San Francisco in May - first timer
 

Hi,

I live in NYC and planning to go to San Francisco with my best friend from May 23 - May 27.
I'm trying to find reasonable priced hotels (under $220) that are near the major areas.
The hotels I'v researched so far are:
Chancellor Hotel
Handlery
Galleria Park
Has anyone stayed at these hotels or know another one that is reasonable.

Also, we want to go to Napa for a day . Is it better to rent a car for the day or to take a wine tour?

Any assistance would be appreciated

Thanks

I am not an expert on San Francisco and will leave your hotel question to those who are.

However, regarding Napa. If you will have a designated driver, your own car is preferable in my opinion. However, if you both want to taste, a wine tour will allow you to do that without worry.

I do recommend that your wine tour allow you to choose the wineries you wish to visit.

Used to live in SF - but really haven't stayed or spent much time in those hotels, although they are near Union Square - which I think that is the best location. You might also check out the Grand Dame - the Westin St. Francis. Also - the Sir Francis Drake and the other Kimpton Group hotels are also pretty cool. http://www.kimptonhotels.com/hotels/...francisco.aspx http://tinyurl.com/7xpvg2y

Otherwise, if you have a car - check out the Marina Motels by Lombard and Chestnut Streets. http://www.lombardstreethotels.com/

And agree with the Napa advice. If somebody driving is only going to sample a glass or maybe two of wine, over serveral hours, fine - but otherwise - a day tour might be the best.

Some even meet you at the ferry that you take over to Marin, and here is one for example: http://www.winecountrytourshuttle.com/

You can try the Donatello, either through their club (private owners of several floors):

http://www.clubdonatello.org/Club_Donatello_Home.html

or through regular hotel reservation sites such as Expedia.

Of the hotels you have selected, the best is probably the Chancellor and the worst of the three is the Handlery.


Please don't drink and drive in Napa! If you can find a good wine tour where transportation and the wine tasting fees at each winery are included in the package, that would be good. By far, it's cheaper to drive yourself if one of you will be the designated driver and not imbibe too much.

I don't know the quality of the hotels you've named but I like the locations of all of them.

Thanks to everyone for your help.

Will let you know what hotel I decide on!

Others here have given good reviews of The Mosser

http://www.themosser.com/

Even though we live in the Bay Area, I stayed with a visiting friend at the Hotel Monaco downtown. Nice atmosphere and they gave chair massages in the lobby in the afternoon!

I really liked The Mosser. Great Location and the rooms are small, but clean. A room with a hall bath is the cheapest way to go - they keep the bathrooms very clean, several times a day. They do get a lot of convention people. You'll have to see what's available.

I am sure you noticed you will be in the City into Memorial Day weekend--May Fri.25.Sat.26th,
AND May 27th is the big festival 75th anniversary of completion of Golden Gate Bridge.
I noted you will be leaving that day but the City will be packed for this event and just because it is Mem. Day weekend...
Book a Wine tour NOW ...
Bring layer of clothes--weather unpredictable in May..
Good Luck.

<<<AND May 27th is the big festival 75th anniversary of completion of Golden Gate Bridge>>>

I live in the Bay Area and work in the city and was unaware of this until now. At least so far, it's not a big deal here.

Also try Hotel Triton, a seeming favorite of foreign visitors.

Napa over Memorial Day Weekend, expect it to be crowded and lots going on. A good weekend not to go, but it it's your only weekend, start early from SF.

There's also a ferry to Vallejo, about an hour long and a lot closer to Napa. Their spring / summer schedule isn't up yet, but it's not something you have to plan for a few weeks. Wine tours will pick you up from there. Just google it.

I'd really skip wine country at that time - unless you can go on the Thursday. Fri-Sun will be a zoo w/ much too much traffic for the roads.

Agree with Rastaguy about taking the lovely ferry ride to Vallejo - a double benefit. First you get to appreciate seeing the Golden Gate, Alcatraz, looking back at the SF Skyline, and then can be picked up by a wine tour, drink freely and not worry about driving, and then take the lovely ferry ride back to SF. A win win all the way around.

Here is another company for example which has a pretty reasonable rate? http://www.platypustours.com/vallejo-ferry-terminal.php

I have 3 families coming to SF, for May 26 & 27...5 of the usual places they stay are already booked. (these are neighborhood motels and usually cheaper without parking charges)
Vallejo Ferry-Baylink..great idea....

The Cortez is also a nice hotel close to Union Square. There's a nice bar, 620 Jones, right around the corner that has some pretty good food too.