Hotels in San Francisco

[cherrypiepie]

Looking for a hotel for a few nights in SF as part of a longer holiday. No idea where to start looking.

Any suggestions?

Lots of great ideas here thank you!

Will avoid the tenderloin area and maybe watch some you tube videos and see which area appeals.

I don't mid touristy but would probably choose a less prominent area so in London would never stay and rarely go to lecicster square or Times Square in New York.

I know a few people who have stayed at Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf

We stayed near union square. There are bits of SF to avoid. But baseball bats and sledgehammers nor so much. The Cheesecake Factory has an amazing location, great for brunch outside on the terrace.

bikes across the bridge and ferry back is brilliant.

My top recommendation is to look at the Lonely Planet guide. They put a Red star against top attractions. It would also give you a much better idea of what is available to see and where. It really is a narrow view to limit yourself to Fisherman’s Wharf. We have seen the most amazing art in San Francisco. The first glass curtain wall building is there. It’s stunning. The tea garden at Buena Vista is lovely. The cable car museum is excellent. There are all sorts of different areas to discover. It felt safe to us. We enjoyed going across to Sausalito. The views are stunning. So it’s worth doing some homework to get away from fast food and the masses of tourists.

These are all fabulous ideas. I'm also thinking of a day trip somewhere away from the city if anyone has any ideas.

We arrive 9am and go to hotel so most of day one and then two more full days and another half day before we go to the airport for late flight.

Thinking FW and Alcatraz day one as feel I have to do this and bike across Golden Gate Bridge if time on that day (much to husbands dismay I'm a fatish weeble and he is a MAMIL) is it possible to walk across

Full day in the city day two I love architecture and art and walking about and exploring being outside .

Next day will be a trip out maybe Sausalito or somewhere else naturey?

Try and squeeze in a game or concert, decent food.

Then save a museum for the last day.

You can go to Napa Valley or Sonoma for a wine area trip. There’s also the Muir Redwoods and Marin County seashore. I think some of the organised trips are a bit touristy but it gets you out of the city.

Forgot to mention SF MO MA! It’s the modern art museum. I saw an exhibit there I’ve never forgotten. Stitched together silk petals to make a giant wall hanging! I really wanted one! So SF! You can find various hidden gems. I really do advise you boy browse Lonely Planet and branch out. It’s worth it.

I second booking Alcatraz ASAP as it's so popular. If you can book the night tour - extra atmospheric.

Yes. You can walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. Start at the Welcome Centre. It’s around 1.7 miles to the vista lookout or around 1.3 miles if you just go to the end of the bridge. It can get very foggy in the summer and autumn in SF. So check the weather! The fog just rolls in!

www.phoenixsf.com/hotel/property/

Stayed at this one many years ago, a very weird but interesting place. The area did feel dodgy though.

You probably need to book Alcatraz in advance of your trip

You DEFINITELY need to book Alcatraz in advance. Bookings open 90 days in advance: Official Alcatraz Cruises website

Biking across the Golden Gate is what a lot of people do and there are masses of places where you can hire bikes in FW. It can be foggy and/or windy though and when I looked into it for my not-very-keen-on-cycling family we decided against it as it just didn't look that enjoyable! We did a 6-hour tour instead that included the sights of downtown SF, lunch in Sausalito and a side trip to Muir Woods. It was so much easier to do it all in a guided tour than book all the bits separately. We did Dylan's Famous Tour with Muir Woods

Thank you so much everyone especially @TizerorFizz lots of great ideas!

Not going until next summer but we just booked flights as we are on air miles

Alcatraz is 90 day booking so will set a reminder. The evening idea sound great as dh has been before but not me.

@maranella crossposted with you!

The Dylan's tour looks ideal! Thank you.

I have a need to see the redwoods for some childhood memory and I have no idea why!

The redwoods are gorgeous @cherrypiepie and Muir Woods is a perfect size to see them without doing a massive hike. It has a nice loop that you walk around and it you end up back at the car park - perfect

We did this itinerary www.viator.com/tours/San-Francisco/Monterey-Carmel-and-17-Mile-Drive-Day-Trip-from-San-Francisco/d651-2660SFOMON but we did it on a smaller 12 seater bus (can’t find the link). It was absolutely brilliant, the driver stopped several times to show us off the beaten track stuff/wildlife etc. we set off at 8 am and got back at 9pm it was incredible value

@Pointblank2
We took days to do that trip years ago. Just lovely staying at Carmel and enjoying restaurants snd beach there.

Another vote for the argonaut at fisherman's wharf. Nicer end of town, little beach across the road and some decent bars and restaurants. Also close to trolley terminus and walkable to the pier for alcatraz departures. Comfortable and tastefully decorated rooms.

We stayed at the larkspur on union square but just seen it's closed and reopened as the Cartwright hotel.

It was a great location. Could walk to most things and get the tram if needed.

We hired bikes and cycled the bridge to Sausalito. Then got a ferry back.

Love china town. Fisherman's wharf.

One of my fav cities to visit.

I've booked the Riu Plaza Fisherman's wharf. Mainly because it's my first time there and want a central location.

Also avoiding the tenderloin area seemed quite tricky as to what is and isn't the dodgy area in downtown.

Hotels are very expensive in SF but got a reasonable deal from Travel agent. Argonaut was 1259 for 3 nights.

We are doing a 10 night Alaska cruises from SF. We are staying one night pre cruise at the Hampton Downtown convention centre and dreading it a bit!

Fisherman’s Wharf is not central. It’s the end of a cable car run.

It’s not central but it’s a manageable walk to the centre. We only took a cable car once when we were there as everything was within reasonable walking distance.

Convenient then. Anyway I'm happy. The prices are exorbitant and we had to factor that in. I want To do all the touristy things as it's my first visit and only there three nights.

We explore a lot too so hope to find the of the track places.