-in easy walking distance of Fishermans Wharf, North Beach (an Italian neighborhood with a lot of great restaurants) and about 5 or 6 blocks to Chinatown. My last time in San Francisco, I stayed in an upscale hotel downtown paying a lot more money and not being nearly as convenient.

Check out www.andrewshotel.com you can get two twin beds for $109.00.. 102 blocks from Union Square and we have been there twice..went many friends who also enjoyed this little european boutique style hotel..Good luck..on trying to get in..they only have 40 rooms..There is a discounted garage just a block away...we found it very safe. Then again for short jaunts we took a cab, they are very inexpensive.

Then start checking all the hotels on Lombard Street--kind of a motel row. It's a very safe area and usually parking is included with the room. The only caveat I would tell you is that you want a room away from the traffic of Lombard Street if the hotel doesn't have a/c. Buena Vista, Star Motel, Coventry Inn, Chelsea Inn, Lombard Inn are a few of them. Good luck. Finding something less than $150 with parking in SF is pretty much impossible. If you do find less than this, I would question the area of the city and would urge you to check with someone who knows the city well to verify that you really want to stay there and that it's in a safe area.

Whoops..that should be 1-2 blocks from Union Square.. Oh yes. a great restaurant attached, Fino.. as a guest of the hotel there is a specially priced menu..and with their gratis glass of wine..makes it a delight after a long day..

I would feel quite comfortable with the Star Motel. I live in SF, and my mother-in-law stayed at the Star once. It was clean and serviceable, and, as for street noise, it's set a bit back from the street, so it's not as noisy as those lodgings right on Lombard. It's a safe neighborhood---there are always people around----but, of course, you should always practice caution whenever traveling. I think your choice is just fine. My mother-in-law is in her spry 80s, and felt just fine about being there alone.