january89

Am totally unfamliar with San Francisco. Have the opportunity for a quick getaway with my husband sans children February 23-27. I am trying to make plans. I know there are several areas/neighborhoods. We would like to be located where we could get around fairly easily. Is this best done by cable car? Taxi? Other? Which area would be a good central place? Hotels ideas? Would like to keep it around $200/night?

Want to check out the Wharf, Alcatraz, etc. Is a day trip to Sonoma or Napa doable?

Thanks for all your help.

suze

Union Square or Embarcadero work for what you describe. You can use the cable car and/or taxi but mostly walking to get around.

sf7307

>>

Or buses, trolleys and streetcars, all of which are abundant in San Francisco, whereas cable cars (and BART) travel very limited routes.

I agree about Union Square and the Embarcadero. If there's no convention in town when you'll be here, you might try Priceline or Hotwire (I live here, so don't stay in hotels, but I'm told it's an excellent city for those two services -- if you decide to do it, stick with Embarcadero or Union Square EAST, as Union Square West goes a little too far west for comfort).

sf7307

There's a Union Square East hotel listed on Hotwire for your dates for $159, 4* -- very likely either the W or the Palace, both of which would be excellent choices.

Michael

Sonoma or Napa is very doable as a day trip. I would pick Sonoma over Napa because it has more interesting historical sites along with the wineries that can be visited.

january89

Thanks! Would the Orchard or Monaco be east enough?

sf7307

Yes! I don't know the Orchard (except where it is), but I love the Monaco!

january89

Thanks! The Monaco looks great. One con is it is near the Tenderloin??? Not sure what that is or why that is a bad thing? Orchard looks pretty too, is anyone familiar with that one?

PeaceOut

The Hotel Rex in Union Square is a nice boutique property run by Joie de Vivre.

kureiff

One thing that's nice about the Monaco is that it's very close to the rental car garages. When we were in San Francisco, we Pricelined a car the night before we wanted it, and then drove to Sonoma and Healdsburg and back to San Francisco the next day. It's a very easy walk from the Monaco to pick up and drop off your rental car.

Another nice thing about the Monaco is the wine reception every evening.

sf7307

The Monaco is "close" to the Tenderloin, although the parts of the Tenderloin it is near are not really bad. There are parts of the Tenderloin you simply do not want to be in. But it doesn't matter - you just know that for most of what you want to do, you turn right when you exit the front door of the hotel instead of left (seriously). It's a VERY popular hotel -- you'll love it.

january89

Thanks everyone. Am I correct in assuming "The Tenderloin" is an area of SF, near Union Square or a part of Union Square, with perhaps "less than desirable" businesses? Trying to be nice here but is it basically a trashy part of town that we would be better off avoiding but won't get murdered or mugged in if we do get turned around and end up there?

The Monaco looks great, as does The Orchard-which is a bit less expensive. I will check out the Rex as well.

kureiff-we would love to go to Napa or Sonoma. How far was it? Not sure we'd want to rent a car with all the wine tasting, but is there a tour service that anyone knows of? I am checking with Beauwine

Thanks again!

sf7307

The Orchard and Rex are nice, but they're not quite the same "level" as the Monaco. 3-1/2* vs. 4+*

Napa/Sonoma are about 60 miles from the city.

iceeu2

There's also a 4* Fisherman's Wharf for $97 on your dates. This is more than likely The Sheraton. I was fortunate to get the Hotel Vitale for $139 back in August. It is beautiful and right across the street from The Ferry Building.
Have fun!

iceeu2

Oops, sorry, meant to to say on Hotwire.

suze

You're sort of on the right track about the Tenderloin, but I do think it's an area worth avoiding. It's a part of town where you turn a corner and things get VERY different very quick (like homeless people sleeping around on the sidewalk, groups of people loitering about). I'm used to living it cities but I think it's worth it to pay attention and head the other direction here.

sf7307

I live here, and I agree with suze (the Tenderloin is not someplace you choose to go for a stroll), but it would NOT keep me from staying at the Monaco.

kureiff

We stayed at the Hotel Serrano which is around the corner from the Monaco and also a Kimpton hotel. It's pretty easy to tell where not to walk. We walked back from the area around City Hall to our hotel one evening, and we skirted the Tenderloin. It was fine, and it was obvious where not to go (and we're from rural Montana so if we felt safe, you shouldn't worry too much about it). We loved San Francisco, and the Monaco would be a great place to stay. So would the Hotel Vitale!

I wish I was planning a trip to San Francisco!

sf7307

Hmmm, now I'm wondering what route Kureiff took from City Hall

kureiff

Sf, we took a bus to the Hayes Valley, and then we walked down Hayes Street and checked out Symphony Hall, then we walked over to the library. We kind of wandered along and around Hyde Street back to O'Farrell to our hotel. Most of the walk was fine; there were a couple blocks that were maybe less than fine. Only saw one drug deal, though.