We will be spending one night in San Francisco. We will be there on a Saturday and have to leave 5 am the next morning. I want to make the most of it. What part of town should we stay in? Any info would be helpful.

I would stay in one of the nice hotels downtown, Union Square. That way you could take a cab to Fishermans Wharf, 8 minutes, or go to China town, 5 minutes, or try one of the great restaurants in the downtown area, plus you will be able to catch a cab faster.

Check BART website if it runs to SFO 24 hours, then stay as close as possible to a BART station. If no BART then it doesn't matter where you stay.

You will be woefully disappointed if you stay at an airport hotel! I wholeheartedly disagree with that post!!!! The airport is nowhere near the sights and sounds of the city!!! And, an early taxi ride at that time of the day will have you at the airport in no time flat! The typical tourist areas to stay in are Fisherman's Wharf and Union Square. Both areas are set up for visitors and the hotels can help you get around. Enjoy!

I agree that staying near the airport is the most logical thing to do. I stay there frequently when in town on business and it's not the nasty place that the prervious poster is making it out to be. in fact, the hotesl near the airport tend to be a lot nicer than what you can find in town. For one thing, BART does not run early enough to get you to the airport for your morning flight. It will also be difficult to arrange for a cab or shuttle that early as well. The airport hotels have free shuttles to SFO.

Gotta say the folks that recommend the airport might be right. We arrived in London at 6 pm with a departure time of 9 am the next am. We were exhausted and had high hopes for a trip into the city for dinner in the West End. We were so happy to have dinner and a movie at Heathrow Sheraton..we abandoned the trip into London. It sounds like you might be in the same spot. If you are young and filled with energy why not take a cab into town and then back out to the airport hotel for so early an am rising. What time do you arrive at SFO?

Anyone who visits SF for the first time must go to the Warf area. That's what San Francisco is famous for.