San Francisco, any recomendations

[StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes]

hotels, places to go etc? areas to avoid. we were going to book a place but trip advisor reviews said the hotel was good but the area was a bit iffy so we were a bit nervous of it. just wondering if anyone out there has been or lives / lives there and can tell us where to go and where to avoid?

do the duck tour - honestly the highlight of our stay last year! Also bus tour across the Golden Gate bridge to Sausolito. We were only there for a couple of days so had to cram it all in a bit.

Erm... random tips/bits

• DP really enjoyed the boat tour to Alcatraz. You can book online direct (make sure you don't go through independent booking agents because they charge you a fee).
• If this is the first stop of a tour, don't pick up a hire car until your last day in the city as parking can be astronomical.
• We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Fishermans Wharf. It had a free buffet breakfast, which cuts costs and saves hassle. As it's slap bang in the middle of the touristy bit it felt very safe (actually, no matter where we were in SF I felt fine... and I have been many cities where this was not the case).

• The streetcars and public tranport network is reliable and economical (get a 1 day, 3 day or weekly MUNI pass) so it doesn't matter too much where you are as long as you are close to tram/bus stops.

- The best sourdough bread ever! And Ghirardelli choc and ice-creams...

We took a bus tour to see the highlights and help us decide where we wanted to go back and visit in more detail. Also, Chinatown is a must. Alcatraz was brilliant and we also took a helicopter ride above the bay.

Fisherman's Wahrf is touristy but very enjoyable as is pier 39. The street entertainment was excellent.

We stayed at the Stratford on the Square hotel - cheap and cheerful and right in the middle of the shopping bit (not fisherman's wharf) so v easy to walk to everything (although lots of hills obv). Literally outside the cable car and all the main shops - macy's etc, and loads of restuarants. Free breakfast too, but small rooms - nice bathrooms though.

We just got a cab over the bridge and they waited for us while we took a couple of pics.

Deffo recommend going to Castro - it's where Milk the film is set - famous gay area with a terrific atmosphere.

We also saw a couple of cool jazz bars near the hotel but only on the last night so we didn't get to go, but would next time.

Haight Ashbury is also pretty cool - the hippy part.

Been to SF three times and absolutely love it! We stayed in the Maxwell Hotel on Geary Street, now changed its name to Hotel Frank. There are a few hotels to choose from on that street and it is an absolutely fantastic location- 2 minutes walk from Union Square and quite a busy area so always felt safe there. Places to go; Alcatraz is a must but book before you go, ghiradelli square for the amazing chocolate, cable car rides, The Cheesecake Factory. We also went on bus tour which was about 2 hours long but was really, really great - went all over the city and let us see places we maybe wouldn't have made the effort to venture to on our own. Have a fantastic trip

thanks all, if anyone sees this again. some good advice.