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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

San Francisco

50 replies

Lovewhereilive · 14/05/2016 14:14

Have booked 2 hotels, 1 in fishermans wharf, the wharf inn, but it's only got a 7.5 booking.com review score or 1 on 4th street not far from union square called hotel Zelos, the hotel looks lovely and it's reviews are 8.5. I need to cancel one of them. Prices are similar.

If you've been to SF, which one would you choose?

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Spam88 · 14/05/2016 17:04

We stayed around Fisherman's Wharf and it was definitely a good location :) could stroll down to Pier 39 in the evenings (I literally couldn't get enough of the sea lions).

Not familiar with the hotels, but on location I'd go for The Wharf Inn.

AnneEyhtMeyer · 14/05/2016 17:05

I would cancel Fisherman's Wharf. It is tatty and a cheap tourist trap. The area around Union Square is lovely and bustling. We stayed actually on Union Square at the Westin St Francis. It was gorgeous.

Daisy03 · 14/05/2016 17:07

I'd go with hotel zelos, in particular if you like shopping it's in a fantastic area for it

specialsubject · 14/05/2016 21:21

not much to do round FW apart from admire sealions (which are good) and buy tat.

stay in the middle and use the cable cars. Much more choice of eateries too. Check your rough guide for where you shouldn't be walking.

barkingfly · 14/05/2016 22:08

I love the Wharf Inn as it has free parking which is unheard of in SF, and it's a decent neighborhood. Close to public transport.

pleasethankyouthankyouplease · 14/05/2016 22:10

I d say, Visit the wharf, stay in union square !

Spam88 · 14/05/2016 22:43

Suppose it depends how long you're there for as well, we only did a one night stopover :)

Original poster
Lovewhereilive · 14/05/2016 23:29

Oh no, no clear winner then. Staying 3 nights. Still no idea which one to choose.

Thanks for replies so far everyone.

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Original poster
Lovewhereilive · 15/05/2016 22:17

Is 4th street where the Zelos is ok at night? Heard Tenderloin is not a good place to be at night and it doesn't look too far from there.

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ThisCakeFilledIsle · 15/05/2016 22:33

I'd go with union square. Fisherman's wharf is a tourist trap.

specialsubject · 16/05/2016 11:55

looking on the map I think the Zelos is a couple of blocks outside the Tenderloin - borrow a rough guide for the no-go streets but I think it is outside there. The hotel staff will always suggest places that you shouldn't go but it doesn't look to be in the 'don't walk at night' bit.

as always, phone in pocket, ears clear of headphones and common sense are good.

Original poster
Lovewhereilive · 16/05/2016 20:06

A couple of blocks doesn't sound very far. It's having the kids with us that makes me worry more about areas. Union square must be ear to tenderloin then too?

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specialsubject · 16/05/2016 20:34

Yes. Just be aware and don't go to the wrong areas. While there isn't a ' bad guy wall' the bad areas are quite well defined .and blocks are quite big!

I'm afraid you are going to see some disturbing sights wherever you go in San Francisco.

Original poster
Lovewhereilive · 16/05/2016 21:10

What type of disturbing sights? Am having second thoughts about the place!

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elQuintoConyo · 16/05/2016 21:20

Union Square much better location-wise, although if you have DC I'm sure Fishy Wharf would be a delight to them. You can get cable cars from anywhere. Along that street are various bike-hire places, we cycled over the GG bridge and into gorgeous Sausalito on our first day and visited the houseboats, then a 5 o'clock boat back with about 300 other cyclists Grin

I was rather shocked by the amount of people with obvious mental health problems everywhere, poor fellas (mostly men).

We wandered through Tenderloin looking for a cinema (not actually realising what district we were in) and the only one we found was showing Dildo Wars ConfusedShockGrin

We did a hell of alot of walking around everywhere: Chinatown, Nob Hill, Haight Ashbury in the day, at night, never felt threatened. Pre-dc, I have to say.

SF I love it, would love to experience living there for a year or so.

Original poster
Lovewhereilive · 16/05/2016 21:33

So fishermans wharf best for kids? Just want the safest place really! If it was just me and DH then wouldn't worry as much.

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Original poster
Lovewhereilive · 16/05/2016 21:34

We plan on doing the cycle ride into Sausalito too, sounds like a great day. Also booked for Alcatraz.

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specialsubject · 16/05/2016 22:15

Just needs common sense and knowing where not to go. All American cities have the same issues .

GinSolvesEverything · 17/05/2016 06:08

Just got back from SF. Personally I'd stay in Union Square. FW is nice to visit but is very touristy. Lots more in terms of shopping and restaurants. Although if your activities are all based from the wharf, and if your kids are small, then that may be better for you.

There is no care system over there, hence the high amount of mentally unstable people in some areas. Just ignore and stay out of the way and you'll be fine. We stayed in a more gritty area but never once felt unsafe - although we had no kids with us which may have changed things.

One tip for the cable cars - don't join the hour long queues from the beginning of the line - walk up to the next stop and flag one down. They never fill them right from the depot.

bruffin · 17/05/2016 06:30

Sorry to hijack, what about parking in San Francisco. Our hotel in Union Square charges $60 a day

AttilaTheMeerkat · 17/05/2016 06:40

www.sfmta.com/getting-around/parking

This may help. Parking in SF is a nightmare however.

I would choose a completely different hotel, the area around Union Square itself is ok. You need to be a bit nearer to Union Square if you stay downtown.

Original poster
Lovewhereilive · 17/05/2016 07:06

Thanks for the tips. Hotel near Union square is nicer but with having the kids am erring towards fishermans wharf. We are doing Alcatraz and want to cycle the bridge too so maybe better location for those? Am scared of ending up in the wrong area if we only s few blocks away on 4th street.

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Original poster
Lovewhereilive · 17/05/2016 07:06

Struggling for choice Attila as need a room for 5.

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JapanNextYear · 17/05/2016 07:16

I'd stay in union square too, FW good for a visit but union square better to stay in. Check with hotel and just keep clear of the dodgy bits. There are lots of homeless people but we didn't get hassled and walked everywhere. The queues for the cable cars are really long, check tips online for where to get on them with shorter queues.

Loved the cycle ride, if you aim for the last ferry, they don't leave anyone behind!

I really liked SF.

The Cheesecake Factory is fab. If you get there about 9.30 you should get a seat on the balcony. But share, portions are huge.

Original poster
Lovewhereilive · 17/05/2016 07:18

9.30 in the morning? Sounds amazing!

So is hotel Zelos on 4th street too far from Union square?

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