suzyeq

Thanks everyone for your help....and clarification on game time...that is right...the game is later on Friday night...we are thinking of going to both games and I got the two nights mixed up....I do plan to stay in SF and will take the risk of a delayed plane but thanks for the concern...I think it would be more of a hassle to switch hotels after one night to move to SF...I will research hotels in Financial district and may be back on another forum with advice on these...thanks so much everyone...by the way...what does OP stand for??? I am not very computer savvy as noted by me google IMO for a hotel in SF....so I can think of is that OP stands for old people?????

tchoiniere

OP = Original Poster.

Enjoy the games.

sf7307

Have a great trip!

suze

What's the price of a taxi from Oakland to Union Square? How about that for an option to smooth things out?

Then after checking in, unpacking, shower, and I bet even time for a snack or glass of wine... walk to your nearest BART station and go to the game.

Sorry this is NOT all that tight a timeframe, in my opinion. And I would most definitely NOT stay in Oakland over downtown San Francisco!

suze

Oh and yes BART leaves directly from SFO, but not from Oakland. It's supposedly eventually going to be connected but for now you have to catch a shuttle bus bewteen the airport to where you actually get on the BART. Certainly do-able, but yet another bit more of a complication.

sf7307

Around $50.00 according to sfgate.com. I kind of doubt that's an option, given the fairly steep price.

suze

Thanks for checking sf7307 on my taxi question. See for me, I'd probably spring for it (and make up the money somewhere else along the trip). Taxi Oakland airport to a Union Square/Financial District hotel. Have plenty of time to checkin, leisurely change, get settled, then walk to the nearest station and catch BART to the game and back.

sf7307

I might, too, because it will certainly be the "path of least resistance".

suzyeq

Thanks for your help. I plan to now go into SF airport now...the savings on the price to fly into Oakland airport is not enough to make the taxi ride worth it and since the BART is right there at SF airport...we will plan to stay in SF...will take the BART to/fro game and stay the weekend in SF....is the Orchard Garden Hotel nice? I found the best prices on that or te Hyatt....not sure if the Orchard is too far from BART system as it looks like it is on the cusp of chinatown..thanks for any input..

sf7307

The Orchard Garden Hotel is only 3 blocks from a BART station -- and they're not particularly long blocks either. Sorry, I don't know the hotel, but I think the neighborhood is a great place to stay (very central for walking).

sf7307

Here is centralparkgirl's review of the Orchard Garden Hotel from last year. I know her personally, and she has excellent taste (and standards ). She has also stayed at the Hyatt Regency and the Meridien -- hopefully, she'll see this and respond.

"We then checked in to our pristine room at the Orchard Garden Hotel. I opted for a non-refundable rate of $111 which I booked two days before departure. The linens, decor, amenities, etc, were consistent with a 4* hotel. After having someone repair our non-functioning deadbolt, we headed out to Belden Alley a block away."

suzyeq

I checked out the Orchard Garden Hotel...very nice...just one concern...my boyfriend likes to have a cigar on vacation...looks like a totally green hotel and tobacco free...I can understand no smoking in the hotel itself but does that mean no smoking cigars on the rooftop paio as well???

StuDudley

Leave the cigars at home - they won't be appreciated here - anywhere. It is not a green thing - it is a state law and San Francisco has even added their own twists (like not outside at enterences to a building, parks, etc - I imagine rooftop places also..

Stu Dudley

sf7307

Stu's right -- smoking in or near public buildings is not allowed in California (state law). I can't imagine that it wouldn't apply to the rooftop patio. I think the rule is something like 20' from the entrance to a public building, even on the sidewalk.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...2.A0California

sf7307

Not that I want to encourage him (I personally think cigars are more invasive of other people's space than cigarettes, but this isn't about my opinion!), but the state law might actually permit smoking on outdoor patios, so you'll have to check with the hotel whether they permit it. I've read that many CITIES have banned smoking in outdoor spaces, but the state law doesn't go as far.

http://www.no-smoke.org/goingsmokefree.php?id=127

suzyeq

Ok....thanks for the no smoking information...will have him leave the cigars home.....please provide feedback on the following hotels...the Griffon, Villa Florence, Orchard Garden and any other boutique hotel that is worth considering...again..I will have no car and would want to be close to the BART. I do like smaller quainter hotels as opposed to the bigger chain hotels. Thanks for your input.

sf7307

Of those three, the Griffon is closest to BART (it's about a block from the Hyatt Regency). Villa Florence is in the busiest of the three neighborhoods (the cable car runs right in front, it's a block from Union Square, pretty much tourist central -- but its also right at a BART station). The Griffon is in the neighborhood where I work - much quieter (not dead, just quieter) -- lots of restaurants, the bay, Ferry Bldg., great place to take a walk (if you're at all into food and/or markets, do not miss the Ferry Bldg., in particular the Saturday a.m. farmers' market, which NY Magazine once referred to as "the granddaddy of them all"). The Orchard Garden is in a nice neighborhood, on a fairly busy street (but this is a city, they're all pretty busy), but a little removed from the hustle and bustle that is Union Square.

I can't comment on the hotels themselves, but I'd pick the Griffon for the neighborhood, and proximity to BART.

sf7307

I just realized the Villa Florence is probably even closer to BART than the Griffon, but the Griffon is only a block away, so I'd still pick that neighborhood.

hazel1

We just stayed at the Griffon last weekend and loved it. Had a Deluxe Queen that, while small, was quite charming, with a brick wall behind the bed and a view out to the Emabarcadero and the bay. Location was fantastic; Perry's restaurant, attached to the hotel, has a great happy hour.

suzyeq

Thanks Hazel...I have read tons of reviews on this Hotel and one mentioned that the area is "dead" at night...also lots of complaints about the small rooms...we are planning on extending our stay to 3 nights in SF before heading to Napa and really just need a room to sleep at night..and love the idea of a quaint place...