clarkgriswold

Check out www.columbusmotorinn.com for your dates in San Francisco. Well located, and they have some "Family size 2 room units" I think.
Best of all, parking is included. For a 5 day stay, you'll want your car for side trips, up to the Redwoods or a drive to Napa or out to the coast.

LRK

You guys are so PASSIONATE!!!! Anyway, for what it's worth, HI in Brentwood--I checked as soon as it was suggested--has double beds. This is a no-no with 2 very large sons....Small rooms and small beds make for a small amount of fun on vacation--trust me....I know it's probably a sacrifice, but we have free parking and can be gone all day and come back tired and ready to sleep comfortably--also TripAdvisor has not nice things to say about this Hotel. Having a place to hang out at night is not as imp't to us during this phase of our lives...BUT--I am having a hard time deciding upon a hotel room in San Francisco--open to suggestions...Tempted by the free parking at Cow Hollow in the Marina ...also by the promo rates at Villa Florence (Union Square), Radisson Miyako (Japantown) and Cathedral Hill on Van Ness. Any opinions?

turn_it_on

LRK,

Regarding your downtown LA stay...I'm telling you, you say you're not going to need to "hang out" at night now, but even if you just need to go out for dinner, there's NOTHING. It's really truly a dismal idea. You will enjoy the ambience of Hollywood or Santa Monica so much more, you'll just FEEL like you're having more fun. The towering downtown buildings on dark streets with no people--it's creepy. People stay downtown because they're on business or going to a convention, not for vacation.

I just think you're not understanding the gravity of the issue and the fact that downtown LA is 180 degrees from any downtown you've ever been to. Okay, I'm actually begging you to find a different hotel. Do it for your fellow Fodorites.

love
kristin

joesorce

With hotels.com, LRK is probably locked into that "deal" at the Bonaventure and will have to make the best of it. I believe the Best Western in West Hollywood has queen beds & is very well kept.

Also, don't put to much stock in "reviews" posted on tripadvisor unless there are varied opinions. Hotel owners post "good comments" there, and disgruntled employees can post bad ones.

San Francisco: Cross the Cathedral Hill off your list, it is not well located. If the Radisson at Fishermans wharf has queens, its a good family choice. Best Western Tuscan is good, and Columbus Motor Inn.

MichelleY

I was just wondering if staying in Oakhurst is out of the way since you will be coming from Monterey. I was checking the map. Hwy. 140 is the most direct route from Monterey to Yosemite. Can some other Fodorite give a more informed picture of this??? Just don't want LRK wasting her time driving out of the way.

Also, LRK, when are you going????

MichelleY

elberko

There MIGHT be a more direct route, but the road that passes through Oakhurst will give you the BEST first view of Yosemite!

We arranged our trip so that we would enter from the south. Seeing Yosemite valley for the first time just after you come out of the tunnel is truly awe-inspiring.

Suzie

We stayed at the Tanaya Lodge in Fish Camp which is pretty close to Oakhurst. From there we went to Monterey and thought the drive wasn't any big deal. But we're Californians and used to being in a car alot!! ; )

LRK

We'll be heading to Yosemite from Monterey on 7/21, which is a Monday....

Gardyloo

Well I'm going to weigh in on the downtown LA thing.

First I think the Bonaventure is okay for a brief (one or two night) stay. The rooms are a bit small, but it's by no means a dump.

Second, there is more to do at night in downtown LA than "nothing." It may rank a little high on the hokey scale, but Olvera Street and the neighboring plazas are plenty active in the evenings. Hit Phillipe's Original for a French (Freedom?) Dip sandwich, walk through Union Station, be lucky and get tickets for an old movie at the restored Orpheum Theater (watch the Mighty Wurlitzer rise from the orchestra pit).

You have a 50-50 chance of the Dodgers being in town on any given day in the summer, and Dodger Stadium is just a short hop from downtown LA. Ditto downtown Pasadena - plenty of restaurants and strolling along Colorado. Ditto Little Tokyo.

Regarding your SF hotel choices, I have to be a broken record on recommending the Union Square East option on Priceline. The hotels you listed are all in blah areas IMO and/or blah places - the Cathedral Hill (nee Jack Tar) winning my vote for most unattractive large hotel in SF. Use your savings to pay for the parking.

Suzie

In response to Michelle Y: from Monterey to Oakhurst I don't think you take 140 from 99 since that would take you north to Merced and into Mariposa. I think you take 99 to Madera and then 145 to Oakhurst.

LRK

I guess I'm a little hesitant to use priceline because of the bed situation--need at least 2 queens--my brother and his wife priceline all the time--the last time they ended up in a hotel with 1 bed--for 4 people. The hotel was full-up and nothing could be done.Luckily my 2 nieces are teeny, but they still didn't do much sleeping that night. the hotel management said that happened frequently to priceline customers... I just don't want the headaches...We've got 2 connecting rooms (we all were excited about that splurge!) at the Bonaventure for 3 nights. I thought 600 bucks sounded cheap (inc. parking and tax), but you've all really got me thinking...I can cancel the hotel.com booking for a $20 penalty....which I am willing to do if I find something else that sounds right for our family. Darn, I thought I just had San Francisco left to book!

BayArea

For the route from Montery to Oakhurst/Yosemite I would take 156 to San Juan Bautista, where I'd stop and look at the famous Mission that was featured in Hitchcock's movie Vertigo.

I'd either continue on 156 to 152 or I'd go up to Gilroy on 101 to get to 152. Continue East on 152 over the hill near the San Luis Resevoir down to I-5 on the other side. From there, I'd continue across the valley on 33/152 to Chowchilla. Take a right on 99 and go down to Madera where you pick up 145. Taking 145 leads you at last to highway 41 which takes you directly to Oakhurst.

While this route might seem confusing, a map of California roadways will show you that it's one of the straighter shots.

Gardyloo

Forgive me for too-frequent postings on this, but I understand the hesitancy to book multiple rooms on Priceline, and here's my take and suggestion. Fact: the hotels only release inventory to PL when they're certain they're going to be pretty empty without lowballing a bunch of rooms. That's why you never see nice places on the Las Vegas strip come up on PL - they're never that empty.

So my recommendation is simply to call and ask for neighboring rooms after you win a bid. The logic goes like this: if they're empty, why not accommodate requests for connecting or neighboring rooms? And guess what - they do. When we've asked to have the hotel do this (several occasions) they've never refused. It also helps (sometimes) if you have a "frequent visitor" card (Hyatt Gold, etc.) when you appear. They're free, you can decline the "e-mail updates" offers, and often the hotel front desk will upgrade you - even as a Priceline shmoe - if you flash the card. Again, why not? So when you win a bid, go quickly to the hotel chain's website and sign up for your card. Might help, and nothing to lose.

BayArea

One more thought,

are you a AAA member? They have fantastic maps which are free to members.

For the amount of distance you'll be travelling it seems like some of their regional maps might come in really handy.

Delvecchio

LRK,

I would not suggest taking 152, as this is known to be a dangerous road as far as accidents are concerned along Pacheco Pass. Traffic on 152 tends to be slow going since this is a rural road with one lane in each direction. A much better option from Monterey to Oakhurst/Yosemite is route 1 to 17 then 280 south which turns into 680 north, and 580 to 99. This route should be quicker as it you can also take advantage of the carpool lanes.

Sherri

LRK: Just one more thought, my two boys are 13 and 16, so I know about the requirement for at least 2 queen beds. However, since my kids WILL NOT sleep together, we always get a roll-away bed, so that even 2 doubles work out. Also, if you end up checking out San Juan Batista mission (about 5 minutes to reach off of 101), you must have lunch or an early dinner at Jardenes Restaurant. It is a mexican restaurant that has delicious food (and margaritas!) and they have a beautiful garden where you can dine if the weather is nice. We took our boys about 2 months ago and they really enjoyed it. We have been going for years and it is must stop if we are in the area.

MichelleY

Hwy. 152 is mostly 4 lane now. Avoid the Bay Area on a weekday.

Marny

I too would recommend not taking 152. I have seen so many close calls on that road, even after they widened parts of it. The two lane sections can be very slow going, but the worst aspect of 152 is the lack of a center divider. You always here of people being involved in head-on collisions. That said, the 1/17/28/680, etc route faster and much less stressful, since you are traveling on 4 and 6 lane freeways. The carpool lanes really save you time.

Marny

Just a correction: I should have said 280 and NOT 28. Just didn't want you to be confused.

BayArea

Whoa...

Taking 1 to 17 to 280 to 680 not only takes you quite a bit out of your way, it's got terrible scenery, you'll have to back track, you'll miss the Mission AND you will have to spend extra time in the central valley at the hottest time of the day.

152 is a smaller road that winds through the hills south of Gilroy. True it has no center divider, many roads in CA do not. All roads in CA have wrecks, it's a fact of life. I think highway 17 has many more wrecks than 152 does, it's all relative.