Liz Q

I'm reposting this with a more descriptive title. On our way up to Sonoma Valley, my husband and I will stay over night in San Francisco at the Palomar Hotel (Market and 4th). Is this a decent location, both for safety and to tour by foot the next day? I’ve heard so many people complain about parking in SF, but I’m assuming the hotel can accommodate my car since they have valet parking (for a fee) – is this correct?

thanks for your help

Blah

Same story, different people.

We too are going to Sonoma.. staying @ Clair De Lune.. anyway, Palomar has parking @ $45 daily, which can be discounted. There are no fees for in and out privileges (unlimited). The hotel is soundproofed, but is in a busy area. Not a bad area, though, per people who've stayed there.

We have never stayed there, and changed our reservations to Mark Hopkins ONLY because we got a cheaper rate there... Hotel Palomar was our 1st choice. Hopkins gave us a $200 rate, but included parking and breakfast daily, plus an upgrade to an upper floor room.. "superior" room that is 500 sq ft. So, we changed our reservation.

Regarding Palomar's location for walking, I am told it's among the best by people who've stayed there.. I trust them. you can walk, during the day, almost anywhere from there.. if not catch a cable car or cab for the Wharf area. Have fun!

francine

I stayed here last spring in May. It is WONDERFUL. The rooms are cool and the service is five star. Upon check-out I got a flat tire and was rushing to pick my puppy up from the boardes. AAA was taking too long so the hotel staff changed my tire! It also was a romantic stay and I bought my own champagne--the valet took both bottles and returned them elegantly chilled with glasses. Fifth Floor restaurant is also divine and the breakfast in the restaurant is fantastic! I will be back!!!

francine

One more thing--location is great. I lived in the Bay Area for 6 years when I stayed at the hotel. It is within walking distance of every major shopping area and the BART system. Also, the rooms are very quiet.

Lila

You folks are paying way too much for the hotels. Check www.biddingfortravel.com and then bid on Priceline. I got the Grand Hyatt in Union Square for $61 a night and my friend got the Westin St. Francis for $70 a night.

Tony

Liz: Location of Palomar is not the best. Do not go South of Market Street past dark. Much of downtown SF does tend to close up around 10PM.

LizQ

Thanks everyone for your advice. I’ll stay clear of South of Market. The Hotel Palomar quoted me $30 for parking with in/out privileges. We're only staying one night, so I don't mind the expense. I received the AAA discount rate, so it’s not too too bad (I know, it’s not priceline prices but I like the idea of choosing the hotel).

Mikeee007

I agree, if you are paying 150-200 per night, you are paying way too much. We booked on priceline over Memorial Day weekend for $65 at the Hilton & Towers. Parking is $33 per night.

J_Correa

For transportation, in addition to cabs and the cable cars, there is also an old streetcar line (F line) that runs along Market to Embarcadero and then along the Embarcadero past the wharves. It's very convinient and you wont have to wait in line like you probably will for the cable cars. If you want to ride the cable cars, which if you haven't, you should at least once, go earlier in the day before the lines have gotten long.

LizQ

J_Correa – For the day that we have in SF, I thought we would walk from our hotel to China Town, Telegraph Hill, then on to the Wharf (looks like it’s about 4-5 miles). Then take the cable car back to the hotel. We’ll have about 4 hours of sightseeing before we should move on to Sonoma. Do you think this is doable? Any other advice?

Mel

Liz:
I live in SF and your itinerary sounds do-able, though your feet will be tired. Keep in mind you'll be going up and down hills, especially if you want to head up to Coit tower. I'm personally not a huge fan of the wharf area, so I would say that if times looks like it's getting short, you might limit yourself to Chinatown and North Beach. Returning on the cable car will be fun but if the line is excessively long (you don't say when you're going) you can also take the F streetcar mentioned by J_Correa. It's not sterotypical San Francisco, and it's a longer route, but I think it's pretty to go along the Embarcadero and look at the water.

4th and Market is a great location. Take the "don't go south of Market" recommendation with a grain of salt. Technically, the Palomar is south of Market by a half block. Another half block down, at Mission and 4th, is the Sony Metreon a huge movie/entertainment complex that is usually quite busy, so you should be just fine on 4th, and farther east (3rd, etc.). The area where I start to tread carefully is south/west of Market and 6th, though I have walked in these areas without incident many times.

Have a great trip.