Hello! I'm taking my mother to San Fran and we're on a pretty tight budget. Anyone have anything to say about the Andrews Hotel, York Hotel, Beresford Arms Hotel, Mark Twain or Savoy Hill? Or any other? We'd like to stay in Union Square and close to a place we could rent a car to spend a day driving along the coast...help? Also, any good place to get lunch north of the city, along the water? Thanks so much!!

I know Andrews on Post, this hotel has lots of good reviews, you can read them if you do a search. We had a dinner there, while the food was not memorable (not bad! just casual), the dessert was. Their Tiramisu cake is the best I ever had!!

For lunch take a ferry or a Golden Gate transit bus to Sausalito. Check out Spinnaker.

York hotel is on Sutter @Leavenworth/Hyde? Safe location, but Andrews's location is better.

It has been some time ago but we stayed at Beresford Arms and it was fine. It is small hotel, very European in feel, including the room size. If you have stayed in a 2-3 star in Paris or London you get the idea. It is/was clean and we had no problems. It is about 3 blocks west of Union Square close to Market street so an OK area. We would do it again unless I learn it has gone downhill. When we stayed it also provided an included breakfast in the attached English Pub (which is also a good place for a drink in the evenings). Now that may no longer be part of the hotel. Hope this helps.

We stayed at The Andrews Hotel and it was a total dump. Our room and bathroom were extremely tiny. The hotel is ancient and we waited forever for the elevator to reach our floor. The breakfast buffet wasn't. It consisted of juice, bagels and danish; not what I had been told they had. So, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I haven't stayed at any of the other hotels you mentioned.

I assume you mean the Savoy Hotel, not Savoy Hill. It is about 3 blocks from Union Square. It was alright, other than the fact that the window didn't close and it was extremely noisy. It's a nicely remodeled former hotel of another stripe. You can find more reviews on Tripadvisor.

My apologies. I told you about the wrong hotel...there are two Beresford hotels, owned by same folks. We stated at the Beresford Hotel, see it here
http://www.beresford.com/beresford/rooms.htm
and it was as I described. You might consider it also.

I stayed at the Andrews many years ago. It's a small, European style hotel with small, modest rooms - but in a very good location. Have you looked at the San Remo? This is a very nice small hotel, but not exactly downtown. It's about midway between North Beach, and Fisherman's Wharf.

We love the Andrews.. have been there twice..it is a boutique type hotel (i.e. older). In the a.m. there is a continental breakast on each floor that includeds bagels, crossaints, muffins, great coffee, tea, fruit, jams, etc. In the evening they offer a free glass of wine in Fino, the attached restaurant... and there is I believe a special menu for guests of the hotel. Also think there is a parking garage about a block away and several blocks away is an Alamo which we have used while there.. Chinatown is a short walk away as is Union Square.. cabs are very reasonable there. When we returned for the second time we received a lovely note from Management welcoming us back.

I can tell you that I booked friends into the York years ago and when they got there they refused to go inside...had the cab driver find them something else. They thought the surrounding area was THAT bad.

Have stayed at the Cartwright and enjoyed it, they may have special rate in your budget, and Columbus Motor Inn has a $79 special from time to time. I have read several good things about the budget King George Hotel.

When you call hotels, check for an "entertainment card" discount rate. If you find a good rate at a decent place you can then buy your entertainment card membership online and it arrives in a few days.

Thanks so much everyone!

http://www.beresford.com/arms/default.htm
Well, we DID stay at the Beresford ARMS Hotel in 2003 and were very pleased with our stay. We had 2 kids with us and booked the room with the kitchen. The kitchen was not just in a corner of the room but in its own attached room, with a table and 2 chairs and all the utensils, pans, plates, etc. Grocery store across the street. You think you will always want to eat out in wonderful SF with all the restaurants but sometimes it is so nice to just relax in the room with a bite, and it does save money.

Room was plenty big, room was clean, area was convenient and felt safe. The breakfast is mostly just fruit and danish and coffee...nothing special but adequate. The price was very good as I recall and we would stay there again. I wrote a detailed review on tripadvisor and there are lots of other reviews.

Is there a parking ramp near the Beresford Arms? Along with an Alamo? now I'm getting the hotels all mixed up...