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Post by heather on Jul 28, 2014 5:14:15 GMT
I'm in beginning stages of planning a trip to San Francisco in the spring. I'm traveling alone with my 10yr old and 14yr old sons.
I'm trying to find a hotel that doesn't bust our budget. We are never in our room except to sleep, so as long as it's clean and safe, we are good.
I've never been to San Francisco so I'm not familiar with the neighborhoods. I found a reasonably good deal in the Castro district. Is that a good area to stay in? I know it's the gay district, (which doesn't bother me. Gah. Why do I feel the need to put in that disclaimer?!? Lol!). But that's about the extent of my knowledge.
I know it's not close to a lot of tourist attractions that first time visitors will want to see, but the prices of rooms in Embarcadero and Union Square are a little more than I want to pay. I can pick up a trolley close to where we are staying.
Any other suggestions for first timer to San Francisco? Other hotel or neighborhood suggestions? We are definitely doing Alcatraz and I know you have to book early for that.
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Deleted
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Oct 6, 2024 16:14:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2014 5:25:10 GMT
Will you have a car? You can stay south of San Francisco near the airport - safe and better-priced hotels. Jump on the 101 and you're in downtown SF in minutes.
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Post by heather on Jul 28, 2014 5:32:08 GMT
Nope. No car.
I did a check on taxi fare from airport to hotel. $66. Yikes! I hate spending money on boring things like taxi fares and hotel rooms. Lol!
I think in trying to get a cheaper hotel room, I'm just adding on expenses elsewhere. And not really saving any money.
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Post by ntsf on Jul 28, 2014 5:34:31 GMT
the castro is ok...but there is a lot of activity there, esp weekends. you could stay in inner sunset, motels in outer sunset, inner richmond, outer richmond. there are several motels out by the zoo..about a 45 min ride on muni from downtown. if you have more questions, I live right in the city and raised my kids here. if you have a car, you may want to use muni coming into the city...it is very pricy to park and tickets are very expensive.
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Post by lucyg on Jul 28, 2014 5:34:46 GMT
I love the Castro but it can get crazy at night. Up on Lombard St between the Fisherman's Wharf area and the Golden Gate Bridge, there are lots of small and medium-sized hotels/motels ... I think there might be deals to be had there. Wish I could be more help to you. Maybe ntsf will stop in ... she lives in the city. ETA I spoke too soon.  |
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Post by ntsf on Jul 28, 2014 5:36:01 GMT
look at motels at the zoo, or end of Judah line.
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Post by ntsf on Jul 28, 2014 5:36:48 GMT
look at motels at the zoo, or end of Judah line. also look for places bart or muni accessible the public transportation system is the way to go.
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Post by heather on Jul 28, 2014 5:39:39 GMT
Ooh. Crazy at night? That's the kind of info I needed. Mama needs her sleep.
Thanks for the other areas ntsf and lucy!
I'll start over again for my hotel search. I was wanting to keep my budget around $150 a night, but I might need to up it.
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Post by ntsf on Jul 28, 2014 5:48:08 GMT
stay away from haight...lombard is a good idea...traffic noise, but should be cheaper...there are also some motels out on geary, like 12th ave or 5th ave....geary has a great bus to downtown, tons of cheap places to eat..castro could be ok, if you were a few blocks from market at castro or castro at 18th. btw, bart goes to the airport...about $10 one way. www.511.org is the transit planning site. kids that age..alcatraz for sure, exploritorium, zeum, the historic ships at hyde street and the pamponito submarine and museum mechanique. maybe fort point if you are here on a weekend (great fort with cannons). cable car museum.. |
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Post by heather on Jul 28, 2014 5:57:23 GMT
Thank you so much ntsf!! I'm just starting to plan the trip and beginning to feel overwhelmed already. Traveling with 2 tween boys? Most times it's fun, but occasionally....well, let's just say, not so fun.
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Post by heather on Jul 28, 2014 6:03:49 GMT
I forgot to add that the place I was looking at is Beck's Motor Lodge. 2222 Market St.
They are in the process of renovating and the F Market and Wharves Historic Trolley stops there. So I was thinking I scored with new rooms and easy transportation.
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Post by ntsf on Jul 28, 2014 6:14:18 GMT
that part of market would probably be ok. I can drive by it tomorrow and check it out. (just over the hill from me). also, great sandwich place at ike's right there. hospital is two blocks away..handy for j church line, and market trolleys and underground church street muni station. you are also practically across the street from safeway, jamba juice, starbucks, etc. chow is another good place to eat right there too.
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Post by iheartsanfrancisco on Jul 28, 2014 7:34:51 GMT
Try the Colombus Motor Inn in North Beach.
Excellent location, you should be able to walk to lots of places
and you are handy for transportation and lots of places to eat,
good reviews on Tripadvisor and should be in budget.
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Post by epeanymous on Jul 28, 2014 11:18:13 GMT
I will be the voice of dissent. I think that location is fine, at least depending on what you want to do. You are pretty much in the Mission, where there are a lot of good restaurants and is the new, gorgeous park (my 11-year-old is in to it, although I don't know if your kids would be), close to Buena Vista Park, which is nice to walk around, and walking distance from Golden Gate Park and the Haight. I am pretty sure that busses run on Market, although I will say that I always have had a car in SF so cannot claim to be an expert. If you are planning to spend all your time down at Fisherman's Wharf/in Union Square/etc. it isn't the best location, but otherwise it is pretty central.
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AmeliaBloomer
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Posts: 6,842
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Jun 26, 2014 5:01:45 GMT
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Post by AmeliaBloomer on Jul 28, 2014 12:07:55 GMT
Up on Lombard St between the Fisherman's Wharf area and the Golden Gate Bridge, there are lots of small and medium-sized hotels/motels ... I think there might be deals to be had there. A couple years ago, we had a reservation at the Cow Hollow Motor Inn and Suites, which I ended up canceling because of a change in our itinerary. It's a family-owned budget motel with free parking that gets a lot of love on the Trip Adviser forum. If I remember, I was advised to book directly with them on the phone. "Cow Hollow" is hard to say.  |
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Post by ntsf on Jul 28, 2014 14:51:58 GMT
I would not walk from the beck lodge to gg park or the haight...huge hills in the way. you are only a few blocks from the mission..but the big park there...dolores park.. is a construction site...1/2 the park is torn up for remodeling.
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Post by heather on Jul 28, 2014 22:04:24 GMT
You're so sweet to check on that for me.
I think for now I'll hold onto the room and keep looking to see if other hotels open up or have good deals. We went to Seattle last spring and about 6 weeks before vacation, we were able to get a really good deal at a very nice hotel.
Thanks everyone for the advice!
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GiantsFan
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Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Jul 28, 2014 22:18:57 GMT
. . . , great sandwich place at ike's right there.. . . . I haven't been to that particular Ike's but wanted to chime in that Ike's is really good. There's one near my office in Monterey. Kind of pricey ($12 for a sandwich), but for me it equals two lunches. Mmmmm, love the SF Giants sandwich- Turkey, Avo, Bacon, Swiss, Mushrooms, heated. |
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Post by ntsf on Jul 29, 2014 23:39:04 GMT
that part of market street is fine. the trolley cars go by and church street is not far away.. another place to eat near there is Chow.
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Post by princess consuela on Jul 30, 2014 0:56:37 GMT
We just stayed at a Comfort Inn near Lombard street. I can't remember the other cross street, and it might have been right on Lombard, but it was fine for us. It was also walking distance to the Wharf. One nice thing about the hotel was that they had free breakfast, and some of it was rather hearty, like make your own waffles, I believe they had hard boiled and scrambled egg (patty type things), as well as some sort of sausage. Plus all the regular stuff, like cereal, breads, yogurt, etc. With two boys, food can add up! Apparently the hotel had been recently refurb'd so it was pretty decent, mostly new furniture in our room. We got it for about $160 a night, but that was with AAA discount. However, we happened to be there during Pride weekend, so I think that may have elevated the price a little. Might be one to check out |
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