San Francisco hotel recommendations needed
Jan 17th, 2009, 06:51 PM
#21
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Osaka, it's way to early to submit a PL bid for May. Consider making a cancellable hotel reservation, and then place your PL bid around the middle of April.
Also, Google <San Francisco conventions>. There are often meetings in SF that draw multiple thousands of participants. If there's one scheduled for your dates, you will probably not find a bargain on PL.
Also, Google <San Francisco conventions>. There are often meetings in SF that draw multiple thousands of participants. If there's one scheduled for your dates, you will probably not find a bargain on PL.
Jan 23rd, 2009, 01:58 PM
#22
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Betsy,
are you implying that its too early to bid on PL in reference to any great deals that may be offered?
If thats the case, is there a substantiating reason behind why PL would offer said discounts so approximate to the travel date as opposed to far in advance?
are you implying that its too early to bid on PL in reference to any great deals that may be offered?
If thats the case, is there a substantiating reason behind why PL would offer said discounts so approximate to the travel date as opposed to far in advance?
Jan 23rd, 2009, 02:10 PM
#23
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Osakagirl, do you understand what priceline's business model is? The hotels "give" rooms to priceline and hotwire for "anonymous" sale at a discount only when the hotel thinks they can't "sell" the rooms otherwise. So they don't give them up too early or too easily.
Jan 23rd, 2009, 04:33 PM
#24
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Osaka, there are two ways to book a hotel through Priceline. 1) They offer hotel rooms for a set price and 2) You name your own price. You want the second option.
Please go to biddingfortravel.com to learn how to bid. There's a learning curve that you must climb before you can use PL successfully. If you can't put in the time to do this, then PL is not for you.
Please go to biddingfortravel.com to learn how to bid. There's a learning curve that you must climb before you can use PL successfully. If you can't put in the time to do this, then PL is not for you.
Mar 20th, 2009, 01:48 PM
#25
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would just like to say thanks to all who have assisted me. i have conducted copius amounts of research on my upcoming trip and will be staying at the serrano. read many reviews, some bad, but overall the majority of them was good. (combed through about 1,000 posts on various sites). all in all it seems to be one of the best hotels for the price range im gearing towards. originally the nightly stay was at $119.00, but with credit ive earned thru one of my credit cards, i will only be paying about $62.00 per night. if any of you have stayed at the serrano before, i would like your feedback and/or recommendations on it as well. Im also curious as to which bart station i should get off on that would be closest for me to walk from to my hotel. the hotel is located off of taylor and o'farrell streets on that intersection.
Mar 20th, 2009, 03:43 PM
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StuDudley's correct. Even though it's a decent hotel, you're pretty smack-dab in the TL. But you're at least a 30-minute walk from the Castro. Phew--you're safe.
Oh, and the closest BART station is at Powell/Market. According to Google Maps, it's .4 of a mile walk from the BART station to the hotel.
Oh, and the closest BART station is at Powell/Market. According to Google Maps, it's .4 of a mile walk from the BART station to the hotel.
Mar 20th, 2009, 04:58 PM
#28
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Idealistically, I would like to get a 3-star hotel for around $100.00 a night that is either in Union Square East, or somewhat close to it.
Id like to stay as far away from any bad areas of town: Tenderloin, Castro, etc.
Id like to stay as far away from any bad areas of town: Tenderloin, Castro, etc.
Mar 20th, 2009, 05:36 PM
#29
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Look - I don't know who you are, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and guess that you are from Japan, and the guide books you are reading are written in Japanese & perhaps not well translated.
People here do not call the Castro a "bad" area. You will not endear yourself to me or most other locals if you continue to call it "bad". There are several reasons it would not be a good location to stay in - but "bad" like the Tenderloin is not one of them.
Stu Dudley
People here do not call the Castro a "bad" area. You will not endear yourself to me or most other locals if you continue to call it "bad". There are several reasons it would not be a good location to stay in - but "bad" like the Tenderloin is not one of them.
Stu Dudley
Mar 21st, 2009, 01:36 PM
#31
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hmm... this thread is creeping me out a little! let's give the original poster the benefit of the doubt as Stu says. she seems legit and has posted before in planning this trip. my first reaction to including the Castro as a bad area was also "this is homophobic" but it may be an innocent error. maybe not. either way, it's intriguing how she did not respond to any accusations (i wish i could be so "non reactive!")
However, what's with the re-posting of the same offensive line??? osakaorchid, speak up!
However, what's with the re-posting of the same offensive line??? osakaorchid, speak up!
Mar 21st, 2009, 05:37 PM
#33
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Glad I came across this thread because I also need to research SF hotels.
I came across Serrano too, and I assume you know Tripadvisor. It has good reviews there. The website says internet access is complimentary. I think I can get it for $95 a night all inclusive for some of the nights I need, but not for all.
I don't have any personal experience, but I think it'd be a fine hotel.
I came across Serrano too, and I assume you know Tripadvisor. It has good reviews there. The website says internet access is complimentary. I think I can get it for $95 a night all inclusive for some of the nights I need, but not for all.
I don't have any personal experience, but I think it'd be a fine hotel.
Aug 3rd, 2009, 02:09 AM
#34
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ok..this reply is a brief trip report. sorry for getting back so late to update.
went to san francisco, my first time ever. had a blast! the intense research i conducted on sf paid off in spades. (note to all travelers, hitting your books is def a nice investment)
stayed for 4 nights at serrano. the hotel was exactly how i envisioned it. the pics on the hotels website just came to life right as i walked in the door. the staff was very courteous.
the room i had was very very small, but clean and ornate. stayed on the 16th floor. the a/c was cold and efficient. (cold brisk air makes me sleep very well and rested)
the only time i got "lost" was when i took the bart from sfo and arrived at the market station. i wasnt lost, per se..just disoriented. but there were locals there that were sort of appointed ambassadors of san fran,..maybe they work for the city to help tourists. they were friendly and pointed me in the direction of my hotel.
i also bought a trip on sf comprehensive shuttle tours. also proved to be worthwhile. for $65, a 5 hour guided tour was bliss. best money spent there. the additional muir woods tour is a nice touch, but many say it really isnt necessary, so i opted out.
i went to both chinatown, and japantown. a friend from modesto met me in sf and we rented a tandem bike and rode across the golden gate bridge. which, i do recommend the rental of a tandem bike over a traditional bike if there are two of you. youll be able to benefit from the mutual legpower, and be able to conversate to your neighbor.
many locals shunned pier 39 and alcatraz. while i didnt do the alcatraz tour, i enjoyed the pier 39 area, and found a shop across from the hard rock cafe that sold many souvenirs at reasonable prices.
chinatown is def a must see. i visited the fortune cookie factory on ross alley, and ate at the r&g lounge. i highly recommend the smoked salmon and avacado eggrolls. delicious.
the tour guide said japantown had seen better days, and now is basically nothing more than relegated to the japan center mall along geary ave. being a james bond fan, i still wanted to see the area where scenes from " a view to a kill" where shot at.
i was dismayed that the peace pagoda had some marginal graffiti on it.
i didnt get to visit baker beach or the cable car museum., but i did ride on a trolley many times (namely the market/powell line..and not the more popular powell/hyde line). youll want to buy your muni pass from the sfo kiosk as it is a great investment on transportation. it is cash only..no credit cards, or checks. $24 for a 7 day pass.
i found union square to be a tad bit overhyped. theres a monument to a civil war area event that occured there, and the whole square is perimetered by high-end retailers, which is great if you love to shop for finer clothes and finer stores, but i was expecting union square to be some sort of epicenter for the masses to gather at. a place where people congregate, and that place turned out to be market and powell, rather than union square.
my only two complaints about my trip, is that there is a stark lack of public restrooms available for the average person to just stroll in and use. many businesses have their facilities strictly reserved only for patrons...which i found myself asking each restaurant i visited if they had a restroom i could use, before i decided to give them my business.
some few businesses were cool, and would simply let me use their restroom. others were not. some didnt even have restrooms at all available to the public.
such was the case when i rode muni bus all the way down geary ave down to where it terminates almost at ocean beach. theres a cvs (or walgreens) there that simply stated they had no restroom i could use. i asked if i could buy something then use their restroom. their answer didnt change.
some of the muni bus drivers were noticeably rude, i guess it comes from the stresses of doing their jobs, but for a large city that accomodates many tourists annually, youd think they could wear a happier and friendlier persona. but this wasnt the case.
so, all in all. sf was a great trip, and id def return someday.
went to san francisco, my first time ever. had a blast! the intense research i conducted on sf paid off in spades. (note to all travelers, hitting your books is def a nice investment)
stayed for 4 nights at serrano. the hotel was exactly how i envisioned it. the pics on the hotels website just came to life right as i walked in the door. the staff was very courteous.
the room i had was very very small, but clean and ornate. stayed on the 16th floor. the a/c was cold and efficient. (cold brisk air makes me sleep very well and rested)
the only time i got "lost" was when i took the bart from sfo and arrived at the market station. i wasnt lost, per se..just disoriented. but there were locals there that were sort of appointed ambassadors of san fran,..maybe they work for the city to help tourists. they were friendly and pointed me in the direction of my hotel.
i also bought a trip on sf comprehensive shuttle tours. also proved to be worthwhile. for $65, a 5 hour guided tour was bliss. best money spent there. the additional muir woods tour is a nice touch, but many say it really isnt necessary, so i opted out.
i went to both chinatown, and japantown. a friend from modesto met me in sf and we rented a tandem bike and rode across the golden gate bridge. which, i do recommend the rental of a tandem bike over a traditional bike if there are two of you. youll be able to benefit from the mutual legpower, and be able to conversate to your neighbor.
many locals shunned pier 39 and alcatraz. while i didnt do the alcatraz tour, i enjoyed the pier 39 area, and found a shop across from the hard rock cafe that sold many souvenirs at reasonable prices.
chinatown is def a must see. i visited the fortune cookie factory on ross alley, and ate at the r&g lounge. i highly recommend the smoked salmon and avacado eggrolls. delicious.
the tour guide said japantown had seen better days, and now is basically nothing more than relegated to the japan center mall along geary ave. being a james bond fan, i still wanted to see the area where scenes from " a view to a kill" where shot at.
i was dismayed that the peace pagoda had some marginal graffiti on it.
i didnt get to visit baker beach or the cable car museum., but i did ride on a trolley many times (namely the market/powell line..and not the more popular powell/hyde line). youll want to buy your muni pass from the sfo kiosk as it is a great investment on transportation. it is cash only..no credit cards, or checks. $24 for a 7 day pass.
i found union square to be a tad bit overhyped. theres a monument to a civil war area event that occured there, and the whole square is perimetered by high-end retailers, which is great if you love to shop for finer clothes and finer stores, but i was expecting union square to be some sort of epicenter for the masses to gather at. a place where people congregate, and that place turned out to be market and powell, rather than union square.
my only two complaints about my trip, is that there is a stark lack of public restrooms available for the average person to just stroll in and use. many businesses have their facilities strictly reserved only for patrons...which i found myself asking each restaurant i visited if they had a restroom i could use, before i decided to give them my business.
some few businesses were cool, and would simply let me use their restroom. others were not. some didnt even have restrooms at all available to the public.
such was the case when i rode muni bus all the way down geary ave down to where it terminates almost at ocean beach. theres a cvs (or walgreens) there that simply stated they had no restroom i could use. i asked if i could buy something then use their restroom. their answer didnt change.
some of the muni bus drivers were noticeably rude, i guess it comes from the stresses of doing their jobs, but for a large city that accomodates many tourists annually, youd think they could wear a happier and friendlier persona. but this wasnt the case.
so, all in all. sf was a great trip, and id def return someday.
Aug 3rd, 2009, 08:07 AM
#35
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A few clarifications, in case some other readers are tracking your exploits for their upcoming trip.
>>bart from sfo and arrived at the market station.>but i did ride on a trolley many times (namely the market/powell line..and not the more popular powell/hyde line). >the tour guide said japantown had seen better days, and now is basically nothing more than relegated to the japan center mall along geary ave.
>>bart from sfo and arrived at the market station.>but i did ride on a trolley many times (namely the market/powell line..and not the more popular powell/hyde line). >the tour guide said japantown had seen better days, and now is basically nothing more than relegated to the japan center mall along geary ave.
