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-   -   San Francisco Neighborhoods - where to stay? (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/san-francisco-neighborhoods-where-to-stay-949194/)

jayelle Sep 3rd, 2012 06:32 PM

San Francisco Neighborhoods - where to stay?
 
Hi all,

Have booked a last minute trip to San Francisco for Sept 22 - Sept 26 and would like to stay in an apartment while we (me, my sister, and father - 24, 27, and 57 respectively) are there.

With such short notice, the options within our budget ($250/night) are limited. Ideally, we'd like to stay in North Beach, but doesn't seem like there are any places available. So instead there's a few other options:

- Hyde/Sutter ("downtown""?)
- Russian Hill (not sure of exact location but seems a couple blocks southwest of Lombard/Hyde)
- Financial District (Battery/Washington)
- Financial District (Davis/Jackson)

Any thoughts about these areas? We're looking to stay somewhere close to transit, touristy attractions, and with some life after dark (not clubs and loud music, but cafes, restaurants, etc. where there will be people out on the street at night if we wanted to take an evening stroll or something)

any insight would be great! thanks fellow fodorites


PS: I've already looked at VRBO, airbnb, homeaway.com, and vacation home rentals, but if anyone has any other good websites please let me know! Cheers

Rastaguytoday Sep 3rd, 2012 06:56 PM

A separate issue, StuDudley's exhautive San Francisco guide.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mendations.cfm

Try these.

http://www.executivesuites-sf.com/

https://roomorama.com/short-term-rentals/san-francisco

Counterpoint. http://www.sfgate.com/realestate/art...et-3622832.php

As long as you stay somewhat near Muni, SF's excellent public transportation system.

Shar Sep 3rd, 2012 07:15 PM

looks like u have covered all the ones i know of for rentals. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION is petty good in SF. all of the neighborhoods you mentioned are good. I guess it depends on what you plan on doing for the 4 days. You might want to contact the chamber of Commerce to see if they can help you find something...

DebitNM Sep 3rd, 2012 07:18 PM

Try The Castro district lots of great vibe, easy transit on the F streetcar and great places to eat.

sf7307 Sep 3rd, 2012 07:48 PM

Financial District is dead at night (a few restaurants but nothing else) but not that long a walk from those two intersections to North Beach (maybe a 15-minute walk).

Hyde and Sutter is not a neighborhood I'd be interested in staying in.

Russian Hill is of course a very nice neighborhood, but how easy it is to walk places depends on the exact location.

jayelle Sep 4th, 2012 06:39 AM

Thanks for the help! sf7307 -- I figure the Financial District is probably dead at night, as it is in Toronto where I'm from.

Rastaguytoday - thanks for the link to the StudDudley's SF guide! This is amazing.

Will keep searching...

scdreamer Sep 4th, 2012 06:56 AM

Not necessarily going to help with this particular question, but I would suggest that or your first day you set up a city tour. It will give you some great ideas of places to eat, neighborhoods to explore, history of the city, and smaller museums and other venues not on the tourist maps.

"Real San Francisco Tour" is a great walking tour that incorporates public transportation to allow many neighborhoods to be covered. You can check it out on TripAdvisor. It's really great - my husband and I took it about a month ago, and we visit SF regularly. So many places we had no idea of!

StuDudley Sep 4th, 2012 06:58 AM

>>StudDudley's SF guide! <<

Only my wife gets to call me Stud!!

Stu Dudley

DebitNM Sep 4th, 2012 07:10 AM

re: City tour. Better yet - take a few FREE [donation appreciated] tour sponsored by SF Public Library -

http://www.sfcityguides.org/

There are tours for every interest and they are fun, informative and give you insights into the city that you may otherwise never have known.

jayelle Sep 4th, 2012 07:23 AM

Thanks all for the info re: city tours! We will definitely look into it.
StuDudley -- hahaha, sorry about the typo...Freudian slip?

Tomsd Sep 4th, 2012 11:50 AM

Hands down - Russian Hill. You are right in the middle of the city with several bus lines or the cable car, and you can also walk to a number of places, even if you do have to do some climbing. :)

As for the Castro - not only is it out of the way - but it's pretty funky really - unless you are into that kind of "culture".

Michael Sep 4th, 2012 11:57 AM

Cost eliminates the cable car as a transportation option for visitors; it's just a one time thing for the fun of it.

jayelle Sep 4th, 2012 12:26 PM

Tomsd - was actually looking into the Castro area. Can't tell if you're using 'funky' in a good way or bad way here...?

DebitNM Sep 4th, 2012 12:33 PM

The Castro is very hip, trendy and lively. It is a short ride to Union Square via F streetcar and is close to Golden Gate Park, deYoung Museum, Twin Peaks and so many other great places.

"that kind of culture" - this is a new low for even you.

FWIW - my husband and I wouldn't think of staying anywhere else in an apartment. Oh, and we stay the The Marais in Paris too. I guess we are "into" that.
========

Michael - I didn't see anyone suggesting using Cable cars as a means of transportation.

DebitNM Sep 4th, 2012 01:12 PM

edit - I must have missed his comment about using the cable car. Sorry.

Rastaguytoday Sep 4th, 2012 01:31 PM

jayelle - thank StuDudley.

Cable cars are outrageously expensive, now pretty much for tourists.

Was a time when I could ride on a cable car using a Muni transfer.

For Muni information -
http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mhome/home50.htm

jayelle Sep 11th, 2012 10:50 AM

Thanks everyone for your advice and input! We've decided to go with a beautiful Victorian house in the Castro district.
Thanks also for the links, etc. for city tours. Really looking forward to my first visit to SF.
Cheers!

bkington1858 Jan 20th, 2015 10:50 PM

Looking for an update on this topic for 2015 ?

starrs Jan 21st, 2015 06:47 AM

What kind of update are you looking for?


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