Looking for a suite hotel (or anything that will provide us more privacy than normal lodging) for me and my teenage daughter in San Francisco area. Want to stay under $175/day and does not necessarily have to be downtown. Anyone familiar with Summerfield Suites? How was the stay? What does Big Sur have to offer?

At the Hotel del Sol in the Marina district of SF you can get a suite for $185, rack rate. They might offer some kind of discount for AAA or otherwise. You'd have two rooms, and the sofa converts into a bed. This is a great location for walking to restaurants and shopping in the Marina area, and close to Fisherman's Wharf.

Is the Summerfield Suites by the airport? I think you'd really be better off somewhere within the city for your stay. Good luck!

There are suites and there are suites; I'm not sure which type you are talking about. Many hotels today add a tiny sitting area and call it a suite. Do you want or need a kitchen?
This is a bit over budget, but the Cow Hollow Suites are spectacular. Huge living room with fireplace, large bedroom with additional TV, and a full sized completely equipped kitchen. It is on Chestnut Street, a great trendy neighborhood (Victoria's Secret is right downstairs, Pottery Barn across the street, and dozens of great inexpensive restuarants within a couple of blocks). The one bedroom (they call it three rooms, which it is) is $215 a night, but if you stay five nights there is an automatic discount of 10% making in $193.50. I'm not sure how long you're staying, but they may easily negotiate a better rate for a week or more.
It also includes free indoor parking below with a keyed elevator up to your apartment (there are only 12 apartments). If you don't have a car, the bus is practically at your front doorstep -- one bus will take you on the great route to Ghiradelli Square, Fisherman's Wharf, through North Beach and Chinatown, past the financial district, Union Square, and ends at Market Street. What more could you ask for?
Look at their website: www.cowhollowsuites.com

TravelinSoon,

Just so you know, Big Sur is not in the San Francisco area. It is in the Monterey/Carmel area a good 2-2 1/2 hours south of SF.

Geography

Yes, I'm aware that Big Sur is a ways away and that's why I'm trying to determine if it's worth the trip.

How long does it take to drive from the airport to downtown under "normal", non-rushhour traffic conditions?

We also had some difficulty finding a suite in SF that was not at airport - I guess it has something to do with land availability/property values as suites do take up more room. We got a 2-room thing called a suite at Tuscan Inn (Fisherman's Wharf). What it actually was was a king sized bed in one room that took up the whole room and an even smaller outer room with a sofa bed. Nice hotel and it sort-of worked for our family. Don't remember cost.

Travelin:
I stayed at a Summerfield Suite, a Wyndham property, this past weekend in Dallas Tx. It was a one-bedroom and two-bedrooms were available. I got an exceptional rate of $42 per nite & was a little nervouse about the quality due to the rate. The place was like small apartments, and was nice and clean. They served a hot breakfast in the morning. My only complaint was that the pool was cloudy & I was hesitant to use it. I got my rate off of the Wyndham web site as an internet rate. Hope this helps.

I recently reserved a 1 BR Suite with a pull out couch in the living room at the Grosvenor Suites, on Nob Hill. The price was $169 incl. continental breakfast. The location is fabulous, but I have never stayed there so I cannot personnally recommend it yet, but the price, type of accommodation and location were right. Has anyone stayed at this hotel?

Has anyone stayed at either the Summerfield Suites or Grosvenor Suites in San Francisco? Critical comments if you have?

Have stayed at Summerfield Suites in other parts of country without regrets.

We stayed at the Summerfield Suites near SF airport in May for one night on arrival at SFO. The hotel is fine -- rooms were nicely decorated, clean, and comfortable. Room had a queen bed in bedroom and sofa (I believe, a sleep sofa) in the separate living room. There was a fully equipped kitchen as well. The entrance to our 2nd floor room was by outdoor corridor up one flight of steps. Parking was free. Breakfast included fruit, juice, and both cold and hot breakfast items. We didn't use the pool, but it looked fine. The hotel seemed to be popular with families with children, as might be expected for a suite hotel. There's not much scenic near the hotel, although it is near a mall with a Target and some fast food and mall type eateries. I can't comment, though, on the accessibility into the city as we only stayed there one night before moving on to our next location.