San Francisco Hotels - good area and value
 

Can anyone recommend a San Francisco hotel that is in a safe area, not too far from attractions, and is a good value?

What constitutes "reasonable"? And will you have a car?

I think the motels toward the Golden Gate end of Lombard may offer the best value and you have the classic/nearby Chestnut and Union Sts, plus the Palace of Fine Arts and the Marina Green/Crissy Field within walking distance. There is also good bus service to downtown SF - and a number of them also offer free parking if you haveve a rental car.

This page can offer more info: http://www.sftravel.com/bgt.html

Yes, we'll have a car and I'd really like to get a good deal (under $100/night). Do you know of any?

That's a low budget, you are also going to have to be sure to find a place with free parking, which isn't easy. Depends on dates too.

Try this group of hotels:

http://columbusmotorinn.com/

I would NOT try for Priceline or Hotwire, as chances of getting a place with free parking is very slim and at $40 or so a night, that could cost more than your room!

Click on Sister Properties link on the left side of page to see them all.

$100 a night in SF - in the summer? - might be asking a lot - but I don't think you would have to pay too much over that in the Lombard area.

If all else fails - try the Pricelines of this world the week before.

I am sorry to have to disagree with Tom.

For someone who wants to pay under $100 a night for a room and needing to park a car as well, PRICELINE is way too "dangerous" to try. Even if the poster gets a room for $50 a night [not likely] they may find themselves prepaid with a non-refundable booking in a motel/hotel that charges almost the same amount for parking. And that $50 a night price doesn't include taxes, PL fee etc.

Debit: Agree - the parking fee may well be the joker in the deck - but hey - it was only suggested as last resort/if all else fails. :)

Again, I think you might be able to find something around $125 (including parking) in the Marina/Lombard area - more if after say mid-June - so just google away, and check the rates for the timeframe you will be traveling.

Also re Priceline, whether it will work for the OP depends on how many people there are in their party, since Priceline only guarantees one bed. Often, a hotel will give you a room with two beds if one is available, but they don't have to, and it's possible they won't have one available.

Parking itself will run you about $35 -$50 a night. Then you want something under $100.

You ARE looking for something at the very low end and can't expect too much - musty smell, dirty carpets, mold in the bathroom, high noise factor, and all that MAY be what you will get for that price.

The Columbus Motor Inn runs from $90 upwards for two people, plus tax and fees, $10 for each additional person. Free parking. High, high traffic noise.

The Mosser is running at about $95 a night but no free parking.

The Hostelling International Hostel at Fisherman's Wharf has private rooms that sleep 4 persons running at $85+, parking is free, and that rate includes a free breakfast. If only two people and you want to sleep in a dorm, it's $28+/night/person.

Those are about your choices that we can recommend.

You can try to do some research for Priceline and Hotwire on betterbidding.com. You can see what is available and check for parking rates at the hotels that are listed as possibles. Then you can know what you're getting into.

Uno Mas: I think just about all of the hotels on this list
http://www.sftravel.com/bgt.htmln-
would suffice for your needs (and be clean! For more info - click on the pages below).

I would first check the rates for the ones on/near Lombard - toward the Golden Gate, and also ask what discount rates they may offer, as I found some rates in June for under $125.

While a number - but not all have parking - you could check with the front desks for what they might recommend. One guest said their hotel had parking on a first come first serve basis - but a nearby neighborhood lot had overflow/overnight parking for only $5.

http://www.sftravel.com/hotels/htlmarina/ramlim.html

http://www.lalunainn.com/rooms.htm http://www.lalunainn.com/

http://www.sftravel.com/hotels/htlma...teldelsol.html

http://www.sftravel.com/hotels/htlma...lden-gate.html

http://www.sftravel.com/hotels/htlma...nbythebay.html

http://www.sftravel.com/hotels/htlmarina/castle.html

None of the places googled/linked above will be '<i><u>under</u></i> $100 a night'. Even if you lucked out and one of them is running a pre-pay/internet special for around $100, taxes and surcharges would raise that to nearly $120.

Unfortunately, under $100 a night isn't all that realistic in a decent location in the city. There are afew motels along Lombard that run under $100, but they are cheap for a reason - semi to total dumps. The nicer properties along Lombard's motel row will run about $125 to $150 a night. Again - unless you catch one running a pre-pay special.

I've twice stayed in the Travelodge at the Presidio end of Lombard (definitely avoid the other travelodge on Lombard - dump-<i>ish</i>). It has free parking, updated bathrooms, continental breakfasts and is just outside the Predidio. It is value for $$ but rates are above your budget -- around $130 ($150 inc. tax). That is for a semi-acceptable TL - so you can see that $100 is tough.

A hostel may be your best bet.

Oh - and when I say >>The nicer properties along Lombard's motel row<< I didn't mean <i>nice</i>, I just meant acceptable and better/nicer than some of their neighbors.

Again, these are value properties - but clean - and if you check the rates - the summer rates are usually $20-25 or more higher than the spring rates.

For example, the attractive rooms at the Luna Inn http://www.lalunainn.com/rooms.htm run in the $70 range in March (difference due to various discounts, etc) - whereas in late June - they pop up to $100 to $110 range.

"<i>they pop up to $100 to $110 range</i>"

$100-$110 is $120-$125-ish w/ taxes and surcharges. Unfortunately the dates I plugged in - 3 or 4 different 4 night bookings for June - the rates were well over $110. In the 3rd week for instance, it was $134 a night for the cheapest standard room.

So do try the Luna for your dates - they seem to be VERY date sensitive. Maybe you'll luck out.

No idea what Janis is looking at. I just again plugged in late June - June 26th to be exact - and this is what came up for Luna Inn:

Park and Stay Deal
$104.00

AAA/CAA/JAF: Membership card required
$98.10

which only proves my point. I said it was VERY date sensitive. Tom found $104 on June 26. Try June 15 . . .the cheapest room is <B>$161</B>.

Like I said - very VERY date sensitive/specific. So plug in your dates and you <i>might</i> strike it lucky . . .

Ok stop the catfighting you two.

I have lived here for many years. My first question would be: do you NEED TO have a car? (Ie are you driving here from somewhere, or are you renting a car once you get here?) If you are renting I would consider not doing so and staying in any number of OK hotels that could come in under $125 at least.
The hotels on Lombard are crappy. Some are less crappy but they are all noisy and most are poorly kept up poorly kept up and don't have free parking.The Presidio Travelodge is oK as is Columbus Motor Inn but again are date sensitive as janisj has said.

Also when are you coming? That will have some effect.

I'd probably skip the car and do priceline.

mztery: No Q - if one doesn't have to worry about parking a car - it opens up your options, But I believe the discussion was about "value" hotels which would/could also have parking.

Hey - for the most part the Hotels in the Lombard area suffice, some better than others, again, IF you are looking for value and a good location. But as far as "crappy" - or poorly kept up - did you even look at the pic of the Luna Inn - and some of the others? http://www.lalunainn.com/tour2.html

My Q - how many of those motels along Lombard have you stayed at? Over the years - when returning to SF I have stayed at a couple in the Marina area (as well of course - staying at some of the best Hotels in SF.).

It's all about what you want to do for that trip - including how much time you will actually be spending in the room - and also what budget you have formulated.

BTW - thanks sparking my memory which reminded me of my stay at the Chelsea Motor Inn - http://www.chelseamotorinn.com/ a very cute property - at Filmore and Lombard - which replaced of all things - A Doggie Diner :) Here is their description and I didn't hear any traffic noise.

"Affordable luxury, convenient location. The English Tudor style and antique slate roof typify the attention to detail that is characteristic of Chelsea Motor Inn. Each spacious room has a comfortable seating area, ample bath, individually controlled heat and air-conditioning, color cable television and in-room drip coffee. Chelsea is located in the Marina District, with many points of interest nearby. You can stroll to the Marina Green and yacht harbor, or to the ornate Palace of Fine Arts with its serene park and world famous Exploratorium. "

The Chelsea Motor Inn also has some 'sister" properties in the area that might be worth checking out.

My son and I got rooms at the Hilton Financial District during the first week in January for $100 each using Last Minute Travel. It's a quiet area just across from Chinatown. We loved the hotel and the location. I don't think that's the rack rate, you may have to use booking.com or one of the other booking outlets to get a really low rate.

momofrenee: please come back and give us some more ideas of what your preferences are and whether you will definitely have a car or not. Otherwise, we're pretty much in the dark about what would work best for you.

Tomsd: <i>how many of those motels along Lombard have you stayed at?</i>

None.

But I have walked into a couple to check out the rooms because they were recommended so much here on Fodors.

Frankly, I won't stay on Lombard unless there were absolutely no other place to go to. The noise level from street traffic would drive someone like me away. I used to recommend the Hotel del Sol (slightly off Lombard) as a possibility for free parking, but their rates have gone much higher than the places on Lombard. (Yes, i've been inside the del Sol when I had to drop a friend of a friend there).

I'd also avoid many of the hostels in the Tenderloin (where the other two HI hostels are). Parking a car on the street there, or even in a parking lot, would cause me worry - but that's just me.

There are very, very limited choices in SF for someone who wants something in a "safe area" "under $100" and "with a car". Of course, it's possible. SF, like any other big city, has its cheapest hotels, but we're trying to steer the OP away from the worst and towards something decent within her parameters. There just aren't that many choices.

Apart from the three possibilities: something on Lombard, the Mosser (parking the car will shoot up the cost here), and the FW HI hostel - there's only bidding on Priceline, most likely for something at Fisherman's Wharf (a 3* or a 3 1/2* for around $60), that would be feasible. I don't think Hotwire works that well for SF; some of their hotels are precisely the ones we're trying to steer the OP away from.

So, there you have it - would any of these work for you, momofrenee?

There is a hostel at the Presidio, but I don't know its name. I have seen pictures of it, and it looks nice.

@tom- as a volunteer I arrange hotels for a large non profit and we've exhausted all the properties on Lombard, Luna Inn is less crappy but still VERY noisy

There is also a hostel near Fort Mason that looked really nice.

<<<Affordable luxury, convenient location. The English Tudor style and antique slate roof typify the attention to detail that is characteristic of Chelsea Motor Inn>>>

The Chelsea Motor Inn looks like a perfectly nice motel from the outside. It may or may not be affordable, and the OP may or may not like the location. But "luxury" - not a chance, and the description of hte English Tudor style is simply a joke. It's a motel on motel row!

Debit, I haven't been inside, but the Fort Mason hostel is in a GREAT location.

I have stayed at the Fort Mason hostel a long time ago, and 2 things are not so great:
1) The dampness.
2) When you are walking in late at night, it is through a somewhat deserted-feeling area, beautiful and treed as it may be.

I would try to use Priceline or Hotwire, most likely. Look at Betterbidding.com to get more tips. I found the Holiday Inn Golden Gateway to be in a great location last time I went, and I got a great deal with Priceline (I think it was). Hotel Whitcomb is not in the nicest area, but it is really convenient, and almost on top of a BART station, so it's perfectly fine as a base of exploration.

<<<When you are walking in late at night, it is through a somewhat deserted-feeling area, beautiful and treed as it may be.>>>

You're absolutely right - I've only passed by it on beautiful Sunday afternoon walks :-)

So Easytraveler: Did you read this on my last post:

"Here is their description and I didn't hear any traffic noise."

And I also stayed at another one closer to Van Ness - but honestly - don't remember which one. Mainly was just crashing there - and it was fine for the evening.

Don't know why you are such a dis-believer - but that is two I have personally stayed at - and I have had friends stay at a couple others around there, and they were fine.

And I for one am not wild staying at any hostel - at least anymore. You have to always be extra vigilant about your valuables, etc.

As for staying in the Tenderloin? Holy bottom of the barrel!!! Haven't hoofed it around there much since law school at Hastings - but the scent of urine was usually omni-present.

Now sf7: Why are so many current San Francisco residents, such as yourself, so dreadfully disdainful of what the inside of a Lombard motel may look like. You almost sound like you only buy designer clothing. Geesh!!!

I did stay inside the Chelsea Inn - and it was quite decent - up to what I would say is 3 star quality. Now - others along Lombard are probably closer to 2 star range - but once more - this is about value - not where you might want to stay.

GOOD VALUE - that was the OP's original request. And IMO - you can find it on or near Lombard - particularly if you need to have parking.

Actually, tom, you misread me -- I think staying at a motel on Lombard St. is absolutely fine -- I would stay there myself if I were from out of town and the price/location were good, BUT, calling themselves a luxury property is ridiculous. It's a motel, plain and simple, and faux Tudor styling is not a selling point!

sf7: I believe it said "affordable luxury" and "English Tutor style". Hey - a little best foot forward marketing - eh - to distinguish themselves along what you call "hotel row". :)

Take a look at the pics again, and it's a whole lot better looking than the Doggie Diner it replaced. :)

http://www.chelseamotorinn.com/

I know the motel, tom (have passed by it many times). It looks decent from the outside. I think we just have different standards for hype -- affordable or not, it ain't "luxury" :-)

And people wonder why posters never come back. Poor OP .....

sf7 - Understand.

mztery: Is that "crappy"? :)

The HI hostel at "Fisherman Wharf" is actually located in Fort Mason.

I have seen plans for a hostel in the Presidio, but have not actually found one that is open for business. Can someone confirm that there's a hostel that's now open in the Presidio?

Tomsd: I did say that one of the OP's choices would be something on Lombard - just that that particular location isn't for me. My home is about an hour and a half from San Francisco (it would be only an hour away if I could drive the way sf7307 drives - just kidding, sf7307 :) ), so there's no need for me to stay in SF 99% of the time.

I have looked into the less expensive options at one time or another, especially for those who are in college and wanting to save some money but still have a good time in SF.

On the Tenderloin, I'm glad you agree with me, because I was pounced on a few years back when I said that it would be better to stay in a hotel that's not located in the Tenderloin. It's still not that great an area.

Hastings, eh? Back when I was going to law school, Hastings was ranked #1 among the UC law schools. Good choice! ((y)) Did they run an escort service back then for those studying late the way they do now? (BTW, down your way, USC does the same thing - the escort service).

mztery: <i> And people wonder why posters never come back. Poor OP...</i>

Poor us. Since the OP seems to have abandoned us, we're left wondering what would work for him/her. Until such enlightenment, we're just shooting the breeze, so to speak.

With Priceline and hotel parking prices, under $100 for a decent hotel is possible often.
But it might be best to find an offsite parking arrangement for the car.

easytraveler, I said the Presidio, but I meant Fort Mason.

ET - the Tenderloin was always dank at best - but over by Hastings, on the edge - and a block beyond - where there was the Federal and State of Cal offices - and SF City Hall - it was always pretty safe, and well patrolled by the City Police. Deeper into the 'Loin - it could get a little rougher, but mainly more panhandlers and street types - and the omnipresent smell of urine.

So back in the 70's - the women in my class weren't too afraid of parking nearby or taking the bus, and since then, UC Hastings SF - (the now official name) - bought an apt building on the same block and it's now a dorm.

As for the ole law school's ranking back then (early 70's) - pretty much West of U of Michigan - the 4 top law schools were UC Boalt and Stanford - and UCLA and Hastings, loosely in that order academically - but Hastings always had the rep for turning out good practicing lawyers and we had a good Trial Clinic/Evidence program, etc. UC Davis was just getting started late to the party - but has since also distinguished themselves.

Will never forget our summer- Trial Advocacy Program - for practicing lawyers - when I was one of the 3 Coordinators (during the summer of my second year) - we had some SUPER talent for our guest lawyers/mock trial - as ABOTA was having their national convention the next week and some came into SF a few days early. We had F Lee Bailey at his prime - and he was dang good. We also had lead prosecutor Leon Jaworsky - at the height of the Nixon Impeachment - for our banquet speaker - and he was also terrific. He was spinning some great tales but not mentioning one word about the ongoing impeachment, all the while a room full of the best trial lawyers in the land were sitting on the edge of their seats. :)

If you don't want to bid on Priceline or use Hotwire, this deal at the King George Hotel which offers free parking and wifi is pretty good:
http://www.tripalertz.com/deals/deta...Weekly%2B29-03