San Francisco - hotels

MOLLYBRUSH

I'm going to SF in May. I have booked in at the Marriott San Francisco Downtown which is close to Union Square. I am travelling up from LA by train as I wasn't too keen on driving out of there as it is just me and two kids. I can pick up a car at a rental place just round the corner from the hotel on O'Farrell St, which I will do when we head out of SF for Lake Tahoe. I got the hotel for £60 per night using priceline which I thought was a really good price for a 4 star. Have a great trip!

mrtg0525

frankie1star wrote: »

Then rent a car and head towards LA, stopping en route at nice locations. Suggestions gratefully received

If you have the time, take Hwy 1 down to Santa Barbara - the faster alternatives would either be 101 or I-5, but both are fairly crowded (I-5 more so) and boring (I-5 more so). Hwy 1 between SF and Santa Cruz is nice, between Santa Cruz and Carmel it's boring but once your south of Carmel, it is spectacular. If you like driving mountain roads right next to the Ocean, that is. Just keep in mind that it'll take you a while to make it to Santa Barbara this way.

spender

We stayed at the Rex Hotel, Sutter Street (right by Union Square) last December a fab boutique hotel again by JVD. Read the reviews on trip advisor. We booked via BA website and got an excellent deal for this hotel. You will not need a car. Loved the city, however we booked well in advance the night tour of Alcatraz (they get sold out very quickly so book online in the UK and print out tickets). Enjoy

frankie1star

mrtg0525 wrote: »

If you have the time, take Hwy 1 down to Santa Barbara - the faster alternatives would either be 101 or I-5, but both are fairly crowded (I-5 more so) and boring (I-5 more so). Hwy 1 between SF and Santa Cruz is nice, between Santa Cruz and Carmel it's boring but once your south of Carmel, it is spectacular. If you like driving mountain roads right next to the Ocean, that is. Just keep in mind that it'll take you a while to make it to Santa Barbara this way.

How long do you reckon this would take? I would like to do a scenic route and preferably stay en route. To LA? Dont want to stay in LA, would like someone on the coast and maybe get public transport in. But am open to suggestions.

All this help has been so fantastic. My daughter would like to do Alcatraz, but not sure if I want to...I dont understand the attraction, but perhaps someone would give me the low down.

Thanks for all the recommendations and advice, keep it coming

mrtg0525

frankie1star wrote: »

How long do you reckon this would take? I would like to do a scenic route and preferably stay en route. To LA? Dont want to stay in LA, would like someone on the coast and maybe get public transport in. But am open to suggestions.

I've always avoided LA as I don't see the attraction, but I think you're pretty stuffed public-transport wise in LA, sorry. Like a lot of big towns in the US, you'll need a car.

I'd say you can do SF -> Santa Barbara in a day, but it depends on how often you stop to enjoy the views. I've certainly done Santa Clara -> San Luis Obispo -> Santa Clara (back via 101) in a single day including stopping for lunch in Big Sur (my recommendation there would be the Redwood Grill, which is very affordable for Big Sur and the food is good). A more relaxed alternative would be to either get a cabin at Big Sur for a night or something down in San Simeon or San Luis Obispo. And if you're going this far south on Hwy 1, Hearst Castle is worth a visit, too.

Just keep in mind once you're on Highway 1 south of Carmel, you're pretty much committed to make it to San Simeon/Cambria. There's only one other way to cross the mountains into Central Valley before you get to Cambria (a road just south of Limekiln State Park) and that road is a better goat path, even compared to Hwy 1 (and yes, I've taken it a few times).

Actually, the more I think about it, the more I'd recommend staying at Big Sur for the night if you're coming down from SF.

franklally

http://hotels.travelzoo.com/california-hotels/379164

Have you seen this week's travelzoo - I'm going in August and it would be cheaper to book 2 rooms here (Kimpton Harobor Court Hotel) rather than all share a room elsewhere - I'm paying $109 + tax a night per room).

To book the 2nd room go to the end of the first booking then press 'add to booking'

princesslizzie

london_saver wrote: »

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!

Am one of the daughters...We've spent a load of time in Florida and are addicted to the Cheesecake Factory!

Mama, can you print this page out and we can take it with us? Lots of helpful advice :T

frankie1star

Fascinating information, keep it coming, need as much as I can get, will print it off