hi - i'm arriving in SF in late October on route to family wedding in Portland OR. We flying from Ireland and are 3 "girls" in late 30s and 1 77 year old mother. We are staying from Tuesday to Sunday and have accomodation in Burlingame with a relative. I am anxious to spend at least 2 if not 3 nights in a hotel in SF to soak up some of the atmosphere - due to mother's age can you please suggest area to stay and itineray that would be possible for us all to tick the tourist boxes but also ensures that we can rest the mother and make use of public transport etc.
Much appreciated.

LAst year I broke my foot and was in a waking boot...this is what I dii... suggest booking the Grand Hyatt on Union Squate (be carefeul ..there are several San Francisco hotels) or Westin on Union Square

You are 1/8 blk to the main Union Square shopping area and several nice restaurants, coffee places etc.

Then the 71 y/o can decide which things she can do and if does not want to go along can still get out to sightsee..
This allows everyone to sightsee Union Square whenever they want, easy access to streetcars, and cabs.

The concierge at either hotels can help with other easy itinerary such as tour buses etc.

Hello suzdal, welcome to San Francisco! I agree that Union Square would be the best. The Grand Hyatt is always a comfortable hotel. And the Westin St. Francis is a historical hotel. There is the Sir Francis Drake also at Union Square (part of the Kimpton Group) and a former Kimpton Group hotel now owned by the Larkspur Group, the Villa Florence, also at Union Square. Just to get you started.
You will enjoy beautiful Portland also!

You'll want to take some sort of organized tour. Your hotel can arrange it. SF isn't easy walking, and there is a lot to see. Your mom will enjoy it more if she's riding around.
Welcome to California...

We did a Gray Line Bus Tour from our hotel in Union Square that included the major stops... well worth the money... and the next day another that included Alcatraz, Muir woods and a stop on the Golden Gate Bridge... check their web site for available tours but Your days will be well spent and organized without the hassle....

I would say the Westin St. Francis would be best. Union Square, shops, dining, cable car and other public transit right there.

Just so you know suzdal, all of the hotels I listed are right at Union Square.

hi guys - sincere thanks for your helpful replies. Can you tell me how far Burlingame is from the centre of SF and how accessible it is with public transport? We'll be staying in the Catholic Mission!!!

I live in Burlingame, so that part I can help you with. But I don't know where the Catholic Mission is? Give me some more information and I'll post back.

I don't know what your budget is, but 1) The Four Seasons on Market Street...was just there last month and it was wonderful. Plus, it's directly across the street from my bank Wells Fargo, so no money problems and there are ATM machines both outside the bank and inside, so you're not standing on the street transacting ATM business 2)The Hotel Diva on Geary...have stayed there for a decade and a half. It's directly across the street from the Curran Theater. 3)Hotel Nikko. I also tried it on the trip last month and it was very nice for the hotel package deal that I got on expedia.com for that particular hotel. Plus, if you walk one block UP the street and turn right at the first street, there's the Daily Grill restaurant which is VERY good. I've eaten at a lot of them here in California (I'm from L.A.) and have always had excellent meals there.

I would suggest to go on Expedia and book some day tours through them. I can't remember the name of the tour company they use, but it was very good. The tour company drives the big bus around to the hotels and picks up the tourists and then takes them to their Ghiradelli Square main office. That's where you get a voucher for your selected tour and then line up in front of the tour bus. After the tour is over, they take you right back to your hotel. It's very easy and especially for an elderly person. We have very good service here in the States.

Oh, I took the Monterey/Carmel Tour which was quite good. It was around $73.00 and lasted around 10 hours and went up and down the coast stopping at places to eat and get snacks. I'd done it when I was a child as my family and I have been going to S.F. since the early 60s, but I wanted to do it again and without having to rent a car and drive. Happy Travels!

Burlingame is about 30-35 minute drive to SF in a car, but on public transit it of course it's longer.

If it's the Catholic mission on 2300 Adeline Drive
in Burlingame, there's not super easy public transit without a bit of a walk to the bus . A taxi would likely run - $40-50 maybe more?

Agree with MzTery as far as she's gone, but you can also easily take a taxi to BART in Millbrae (a couple of miles at most from the mission) and take BART into the city. Depending on where you're staying in the city, this could be convenient, or not-so-convenient.

The choices:

1) Walk from the mission to El Camino (about a mile). From there you can take the bus to the city. I know it takes about a hour. Sorry, but I don't know where it goes. Its called SamTrans.

2) Take a taxi from the mission to either BART or Cal-Train. BART has various stops in the city, including 3 or 4 that are "downtown". Cal-train ends at 4th and Townsend and you'd have to get to your hotel by other transportation once in the city. BART takes about 35 minutes from Millbrae to Embarcadero. Cal-Train is 22 minutes if express, longer if not.

Pretty sure that's it. Personally, I think BART is your best option.

Hi again - once again, thank you for all of your replies. I'm afraid I don't know the address of the CAtholic Mission my self - all i know that its the Franciscan order = my uncle's just been posted back there from Bend Or last week so details are a bit scratchy! It definately sounds like a trek into SF itself, i think the hotel option for a couple of nights will be the best option. As for funds, well let's say return transatlantic flights + wedding + 3 weeks spending money not to mention 3 days in Vegas on way home.....need i say more?

suzdal,
welcome to SF - you will love it, I guarantee it.
I agree with the above hotel suggestions on Union Sq. I prefer the Grand Hyatt, but Westin is OK if you can get the new wing. In each case ask for a room on high floor for view.
This is a unique tour (on a nice day) as it is on land and sea :
http://www.bayquackers.com/prices.html
This is another fun tour as it is in a "cable car" bus:
http://www.classiccablecars.com/
Muir woods, Carmel are wonderful too if you run out of options in the city.
Check out the beautiful Ferry terminal with stores and local market on some days.
One of my favorite restaurants is in there - The Slanted Door (Vietnamese) - reservations a must.
You can also take the ferry from there to Sausalito - always a fun trip (& shopping oportunity).
For shopping don't miss the Westfield San Francisco Center on Market street (also a fantastic food court)
Have fun!

ooooooooohhh,
I forgot the Beach Blanket Babylon -the most quintessential SF experience. Must have tickets - recommend front balcony seats (you still have to come & line up early - first come/first seated in your section).

What is Beach Blanket Babylon? Happy Travels!

http://www.beachblanketbabylon.com/

Faina:

Did you see in the news that the Ukranian ship that is being held by Somalian pirates is named "Faina"??

Your name is famous!! At least here on Fodor's it is.

MY

LOL yeah I posted in the Lounge. A co-worker forwarded the news to me. I could never get it out of him what made him look

Sorry Suzdal (suzdal in russia?) back to SF now.

Hi all - thank you to all who took the time to reply to my first email. latest update is that mother has slipped a disc in her back and is banned from flying which changes our plans totally. The dates that are set in stone are the arrival in SF on 21st october and expected arrival in LV on Sunday 29th. Now that we're just 3 fit and able travellers, would any one be able to offer any comments re driving to vegas rather than flying? 2 of the 3 of us are not great fliers and i have heard wonderful reports of Yosemite etc. Are we early enough in the year to miss the winter road closures. as always, warm thanks for your support.