Using airport hotels as a base for San Francisco and Los Angeles vacations
Jan 15th, 2002, 01:43 AM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Using airport hotels as a base for San Francisco and Los Angeles vacations
We have Starwood Vacation points to spend for our vacation in August. We plan on visiting San Francisco and LA. The most economical way of using these up would be at the airport hotels. Anyone know if this is a good or lousy idea? We'll hire a car in LA but understand from other postings that this is not a good idea in San Francisco. We are two adults + a sixteen year old and eleven year old. Many thanks in advance!
Jan 15th, 2002, 04:15 AM
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
The airport in SF is quite a way south and not in the most tourist-oriented area, but if is free then.....
We have always hired a car in SF, there are a lot of interesting sights out of the city and which it would be hard to visit without a car. Plus the convenience is a factor especially if you will be away from the "main drag" at the airport. If you were staying downtown then that would be different and I would recommend hiring a car only for the few days that you want to go a little bit further, like the Napa valley, etc.
We have always hired a car in SF, there are a lot of interesting sights out of the city and which it would be hard to visit without a car. Plus the convenience is a factor especially if you will be away from the "main drag" at the airport. If you were staying downtown then that would be different and I would recommend hiring a car only for the few days that you want to go a little bit further, like the Napa valley, etc.
Jan 15th, 2002, 05:29 AM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
The Westin at SFO is next to the freeway, has great soundproofing and would be a decent "base" for your San Francisco trip if you don't mind driving. The SF airport is not terribly convenient to the city other than via Caltrain and that doesn't run really close to the hotels.
Jan 15th, 2002, 08:14 AM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
There's a reason, of course, why it's cheaper to stay at the airport hotels in Los Angeles and San Francisco. As long as you are prepared to wake up in the morning and drive somewhere else every day (this applies to LA as well) then you will be fine. Bear in mind that many people live outside SF and commute into the city every day so time your drives to avoid the commuters.
You will need a car if you are staying near SFO. It is nowhere near the city. Driving around SF is like driving around many other downtown areas of major cities, lots of one-way streets, taxis going crazy, lots of pedestrians, but not impossible. I live outside SF and drive into the city all the time. You will pay about $20 or so to park your car every day. So, figure all that into your hotel rate and decide where you want to stay.
Having a car while visiting SF will give you the opportunity to drive across the Golden Gate bridge into Muir Woods for a look at the ancient redwoods, or a drive into the Sonoma wine country, or a drive along the coastline. Have fun!
You will need a car if you are staying near SFO. It is nowhere near the city. Driving around SF is like driving around many other downtown areas of major cities, lots of one-way streets, taxis going crazy, lots of pedestrians, but not impossible. I live outside SF and drive into the city all the time. You will pay about $20 or so to park your car every day. So, figure all that into your hotel rate and decide where you want to stay.
Having a car while visiting SF will give you the opportunity to drive across the Golden Gate bridge into Muir Woods for a look at the ancient redwoods, or a drive into the Sonoma wine country, or a drive along the coastline. Have fun!
Jan 15th, 2002, 08:28 AM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
We have done this a number of times in LA, staying near the airport. It is fairly close to Santa Monica (about 2o minutes), where my parents live, but also kindof midway to Disneyland & Knott's Berry Farm, & to Los Angeles itself, & then alittle bit more up to Universal Studioes & south to Long Beach. The rooms we have stayed in have not been a problem at all as far as noise, & there is easy access to the highway system.
Jan 15th, 2002, 01:46 PM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
We've stayed at SFO hotels in past because of money, early flights, etc. and had a rental car. We got a city map so we knew where the parking garages near the tourist district (Masonic Lodge was one of our favorites)and would drive in, park the car, and take off on a day of walking hills, seeing sights, and catching the cable car back to car. We are usually done in the downtown area after one or two days so the car is great then to got to spots already mentioned. Then your SFO base is as convenient as a downtown one.
