San Francisco - hotels

frankie1star

We are arriving in SF in May, first time!! It will about 4am in the morning our time, so I thought it might be better to stay in a hotel near or at the airport the first night (3 women not familiar with the area mother ad two daughters). Can anyone suggest a nice hotel within the vicinity that we can pick up a shuttle to the hotel, then the following morning would like to possibly pick up a hire car and move to a nice hotel closer to SF. It would be preferable to have a mini suite (if poss) or perhaps two rooms, whatever is the cheapest.

I then need suggestions for a hotel near to SF so that we can do the SF things, perhaps we wont need a car at this point. Maybe pick one up for our drive to Los Angeles area.

Would love some help, please

torbrex

A search of hotels near the airport from expedia shows that there are quite a few with free shuttles, just go to expedia and pick your dates then select the option for near airport.
Other sites are available, but I use this one and I have never been dissapointed.

Nordictat2

Hiya...

Regarding hotels...I sometimes book with these sites:
http://hotelclub.net/ (after you enter the city you want (San fran) you can click that you want airport locations and alot of choices will come up!)

http://deals.hotels.com
https://www.roomex.com

You don't mention exactly what dates so you can do the search yourself and
I'm sure you will find something to your liking and budget

frankie1star

Thanks to you both, but if if anyone has a personal recommendation, that would be helpful

where2save

A couple of thoughts from your posts that occurred to me:

- if you are staying IN San Francisco then think again about hiring a car. You don't want or need a car for travelling in the city itself and the cost of parking is not very MSE-friendly (at hotels or parking garages).

- on the first night, I would not spend time getting a transfer to a hotel near the airport. I would just head straight to the city. The airport has several easy ways of getting to the city. It's not far and this will save a lot of time the following day (when you won't need to check out of your airport hotel and transfer to the city).

Obviously if you feel you don't want to do this after a long flight then you'll have to stay somehwhere near the airport.

richardw

The city is near enought to the airport to get a transfer straight to a Hotel in the city, don't bother staying at an airport hotel.

Don't bother hiring a car in the city, you won't need it.

If the hotel is very cheap it may be in a bad area so check reviews at www.tripadvisor.com Union Square is a good central location.

frankie1star

Thank you richardw/where2save, as I am not familiar with the area, I did wonder whether this would be an option. So it looks like I need recommendations for a good hotel in SF, would like a mini suite (for 3) or if that works out too expensive two rooms. We would like to do the usual tourist things, perhaps over three/four days. Then rent a car and head towards LA, stopping en route at nice locations. Suggestions gratefully received

vanilla8

I have booked the westin st francis via priceline

london_saver

I went for a 4 day break with my boyfriend to San Fran with 4 days in Las Vegas.

Ive stayed in many amazing hotels all over the world and I must say that Hotel Adagio was a ver surprisingly nice bougtique hotel just a few blocks from Union Sq and the main shopping area. www.jdvhotels.com/adagio

A small boutique hotel, all the staff remebered our names and greeted us every morning. The double room we had was very clean, modern and reasonably big. Free tea and coffe in the spanish colonial style foyer and the front of desk was very helpful with recommendations for dinner.

Go to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner, its at the top of Macey's in Union Sq with some cool views and cheesecakes!

Dont bother hiring a car unless you want to drive over the golden gate bridge and visit Napa Valley and go to a vinyard. Everything is walking distance (if you are fit and can do hills!) or if you buy a travel pass from the ticket booth in Union Sq for $20 or so dollars for several days, you can jump on and off the trams, the buses. You cant go to san fran and not go on the infamous trams!

Make an early moring visit to The Rock, Alcatraz, its quite interesting and the boat trip is nice. It costs about 25 dollars and I would recommend you buy your tickets online before you go as the tciket office at the boat dock is quite busy and I have heard stories from other friends that they havent been able to buy tickets there and then as it was so booked up for days! www.nps.gov/alcatraz It doesnt take all day, but allow for a good morning, or afternoon to wander around.

Restaruants in San Fran are amazing and portions are huge! Bear this in mind as some mornings I wish I had shared a breakfast with my boyfriend instead of being so greedy and having one al to myself.

Go to The Daily Grill for steaks, just down the road from The Adagio hotel and chinatown is a must if you want a cheap haircut and some good dim sum.

Have a great time!

frankie1star

ooooh londonsaver, sounds like great advice, thank you

curlylox

Hi there

I agree.... do not waste time staying at the airport - just get to your hotel! We have been twice and stayed in the Holiday Inn Express at Fishermans Wharf - It is lovely - very new and clean in a great location. (do not confuse with Holiday Inn next door - it is old and grubby). You also get a complimentary buffet breakfast. It is a 5 min walk to Pier 39 - there are loads of things to see and do there.

You will def not need a car - it is so easy to get about.

Make sure you visit Ghiradelli's Ice cream Parlour - it is fantastic.:T