Kal: Illnesses? Hope you are getting over whatever bug you brought home . . . .

Union Square West or Embarcadero.

Union Square West on Priceline has gotten us the Hilton and the Stanford Court. Bid 4 stars and up and you can't land in the Tenderloin, where there are no 4*'s.

Thank you for all of your suggestions that were so helpful. Unfortunately my offer got rejected so I'm forced to stay at the airport:(
Now, my next question is--which area is better: Burlingame, San Mateo or Millbrae, Brisbane, or Foster City?

Also, we will be coming from San Jose, which is where my friend will be heading back at the end of the night when he drops me off so it would be nice if it is convenient for him.

Any suggestions? Or any other options anyone can give me on how to get a semi-decent room IN a safe area of San Fran for $200 or under? This is for next weekend...

You can re-bid. . . . .

It won't let me....how do I do that?

Don't stay near the airport - the area is completly different than SF & you will spend $$$ & time getting in/out of SF.

There are plenty of hotels on Lombard St (Marina/Cow Hollow) for less than $200 per night. Try to get one as closs to Van Ness as possible to minimize walking to public transportation & sites.

I live "here" so I don't have much familiarity with specific hotels - except that there are a lot of them on Lombard. Most are really motels - not hotels. Free parking, if that matters.

The area is perfectly safe & I actually prefer the local over the Wharf (ugh - tacky) or Downtown.

Stu Dudley

Thanks Stu--you were really helpful on my recent trip to France too.

I am in SF for only one night and am leaving the next morning (11:30 am). A friend is driving from San Jose so he can bring me wherever that night. That's the only reason I was thinking the airport would be convenient.
However, I did find a hotel called SW Hotel on the border of Chinatown & North Beach that I'm considering staying. Then I may take a shuttle to the airport in the am. I'm coming from the East Coast so my time clock will probably get me up nice and early to enjoy a walk before having to get to the airport--in which case, this seems like a good spot. Is anyone familiar with this hotel?